The Power of the Tongue (Prov. 18:1-21)

Bruce Waltke translates verse 1 as: "The one who separates himself seeks self-gratification; against all sound judgment he starts a quarrel."

We've seen this word "desire" before in Proverbs. Desire can be a good thing – when what you desire is right and proper! But the image here is of someone who seeks his own desire – someone who is hiding from others in order to pursue his own selfish ways.

The fool engages in antisocial speech and behavior. We were created to need one another. Back in the creation narrative – in Genesis 2, God says that it was not good for the man to be alone. All throughout chapter 1 God creates something, and then God sees that it is good – and he says that it is good.

But it is not good for man to be alone.

We were made for community – made for society. Now there is nothing wrong with taking a retreat! Sometimes our Lord Jesus went alone into a desolate place to pray. The image here is of "breaking out" (which Waltke rightly translates "starts a quarrel").

But the point of a retreat is to prepare for love and service!