Proverbs 21:29 commentary

29 ¶ A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

A wicked person will not be reproved or corrected and will stay on his path of self destruction.

Isaiah 57:17 ¶ For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

You can’t get a wicked person to even read or listen to the Bible, much less submit to it. He or she is too proud and haughty to unite with a church body to worship and there is nothing you can say that will get them to change their mind. A wicked person worships Self so intensely and faithfully that it is inconceivable that he or she submit to God.

Proverbs 11:5 ¶ The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

Proverbs 28:14 ¶ Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Proverbs 29:1 ¶ He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

The wicked man is a fool. That person will not listen to God or to correction from someone who loves them.

Proverbs 15:5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Proverbs 17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

The wicked man will not hear it. He is a fool. But, the upright, by virtue of his having Christ’s Spirit inside of him, directs his way trusting that God will keep him on the right path. The application of this verse for the Christian is that “he directeth his way” as the upright man’s way being directed by God.

Psalm 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The upright man is willing to allow God’s word, His scriptures, to correct him through daily reading and good, powerful preaching.

2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Now, many women find it easier, due to their nature, to not harden their face against God. But many men find it difficult, also because of their Self worshipping nature, to not harden their face against God. Men want to be in control and even when all reality shows them that their control over their lives is an illusion they will cling to the stubborn and foolish mantra, it’s my life, I’ll do what I want. The wicked man hardens his face against Christ and will not be corrected or changed. The upright Christian is willing to let God direct his way. He knows;

Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.