Proverbs 12:2 is pretty direct:
The good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.
At first glance, it appears to be saying that all one needs to do to please God is be good and shun evil. But that’s impossible to do apart from Christ.
If that isn’t this proverb’s meaning, then what is?
What Is Meant By ‘The Good Man’?
We tend to think of “good” in terms of morality. If I am good enough, God will like me. If I do good, God will be pleased with me. But that is not how the word “good” is being used in this verse.
The Hebrew word being used is towb. Literally, the word means “agreeable” or “pleasant.” It has more to do with the flavor of the man than the substance of the man. In other words, what is the man’s general character? Is he pleasant to the Lord (not to his fellow man)? Does he give off a pleasing aroma?
The same word is used in other Old Testament verses, such as:
Genesis 1:10 - God made the dry land appear and saw that it was good.
Genesis 2:9 - God gave growth to “every tree” that is “good for food.”
Hosea 4:13 - God was upset with Israel for their sacrificial practices, performing them under certain types of trees because “their shade is pleasant.”
Malachi 2:17 - Chastising the Israelites, the prophet Malachi accused them of wearying the LORD by evil is “good in the sight of the LORD.”
Notice is Malachi that he was not accusing the Israelites of saying that evil was good. Rather, they were saying that it was good in the sight of the LORD. In other words, they were saying that God was pleased with the evil.
King David was certainly not moral. He killed a man and took his wife. Still, God said that David was a “man after God’s own heart.” What did God find so pleasing about him? Despite his sinfulness, David, throughout his life, was willing to be a vessel for God’s purpose. Acts 13:22 says he carried out God’s will “in its entirety.”
We, too, can be good in the sight of God, but that is only possible if we carry out His will. His will is that we believe in His son Jesus Christ as the only provision for life and sustenance. If we feed on Christ, we will live and we will be pleasing to God. That’s how we obtain God’s favor.
The LORD Condemns a Man Who Devises Evil
By contrast, God does not favor the man who does evil. In fact, we condemns it.
The word “condemn” is interesting because rasha literally means “to be wicked” or “act” wickedly. Certainly, the proverb isn’t telling us that God acts wickedly toward the evildoer. On the contrary. The primitive root of this word means “to declare guilty.” In other words, God passes judgment on everyone who performs evil deeds as “guilty.” That’s His verdict.
Well, who has done evil deeds?
All of us have, in at least one point in our lives. Anything we have done that has violated God’s law is evil in His eyes. Since we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, we are not worthy to be declared holy and righteous. But in Christ, that’s precisely what we are. Christ has imputed His righteousness into us and that’s what God finds pleasing about His church.
Proverbs 12:2 is the nutshell version of the gospel in the Old Testament. All of us have sinned and deserving of a guilty verdict. But those who believe in Jesus are pleasant to God’s eyes and ears.
Have you read I Am Not the King?