P R O V E R B S

A Devotional Look at the Wisdom of Israel as

Recorded in the Book of Proverbs

F. Wayne Mac Leod

Light To My Path Book Distribution

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written

permission of the author.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise specified, are taken from the New International Version of

Scriptures marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible

Proof Reading: Pat Schmidt, Lee Tuson

CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright
Preface
Introduction to Proverbs
- The Fear of the Lord
- Wisdom's Benefit: Victory and Direction
- Grace for the Humble
- Wisdom is Supreme
- The Path of the Adulteress
- Qualities of a Good Man
- The Young Man and the Adulteress
- Wisdom's Call
- Wisdom and Folly
- The Way of the Righteous
- The Fruit and Character of Righteousness
- Humility, Discipline and Diligence
- Prosperity, Correction and Integrity
- Wisdom, Discernment and Joy
- Wealth, Friendship and Blessing
- Words, Correction and Contentment
- The Ways of the Righteous

- Integrity, Justice and Relationships
19- Words, Wealth and Friendships
- Friends, Truth and Discipline
- Honesty, Righteousness and Justice
- Sovereignty, Diligence and Victory
- Poverty, Wickedness and Discipline
- The Thirty Sayings: Sayings 1-15
- The Thirty Sayings: Sayings 16-30
- More Sayings of the Wise
- Sayings Copied by Hezekiah's Men: Part 1
- Sayings Copied by Hezekiah's Men: Part 2
- Sayings Copied by Hezekiah's Men:Part 3
- Sayings Copied by Hezekiah's Men: Part 4
- Sayings Copied by Hezekiah's Men:Part 5
- The Sayings of Agur
- The Sayings of King Lemuel
About The Author

PREFACE

riting a commentary on the book of Proverbs has proven to be

a challenge. There are several reasons for this. First, this

collection of wise sayings and proverbs do not seem to be

organized in a logical sequence. This means that the reader bounces from

one topic to another quite rapidly. This was a real challenge for me as I

personally like to build on each theme logically and systematically.

The second challenge of this commentary has to do with the practical

application of each proverb. There are so many different ways of applying

the truth of each proverb to life that it is impossible to cover each possible

application. I can only trust that the insights the Lord has given will

stimulate further application to other life situations.

Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings. While much of the book is written

by King Solomon, it also contains a section of sayings by Agur and King

Lemuel's mother. The focus of the book is to draw its readers into seeking

God and living according to His purpose. The fear of the Lord seems to be

the central teaching of the book and the underlying motivation for living the

life that the writers describe. The heart cry of each writer is that their

readers will be drawn to fear their great creator God and live in a way that

will bring honour and respect to His name.

I would challenge you to take your time reading this commentary. Consider

each section and proverb and let the Spirit of God challenge you regarding

the personal and practical application. Read this commentary alongside of

the Bible. This commentary is not the Bible. I have tried my best to be

accurate and practical in the interpretation of the various passages but my

insights are not infallible. This commentary will only be useful if it draws

you closer to the Word of God and to the Lord who is its ultimate author.

I trust that God will use this humble effort in many lives. I offer it to Him

for the expansion of His kingdom in your life and the lives of those you will

touch as a result. May God be pleased to use it in a very particular way to

draw you closer to Himself.

F. Wayne Mac Leod

INTRODUCTION TO

PROVERBS

Authorship:

roverbs 1:1 makes a clear reference to King Solomon as one of the

authors of this book. His authorship is confirmed again in Proverbs

10:1 and 25:1. While the first 29 chapters of the book are credited

to Solomon, he is not the only author. Proverbs 30 contains the wisdom of a

man by the name of Agur. Proverbs 31 is attributed to King Lemuel, as

taught to him by his mother.

Background

The purpose of the book of Proverbs is spelled out for us in the

introduction. Proverbs 1:2-7 makes two important statements about the

book. First, Solomon gives a number of reasons for putting these sayings

into writing:

1) To give the reader wisdom and discipline in life (verse 2)

2) To give greater insight to the reader (verse 2)

3) To enable the reader to do what is right, just and fair (verse 3)

4) To show the simple person how to be cautious or prudent in life

(verse 4)

5) To give knowledge and discretion to the young person (verse 4)

6) To increase the learning of the wise person (verse 5)

7) To give those who are discerning greater understanding of the

sayings of the wise (verse 6)

The second important statement about the book concerns Solomon’s

definition of wisdom. For Solomon, wisdom had its roots in the fear or

reverence of the Lord God and His ways (Proverbs 1:7). Wisdom for

Solomon was rooted in God. This is not a book about worldly knowledge

and understanding. It is a book that points us to God and His purposes. The

fool, according to Solomon, was someone who turned his or her back on

God and His purposes.

Importance Of The Book For Today

The inspiration for the book comes from Solomon’s observation of life. He

watches a young man’s encounter with an adulterous woman in Proverbs

7:6-23 and tells his readers of the consequences to his life. He speaks about

marriage, friendships and business relationships. He addresses the issues of

alcoholism, laziness and immorality, issues that break down a society. He

also speaks to the issues of justice, fairness, hard work and integrity, issues

that build a society up.

Solomon makes it clear that the insights in this book are not his ideas. They

are the purposes of a Creator God. These purposes of God are the hope for

our nations. By following them, we will find blessing and success in life.

The book of Proverbs is immensely practical. Here in this book, Solomon

(and the other writers) speaks to real life issues. They show us how to apply

the purpose of God to a variety of life situations. This is a book of practical

advice on how to live life to the full. The full and satisfying life, according

to Solomon, is a life lived in the fear and reverence of God and His

purposes.

1 - THE FEAR OF THE

LORD

Read Proverbs 1:1-33

he book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom. In this book, Solomon,

the son of David, gives his readers insight for living. Solomon was

gifted of God in wisdom and understanding (see 1 Kings 3:10-12).

In this first chapter, Solomon tells us why he wrote the book. He also tells

us about the source of his wisdom and challenges his readers to pursue it

with all their hearts.

As Solomon begins, he gives us several reasons why he wrote this book of

Proverbs. Notice first, in verse 2, that he wrote the book so that his readers

could attain wisdom. Wisdom in its very basic sense has to do with the art

of living a godly life. Notice in verse 2 the connection between wisdom and

discipline. The word "discipline" in the Hebrew language can also mean

“correction” or “chastening.” The desire of Solomon was that his readers be

corrected and chastened or rebuked so that they could be brought to the path

of righteousness and godliness. His book is designed to help us live wisely.

To do this it will correct and rebuke.

Notice, second, that Solomon wanted his readers to gain understanding in

words of insight. Here in this book, Solomon will share many words of

insight. He will do this in many different subjects. God had taught him

many things about life. Solomon wanted to share his deep understanding in

a way that was simple and easy for the reader to grasp.

In verse 3 Solomon told his readers that another purpose for writing this

book was so that his readers could acquire a disciplined and prudent life. A

prudent life is a life of good sense and judgment. Solomon wanted to help

his readers acquire a life of good sense and judgment so that they could

make decisions that were "right, just and fair." The instructions in this book

are designed to help the reader make good decisions in life, decisions that

would bring honour to their Lord and Creator.

In verses 4-6 Solomon identifies his target audience. We see that there are

three types of people Solomon wanted to reach through this collection of

proverbs. First, he wanted to give prudence (good sense and judgment) to

the simple. The simple are those who do not have much in life. They do not

have a great education or riches. They are ordinary people. Solomon wanted

to give good counsel and advice to these simple people so that they could

make good decisions in life.

Second, from verse 4, we see that Solomon also had a burden for the youth

of his day. He wanted to give these youth knowledge and discretion. He

wanted to give them the tools necessary to live a life with purpose and

direction. He wanted to share with them his vast experience and wisdom so

that they could have clear direction to live their life to the full.

His third target audience was the wise and discerning. The wise were

people who had a certain experience in life. Solomon wanted to challenge

them to add to their learning. He wanted to share with them from his own

experience and wisdom. He wanted them to reflect on his proverbs,

parables, riddles and wise sayings so that they would be sharpened in their

skills to live with even greater discernment. In reality, this book is for

everyone who wants to learn the art of living well.

Verse 7 is a key verse for understanding the whole book of Proverbs. Here

Solomon told his readers that the beginning of knowledge (and wisdom)

was the fear of the Lord. We need to examine this in some detail.

The word "fear" in the Hebrew language can also mean "reverence" or

"respect." When Solomon speaks about fearing the Lord he speaks of

respecting or treating God with the respect and honour He deserves.

Solomon is telling us that true wisdom and knowledge begins with a

healthy respect and reverence for God. In other words, if we want to know

what life is all about and how to live life, we need to begin with God and a

proper relationship with Him. Reverence and respect for God is the

foundation on which true wisdom is built. The wise person understands

who God is, what He requires, and lives his or her life accordingly. If we

miss this starting block, we miss what Solomon is telling us. True wisdom

is based in reverence and respect of our Creator. The goal of wisdom is to

bring God the honour and respect He is worthy of receiving.

Notice in verse 7 how Solomon says that the fool despises wisdom and

discipline. In this context, what Solomon is saying is that a fool is someone

who chooses to ignore the wisdom that has its foundation in respect and

reverence for God. There are many who are considered wise in this world's

way of thinking. According to Solomon, however, they are fools because

they do not begin with God and the fear of His name.

The wisdom Solomon speaks of here is a wisdom that begins with God and

an understanding of His purposes. This wisdom comes to us in a variety of

ways. In our day we find it recorded in the pages of the Bible. In Solomon's

day, however, those pages were not readily available. For the people of

Solomon's day, the wisdom that began in God was passed on from parent to

child. Parents instructed their children in the ways of the Lord. Notice in

verse 8 that Solomon told the young man (and the young woman) to listen

to their father and mother and the instructions they gave them. The

instructions referred to here are instructions for living under the fear of the

Lord.

Notice the promise in verse 9 that those who listened to the instruction of

their parents would be honoured. The instructions would be like a garland

to grace their head and a chain about their neck. The garland and the chain

were objects of honour. They set apart those who wore them and gave them

dignity and honour. This is what the godly instructions of parents would be

for those who listened to them.

There would be many temptations in life for the young person. In verses 10-

14 Solomon gives an example of some of those temptations. He speaks

about a group of young men who were intent on doing evil. Notice how

they call out to another young man, enticing him to follow them in their

evil, pleasure-seeking ways. They invite him to come and lie in wait for a

harmless soul. Their intent is to swallow the person whole like the grave.

