Commentary - Proverbs 13:14

Bird's-eye view

This proverb, like so many others, presents us with a stark, binary choice. There are two paths set before every man, and they are the path of life and the path of death. This is not a modern innovation; this is the fundamental choice presented to Israel at the foot of the mountain (Deut. 30:19). Here, the path to life is identified with receiving and internalizing the instruction of the wise. This instruction is not merely good advice or a collection of helpful tips for self-improvement. It is covenantal instruction, the Torah of the wise man, which flows from a heart that fears God. Because its source is God, this instruction is a life-giving stream, a "fountain of life." Its practical effect is deliverance. It equips a man to recognize and evade the traps and pitfalls set by the world, the flesh, and the devil, which the proverb calls the "snares of death." The choice is therefore simple: drink from the fountain that wisdom provides, or get tangled up in the snares that folly lays.

The central contrast is between a source of constant, refreshing life and the sudden, entangling nature of death. Life flows, bubbles up, and sustains. Death traps, ambushes, and destroys. The proverb teaches that our protection from the latter is found in our diligent application to the former. Wisdom is not a static achievement but a dynamic resource, a fountain we must continually drink from. Folly is not a simple mistake but an active threat, a series of hidden traps laid for the naive and the rebellious.

Outline

Context In Proverbs

Proverbs 13 is a chapter full of contrasts between the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the wicked, the diligent and the lazy. This verse fits squarely within that pattern. It follows a verse contrasting the good man who leaves an inheritance with the sinner whose wealth is stored up for the just (v. 13). It precedes a verse about the disappointment of delayed hope (v. 15). The immediate context is one of cause and effect in the moral universe God has made. The one who "despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded" (v. 13). Our verse, then, provides the mechanism for that reward. How does one come to fear the commandment? By heeding the instruction of the wise. This instruction is the delivery system for the wisdom that leads to life and blessing, just as contempt for it is the delivery system for the snares that lead to ruin.

Key Issues

The Law of Liberty

The word for "instruction" here is the Hebrew word torah. We often think of this word as referring exclusively to the Mosaic Law, the books of Genesis through Deuteronomy. And it certainly does refer to that, but its meaning is broader. It means instruction, direction, law, or teaching. In this proverb, it is the torah of the wise man. This does not mean the wise man is making up his own rules. Rather, the wise man is one whose entire life has been saturated in the Torah of God. He has meditated on it day and night (Ps. 1:2). His heart has been shaped by it, and so when he gives instruction, what flows out of him is the distilled wisdom of God's own law.

This is why his teaching is a "fountain of life." It is not a stagnant pool of human opinion. It is connected to the ultimate source of life, who is God Himself. God's law is not a set of arbitrary restrictions designed to make life miserable. It is the manufacturer's instructions for how human beings are supposed to operate. When we follow God's law, we flourish. When we disregard it, we break down. The wise man's teaching, therefore, is a life-giving stream because it directs us back to the way things are, according to the design of our Creator.

Verse by Verse Commentary

14a The instruction of the wise is a fountain of life,

Let's break this down. The "instruction" is, as we've noted, the Torah. It is the whole counsel of a man whose mind has been shaped by the Scriptures. This is why we are commanded to seek out wise counselors. This is why older men are to teach younger men, and older women the younger women. This is not the blind leading the blind. This is the one who knows the path telling the one who is just starting out where to go. And what is this instruction like? It is a "fountain of life." A fountain is not a puddle. It is a source. It is dynamic, constantly bubbling up with fresh water. It is life-giving, refreshing, and cleansing. In the arid landscape of this fallen world, with its dusty temptations and dry philosophies, the teaching of a godly man is like finding a spring in the desert. It is not just information; it is hydration for the soul. It sustains you. It revives you. It is life itself, because it is rooted in the God who is life.

14b To turn aside from the snares of death.

Here is the practical, defensive benefit of this life-giving instruction. The world is a dangerous place. It is filled with traps, or "snares." A snare is a hidden danger, something designed to entangle and capture an unsuspecting animal. The fool walks blithely along and suddenly finds his foot caught, and he is helpless. Sin works this way. Temptation does not announce itself as a deadly trap. It presents itself as attractive, desirable, and harmless. The adulterous woman's lips drip honey (Prov. 5:3). Stolen water is sweet (Prov. 9:17). These are the snares of death. They promise life and pleasure, but their end is destruction. How does a young man avoid these traps? He listens to the instruction of the wise. The wise man has seen these traps before. He knows how they are baited. His teaching is like a map of the minefield. "Don't go there. That path looks pleasant, but there is a snare just around the bend." To receive this instruction is to be equipped to see the snares for what they are and to "turn aside" from them. It provides the discernment necessary for deliverance. This is salvation in its practical, everyday form.

Application

The application of this proverb is straightforward, but profoundly challenging in our democratic and anti-authoritarian age. First, we must humble ourselves enough to admit that we need instruction. The modern spirit wants to be self-taught, to discover its own truth. The Bible says that this is the path of a fool who is destined for a snare. We must actively seek out the wise. Find the godly men and women in your church, those whose lives demonstrate a deep-seated wisdom, and sit at their feet. Listen to your pastor. Read the Puritans. Be teachable.

Second, we must recognize that this instruction is our life. It is not an optional elective. We should crave biblical teaching the way a thirsty man craves water. If you find the preaching of God's Word to be dull, the problem is not with the fountain, but with your own spiritual taste buds. You have been drinking from broken cisterns that can hold no water, and you have lost your thirst for the real thing. Repent, and ask God to restore your appetite for His life-giving Word.

Finally, we must apply this instruction for its intended purpose, which is to navigate the world of temptation. When you hear a sermon on sexual purity, its purpose is to help you turn aside from the snare of pornography. When you receive counsel on financial stewardship, its purpose is to help you evade the trap of debt and greed. Biblical wisdom is intensely practical. It is a fountain that not only refreshes but also protects. So drink deeply from it, and you will walk safely, avoiding the snares of death that have entangled so many.