Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Proverbs 20:18

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Proverbs 20:18. With good advice make war, — Perhaps there is not a precept in this whole book so little regarded as this. Most of the wars that are undertaken are wars of injustice, ambition, aggrandizement, and caprice, which can have had no previous good counsel. A minister, who is perhaps neither a good nor a great man, counsels his king to make war; the cabinet must be brought into it, and a sufficient number out of the states of the kingdom gained over to support it. By and by, what was begun through caprice must be maintained through necessity. Places must be created, and offices must be filled with needy dependents, whose interest it may be to protract the war, till they get enough to pay their debts, and secure independence for life. And for these most important ends the blood of the country is spilled, and the treasures of the people exhausted! I have met with a fact precisely of this kind under the reign of Louis XIV.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Honesty (20:1-30)

Wise people will not become drunkards, will not needlessly anger those in authority, will avoid quarrelling and will work to support themselves (20:1-4). They will also have the ability to draw out the deepest feelings and intentions of those with whom they deal (5). Many people boast of their loyalty but few practise it. To live honestly is the best way to guarantee a good future for one’s children (6-7). A king learns by experience to discern between right and wrong in cases brought before him for a decision; yet he knows that he, like anyone else, has a sinful heart (8-9).
God hates cheating. If ordinary people can, to some extent, know the state of other people’s hearts by what they see them do, how much more can God who made them (10-12). Conscientious workers are satisfied in the knowledge that they make a living honestly. Shrewd buyers may boast that they have obtained a good article cheaply by complaining about it, but they may find that their boasting is shortlived (13-17). Wise people will listen to advice, beware of gossip and give to their parents the honour due to them (18-20).
Impatience can lead to wrongdoing, whether in obtaining a coveted inheritance, in wanting to see an offender punished, or in offering a gift in a rash vow. Patience will enable a person to wait for God; he will direct in the way that is right (21-25). A king’s punishments may be severe but they must be just (26). A sensitive conscience should show people their faults so that they can correct them. But if the conscience becomes dulled, more painful action may be needed to correct faults (27-30).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

"Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war."

This, and a number of other proverbs, are oriented toward the decisions that would have been required of a monarch, such as Solomon. Christ might have had this in mind when he said, "What king, when he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand" (Luke 14:31)?

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 20

Into chapter 20.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise ( Proverbs 20:1 ).

He will have more to say about wine as we move along in our study next week, chapter 23. "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has babblings? Who has wounds without cause? Who has red eyes? They that tarry long at wine; and those that go to seek mixed wine," and so foRuth ( Proverbs 23:29-30 ). It talks about them in chapter 23. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging. Whoever is deceived thereby is not wise."

In the New Testament we are told that in choosing those as overseers in the church, they are not to be given to wine. In the Old Testament, there were two sons of Aaron who, when they had built the altar and were ready to offer sacrifices, the fire of God came down and kindled the altar and Aaron's two sons grabbed their little incense burners and put coals in them and started in to offer incense before the Lord, and the fire of God came from the altar and consumed the two sons of Aaron. And when this happened, the Lord said unto Moses, "Speak unto Aaron and his sons and tell them that they are not to be drinking wine when they come in to offer sacrifices before Me." For God does not want service from any kind of a false stimulation.

So there are people today that feel a freedom and a liberty to drink wine, and again, it's a thing where you say, "Well, Jesus turned the water," and all this kind of stuff, and you can rationalize and all. But yet, "Wine is a mocker." Better that you didn't. The thing is, again, not is it right, is it wrong? Is it pleasing? Is this what God wants? "Strong drink is raging. Whoever is deceived by them is not wise."

Paul said, "All things are lawful for me." So you can prove that it's lawful. But he said, "I will not be brought under the power of any" ( 1 Corinthians 6:12 ). Does it affect my judgment at all? Does it affect my attitudes? Then I'm being brought under its power.

The fear of the king is as a roaring of a lion: whoso provokes him to anger sins against his own soul ( Proverbs 20:2 ).