That is to say, they wanted to kill him and take his possessions. They

wanted to get "all sorts of valuable things" and fill their houses with

plunder. They are thieves who want to enrich themselves at the expense of

others. They entice this young man by telling him that they would divide

their plunder with him, they would share a common purse.

Solomon speaks to this young man and others like him in similar situations.

He challenges him not to listen to the ungodly counsel of his friends. He

reminded them that the feet of his friends were quick to rush into sin and

shed blood (verses 15-16).

In verse 17 Solomon used an example of a net spread out in full view for a

bird. This was what these young men were doing. They were setting traps in

full view to catch all they could. Those who fell into these traps saw what

they were doing and knew it would mean trouble, but they didn't care. This

is what sin does to us. If offers us a moment of pleasure but takes our life in

exchange. Like fools, there are many who walk right into sin's trap.

In verse 19 Solomon told the young man that there was certain destruction

for all who sought after "ill-gotten gain." They fell into a trap that would

take their lives (verse 19). We see the power of sin's temptation. All too

many men and women have sacrificed their life and eternity for a moment

of pleasure. They have sacrificed everything to satisfy the craving of their

sinful heart. Solomon is trying to show the young man in this passage the

foolishness of listening to the call of sin and evil. Instead, he was to

lovingly follow the godly instruction passed on to him from his parents. In

so doing he would be honoured and his life spared.

In verse 20 Solomon speaks of wisdom and her call to all who would listen.

We have seen the call of sin and evil in the last few verses. Wisdom too

calls out. Remember that wisdom has its roots in fear, respect and reverence

for God. This wisdom is pictured as calling out in the streets to all who

would listen. She raised her voice in the public squares. The call of the

Spirit of God is a very real call. Over and over again the Spirit of God

speaks to the hearts and minds of all who will listen. He calls them to turn

to the Lord and know His way. All too many people pass by and take no

notice of that call. They busy themselves with activity but do not listen to

the call of wisdom.

Wisdom called out to the simple. These individuals loved their simple ways

but they did not have the fear of God in their hearts (verse 22). They were

ordinary (possibly good living people) who were lost in their sin. They may

not even have known this. They lived in ignorance but they would perish.

Wisdom also called out to the mocker and the fools who hated knowledge

(verse 22). These individuals mocked the way of truth, thinking that they

knew a better way. I remember attending university where the professors

openly mocked the ways of the Bible. Solomon calls these individuals fools

because they rejected the fear of God as their starting point and openly

mocked God and His ways.

Notice in verse 23 the promise of God to those would listen.

If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my

heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.

God delights to reveal His heart to us. He wants us to know His ways. If we

open our heart, He will teach us and instruct us in the way we should go.

The people Solomon spoke of here, however, did not open their heart to this

wisdom that came from God. They turned their back on it and chose to

block their ears (verse 24). They refused the advice of wisdom and would

not accept the rebuke of God (verse 25). Because they rejected wisdom that

had its beginnings in the fear of God, when disaster came to them, God

would laugh at them and mock them in their calamity. In other words, their

judgment would come. In that Day of Judgment God would not listen to

them.

Verse 27 makes it quite clear that this judgment would come like a storm. In

that day those who reject God's wisdom will call out to Him but He will not

listen to them. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of

the Lord, they would eat the fruit of their own ways (verse 31). Their own

sinfulness and complacency would destroy them. Only those who listened

to the Lord God and His wisdom would be safe and free from harm (verse

33).

Solomon shows us here the importance of true wisdom. He tells us that true

wisdom comes from God and is cultivated by means of a right relationship

with Him. He reminds us of the many temptations that surround us and

shows us what will happen to those who follow the foolishness of this

world. Only those who listen to the voice of the wisdom that begins in a

healthy fear of God will be safe from the judgment that will one day come

to this earth.

For Consideration:

Solomon tells us that his goal in writing this book is to offer

correction and discipline to those who will listen. Are you

willing to listen to correction and discipline in your spiritual

life?

How has the wisdom of God, as found in His Word, given

you purpose and direction in life?

What is the fear of God? Do you fear God? How is this fear

of God the beginning of true wisdom and knowledge?

What are the temptations you feel in this life? What do we

learn here about the lure of sin? What are people willing to

sacrifice for a moment with sin?

How is God calling out to your society today? Does your

society need the wisdom of God? Explain.

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to listen to correction in your life.

Ask God to give you a deeper reverence and respect for His

name. Ask Him to help you to live in the fear of His name.

Ask God to protect you from the lure of so many temptations

in this life. Ask Him to give you grace to resist the pull of sin.

Thank the Lord for revealing Himself and His true wisdom to

you.

2 - WISDOM'S BENEFIT:

VICTORY AND

DIRECTION

Read Proverbs 2:1-22

n the last chapter we saw that wisdom had its source and motivation in

a right relationship with God. The wise person was one who feared

(reverenced and respected God). Wisdom can be defined as the art of

living in reverence and respect for God. When we live out of respect and

reverence for God, this will affect our relationships with those around us. It

will affect how we communicate, do business and relate to our neighbours

and friends.

We will begin our examination of chapter 2 with verse 6. Here Solomon

made it very clear that the Lord was the source of the wisdom he was

speaking about in this book: "For the LORD gives wisdom, and from His

mouth come knowledge and understanding." It is important that we

underline this before moving any further in our discussion of wisdom in this

chapter.

There is a natural wisdom that comes with age and experience. Over the

course of our life we experience many different situations. As I listen to the

youth around me I can sometimes see their lack of experience in life. Our

experience in life gives us a natural wisdom. We learn how to deal with life,

and are able to share that experience with others. This type of wisdom is

natural and comes to all people whether they are in a right relationship with

God or not. Even the unbeliever can have a certain amount of natural

wisdom.

We need to understand, however, that Solomon is not speaking about

natural wisdom in his book. He has already told us that the wisdom he

speaks about has its roots in a healthy fear of God. While we learn natural

wisdom through the experiences of life, the wisdom Solomon spoke about

came from God. Verse 6 makes it clear: "For the LORD gives wisdom, and

from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."

If we want the wisdom that Solomon is speaking about, we cannot look to

our experiences in life or to our worldly education. To gain the wisdom

Solomon speaks about we must look to God. This wisdom comes to us

today through the teachings of the Word of God and the marvelous direction

and guidance of His Spirit who lives in the heart of every believer.

Having defined wisdom, we will now move on to examine what Solomon

has to tell us here in chapter 2 about this wisdom. He begins by telling his

listeners (here pictured as a son), how they could get the wisdom that came

from God.

Notice in verse 1-4 that attaining this wisdom is not something that comes

easily. In verse 1, Solomon reminded his listeners that they would need to

accept it. This leads us to believe that the wisdom spoken of here can be

rejected. God offers us His wisdom but He does not force it on us. We must

accept the wisdom God offers. The problem often is that the wisdom of God

will often contradict the wisdom of this world (see 1 Corinthians 3:19).

There will be many times in life when we will have to make a decision

about which wisdom to choose. On the one hand, we have the logical ways

of the world. On the other hand, we have the Word of God that seems to

defy human wisdom and logic. Many have chosen the wisdom of the world

over the wisdom of God. Solomon tells us that if we want the wisdom that

comes from God we will have to learn to step out in faith and accept what

God tells us in His Word and through the guidance of His Spirit.

Second, in verse 1 we see that if we want wisdom we will also have to store

up God's commands within us. The word "store" can also mean to treasure

or hide. What Solomon is telling us is that if we want to be wise we will

have to treasure the words of God. To treasure them is to hold them in the

highest regard. It is to submit ourselves to them and live in obedience to

them no matter what happens. It is to place the truths of the Word of God in

our heart through study and meditation, choosing to live in obedience to

them. This again will not be without its struggle and much discipline.

In verse 2 Solomon tells us that we are also to turn our ear to wisdom. The

act of turning one’s ear is a discipline. This means that we need to put

ourselves in a place where we can hear the teaching of the Word of God and

the direction of His Spirit. In turning our ear to wisdom we will also have to

turn it away from the teachings of this world. If we want the wisdom that

comes from God we will have to find opportunities to listen to God through

the instruction of His Word.

Not only are we to turn our ear to hear wisdom but we are also to apply our

heart to understanding. If you have ever been a student, you will understand

that it is one thing to sit in a classroom and quite another to take in what the

teacher is saying. Words are not enough to give us wisdom; our hearts also

need to be engaged in the process. We need to be motivated from the heart

to understand and apply the truth we are learning. Solomon underlines this

in verses 3-4.

In verses 3-4 Solomon challenges his readers to set their heart on gaining

the wisdom that comes from God. He challenged them to call out for it and

cry aloud for it. The loud cry is a cry of despair and urgency. This is the

attitude Solomon wants us to have when it comes to wisdom (the art of

living with respect and reverence for God). He challenged his readers to

search for this wisdom as they would for silver or for hidden treasure. This

was to be their life's ambition and desire.

Notice in verse 5 that if we seek after wisdom we will understand the fear

of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. This may seem somewhat

confusing at first. What we need to understand, however, is that wisdom,

and the fear and knowledge of God, are the same thing in the mind of

Solomon. Solomon has told us that wisdom begins in the fear of God.

Wisdom also ends in the fear of God. If we want to live wisely, we need to

begin by seeking God and His purposes for our lives. Those who do so will

find that this path of wise living has a single goal. That goal is God. The

source of wisdom is God. When we follow the wisdom He gives we come

to reverence and love Him more. We find that ultimately the wisdom of

God leads us to God Himself. He is the goal of life. He is what brings

satisfaction and purpose to life. To fear Him and walk in His purpose is the

goal of wisdom.

In the remainder of this chapter Solomon takes the time to show us the

benefit of God's wisdom. He tells his readers that God's wisdom has two

key benefits: victory and direction.

In verse 7 Solomon tells us that wisdom held victory in store for the

upright. It was a shield for those whose walk was blameless. In other words,

those who chose to listen to wisdom were assured of victory. We need to

understand that this victory may look different from what we might expect.

The natural wisdom of this world is very different from the wisdom that

comes from God. When the apostles were stoned or cast out of a city for

preaching the gospel, natural wisdom said that they were defeated and their

cause hindered. When the Lord Jesus was crucified on the cross, natural

wisdom claimed victory. Nothing could be further from the truth. In God's

wisdom, these seeming defeats were wonderful victories. Even death for the

believer is victory, for God's purposes do not end in death. We must not see

victory from the perspective of natural wisdom. Victory is assured for those

who pursue God's wisdom but it will not always look like victory to the

human eye. Solomon reminds us in verse 7 and 8 that God will shield those

who seek after His wisdom. He will guard the course of their lives. He will

protect those who are faithful to Him (see also verse 11). Those who pursue

the wisdom of God will experience God's blessing and protection on their

lives. Though they suffer and perish in this world, they will be victorious.

