[Jenacen]

Proverbs 17:7 (NIV)
Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool—
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!


Think of a fool. What is a fool?


Think of what Proverbs says about him:

• The fool hates knowledge; he is simple-minded, not desiring holiness (Proverbs 1:22)
• The fool does not think ahead (Proverbs 7:7-9)
• The fool loves to be loud, despite having nothing worth hearing (Proverbs 9:13, 10:8, 10)
• The fool is betrayed by his own great weakness; his mouth (Proverbs 10:14)
• The fool is a slave to his base desires (Proverbs 7:6-23)
• The fool loves things achieved by sin (Proverbs 9:17)
• The fool is oblivious, for wisdom calls loudly, but he does not perceive (Proverbs 8:1, 4-5)
• The fool is a shame to his parents (Proverbs 10:1)
• The fool turns on those who try and correct him (Proverbs 9:7)
• The fool plods ahead like clueless cattle to the slaughterhouse (Proverbs 7:22)
• The fool inherits only shame (Proverbs 3:35)
• The fool has nothing over the ants that crawl underneath his very own feet (Proverbs 6:6)
• The difference between the fool and the ants is that the ants have more to eat (Proverbs 6:8, 11)
• The fool will likely die in his own sin (Proverbs 4:23)

Do you know a man like this? Even better, do you know a man who behaves like this, yet talks boastfully about himself? He accepts no correction, yet talks as if he’s right? Does not read or learn, yet talks like an expert? Or if he does read and learn, acts as if it’s all he needs to know? He does not seek to take care of himself, yet complains that his life is miserable? He always says, “No one will see us,” and won’t get the picture until he feels the rods beating against his back?


And this man has arrogant lips?


What does he have to be arrogant about?


The food eaten in secret?
The pleasure of having another man’s wife?
All the things to which the rightful end is death in the grave (Proverbs 9:18)?


The fool is a self-inflated man. His one and only interest is simply himself. He sees himself not as a sluggard because he does not care. He feels no conviction over his sin. He pursues sex simply because he wants it, and thinks it achievement when he gets it. He cannot rest until he has done evil, and when he has done it, he feels that he is just “making it for himself,” and proving that he can survive. He believes he knows everything and calls himself wise, even though he knows nothing.


The fool has nothing worth bragging over. He has no motivation, no discernment, no judgment, no wisdom, and no food. Nothing he does adds up as anything to anyone but himself. His boss doesn’t care, his family is not impressed, his parents are disgraced by him, and God is displeased with him. Where it does matter, the fool simply does not stand up to inspection.>>
In other words…


What on earth is he bragging about?? He has nothing to brag about! Arrogance isn’t just inappropriate for a fool, it’s unsuitable! Like the ability for fire and water to inhabit the same grounds. The right to be arrogant would possibly be suited for a man of quality, sound judgment and wisdom (though nevertheless inappropriate), but a foolish man has no such qualities, and nothing to brag about, therefore no right to be arrogant, not to lift his nose an inch into the air.


In place of the term “arrogant,” there is often another word used, notably in the KJV and the NLT.


“Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool;” (NLT)


Here, the focus shifts from the speaker itself, who is prideful in his own perception of self, to those on the outside, whom he wishes to buy over. He speaks smoothly and eloquently, persuading people with a powerful argument. He has the perfect excuse for everything he does. In some cases, he may know an awful lot. He could quote scripture to you if need be, justifying himself, and winning you over to his argument. All this he can do despite one crucial thing”

Despite his eloquent words and strong self-persuasion, his actions still lead to the grave (Proverbs 9:18).


Reading this analysis of just the first part of this verse, you could probably sense the weight, the enormity of the statement being made. It is, in a sense, an oxymoron: “Arrogant fool.” In the second part of the proverb, there is a transfer of this weight to a very distinct position; leadership.


“How much worse lying lips to a ruler!”


I cannot help but wonder if this proverbs was written as an exhortation to a ruler, for it has the air of a very strong warning. This time, the gravity of the situation is much greater. This time we have a crime that is much worse than arrogance and persuasive words, and a position more important than that of a fool.