You provoke a king, provoke a lion, you're in trouble.

It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will just keep on meddling ( Proverbs 20:3 ).

You know there are some times you just don't want to get into trouble. You don't want to get in a brawl, but the guy just keeps needling. Just keeps going and going and going. The fool will just keep on meddling.

We used to have a great big old English setter, Duke. And he's the kind of dog every boy should have to grow up with. Of course, we didn't have leash laws in those days, and everywhere I went Duke was with me. Ride my bike; he would be alongside. Go to school; create worst havoc in school. Through the hallways looking for me and all. And he was big. He could jump up and his feet would be on my shoulders, he could lick my face. And he was just a boy's dog. Great dog. Those English setters are very independent dogs, and they're sort of a one-owner type of a dog. In other words, you call them, you try and pet them and they're very independent. Have nothing to do with you. But their master, you know, they're just devoted. And Duke was just devoted to me. I was his master and just, you know, I could whistle anything else, and man, he would come charging. He was just my dog.

We went up to Bass Lake one summer and took Duke with us. And he created quite a bit of havoc there at Bass Lake. One evening we were sitting down to eat dinner, and of course, campfire and so forth. Cooked the food and fixing dinner. And he looked sort of longingly at our food. And then he went over and began to dig in the dirt and pulled up a whole string of sausages that he had ripped off from some camp somewhere. And there was this little Terrier dog that was in a camp next to us, and here Duke, big old thing, and this little Terrier was always yipping. And whenever Duke would go running along the lake, this little dog would be nipping at him and yipping, and he just ignored him. You know, just like a little mouse, and you know, "Go away you little runt, you know, you're... and just leave me alone." But this little dog kept persisting, and one day Duke was running along the lake and this little dog was along, yipping and nipping, and evidently clipped him and made him mad. And he turned around and picked up this little dog in his mouth and just flung him on out into the lake. But it reminded me of this proverb. "It is an honor for a man to cease from strife, but the fool will just keep on meddling." Until he's into trouble, you know.

Now we deal with the sluggard or the slothful, the lazy man again.

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold ( Proverbs 20:4 );

Oh, it's too cold to go out and plow today.

therefore he'll be begging in the time of harvest, and have nothing. Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water ( Proverbs 20:4-5 );

This is beautiful.

but a man of understanding will draw it out ( Proverbs 20:5 ).

Now a really good counselor will be able to draw you out. Deep within you know the answer; you know what's right. You know what you should be doing. And a counselor really isn't there to tell you what to do. He's there to help you understand yourself. Now it's like a well of deep waters. Down inside you know basically what you should be doing. And a man of understanding, a good counselor, can draw it out of you. And that's what wise counseling really is. It's drawing out the answers within the person. I'm not a good counselor so don't come to me. But I would just know what they should be doing.

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness ( Proverbs 20:6 ):

Ain't that the truth?

but a faithful man who can find? The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all of the evil with his eyes ( Proverbs 20:6-8 ).

He looks around.

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? ( Proverbs 20:9 )

Can any of you say that? I've made my... I'm pure. Who can say it?

Now here's the thing again on the balances, the weights.

Divers weights, and divers measures ( Proverbs 20:10 ),

This is, you know, as I said, one to buy them, one to sell.

both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD ( Proverbs 20:10 ).

If you have different sizes of cups, different weights, they're an abomination to God.

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right ( Proverbs 20:11 ).

You begin to see that even in the child.

The hearing ear, the seeing eye, the LORD hath made both of them. Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread ( Proverbs 20:12-13 ).

Get up. Now this one is so typical.

It is nothing, it is nothing, says the buyer: but when he is gone his way, he boasts ( Proverbs 20:14 ).

"Man, what a deal I got," you know. Yet when you're looking at it, "Oh, it's an old dog. It's not worth anything. It's nothing."

There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are like a precious jewel. Take his garment that is a surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. The bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel ( Proverbs 20:15-17 ).

Deceitfulness. You may think it's smart, but man, you're going to grind.

Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: and therefore meddle not with him that is flattering with his lips. Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in obscure darkness. An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee ( Proverbs 20:18-22 ).

"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" ( Romans 12:19 ). And so don't you go around saying, "I'm going to get even. I'll recompense him or get even for his evil." Just give it to the Lord.

Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? ( Proverbs 20:23-24 )

Isn't that interesting? Man's goings are of the Lord. God guides my path. How then can I understand my own way?

It is a snare to a man who devours that which is holy, and after vows to make an inquiry ( Proverbs 20:25 ).

In other words, if you make a vow to God then don't modify it, just keep it.

A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the wheel over them. The spirit of a man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of his life ( Proverbs 20:26-27 ).

Spirit of man. God's candle searching within.

Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy. And the glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is their gray head ( Proverbs 20:28-29 ).

I don't know where that leaves me.

The blueness of a wound cleanses away evil: so do stripes in the inward parts of the life ( Proverbs 20:30 ).

Proverbs, interesting little bits of instruction and wisdom. A wise man will take heed to them and will gain in knowledge.

Father, we thank You for the instructions in the way of righteousness and truth. That which is good. That which is wholesome. That which is honest. Help us, Lord, to take to heart these words of instruction. Help us, Lord, to walk in righteousness before Thee. Help us to seek peace and to pursue it. Oh God, keep us from the wicked way. From the false lips. From the talebearing. May we in love relate to each other. Committing, Lord, ourselves, the issues of our lives unto Thee. Knowing, Lord, that You are the judge who will make the final disposition of all things. And thus, may we rest in Thy justice and in Thy truth. In Jesus' name. Amen. "

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

[Every] purpose is established by counsel,.... Or "the thought" f of a man, everyone of them, what he has thought to do, formed a scheme of in his mind, and resolved upon, by taking advice of his friends, and especially by asking counsel of God, who gives, wisdom liberally, and upbraids not; he is confirmed in his good designs; and he cheerfully pursues them, and they are ordered and directed to the glory of God, his own good and the good of others; for this can only be understood of wise and good thoughts and purposes;

and with good advice make war; this should not be entered upon rashly, without first considering whether there is a just and lawful cause of it; and without consulting the necessary charge and expense of it; whether there is a sufficiency of men and money to carry it on; and what may probably be the issue of it. It is right in a king to advise with his privy council, or with the chief council of the nation; but, above all, both he and his people should seek advice of the Lord on such an occasion; see Luke 14:31. This may be applied to our spiritual warfare with sin, Satan, and the world; not that it should be any doubt with whether we should engage in such a war; but we should advise with experienced soldiers, and especially with God and his word, what weapons to take, and how to use them; and consider in whose name and strength we are to fight; and inquire and learn the force, methods, and designs of the enemy, and where to guard against them or attack them. Jarchi interprets it of making war with Satan by repentance, prayer, and fasting.

f מחשבות "cogitationes", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Gejerus; "unaquaeque cogitationum", Piscator, Mercerus, Michaelis.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

      Note, 1. It is good in every thing to act with deliberation, and to consult with ourselves at least, and, in matters of moment, with our friends, too, before we determine, but especially to ask counsel of God, and beg direction from him, and observe the guidance of this eye. This is the way to have both our minds and our purposes established, and to succeed well in our affairs; whereas what is done hastily and with precipitation is repented of at leisure. Take time, and you will have done the sooner. Deliberandum est diu, quod statuendum est semel--A final decision should be preceded by mature deliberation. 2. It is especially our wisdom to be cautious in making war. Consider, and take advice, whether the war should be begun or no, whether it be just, whether it be prudent, whether we be a match for the enemy, and able to carry it on when it is too late to retreat (Luke 14:31); and, when it is begun, consider how and by what arts it may be prosecuted, for management is as necessary as courage. Going to law is a kind of going to war, and therefore must be done with good advice, Proverbs 25:8. The rule among the Romans was nec sequi bellum, nec fugere--neither to urge war nor yet to shun it.