Victory is not the only benefit of wisdom. Wisdom also brings direction and

guidance for those who seek it. Solomon tells us that wisdom will give us

understanding of what is right and fair (verse 9). It will lead us to the "good

path." This direction and guidance on the "good path" is a direct result of

wisdom entering the heart (verse 10).

The promise of Solomon in verse 10 is that the knowledge that comes from

the wisdom of God would be pleasant for the soul. In other words, it would

satisfy and fill the soul. The believer can never be happy outside of a right

relationship with God. There are many things that appeal to the sinful

human nature. They will satisfy our lusts for a moment but these things will

leave the soul empty. Only living in a right relationship with God can

satisfy the soul. This is the goal of God's wisdom. It will bring us into a

right relationship with God and satisfy the longing of our soul.

The wisdom that comes from God will guide and direct us in the way God

wants us to live. It will protect us and keep us from "the ways of wicked

men" (verse 12). Solomon describes these men and their ways in verses 12-

15. Their words are perverse or corrupt (verse 12). They speak words that

defy the truth of God and His purposes. They leave the straight path and

walk in darkness (verse 13). The straight path is the path that God has laid

out for us. These people turn from the path of God to do their own things.

Verse 14 tells us that they delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the

perverseness of evil. Their paths are crooked and they are devious in their

ways (verse 15).

Solomon is telling us that the wisdom that comes from God will keep us

from the path of these wicked people. It will lead us into truth and keep us

in tune with God and His purposes.

In verses 16-19 Solomon gives us another example of how the wisdom of

God will keep us from the path of evil and sin. He told his readers in verse

16 that the wisdom that came from God would keep them from the path of

the adulteress and her seductive words. This adulteress cared nothing for

the vows she had made to the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant

she made before God to be faithful to her husband (verse 17). The path of

adultery she had chosen, though pleasant for a moment, led directly to death

from which she would never return (verses 18-19). God's wisdom would

keep the listener from falling into her trap of death. It would direct those

who followed it into the path of life.

By seeking the wisdom that came from God, the seeker would be kept on

the path of righteousness (verse 20). This was the path of reverence and

respect for God and His ways. This was the path of blessing, life and

victory (verse 21). Ultimate victory was only for those who followed the

way of God’s wisdom. All who turned from it would perish.

For Consideration:

Compare the wisdom that comes from God with the natural

wisdom we acquire through experience in life. What is the

difference?

Solomon tells us that if we want the wisdom that comes from

God we will have to learn to accept it. Have you ever

struggled with accepting the wisdom that comes from God?

Explain.

We are encouraged to seek the wisdom of God as one would

seek after a great treasure. Has it been your desire to have this

wisdom so that you can live a life of respect and reverence

for God?

How does the wisdom of God protect us?

Solomon tells us that the wisdom of God satisfies the soul.

Have you found this satisfaction in God's Word and His

purposes for your life?

For Prayer:

Ask God to open your heart to receive more of His wisdom.

Ask God to give you courage and strength to turn your back

on natural wisdom when it contradicts the wisdom of God.

Take a moment to thank the Lord for the way His Word and

His Spirit have kept you over the years from falling into sin

and evil.

Thank the Lord for revealing His wisdom to you. Thank Him

for the way living for Him has satisfied your soul.

3 - GRACE FOR THE

HUMBLE

Read Proverbs 3:1-35

he key to understanding chapter 3 of the book of Proverbs seems

to be its conclusion in verses 34 and 35. Here Solomon told his

readers that God mocked the proud but gave grace to the humble.

The wise would be honoured but the fool would be put to shame. Solomon

tells his readers that there is rich blessing in humbling oneself before God

and seeking His wisdom. The humble person was one who submitted to the

Lord God and chose to live a life of reverence and respect for Him.

Solomon tells us here that this was the path of blessing.

Solomon begins in verse 1 by challenging his reader not to forget the

teaching of wisdom. There is a good reason for remembering and keeping

the teachings of wisdom. Solomon told his readers that these teachings

would prolong life and bring prosperity. While we ought to listen to the

wisdom of God because it is right and honours our Creator, Solomon tells

us that this wisdom also brings rich blessing to those who submit and obey.

This statement of Solomon is not easy to understand. There are those who

faithfully keep the commands and teaching of God who die at a young age.

Many believers have given up everything for the cause of God's wisdom.

Jesus died at the age of 33 and lived a simple life with very little earthly

possessions to call His own. How are we to understand what Solomon

writes here in this verse about prosperity and long life? First, we need to see

that Solomon is speaking in general terms. He is simply telling us that if we

choose to listen to wisdom, it will mean a better quality of life for us. Sin

and rebellion strip us of God’s blessing. The wisdom of God will lead us

into the highest quality of life under the blessing of God. By walking in the

wisdom of God, we will experience the very best God has to offer us in this

life.

In verse 3 Solomon challenged his readers to bind love and faithfulness

around their necks and write them on the tablets of their hearts. In other

words, they were to wear them like a necklace for all to see. They were to

inscribe love and faithfulness on their hearts so that every decision and

action flowed from these two virtues. It was the motivation for all actions.

This love and faithfulness expressed itself in relationships with God but

also with neighbours and friends. Every action and word was to come from

a heart of love toward God and a faithful commitment to His wisdom.

Verse 4 tells us that if we make love and faithfulness to God and His

wisdom our motivation in all we do, we will win favour and a good name in

the sight of God and people. This is because our actions are loving and

honest. This is in direct contrast to those whose only desire was to promote

their own interests at the expense of those around them.

Remember that Solomon is speaking here about a general principle. Jesus

lived with love and faithfulness but He was hated by the world. The

principle Solomon is giving us here is that generally, when we live with

love and faithfulness toward God, our lives will shine brightly in this dark

world and people will notice. They will respect the love and commitment

we have toward the Lord and His ways. They will know that we are

trustworthy and honest.

Solomon challenges us to trust in the Lord and His wisdom with all our

hearts (verse 5). In particular he tells his readers that they were not to lean

on their own understanding but rather acknowledge God in all their ways.

Solomon reminds us here that there is a wisdom that is natural to human

beings and then there is a wisdom that comes from God.

There have been many times in my life when I have been trusted my own

wisdom and reasoning. Sometimes the wisdom of God does not make sense

to the human mind. God's ways are very different from our ways.

Solomon's challenge to us is to trust God in these times. He commands us

not to rely on our own understanding. What a challenge this is for us. This

means that we will have to trust in God's wisdom as it is revealed to us

through His Word and the leading of His Spirit. This will mean stepping out

into the unknown. Solomon challenges us to rely more on God's wisdom

and guidance than in our own understanding. He tells his readers in verse 6

that they were to acknowledge God in all their ways. That is to say, they

were to seek Him and His wisdom in everything they did. They were to

bring Him into every decision and every action. They were to seek His

direction in everything.

Again, this is not the attitude of the proud person. It is only the humble

person that would submit every decision to the Lord and His wisdom.

Notice again, however, the blessings attached to this command. Verse 6 tells

us that if we do submit to the wisdom of the Lord in every matter, God will

direct us and make our paths straight. A straight path is a path of clear

direction. It is a path where all obstacles have been removed. Solomon is

not saying that we will never have problems in life if we listen to the

wisdom of God. He is telling us, however, that those who seek God in all

their ways will know His blessing and be kept from much harm and danger.

God will guide and direct them, showing them the right path to take.

In verse 7 Solomon told his readers not to be wise in their own eyes. To be

wise in our own eyes is to feel that we have enough wisdom in ourselves to

live our lives. It is to fail to recognize our need of a wisdom that is higher

than ours. Solomon speaks here about natural wisdom that is common to

all. Natural wisdom is not sufficient to live a life that respects and

reverences God. There are things that natural wisdom simply cannot

understand.

Instead of lifting up natural wisdom, Solomon challenged his readers to fear

the Lord and shun evil (verse 7). What he is telling his readers here is that

instead of trusting their own wisdom they were to seek the wisdom of God.

This wisdom would guide them and keep them from evil.

There was a rich blessing attached to turning from their own wisdom to the

wisdom of God. Solomon told his readers that the fear of the Lord would

bring health to their body and nourishment to their bones (verse 8). Again,

remember that even believers get sick and suffer from all kinds of disease.

Solomon is telling us, however, that those who humble themselves before

God find themselves in a path of health and refreshing. They live with a

clear conscience. They avoid the pitfalls of those who wander from the path

of true wisdom. They can go to bed at night and sleep the sleep of the

content and happy. This will affect their overall health and well-being.

In verse 9 Solomon speaks to the issue of wealth and possessions. Here he

told his readers that they were to honour God with their wealth and the first

fruits of their crops. That is to say, they were to offer Him a portion of what

they had. They were to use their resources to bless His cause. The proud

person kept these resources for himself. The humble person surrendered his

or her possessions to God for His use.

Solomon reminded his readers that when we surrender all we have to the

Lord for His use and honour Him with our possessions, God will make sure

that we do not lack what is necessary for our wellbeing. In verse 10 he told

his readers that God would care for them so that their barns were filled to

overflowing and their vats to the brim with wine. We are stewards of God's

resources. The proud claim their possessions for themselves. The humble

realize that everything belongs to God and willingly surrenders all he or she

has to Him.

God will provide for us if He can trust us with the use of His resources. He

promises to fill our barns to overflowing if we will surrender our claim to

these possessions. We sometimes hold onto our possessions tightly. God is

asking us to be a channel for the blessings He has given to us. He is asking

us not to hold onto those blessings but to freely give as He leads. If we will

be a channel of these blessings, God will fill that channel to overflowing.

Verse 11 speaks about God's discipline. Solomon tells his listeners not to

despise the Lord's discipline in their lives. God will correct us when it is

necessary. There will be times when that correction will be difficult. No one

wants to be disciplined. Discipline, by its nature, is hard. The proud person

will not remain under that discipline or accept it. The humble, however, will

realize that they need correction and learn from the discipline of God. They

will hear the rebuke of the Lord and change what needs to be changed.

Solomon reminds us in verse 12 that the reason the Lord disciplines us is

because He loves us. Like a father, God trains "the son He delights in."

