December 12

Dec 12 – Today from Proverbs 12 we look at verse 23
"A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly." (NIV)
"A prudent man concealeth knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness." (KJV)

At first read, this proverb appears to contradict common sense. Isn’t it a good thing for the prudent to introduce their knowledge into the public pool of thought? Why would it be wise to keep knowledge to one’s self? The answer, I believe, lies in the contrast of the statements presented. The second statement in the proverb more clearly introduces the issue that the method of introducing one’s ideas into the public pool of thought is as critical as the content.
A proclamation is a public declaration in the strongest of terms. In the original Hebrew the word proclaimeth reveals the sense of actually accosting a person with a pronouncement. If one is a dictator or a potentate one can indeed successfully foist their will upon the public through proclamations because it is backed by threat. But even then, men who seek liberty begin to contend in their hearts against such oppression. God created man with a free will and a free mind. God created man to live in community. God created diversity in mankind. All of this points to the fact that in God’s plan, He meant for man to develop an exchange of ideas in order for man to socially advance. In the center of this community called mankind was to be its Creator. He gave man value and purpose, and He would dwell in their midst to guide the entire process. It’s a wonderful picture. A picture that was fractured by the introduction of sin. Wisdom is to understand that picture of God’s original intention for man, and to seek ways to communicate those purposes for man in an amiable fashion.
Proclamations do not make for a good venue for the exchange of ideas. Proclamations carry a sense of authority, someone attempting to foist their agenda. The intended recipients of a proclamation have no venue or format to provide the input of their own views. This is quite critical, particularly if the proclamation is to directly affect change in the recipient’s life. People like to be involved in the process of change. Even if they must endure some hardship to bring about needed change, they need to ‘buy in’ to it. Without the opportunity to dialogue, this needed element is lost and the potential for conflict is greatly increased. The party who initiated the proclamation loses favor in the sight of those who must endure it. Even if the ‘fool’ who makes the proclamation has no authority to back it, people tire of being around such know-it-alls. Fools carries the attitude that there is no need for them to listen to other points of view – they have already stated their case! The reason their proclamations are so often just foolishness is because they are unwilling to consider the views of others, thus failing to add to their own knowledge.
The prudent, on the other hand, keeps their knowledge concealed. The Hebrew term concealeth here portrays the picture of a covering of clothing. It gives one the sense of mystery, appealing to man’s sense of curiosity. Rather than foisting one’s knowledge on another, it is more prudent to entice the other to draw it out. This stimulates the exchange of ideas. Jesus was a Master of this technique when conversing with people (i.e. the Samaritan woman at the well, Nicodemus, His disciples in various situations). Knowledge was hidden in Christ. He knew how to whet the appetite of his audience so that they would draw the knowledge out. We still dialogue with Him in this manner today. In order to mature in our faith, we must dialogue with Him. His Word holds an untold wealth of knowledge. It is ours for the ‘digging’.
If we want to introduce the knowledge of the gospel into the public arena of thought, we will never succeed simply by blanket proclamation. We must follow the lead of the Master, and engage people where they are at. We must draw them into an exchange of ideas, a dialogue. We must keep our knowledge concealed and then uncover it as it is requested and required. In this manner we can give the intended recipients an opportunity to weigh its truth and validity against that which they already hold to be true. If they reject it, at least you can part on an amiable basis instead of in a conflicted relationship. Who knows, you may have other opportunities, as long as the bridge is intact.