Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:30 ESV

As the list of the qualities of an excellent wife comes to a close, note the core values expressed in this verse. Charm and beauty are revered qualities in our culture, but here, the writer describes them as deceitful and vain. That can seem harsh, but the writer wants us to understand the transitive and external nature of these qualities.

In contrast, the more valuable quality is the woman’s heart for the Lord. This is a fitting closing to the book of Proverbs, a book that intends to shape our hearts toward the eternal over the temporal.

What are the qualities that draw you to another person?

Neither have I learned wisdom,

Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

Proverbs 30:3 ESV

This verse follows the pattern of Proverbs in making the direct connection between wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One, God. Thus, it is a good reminder that to pursue wisdom is actually to pursue knowledge of God. You can’t become wise if you do not pursue knowledge of the Holy One.

Scoffers set a city aflame,

    but the wise turn away wrath.

Proverbs 29:8 ESV

This verse reminds me of the experience of Paul in Thessalonica and Berea in Acts 17. Paul and Silas entered the synagogue in Thessalonica and reasoned with them for 3 sabbaths (17:2). Their teaching resulted in a number of people (Jews and Greeks) believing. “But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd” (17:5). In other words, the city was aflame because of the scoffers.

Paul and Barnabas slipped out of Thessalonica by night (17:10) and headed to Berea. Eventually, word got back to the Jews in Thessalonica that Paul and Silas were teaching in Berea, “they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds” (17:13).

On a smaller or more localized scale, scoffing can set a home or family aflame. Thus, the warning is equally valid. Derision, mocking, and sarcasm are typical signs of scoffing. So it makes sense that a home or city could be set aflame when scoffers have a sense of freedom to scoff. If this is you, beware.

“take away the wicked from the presence of the king,

    and his throne will be established in righteousness.”

Proverbs 25:5 ESV

This verse seems to be aimed at those who advise and inform the king. In other words, the king should surround himself with godly people, people who seek righteousness. Imagine a world in which the world leaders were advised toward godliness rather than the typical global power plays so common today.

Then, imagine a world in which we surround ourselves with those who would advise us toward godliness. It’s easy to say the king should surround himself with such advisors. It’s another thing to think we need the same. But we do.

Who surrounds you by your invitation?

If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”

    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,

    and will he not repay man according to his work?

Proverbs 24:12 ESV

This is an admonition to tell the truth and a warning for not doing so. While we may be able to deceive other people, this proverb warns us by way of two questions, that the Lord knows. When we practice deception, we are saying one of two things: God doesn’t see us OR God doesn’t care. Neither is true.