God's heart is to train us and use us for the sake of His kingdom. He works

on our character and shapes us into people He can use. He disciplines us

because He cares for us and who we are. Like an artist, God shapes us into

objects of special beauty for His kingdom. The humble will let God do this

work. They will accept His correction and rebuke with delight because they

know it comes from the hand of a loving God who has their interest at

heart.

According to Solomon, there is great blessing in finding wisdom (verse 13).

The wisdom God gives is more profitable than silver and yields a better

return than gold. It is more precious than rubies and nothing can be

compared to this wisdom (verse 15). Wisdom, as we have said, refers to the

art of living a life of respect and reverence toward God. The blessings of

this life are far greater than anything that could be purchased with gold and

silver.

Long life is in the right hand of wisdom, and riches and honour in her left

hand (verse 16). Wisdom’s ways are pleasant and all the paths of wisdom

lead to peace (verse 17). Solomon compared the wisdom of God to a tree of

life for all who embraced her. The Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden was a

tree that gave eternal life (see Genesis 3:22). The wisdom of God as found

in His Word shows us the way of eternal life. Those who follow this

wisdom of God know life and great blessing.

It was through wisdom that the Lord laid the earth's foundation and His

understanding set the heavens in their place (verse 19). That same wisdom

divided the waters and caused the clouds to drop their dew on the earth

(verse 20). The wisdom of God in creation is beyond anything we could

ever understand. It is far superior to the natural wisdom of man. It is this

wisdom that disciplines and trains us. It is this wisdom that wants to guide

and direct us in a life of reverence and respect for God. Solomon challenges

us to embrace this wisdom and seek it with all our hearts. He calls us to put

our full confidence in this infinite wisdom that God wants to give all who

will seek Him.

In verse 21 Solomon exhorted his readers to preserve sound judgment and

discernment and not to let them out of their sight. This sound judgment and

discernment came from the wisdom of the God who laid the foundation of

the earth and set the skies in place. Sound judgment was not the natural fruit

of the proud heart. Its source was the infinite wisdom and understanding of

God given to the humble who would listen. This judgment and discernment

that came from God's wisdom would be life for those who preserved it as an

ornament around their neck (verse 22). God's wisdom is not merely words,

it is life. The wisdom of God gives life to us and is the source of

tremendous blessing. It is medicine for the soul and brings healing to life’s

deepest hurts. It is light for our path and guides us in the way we should go.

It keeps us from stumbling (verse 23). The wisdom of God will keep us

when we are afraid (verse 24). It is comfort and encouragement for us in

our discouragement and by following its counsel we can lie down in peace

so that our sleep will be sweet (verse 24). It will guide us so that we will not

have to fear the sudden disaster and ruin that will overtake the wicked

(verse 25). It will keep our feet from the snare of those who seek our defeat

(verse 26).

For Solomon, God's wisdom was far more than intellectual words. It was a

life-giving power, directing, protecting and restoring all who would

surrender to it. Hebrews 4:12 puts it this way:

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any

double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and

spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of

the heart."

Moses, in Exodus 32:46-47 told his people:

"Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you

this day, so that you may command your children to obey

carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words

for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the

land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

Both Moses and Solomon agree that the wisdom of God is living and

powerful. The wisdom of God found in His Word is able to transform the

lives of all it touches. This underlines the importance of Scripture. Those

who teach the Word of God are not teaching doctrines and truths only; they

are sharing a life transforming power with those who are humble enough to

receive it.

As Solomon concludes this chapter he gives some final challenges to his

readers. He knows that following the wisdom of God would not be easy. He

encouraged his readers not to give in to natural reasoning in these times but

to choose the wisdom of God. He gives us some practical examples to

follow.

In verse 27-28 Solomon reminded his listeners that they were not to

withhold good from those who deserved it when they had the power to act.

In other words, if their neighbour was in difficulty and they could do

something about it, they were to do so and not hold back. They were to give

whatever they could at the moment. Solomon made it clear that they were

not to tell their neighbour to come back the next day when they had

something to give them that very moment (verse 28). This is significant.

Have you ever felt prompted to give but decided to think about it first? Very

often, what happens is that we turn to our natural wisdom and begin to do

our calculations. Natural wisdom tells us that we need to store up for the

future and not give our money away. Solomon knew the temptation of those

who hesitated. He knew that they would be tempted to turn to natural

wisdom. Natural wisdom would keep them from stepping out into God’s

purpose. When God puts it on your heart to give, then give without

hesitation. Trust God and He will provide for you.

Solomon gives another example in verses 29-30. Here he told his readers

that they were not to plot harm against their neighbour or accuse them for

no reason. This is what a proud person would do. The proud person wants

to be better than his neighbour and will do anything to bring him or her

down so that they look better. The humble person, on the other hand, would

live at peace, content with his or her lot.

Related to this is the challenge of verses 31-32. Here Solomon told his

reader not to be envious of a violent man and his ways. Why would

someone be envious of a violent person? The answer may be in the fact that

a violent person exercised violence for the purpose of bettering his lot in

life. A violent person wanted what his neighbour had and so he took it by

force. For a time, the violent man or woman enjoyed the profits of their

violence. They lived in the luxury of riches stolen from others. Solomon

wanted to be sure that his readers understood that while the violent person

might enjoy a life of luxury and ease for a moment, the Lord detested their

ways and would judge them. Their position was not one to envy. Their lot

was a terrible one. The curse of God was on the wicked (verse 33).

While the Lord God detested the proud and perverse person, He took the

upright into His confidence (verse 32) and blessed the home of the

righteous (verse 33). God mocked the proud but gave grace to the humble

(verse 34). Those who pursued God's wisdom would be honoured but those

who rejected it would be put to shame (verse 35).

Solomon makes a very strong point in this chapter. He showed his reader

that the path of victory was in seeking the wisdom of God. There was no

future for those who turned from this wisdom. The wisdom of God was

powerful and life transforming. Those who followed the way of God's

wisdom were blessed with long life and prosperity. They knew the favour of

God on their lives and could be assured of His guidance and direction.

Their barns would be filled. They would be trained in godliness and eternal

life would be their inheritance. This is a powerful motivation for seeking

God's wisdom.

For Consideration:

What does Solomon tell us are the blessings in store for those

who pursue God's wisdom?

Why is it so hard for the proud to accept God's wisdom?

Have you ever found yourself leaning on your own

understanding? What is the challenge of this chapter? Why

do we turn so often to our natural wisdom?

What does Solomon teach us about giving?

What does Solomon teach us here about the life transforming

power of God's wisdom? How has God’s wisdom changed

your life?

For Prayer:

Ask God to give you grace to humble yourself to see your

need of His wisdom.

Thank the Lord that He loves you enough to correct and

discipline you.

Ask God to help you to hold onto your possession lightly.

Ask Him to lead you in how you use what He has given.

Thank the Lord for how His Word has transformed your life.

Thank Him for a very particular way that His Word has

transformed an attitude or behaviour in your life.

Ask God to give you grace to seek His wisdom in all you do.

4 - WISDOM IS SUPREME

Read Proverbs 4:1-27

olomon has been speaking about the importance and benefits of

God's wisdom. We have made a distinction between natural human

wisdom and God's wisdom. Solomon makes it clear that the

wisdom he speaks about in this book has its roots in the fear of God and

that those who find wisdom find the fear of God (Proverbs 2:1-5). Here in

chapter 4 he continues to underline the importance and benefit of God's

wisdom. He pleads with his readers to turn to this wisdom and seek it with

all their heart. Solomon personalizes his plea to his readers by speaking as a

father pleading with his sons to listen to his instructions (verse 1).

Verse 2 gives us the assurance that the wisdom that comes from the father is

sound. That is to say, the teaching that comes from the father is good,

excellent and right. We can trust what he says. We can have confidence in

what he teaches. We have no reason to doubt his word. We have every

reason to listen to what he says because it is true and trustworthy. Solomon

challenges his readers not to forsake this teaching.

In verses 3-5 Solomon takes his readers back to his own childhood. He

spoke to them about how his father had challenged him to lay hold of his

words with all his heart (verse 4). His own father taught him the importance

of obedience. As a young boy in his father's house, "still tender, and an only

child of his mother," Solomon remembered clearly how his father had

challenged him to get wisdom and understanding and never to swerve from

them. This challenge of his father continued with him even to his dying day.

Solomon believed in seeking the wisdom of God. This would become his

lifelong pursuit. It would become his passion and mission in life. Now he

challenged his own sons and anyone who would listen to him with the

words his own father had spoken to him as a young boy.

In verse 6 he restates his challenge to his listeners: "Do not forsake

wisdom." He reminded all who would listen to him that wisdom would

protect them and if they loved wisdom, it would watch over them.

According to Solomon in verse 7, wisdom was "supreme." In other words,

wisdom was the principal or most important thing in life. Again we must

remind ourselves that the wisdom that Solomon spoke of here was not

natural wisdom and understanding but God's wisdom. You can know all

there is to know about the world and still be very unwise.

Solomon spoke here about the wisdom that came from God and had its

roots and motivation in the fear (reverence and respect) of God. According

to Solomon there was nothing more important in life than to know how to

live for God and in a right relationship with God. This was the purpose of

wisdom.

Solomon challenged his readers to make the pursuit of the wisdom of God

their highest pursuit. He encouraged them to get wisdom, though it cost

them everything they had (verse 7). He reminds his readers of the benefits

of this wisdom in verses 8-13.

In verse 8 Solomon told his readers that if they esteemed wisdom she would

exalt them. The apostle Peter, writing in 1 Peter 5:6, said:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that

He may lift you up in due time.

This is what Solomon is telling his own readers. He is telling them to

humbly turn to the wisdom of God and surrender to its instruction and

guidance and they will be lifted up or exalted in God's time. If they

embraced His wisdom, God would honour them. That wisdom would be a

garland of grace and crown of splendour on their head.

Notice also in verse 10 that wisdom would prolong their years. Many of us

have seen men and women turning their backs on God and wandering off in

to sin and rebellion. Countless lives have been destroyed by rebellion

against God. The God who created us knows what is best for us. Only by

submitting to His wisdom can we know the fullness and blessing God

intends for our lives.

Wisdom will also guide and lead us along straight paths (verse 11) so that

our steps will not be hindered and we will not stumble when we run (verse

12). There are many snares along the road of life. The Word of God warns

us about those snares. It shows us how the enemy wants to destroy us and

our relationship with God. It warns about the tactics of the enemy. It shows

us examples of men and women who have fallen before us so that we do not

fall into the same trap. Its prophetic warnings challenge us to walk in the

path of truth. Notice that the path wisdom takes is a straight path. This is a

path with no obstacles. It is a path that does not turn to the right or to the

left. It is a path of purpose and clarity.

