Proverbs 19:3
A man's own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
A man’s own folly
The Hebrew word for "folly" is "אִוֶּלֶת" (ivvelet), which implies foolishness or lack of wisdom. In the biblical context, folly is often contrasted with wisdom, which is rooted in the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). This phrase suggests that the source of a person's troubles often lies within their own foolish decisions and actions. The Bible consistently teaches that wisdom is a divine gift, and the absence of it leads to self-destructive behavior. This serves as a reminder that personal responsibility and the pursuit of godly wisdom are crucial in navigating life.

subverts his way
The term "subverts" comes from the Hebrew "סָלַף" (salaf), meaning to twist or pervert. This indicates that folly doesn't just lead to minor detours but can completely derail one's life path. The "way" here refers to one's life journey or course of action. In biblical times, the "way" was often used metaphorically to describe one's moral and spiritual direction. This phrase underscores the destructive power of foolishness, which can lead to a life that is twisted away from God's intended purpose.

yet his heart rages
The Hebrew word for "rages" is "זָעַף" (za'af), which conveys a sense of anger or indignation. The "heart" in Hebrew thought is the center of one's emotions, will, and intellect. This phrase highlights the irony and tragedy of human nature: despite being the architect of their own downfall, individuals often respond with anger and frustration. This reflects a common human tendency to externalize blame rather than accept personal responsibility.

against the LORD
The use of "LORD" here, translated from "יְהוָה" (YHWH), refers to the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal and relational nature. The verse points out the misplaced anger directed towards God, who is often blamed for the consequences of one's own foolish actions. This reflects a deeper spiritual issue where individuals fail to recognize God's sovereignty and justice. In the broader biblical narrative, this serves as a call to repentance and a return to trusting in God's wisdom and guidance.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Foolish Man
Represents individuals who act unwisely or make poor decisions, leading to negative consequences in their lives.

2. The LORD
Refers to God, the Creator and Sustainer, who is often blamed by individuals for the outcomes of their own foolish actions.
Teaching Points
Understanding Folly
Recognize that folly, or foolishness, is often a result of ignoring wisdom and guidance. It is crucial to seek wisdom from God and His Word to avoid self-destructive paths.

Personal Responsibility
Acknowledge personal responsibility for actions and their outcomes. Blaming God for the consequences of our own decisions is both unjust and unwise.

Heart Attitude
Examine the condition of your heart. A heart that rages against the LORD reflects a lack of submission and trust in God's sovereignty and goodness.

Seeking Wisdom
Actively pursue wisdom through prayer, study of Scripture, and seeking counsel from godly individuals. This proactive approach can prevent the folly that leads to subversion.

Repentance and Restoration
When recognizing folly in your life, turn to God in repentance. He is gracious and willing to restore those who seek Him with a humble heart.
Bible Study Questions
1. What are some examples of folly in your own life that have led to negative consequences, and how did you respond to those situations?

2. How can you cultivate a heart that trusts in the LORD rather than one that rages against Him when facing difficulties?

3. In what ways can you actively seek wisdom to prevent folly from subverting your path?

4. How does understanding the principle of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7-8) influence your daily decisions and actions?

5. Reflect on a time when you blamed God for a situation that was a result of your own choices. How can you change your perspective and take responsibility in the future?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Proverbs 14:12
This verse highlights the deceptive nature of a path that seems right to a person but ultimately leads to destruction, similar to how folly subverts one's way.

James 1:13-15
These verses discuss how temptation and sin originate from one's own desires, not from God, paralleling the idea that a person's folly is self-inflicted.

Galatians 6:7-8
This passage emphasizes the principle of sowing and reaping, where one's actions lead to corresponding consequences, akin to the folly that subverts one's way.
Disquietude and ComplaintW. Clarkson Proverbs 19:3
Fretting Against God a Frequent SinG. Lawson, D. D.Proverbs 19:3
Life Regarded as a WrongOscar Browning.Proverbs 19:3
Man's Sorrows the Result of His SinsW. Jay.Proverbs 19:3
The Folly and Sin of Men in Perverting Their Own WayJ. Orton.Proverbs 19:3
The Misfortunes of Men Chargeable on ThemselvesH. Blair, D. D.Proverbs 19:3
The Untoward Incidents of Life Must not be Charged Against GodJ. Halsey.Proverbs 19:3
The Lowly and Gentle LifeE. Johnson Proverbs 19:1-7
People
Isaiah, Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Behaviour, Bitter, Brings, Distorteth, Folly, Foolish, Foolishness, Fretteth, Heart, Irritated, Man's, Perverteth, Rages, Ruin, Ruins, Subverteth, Subverts, Upside, Wroth, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 19:3

     5016   heart, fallen and redeemed
     5928   resentment, against God

Library
How the Slothful and the Hasty are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 16.) Differently to be admonished are the slothful and the hasty. For the former are to be persuaded not to lose, by putting it off, the good they have to do; but the latter are to be admonished lest, while they forestall the time of good deeds by inconsiderate haste, they change their meritorious character. To the slothful therefore it is to be intimated, that often, when we will not do at the right time what we can, before long, when we will, we cannot. For the very indolence of
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