Arrogant speech vs. lies
The foolish man vs. the ruler


The writer began with one particularly strong contrast – the arrogant lips to the foolish man – then exclaims, “How much worse is it for a ruler to lie!” In the first part of the verse, the damage was most likely to be reflected inward towards the speaker itself, where the fool is persuaded by his own arrogant speech. He lies to himself. However, when the ruler lies, it is not to himself; it is to an entire people. The lie has gone from being focused inward to being turned outward.

Let history bear witness to the results:

• English politicians lied to themselves, thinking that they could appease the German tyrant, up until all of Europe, save Englandlace, had been conquered. England was next to be hit.
• Nazi and Russian communist leaders knew well enough that if they told the same lie often enough, people would believe it, which is why all of lace turned upon the Jews, and the Russians remained clueless that it was the system which was broken.
• King David made every attempt to cover up his affair with Bathsheba and make it look like nothing ever happened. As a result, God promised that while he committed a secret sin, his family would receive public disgrace (2 Samuel 12:11-12).
• The officers of Enron persuaded themselves they were smart enough to lie their way out of the sinkhole, though the sudden bankruptcy betrayed the security of thousands of investors and employees.
• Even now, Zimbabwean citizens are trying to figure out why it is that politician such as Mugabe live in sprawling, upstate homes while the rest of the nation resides in tin-roof shacks.

Those who desire to have any position of authority must understand the damage that a lie does. The author of this proverb started by talking about what the damage is like when the lie is turned inward, when a man lies to himself. He thinks he is everything, but is really nobody. As a result, he never progresses in his life, and brings himself to his own ruin. When the ruler lies though, he brings down many more with him.


There is a position similar to a ruler that bears similar consequences; a teacher.

The teacher is, in sense, a ruler. Although he arises to his position and place in different ways than a ruler, there are a few things that teachers and rulers have in common:

• People look up to them. They are believed to be qualified in the subject matter over which they have been given charge. The ruler, his dominion; the teacher, his profession.
• They are trusted. The ruler is believed to be able to see all things concerning the kingdom, the city, or whatever dominion rests in his charge. The teacher is believed qualified to teach, and capable of spotting error. Each one is expected to be able to identify problems. Given so, they are trusted to take correct action in whatever situation arises, for no one else can see what they see.
• The consequences of their actions reach very far. The ruler’s decisions will influence the lives of all the people under him, and the student will pivot his life around the words of his teacher, either for years or perhaps a lifetime. In either position, for better or worse.

And here are the words concerning the teacher according to James:


James 3:1 (NIV)
“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”


Where there is power, there is responsibility. The greater the power, the greater the responsibility. Those who wish to lead must understand the enormity of that which they wish to undertake. Leadership is not simply granted to those who wish for power, prestige, or a long-lasting name. Such a man is foolish to think that he has earned the right to rule, for he does not yet understand that his own decisions will speak either for or against him. The more power a man is given, the greater the consequences, and the more strictly he is judged for his actions.

The point of the proverb, ultimately, is that it takes a man of strong character to be put in charge of anything, because of the reach of his decisions. He must be able to discern between his own selfish ambitions and what is good for those over whom he has been given charge. He must be willing to take the punches for his own decisions, despite how his image will be influenced. He must be willing to admit when he is wrong and admitting that he has sinned. He cannot be a liar, for the only chance of success in his kingdom or dominion comes through a realistic evaluation of where he is and what is going on.

But if he cannot even be honest with himself, how can he be honest with the affairs of others (Luke 16:10)?

Note: As noted in the paragraph, in the NIV version, the term “arrogant lips” is used, while in others, the terminology used is “eloquent speech.” In essence, they sound like they could change the meaning of the verse depending on which one is used, and though I do not understand how one became the other, “arrogance” and “eloquence” share similar grounds; the art of force and persuasion, the ability to sway in one direction or another. Although arrogance implies, in my own opinion, self-delusion, while eloquence persuades those on the outside, eloquent words can still flatter their own speaker, and arrogant words can still persuade those one the outside. Adjust your understanding however you wish.