In verse 13 Solomon told his readers that they were to hold on to instruction

and not let it go because it was their life. To reject the wisdom of God was

to perish eternally. The blessing of God and the quality of our lives hinges

on obedience and submission to God’s wisdom. Countless men and women

of faith through the ages have willingly surrendered everything to live

according to the Word of God and His wisdom.

In verses 14-19 Solomon warned his people about falling into the trap of the

wicked. He told them not to set their foot on the path of the wicked or walk

in the way of evil men (verse 14). They were to avoid this path and turn

from it. The temptation would be very real for them to follow the path of

the world’s wisdom. Our sinful human nature longs for the path of evil. We

all know the satisfaction our sinful flesh finds in sin and rebellion against

God. To resist the path of wickedness would require discipline.

Solomon describes those who had fallen into the trap of evil in verses 16-

17. He tells us that they are robbed of their sleep until they do something

evil. They ate the bread of wickedness and drank the wine of violence. Evil

has captured their minds and hearts. They could not live without it.

In verse 18-19 Solomon told his listeners that the path of the righteous was

like the dawn of a new day that became brighter and brighter. The path of

the ungodly was very different. The path of the wicked was a path of deep

darkness where they kept stumbling because it was so dark they could not

see ahead of them. There was no hint of dawn for the wicked. Their

darkness was a deep, eternal darkness with no hope.

Solomon compares the way of those who followed the wisdom of God and

those who reject it. The wisdom of God was life for those who accepted it.

Rejection of the wisdom led to darkness and death. For this reason,

Solomon pleads with his sons and all who would listen to him to pay

attention to wisdom and listen closely to its words (verse 20). They were

not to let wisdom out of their sight but keep it securely locked in their heart

(verse 21). The words of wisdom were life and health to all who received

them (verse 22).

In verse 23 Solomon challenged his readers to guard their heart above all

else because it was a wellspring of life. We have already seen that the heart

was where Solomon told his people to keep the wisdom of God (verse 21).

They were to guard their heart for God. They were to keep their heart

focused on the wisdom that they had stored there. They were to treasure

that wisdom and live in tune with it. They were to let nothing else have the

attention of their heart. Their life depended on this. The wisdom of God,

stored in their heart was their life. They were to let nothing strip that from

them. Solomon explained how they could do this in verse 24-27.

In verse 24 Solomon told his people that if they wanted to guard their heart

they would have to put perversity from their mouths and keep corrupt talk

far from their lips. One of the first expressions of sin is the mouth. Even

before acting, we will speak sin with our lips. Speaking to the people of his

day the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 12:34:

"You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything

good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

The words of our lips have their roots in our heart. Solomon is telling his

readers that they were not to allow any sinful or perverse thought in their

heart express itself in words. All such thoughts were to be crushed in the

heart. The first way we can guard our heart is to keep it clean and free from

any evil thought or attitude that could give expression through our lips (see

Psalm 141:3-4).

The second way to guard our heart and honour the wisdom treasured there

is found in verse 25. Here Solomon told his people to let their eyes look

straight ahead. Again, speaking to the people of his day, Jesus said in

Matthew 5:28:

"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has

already committed adultery with her in his heart."

If we want to guard our hearts and honour the wisdom we have stored in

them, we will have to keep our eyes from those things that would cause us

to be tempted to turn from that wisdom and follow the lusts of our flesh.

Guarding our hearts will require an act of discipline. We will have to make

a covenant with our eyes to look straight ahead. We must not let our eyes be

distracted to look away from the purpose of God.

Finally, Solomon tells us in verses 26-27 that if we want to guard our hearts

we will have to make level paths for our feet. In other words we are to take

only the ways that are firm and not swerve to the left or the right. The

phrase "make level" in the New International Version can also mean to

“carefully consider”. The person who carefully considers his path is one

who will remove all obstacles from the path so that he will not stumble. To

carefully consider or to make level is to be purposeful in the direction we

take. If we are to guard our hearts and honour the wisdom of God stored in

them, we will give careful thought to the path we take. We will only take

the ways that are firm and proven. We will not let ourselves be sidetracked

from the path God has laid out for us. We will listen to the voice of wisdom

and follow it intently without deviating in any way from its clear teaching.

Solomon's challenge to his readers is that they esteem wisdom as supreme.

He called them to treasure the wisdom of God in their heart and guard their

heart from anything that would distract them and dishonour the wisdom

they treasured.

For Consideration:

Why should the wisdom of God be our highest pursuit

according to Solomon? What is the difference between the

pursuit of knowledge and the pursuit of the wisdom of God?

What benefits does wisdom bring, according to Solomon, in

this chapter?

What does Solomon teach us about the path of evil and

wickedness in this section?

How are we to guard our hearts? What three practical

examples does Solomon give us that can help us guard our

hearts?

For Prayer:

Ask God to give you grace to resist the temptations of the

flesh so that you can more fully pursue the wisdom of God

(the art of living a life of reverence and respect for God).

Ask God to help you to guard your heart for Him. Ask Him

to help you defeat sin before it expresses itself on your lips.

Ask God to help you to keep your eyes from evil and your

feet from straying from the path of true godly wisdom.

5 - THE PATH OF THE

ADULTERESS

Read Proverbs 5:1-23

he problem of marital unfaithfulness is not a new one. Even in the

days of Solomon and David we have records of adultery. Solomon

had a particular interest in this problem in his society. His own

parents had come together as a result of an adulterous affair (see 2 Samuel

11). Solomon speaks clearly in this chapter about the dangers of adultery.

Solomon begins by calling his readers to pay close attention to wisdom and

insight so that they would maintain discretion and preserve knowledge. In

other words, if they paid close attention to wisdom they would be able to

act in a way that was proper and right. The wisdom of God would preserve

them and keep them on the path of truth and godliness.

In particular Solomon wanted to warn his readers about the adulteress. He

told his listeners that the lips of an adulterous woman drip honey and her

speech was smoother than oil. Admittedly, sin does appear to be very

attractive at times. When Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, he

presented her with a fruit that was beautiful and tasty. He knew that she

would not be tempted by something that did not offer her pleasure or

benefit. Satan will dress up sin so that it is appealing to the flesh. This is

what Solomon is telling us here. The lips of the adulteress were appealing

to the young man. Things are not always the way they appear. All too many

people have been tempted by the beauty of sin's exterior. Solomon will

speak of this later in this book when he writes in Proverbs 16:25: "There is

a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

Solomon warns us to listen to wisdom and not be fooled by the appearance

of sin and evil. In verse 4 he reminded his readers that the way of the

adulteress led to bitterness and destruction. Her end was as sharp as a

double-edged sword. That is to say, all who touched her would be cut. They

would not come away from her without suffering great damage to

themselves and others.

Solomon told his people that the feet of the adulteress led straight to death

and the grave (verse 5). Those who followed her and her ways would be

destroyed. The adulteress gave no thought to the ways of life. That is to say,

she cared nothing for the purpose and plan of God. She was so blinded to

the things of God and the path of truth that she didn't even realize she was

doing wrong by leading many to destruction and death.

Solomon challenged his readers to keep far from the path of the adulteress

and not go near her house (verse 7-8). They would do so at the peril of their

lives. In verses 9-14 he tells his readers what would happen to them if they

gave in to the temptations of the adulteress and were attracted to her beauty.

In verse 9 Solomon tells us that those who followed the path of the

adulteress gave their best strength and years to one who was cruel. In other

words, they gave themselves to someone who would destroy them in the

end. Their strength and blessing would be stripped from them (verse 10).

Strangers would feast on their wealth as the curse of God fell on them. In

the end, they would groan when their flesh was worn out (verse 11). As

they sat broken and defeated, they would say: "How I hated discipline!

How my heart spurned correction! I would not obey my teachers or listen to

my instructors" (verses 12-13). They would come to realize their

foolishness. They had sacrificed life to follow pleasure. They had refused

the counsel and wisdom of God and now suffered the consequences of a

wasted and fruitless life. In the end, they would be brought to the "brink of

utter ruin"; a wasted life spent in the pursuit of pleasure and futility. Their

life with the adulteress would prove to be their undoing and ruin.

Having warned his people of the danger of following the smooth ways of

the adulteress, Solomon then challenges them to rejoice in their own

marriage partners. In verse 15 Solomon compared marriage to a cistern. The

cistern was a source of refreshing water. We are encouraged to be refreshing

water to our husbands and wives. As marriage partners we ought to be an

encouragement and blessing to each other. As marriage partners we have a

special obligation to each other. We minister to each other and refresh each

other in our times of struggle and pain.

Solomon challenged the married man and woman to drink from their own

cisterns. They were not to look anywhere else for their needs to be met.

They were to commit themselves to be a cistern and well of refreshment to

each other. We need to understand here that Solomon speaks particularly

about the sexual relationship between a man and his wife. Even married

people need encouragement and support outside of marriage as well. I have

been often blessed by co-workers and friends in my walk with God. My

wife as well enjoys being with her friends. Some of those friends are able to

minister to her in ways that I could not possibly minister. God has created

us in such a way that we need each other in the body of Christ. This does

not end the day we are married. It is neither wise nor fair to expect that your

husband or wife will be able to meet every one of your needs. Even as a

married man or women you will still need the larger body of Christ to

encourage, support and strengthen you.

Solomon is clear, however, when it comes to sexual faithfulness in

marriage. In this area of our lives we are to "drink from our own cistern."

The water of that cistern (an illustration of intimacy in marriage) is not to

share with anyone else. "Should your springs overflow in the streets, your

streams of water in the public squares?" asked Solomon in verse 16. "Let

them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers." In other words, the

godly husband will be faithful to his wife alone. His wife, in turn will be

faithful to him.

In verse 18 Solomon called the husband to rejoice in the wife of his youth.

Her breasts were to satisfy him always. He was to be captivated or

intoxicated by her love (verse 19). It should be understood that this can only

be possible if we are willing to work on our relationships. All too many

people expect that this delighting in each other is something that just

happens naturally. This may be the case initially, but like a fire, love must

be fed if it is to remain strong. This means that we need to work hard to

maintain this delight in each other. We must deal with any lack of

communication. We must be willing to change our ways when they are

offensive to each other. We must turn our back on everyone else. We must

actively seek to rekindle the love that God has put in our heart for each

other. Those who choose to delight in their spouse will find that God is

more than willing to pull down the obstacles that stand in their way.

"Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of

another man's wife?" Solomon asked (verse 20). God has given those of us

who are married a partner in whom we can delight. Can you trust Him to

restore that delight? Solomon reminds his readers that God saw their ways.

While they may hide their adultery from their partner and others, they could

not hide it from God. God would judge those who departed from His plan

for marriage. These individuals would be ensnared and perish for their lack

of discipline and foolishness (verses 22-23).

The challenge of Solomon in this chapter is to learn to delight in the partner

God has given us. This will require a commitment and sometimes hard

work on our part. The fire of love and devotion will not remain strong if it

is not tended. We will be tempted by Satan and our fleshly nature to look

elsewhere but the path of adultery leads to death. Though the lips of the

adulteress drip honey and are as smooth as oil, they are the gateway to

destruction. We should not be fooled by the exterior beauty of sin.'

For Consideration:

What do we learn in this chapter about the exterior beauty of

sin? Have you ever been attracted to sin because of its

beauty?

How does sin strip us of blessing and strength?

The challenge of Solomon is to delight in our marriage

partners. Do you delight in your partner?

A fire untended will soon go out. This is also true for love

and delight in marriage. Does your marriage need "tending?"

Explain.

For Prayer:

Ask God to give you grace to see beyond the exterior beauty

of sin to the harsh reality of its cruelty.

Ask God to keep you from the path of sexual sin and

unfaithfulness.

Ask God to help you to work more on your marriage. Ask

Him to bring healing and restoration where this is necessary.

Take a moment to thank the Lord for your marriage partner.

Thank Him for specific things that you appreciate about him

or her.

6 - QUALITIES OF A GOOD

MAN

Read Proverbs 6:1-35

n Proverbs 6 wisdom continues to speak like a father to a son. Here in

this chapter Solomon shows us the qualities of a good man or woman.

We are encouraged to pursue all of these qualities in our personal lives

and relationships. We will briefly examine each of these qualities in this

meditation.

Dependability And Responsibility (Verses 1-6)

The first quality, though not necessarily the most important, is the quality of

dependability. Solomon gives an example of this quality in the first six

verses. He speaks of an individual who puts up security for his neighbour or

struck his hands in a pledge for someone else. The idea here is that this

person came alongside his friend in a time of trouble and guaranteed to

stand behind him in his financial obligations. The striking of the hands

together was the means by which they sealed this agreement. By means of

this financial arrangement, the individual committed himself to the financial

obligations of his friend. Should his friend not be able to pay, he would be

responsible.

Solomon warns people who put themselves in this situation that they had

fallen into their neighbour's hands. That is to say, if their neighbour should

choose not to pay their debts, they would be held responsible. In verse 3 he

challenged anyone in this situation to humble themselves before their

neighbour and press their plea with them. In other words, they were to do

their best to get free from this kind of obligation. They were not to allow

themselves any sleep until they were free from their neighbour's debt.

Solomon went as far as to compare this situation to that of a gazelle being

hunted or a bird that was trapped in a snare. The debt and obligation they

were under held them in bondage. It was possible for them to find

themselves in a situation where they could no longer pay their neighbours

debt and lose everything they had.

There are several things we need to consider here in this regard. First,

Scripture is clear that we are to be concerned for our neighbour in their

need but we cannot give when we have nothing to give. Solomon made this

very clear in Proverbs 3:27-28:

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in

your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back

later; I'll give it tomorrow"— when you now have it with you.

Solomon tells us that we are to give to those in need when we have the

"power to act." What we need to understand here, however, is that we are

under no obligation to give what we do not have. How easy it is for us to

feel guilty that we do not have more to give. This kind of guilt does not

come from God. God only asks us to give when we actually have something

to give. Solomon warned his readers not to put themselves under

obligations they might not be able to handle.

There is a second principle we need to see here. Paul told the Romans in

Romans 13:7-8:

"Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;

if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then

honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing

debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has

fulfilled the law."

God expects us to be dependable. We are to be a people who pay our debts.

It is very easy for us to feel our neighbour’s need to such an extent that we

give so much that we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot pay our

own debts. This does not honour the Lord. God expects us to pay what we

owe. We must not sacrifice our testimony as believers. What kind of

witness is it to the world when the believer does not pay his or her debts?

God might challenge us to live a simpler life so that we have more to give

but He will not ask us to give what we do not have to give.

Personally, this passage has been a real challenge to me in the ministry of

book distribution. Admittedly, there have been times when I have given

many more books than I could afford to give. This meant struggle for us as

a family. Letters continued to come in asking for more books. I felt

obligated to do more than I could afford. The Lord has shown me how this

can lead to tremendous bondage and false guilt. What I had to realize was

that I was trying to do more than God had called me to do. As believers we

need to be wise in how we use the resources God has given us. We need to

be careful not to put ourselves in situations where we go beyond what God

has called us to do and find ourselves unable to pay what we owe.

Hard Work (Verses 6-11)

The second quality mentioned in this chapter is that of hard work. Solomon

used an illustration from the insect world. He called his readers to go to the

ant and consider her ways. He reminded them of how the ant had no

commander or ruler but stored up provisions for the winter. The ant worked

hard and showed great wisdom in regards to providing for the needs of its

colony.

Here in this section Solomon rebuked the lazy person who lay in bed all day

and refused to work. He reminded him that this lifestyle was a sure way to

poverty. God desires that we work to provide for our needs. We are not to

sit back and live off other people's generosity.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 Paul said:

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a

man will not work, he shall not eat." We hear that some among

you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such

people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle

down and earn the bread they eat."

The Christian is to be characterized by hard work. We are to use the skills

and strength God provides to care for our own needs, the needs of our

family and ultimately for the needs of others as well.

Honesty (Verses 12-15)

The next quality of the "good man" is found in verses 12-15. Here Solomon

reminded his readers that the scoundrel and villain went about with a

corrupt mouth. This evil-doer "winks with his eye, signals with his feet and

motions with his fingers." The idea here is one of deception. In other words,

the scoundrel and villain were bent on deceiving others. To do this he would

wink to someone else or make some gesture to indicate this deception to his

friend so that together they could take advantage of their innocent victim.

These corrupt individuals plotted evil with deceit in their heart. Solomon

reminds "his son" that disaster would overtake this kind of person in an

instant. They would be destroyed without remedy (verse 15). God is

looking for men and women of honesty and integrity whose words and

actions were true and righteous.

In verse 16 Solomon told his readers that there were six things that the Lord

hated and seven that were detestable to him. This phrase is poetic in nature.

If we count the number of items listed here in this section we see that there

are actually seven items mentioned that that Lord hates. Solomon lists these

seven things God detests in verse 17-19:

1) Eyes that were proud and looked down on others.

2) A tongue that spoke lies and could not be trusted.

3) Hands that shed innocent blood.

4) A heart that devised wicked schemes.

5) Feet that were quick to rush into evil.

6) A false witness who lied.

7) A man who stirred up trouble between brothers.

God is looking for people who are humble, honest and righteous in all their

deeds. This would be reflected in how they related to their brother or sister.

Those who were honest, humble and righteous would not look down on

others. They would speak the truth at all times. They would act with justice

and hate the wicked schemes of the deceitful. They would also do all they

could to maintain peace between brothers and sisters.

In verse 20-24 Solomon paused for a moment, to challenge "his son" to pay

close attention to his father’s commands and his mother’s teaching. These

commands and teaching were ultimately not just their parent’s ideas but the

traditions and teachings of the Lord handed down by oral tradition to the

next generation. Solomon told his readers that if they listened to the wisdom

of God, handed down to them from their parents and put that wisdom into

practice, it would guide and keep them for life.

Notice in verse 21 that they were to bind the teaching of the Lord around

their neck. That is to say, they were to keep the wisdom of God as passed

on to them close to their heart. Those teachings would guide them wherever

they walked. They would watch over them when they slept and speak to

them when they were awake. The wisdom passed on to them was like a

lamp in a dark world. Its corrections would discipline them and keep them

in the way of God.

There is one final quality of the "good man" that Solomon underlines here

in this section. He introduces this in verse 24 when he told "his son" that by

listening to the wisdom of God as passed down to him from his parents he

would be protected from the immoral woman with a smooth tongue and

wayward life.

Moral Faithfulness

In verse 25 Solomon warned his readers about the danger of the adulteress.

He told them not to lust after her beauty or let her eyes captivate them. Sin

is often disguised in beauty. Satan will make sin look good to our eyes. If

you want to trap an animal you will have to make the bait attractive. We are

tempted by those things that appeal to our sinful nature.

Immorality is tempting to the sinful flesh but Solomon reminds his readers

that the prostitute would reduce them to a loaf of bread. In other words,

they would lose everything they had and be left with only a loaf of bread to

live on. Solomon compared those who fell into prostitution and adultery to

a person who scooped fire into their laps. Obviously those who did this

would be burned. You can't walk on hot coals without your feet being

scorched! Nor can you fall into sexual sin without suffering the

consequences. Solomon promised that the person who slept with another

man's wife would be punished.

Solomon reminded his readers in verse 30 that people could understand

why a man or woman would steal to satisfy their hunger. Under the law of

the Old Testament, however, even thieves who stole to survive would have

to repay sevenfold even if they lost their house and all they had. Justice

demanded punishment.

In the case of a person who committed adultery, however, their situation

was different. They did not commit adultery to survive but to satisfy the

sinful lusts of the flesh. If the thief who stole to survive had to pay back

sevenfold even if he lost everything he had, how much more severe would

be the punishment for the adulterer? "Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his

shame will never be wiped away," Solomon told "his son" in verse 34. Not

only this, but the husband's jealousy would be aroused and he would show

no mercy when he took revenge. No bribe or any compensation would be

big enough to satisfy the vengeful husband’s anger. God will hold the

immoral person accountable for his or her actions. Those who choose such

a path will suffer the consequences. God is looking for men and women

who are faithful to their marriage vows and resist the pull of the flesh to

immorality.

The qualities of a good man or woman, according to this chapter then are

dependability, responsibility, hard work, honesty and moral faithfulness.

May the Lord challenge us all to be this kind of person.

For Consideration:

What do we learn in this meditation about giving what we do

not have to give? How easy is it for the enemy to make us

feel false guilt in this area?

What responsibility do we have as believers to pay our debts?

Solomon challenges his readers to work hard. What work has

God given you to provide for your family? Have you been

faithful in this?

Are you honest in all your dealings? What does this chapter

teach us about honesty and integrity as believers?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to be a wise steward of your money

and possessions. Ask God to help you to glorify Him in your

financial dealings with others.

Ask God to show you any area of your life where you are not

completely honest before Him and your brothers and sisters.