How the Impatient and the Patient are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 10.) Differently to be admonished are the impatient and the patient. For the impatient are to be told that, while they neglect to bridle their spirit, they are hurried through many steep places of iniquity which they seek not after, inasmuch as fury drives the mind whither desire draws it not, and, when perturbed, it does, not knowing, what it afterwards grieves for when it knows. The impatient are also to be told that, when carried headlong by the impulse of emotion, they act in some
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Second Journey through Galilee - the Healing of the Leper.
A DAY and an evening such as of that Sabbath of healing in Capernaum must, with reverence be it written, have been followed by what opens the next section. [2299] To the thoughtful observer there is such unbroken harmony in the Life of Jesus, such accord of the inward and outward, as to carry instinctive conviction of the truth of its record. It was, so to speak, an inward necessity that the God-Man, when brought into contact with disease and misery, whether from physical or supernatural causes,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Kingdom of God Conceived as the Inheritance of the Poor.
These maxims, good for a country where life is nourished by the air and the light, and this delicate communism of a band of children of God reposing in confidence on the bosom of their Father, might suit a simple sect constantly persuaded that its Utopia was about to be realized. But it is clear that they could not satisfy the whole of society. Jesus understood very soon, in fact, that the official world of his time would by no means adopt his kingdom. He took his resolution with extreme boldness.
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

"Boast not Thyself of to Morrow, for Thou Knowest not what a Day May Bring Forth. "
Prov. xxvii. 1.--"Boast not thyself of to morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." As man is naturally given to boasting and gloriation in something (for the heart cannot want some object to rest upon and take complacency in, it is framed with such a capacity of employing other things), so there is a strong inclination in man towards the time to come, he hath an immortal appetite, and an appetite of immortality; and therefore his desires usually stretch farther than the present
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Wrath of God
What does every sin deserve? God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.' Matt 25: 41. Man having sinned, is like a favourite turned out of the king's favour, and deserves the wrath and curse of God. He deserves God's curse. Gal 3: 10. As when Christ cursed the fig-tree, it withered; so, when God curses any, he withers in his soul. Matt 21: 19. God's curse blasts wherever it comes. He deserves also God's wrath, which is
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Unity of God
Q-5: ARE THERE MORE GODS THAN ONE? A: There is but one only, the living and true God. That there is a God has been proved; and those that will not believe the verity of his essence, shall feel the severity of his wrath. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.' Deut 6:6. He is the only God.' Deut 4:49. Know therefore this day, and consider it in thy heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath, there is none else.' A just God and a Saviour; there is none beside
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Man's Misery by the Fall
Q-19: WHAT IS THE MISERY OF THAT ESTATE WHEREINTO MAN FELL? A: All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. 'And were by nature children of wrath.' Eph 2:2. Adam left an unhappy portion to his posterity, Sin and Misery. Having considered the first of these, original sin, we shall now advert to the misery of that state. In the first, we have seen mankind offending;
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Covenanting According to the Purposes of God.
Since every revealed purpose of God, implying that obedience to his law will be given, is a demand of that obedience, the announcement of his Covenant, as in his sovereignty decreed, claims, not less effectively than an explicit law, the fulfilment of its duties. A representation of a system of things pre-determined in order that the obligations of the Covenant might be discharged; various exhibitions of the Covenant as ordained; and a description of the children of the Covenant as predestinated
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Ninth Commandment
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.' Exod 20: 16. THE tongue which at first was made to be an organ of God's praise, is now become an instrument of unrighteousness. This commandment binds the tongue to its good behaviour. God has set two natural fences to keep in the tongue, the teeth and lips; and this commandment is a third fence set about it, that it should not break forth into evil. It has a prohibitory and a mandatory part: the first is set down in plain words, the other
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Knowledge of God
'The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.' I Sam 2:2. Glorious things are spoken of God; he transcends our thoughts, and the praises of angels. God's glory lies chiefly in his attributes, which are the several beams by which the divine nature shines forth. Among other of his orient excellencies, this is not the least, The Lord is a God of knowledge; or as the Hebrew word is, A God of knowledges.' Through the bright mirror of his own essence, he has a full idea and cognisance
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Christian Meekness
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth Matthew 5:5 We are now got to the third step leading in the way to blessedness, Christian meekness. Blessed are the meek'. See how the Spirit of God adorns the hidden man of the heart, with multiplicity of graces! The workmanship of the Holy Ghost is not only curious, but various. It makes the heart meek, pure, peaceable etc. The graces therefore are compared to needlework, which is different and various in its flowers and colours (Psalm 45:14).
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Third Commandment
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.' Exod 20: 7. This commandment has two parts: 1. A negative expressed, that we must not take God's name in vain; that is, cast any reflections and dishonour on his name. 2. An affirmative implied. That we should take care to reverence and honour his name. Of this latter I shall speak more fully, under the first petition in the Lord's Prayer, Hallowed be thy name.' I shall
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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