Ask God to protect you from immorality and its temptation.

Ask God to help you to demonstrate all the qualities

described in this chapter.

7 - THE YOUNG MAN AND

THE ADULTERESS

Read Proverbs 7:1-27

t might seem strange to us that a man like Solomon who had seven

hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3) would

speak so powerfully about adultery. Here in this chapter, however,

Solomon warns his readers about the dangers of this sin.

As he began his discussion of the sin of adultery, Solomon reminds "his

son" to listen carefully to his instructions and keep his commands. These

instructions are not Solomon's ideas, but the wisdom of God that had been

given to him. It was this wisdom that would keep "his son" or anyone else

from the snares of the enemy. Often the temptations and snares of the

enemy were very attractive. It is because of the attractive nature of these

sins and temptations that we need a guide. Human reason and visual

appearance is not sufficient to show us what is right. Appearances can

deceive us. Human reason is often faulty. God's wisdom alone can guide us

into what is true and right.

Solomon challenged his readers to store up his commands and keep them as

the apple of their eye. They were to learn to delight in the Word of the Lord.

These commands were to be bound on their fingers and written on the tablet

of their hearts. When we bind something on our finger we do so as a

reminder. We are to do whatever it takes to keep the commands and wisdom

of God in front of us. We are to write them on our heart so that wherever we

go they will guide and direct. Every decision we make must be filtered first

through the wisdom and commands of God.

Solomon challenged "his son" to consider wisdom to be his sister and

kinsman. In saying this, Solomon is speaking about the relationship that he

was to have with the wisdom of God. This wisdom was to be close to him.

It was to be like a close relative who lived with him and went with him

everywhere he went.

The reason why we are to keep wisdom close to us is because it will keep

us from falling into the trap of the enemy. In particular Solomon told his

readers that the wisdom of God would keep them from the dangerous trap

of the adulteress with her seductive words. The words of the adulteress

were appealing to the person who was not guided by the wisdom of God.

Solomon shared with his readers an example of a young man trapped like a

bug in a spider’s web. He told his readers in verse 6 that he was looking out

his window on one occasion and saw a young man who lacked judgment

(verse 7). He was walking down the street near the house of an unfaithful

wife, at twilight as the day was coming to the end (verse 9). We can't help

but see what is happening in these verses. This young man was purposeful

but timid. He has obviously heard about this woman and is following the

lusts of his flesh. Notice that he does not walk up to her door in these

verses. He is, however, walking in the direction of her house.

This is how it begins. This young man is open to temptation. He has not

guarded himself against temptation but has chosen to put himself directly in

its path. He approached the house of the adulterous woman. As believers,

guided by the truth of the wisdom of God, we are to discipline ourselves to

keep away from the path of temptation. There are places we should not go.

There are things we need to keep ourselves from watching. There are many

who choose to walk on the path of temptation. Like this young man they

walk straight toward the house of the temptress.

Notice that as he approached the house, the adulterous wife came out to

him, dressed like a prostitute with "crafty intent." The young man did not

need to knock on her door. She was watching for him through her window.

She was dressed to tempt. Like a lion waiting for her prey, she sprang out

from her hiding place to trap him.

We will not have to knock on sin's door. Sin will jump out at us and ensnare

us before we are aware of what happened. Peter, the apostle, tells us in 1

Peter 5:8:

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls

around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

That is to say, our enemy is looking for someone to devour. He is lurking

behind the bushes waiting for someone to pass by. This is what is

happening in this passage. You don't have to knock on sin's door. All you

need to do is walk down temptation's street.

Solomon describes the adulteress in verse 11-13. She is loud and defiant.

She was not governed by the principles of God's wisdom. She boldly shook

her fist at God and followed the desires of her sinful flesh. The fact that she

is loud tells us that she wanted to be heard or noticed. Notice also that her

feet never stayed at home. She was not content with what God had given

her. She was not content to love and remain with her husband; she sought

after other men. She did so in the streets and in the town square where these

men would circulate. This was the kind of woman that took hold of the

young man who walked down her street. Dressed as a prostitute she kissed

him and lured him into her trap (verse 13).

In verse 14 the adulteress tempted the young man by telling him that she

had made a fellowship offering and fulfilled her vows. Leviticus 7:15-16

tells us that the meat of the fellowship offering, when offered as a result of a

vow, was to be eaten the day it was offered.

"The meat of his fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be

eaten on the day it is offered; he must leave none of it till

morning. "'If, however, his offering is the result of a vow or is a

freewill offering, the sacrifice shall be eaten on the day he

offers it, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day.

Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be

burned up."

This being that case, the woman was tempting the young man with a great

feast. The adulteress is religious. Even the mention of the sacrifices and

vows she had made, may have been intended to calm any fears the young

man may have had about disregarding the teaching of wisdom. Satan does

not hesitate to come across as being religious if in doing so he can cause us

to more easily fall into sin.

Notice in verse 15 how the adulteress personalized her temptation. She told

the young man that she had come out to meet him to invite him for the feast

she had prepared. She gives him the impression that she had been looking

for him in particular (verse 15). Obviously, this would make him feel

special and make it also more difficult to resist her temptations. The reality

is that Satan cares nothing for individuals.

In verse 16 the adulteress becomes bolder in her temptation. She told the

young man that she had covered her bed with the finest linens of Egypt and

perfumed it with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. She invited him to drink

deeply of her love until the morning. She had done her best to make sin

appealing to this young man. She offered him a great feast of food. She

prepared her bed with the finest luxuries and offered herself freely to him

for his sensual pleasure.

In verses 19-20 she assured him that her husband would not be home. He

had gone on a long journey and would not be back for some time.

Everything had been planned carefully. The door was wide open for him.

She had made her offer very attractive and appealing to a young man with

no judgment.

The young man was enticed by her smooth talk and fell into her trap (verse

21). He followed her like an ox to slaughter or like a deer stepping into a

noose (verse 22). He did not realize he was being led into a trap that would

cost him his life (verse 23). Her arrow would pierce his liver and he would

perish in her hands.

Solomon concluded his illustration of the young man and the adulteress by

warning his readers to pay close attention to what he was saying. He

pleaded with them to beware of the adulteress and her ways (verse 25). She

had tempted and led many astray. Those slain by the adulteress were a

"mighty throng." That is to say, she had slain a great number of people by

luring them into her house. Her house was a highway to the grave (verse

27).

Solomon very graphically shows us the terrible nature of this sin of

adultery. He shows us how tempting sin can be and yet how dangerous it is.

He warns us about sin's beautiful exterior. He challenges us to not be guided

by what we see but by the truth of the Word (or wisdom) of God. God's

wisdom is a far greater guide than our minds and eyes. Appearance and

reason can be deceptive. God's word alone can protect and keep us from the

sin that lurks around the corner to destroy.

For Consideration:

Why can we not trust what we see? Why is God's Word a

better guide than what we can see?

What does Solomon tell us about the attractive exterior of

sin?

Why is it dangerous to follow the road of temptation?

The adulteress was not content with what the Lord God had

given her. Have you learned to be content with your partner?

Are there any areas of your life where you are not content?

Notice in this passage that the adulteress used religious

language in her temptation. How does Satan use religion and

religious language in his temptations?

For Prayer:

Ask God to help you to delight in the partner He has given

you. Take a moment to thank the Lord for your husband or

wife.

Ask God to help you not to be deceived by the beautiful

exterior of sin and temptation.

Thank the Lord that He has given us a reliable guide to

protect us from the subtle temptations of the enemy.

8 - WISDOM'S CALL

Read Proverbs 8:1-36

olomon returns to the topic of wisdom. Here in chapter 8 he

reminds his readers of the benefits of the wisdom of God.

Solomon begins in verse 1 with a challenge to hear the call of

wisdom. Notice that he told his readers that wisdom was calling out to

them. He tells them that wisdom and understanding raised her voice as it

called out. The wisdom of God is available to us all. God does not hide His

wisdom but offers it to us freely. This wisdom can be seen in the creation of

the world. God clearly demonstrates to us His infinite wisdom in the stars

and the sea. No one can look at the creation without seeing something of the

wisdom that was required to put it together. God speaks out His wisdom in

the pages of Scripture. These Scriptures are available to us. They present to

us the purpose and plan of God for the lives of His people. Wisdom is also

revealed to us in the person of the Lord Jesus who came to demonstrate to

us the heart of God. God's desire is that we understand His purpose. He

does not hide His wisdom. He shouts it out for all to hear.

In verses 2-3 wisdom stands in the busy intersections of the city. She stands

at the gate of the city crying out to all who would enter or leave. It is His

desire that all men and women understand His purpose.

Notice in verse 5 that this wisdom will give prudence to the simple and

understanding to the foolish. You do not have to have a university education

to have the wisdom of God. The Lord delights to give His wisdom to the

simple and the foolish. Even the simplest person can know the wisdom of

God and live in His purpose.

The wisdom of God is right, true and just. When wisdom opened her mouth

to speak, those who heard her could place full confidence in what she said.

Her lips spoke what was right and her mouth spoke what was true (verses 6-

7). Wisdom detested wickedness and evil. What wisdom spoke brought

glory to God her creator. The words of God's wisdom were perfect and

faultless (verse 9). There could not be a better guide for life.

According to Solomon in verse 10-11 there was nothing more precious than

the wisdom of God. He challenged his readers to choose instruction in

wisdom rather than silver and gold. Remember that Solomon is not

speaking about natural wisdom and understanding. He speaks about the

wisdom that has its roots in the fear of the Lord. This type of wisdom was

more precious than rubies and there was nothing in life that could be

compare to it. Those of us who live by this wisdom understand that a life

lived in reverence and respect for God is the greatest life one could ever

live. This is a life of blessing. A life lived in a right relationship with God is

to be treasured more than anything this world can offer.

Solomon tells us in verse 12 that wisdom dwelt with prudence and

possessed knowledge and discretion. In other words, wisdom taught us how

to live right before God and avoid all the snares of the enemy. The wisdom

of God was the source of knowledge and understanding of the purpose of

life. It taught all who would listen how to live a life pleasing to God and in

a right relationship with Him.

Solomon has already told his readers that wisdom was rooted in the fear of

the Lord. In verse 13 he reminded them that those who found the fear of the

Lord hated evil, pride and perverse speech. The wisdom of God would lead

all who listened into a relationship of reverence and respect for God that

hated sin, pride and evil talk.

Wisdom also offered sound counsel and judgment (verse 14). God's wisdom

is the source of sound counsel in times when we do not know where to turn.

It shows us God's purpose for our lives. His wisdom enables us to make

correct decisions in life. As a perfect and faultless wisdom it will never

mislead us.

There is power in the wisdom of God (verse 14). By means of this wisdom,

Satan and his angels are defeated. Paul speaking in Ephesians 6:17

challenged his readers to put on the sword of the Spirit which was the Word

of God. The Word of God is compared to a sword. It is a weapon that could

be used against the enemy. Solomon is telling us that the wisdom of God is

a powerful sword in our hand. By this wisdom the plans of the enemy are

defeated. By it, the kingdom of Satan is pushed back. By the wisdom of

God the kingdom of righteousness is advanced.

In verse 15-16 Solomon told his readers that it was by wisdom that the

kings and rulers made their laws and governed the earth. Without wisdom

these rulers would amount to nothing. Power and riches without wisdom

will fail.

Wisdom, according to Solomon, treated those who listened to it with

honour and love. While sin destroyed all who listened to its temptations, the

wisdom of God honoured all who followed it. Those who sought this

wisdom would find it because it was the delight of God to reveal it to them

(verse 17).

Wisdom promised riches and honour to all who would listen to her voice

(verse 18). Again we need to see riches to be far more than physical wealth

and prosperity. There are many people in this world who live satisfying

lives but who do not have great riches. Money and possessions do not

provide the riches and prosperity that Solomon speaks about here. God's

wisdom will direct us in the path of true prosperity of body, soul and spirit.

God's concept of prosperity is far deeper than our understanding. To

underline this truth, Solomon told his readers in verse 19 that the fruit of

wisdom was better than fine gold and its yield surpassed choice silver. What

God has to offer those who will follow His wisdom is far superior to

anything money could buy.

In verses 20-21 Solomon tells his readers that wisdom would lead them in

the way of righteousness and justice. Those who loved her would find that

their treasuries would be full. Again we need to see here that Solomon is

not speaking just about money and possessions. He has already told us that

wisdom's fruit was greater than gold and silver. The fruit of wisdom was a

walk of righteousness and justice. We cannot underestimate the richness of

a life that is lived in a right relationship to God. Many have given all they

had in this world for this treasure. Many have testified to the barrenness of a

life of riches. An even greater number have testified to the richness of a

walk with God. Those who know the way of righteousness are blessed

above all others. Their heart is full and satisfied. Their treasury is full. The

wisdom of God points us to this fullness.

Wisdom, according to Solomon, was the first of all of God's creation. This

wisdom had its source in eternity. It existed in God before the world was

created (verse 23-26). Wisdom existed when the heavens were set in their

place and the horizon was marked on the surface of the waters (verse 27). It

existed when the clouds were put in the skies and the sea and land were

given their boundaries (verses 28-29).

Wisdom was the craftsman at the Lord's side when He created the earth

(verse 30). It is pictured here expressing itself in great delight through the

creation of the world. The picture is an important one. From verse 30 we

catch a glimpse of the great pleasure that God took in the creation of the

earth and humanity. Creation was His delight. Notice that He delighted

particularly in the creation of human beings in verse 31.

Solomon challenges his readers in verses 32-34 to seek after this wonderful

wisdom. They were to listen to what wisdom decreed. They were not to

ignore her cries. Instead, they were to be instructed by her. They were to

listen and watch daily at wisdom’s door (verse 34). This means that we

need to take the time each day in the Word of God and to listen to the

guidance of the Spirit of God. We are to read His word and listen to its

instruction. Solomon promised that there would be great blessing in

listening to and following the wisdom of God each day (verse 34).

Those who found wisdom, according to Solomon, found life and received

favour from the Lord (verse 35). Those who failed to find wisdom,

however, did so to their own harm. In fact, those who turned from the

wisdom of God loved death. Only those who choose the path that God has

laid out know eternal life in God's presence. To reject God’s wisdom and

purpose is to choose death. From this we can see just how important it is to

seek this wisdom from God.

For Consideration:

Solomon reminds us in this chapter that the Lord delights to

share His wisdom. How does wisdom call out in our day?

Where can we find this wisdom of God?

Solomon told his readers that even the simple could have the

wisdom of God. What does he mean by this? What

encouragement do you take in this truth?

What riches does wisdom offer those who listen to her?

Why does Solomon tell his readers that those who reject the

wisdom of God love death? What did he mean by this?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He delights to share His heart and

wisdom with the simple.

Take a moment to consider the blessings you have received

from listening to the wisdom of the Word of God. Thank the

Lord for those blessings.

Ask God to help you to seek His wisdom daily. Ask Him to

give you grace to listen more to Him and His wisdom.

Take a moment to pray for a friend or loved one who has

never turned to God and accepted His purpose. Ask God to

open their mind and heart to His wisdom.

Thank the Lord that His wisdom leads to eternal life.

9 - WISDOM AND FOLLY

Read Proverbs 9:1-18

here are many competing voices in our lives. Each day we are

faced with decisions. In Proverbs 9 Solomon compares the call of

wisdom with the call of folly and shows us the difference between

them.

In verse 1 Solomon pictures wisdom as building a house. He tells us that

she hewed out seven pillars for this house. There have been many different

interpretations for these seven pillars. What we do understand is that the

number seven in the Bible refers to perfection or completeness. This is as

far as we need to take this verse. Wisdom's house was built solidly with

seven pillars. It was perfect and secure. This was a house that would not fall

down in the storms of life. Those who live in the house of wisdom are safe.

In verse 2, wisdom prepares a great feast. She prepared her meat and wine

and set them on the table. She sent her maids out to call from the highest

point of the city to anyone who would accept her invitation to come and

dine at her table (verse 3). Going to the highest point of the city would

insure that all its inhabitants would hear the call.

Notice in verse 4 that this call went out to the simple and those who lacked

judgment. Wisdom invited them to her feast. Wisdom only has two

requirements for those who wanted to enjoy her feast. First, all who came

would have to leave their simple ways. Second, they would also have to

commit themselves to walk in the way of understanding (verse 6). Let’s

consider this in more detail.

There are two things that God requires of all who want His wisdom. First,

we will have to leave our simple ways. This requires recognizing the futility

of our sinful and worldly way of life. It will mean turning from our old way

of thinking. This will not be easy. God's ways do not make sense to our

earthly way of thinking. If we are to leave our simple ways, we will have to

accept God's ways by faith. This will mean turning our backs on our

worldly desires and thoughts to accept God's Word and purpose.

Second, verse 6 tells us that if we want God's wisdom we will have to learn

to walk in the way of understanding. Part of leaving our simple ways is

learning to walk on a new path. This will require discipline. The path of

wisdom will not always be easy. It will require that we turn our backs on

some friends and loved ones. It will require sacrifice. Wisdom is not only

something we have in our head. It affects where our feet take us or what our

eyes see. If we want to eat the feast that wisdom prepares we must be

willing to leave our simple ways and walk in the path she shows us. This

will mean a lot of changes and a new way of life. All who seek the wisdom

of God must be willing to make these changes and commit themselves to

the things God shows them.

Solomon told his readers in verses 7-9 that correction was necessary for all

who wanted to grow in wisdom. None of us will ever get through life

without being corrected. We all wander from the path of wisdom in some

way or other and need to be brought back. Solomon told his readers that

there were two possible responses to correction.

The first type of response to correction was the response of the mocker.

Solomon warns us that if you correct a mocker you invite an insult. The

mocker is one who does not see his or her need for the wisdom of God.

They laugh at those who present the way of the Lord to them. They take

offense with anyone who would correct them. When corrected they respond

with cutting remarks and abuse (verse 7). Those who seek to correct a

mocker find that the mocker will hate them. Mockers are proud and will not

accept correction. Any correction is seen as a personal insult and they will

quickly respond by trying to get back at the one who corrects them.

The second response to correction is the response of the wise man. In verse

8 Solomon told his readers that the wise man loved those who corrected

him. It is important to note that wisdom is humble. The person who is wise

in their own mind can become very proud. The wisdom Solomon spoke of

here was not natural wisdom that puffed up but the wisdom of God that

humbled. Those who trust in the wisdom of God were trusting in a source

of wisdom that was not their own.

Solomon also tells us in verse 9 that when a wise person was corrected or

instructed he or she would become wiser. The person who seeks God's

wisdom is open to learning from God through correction. Correction is

humbling. It reminds us that we are not perfect. Correction, however, is

necessary if we are going to grow and learn to walk on the right path. The

wise person understands his need for correction and learns from it.

Notice, again, in verses 10-11, how Solomon reminds us that wisdom had

its beginning in the fear of the Lord and the person who had knowledge

understood the Holy One. Solomon made it clear that true wisdom had to

do with learning to walk in the fear of the Lord. No one could have true

understanding of life if they do not take the Holy One into account. There

are many people in this world who do not understand this. If we try to

understand life without God we miss the whole point. If we try to live

outside of the fear of the Lord we miss the whole point of life. The wisdom

Solomon spoke of here began with God and a personal walk with Him.

There was tremendous blessing attached to living in this type of wisdom. In

verse 11 Solomon told his readers that through this wisdom, days would be

lengthened. In verse 12 he told his readers that wisdom would reward them.

Wisdom brings great blessing. Those who live in the fear of the Lord know

what Solomon speaks about here. Those who live according to the Word of

God and its principles know wonderful blessings. These blessings cannot be

bought with silver or gold. Those who mock wisdom suffer loss (verse 12).

From this discussion on wisdom, Solomon turns his attention in verse 13 to

folly. Like wisdom, folly too went to the highest point in the city to call out.

She was loud, undisciplined and without knowledge (verse 13). Like

wisdom, she called to all who passed by asking them to follow her ways.

Her call is the same as the call of wisdom in verse 4: "Let all who are

simple come in here!"

Both wisdom and folly cry for our attention. True wisdom requires

discipline and correction but its fruit is the fruit of contentment and life.

Folly appeals to the desires of our flesh. It speaks out in verse 17 saying:

“Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!

Solomon, speaking in wisdom, however, passes judgment on these words of

folly in verse 18 when he says:

But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests

are in the depths of the grave."

What Solomon is telling us is that the call of folly was very different from

the call of true wisdom. Folly offered sweet water and delicious food but

this was at the cost of their lives. Folly offered temporary pleasure but

would destroy them in the end.

Both folly and wisdom cried out from the highest point of the city. Their

cries were similar but their fruit was very different. Wisdom offered

blessings and riches that were more precious than gold and silver and lasted

for eternity. Folly offered stolen food and water. This food and water was

sweet and delicious but would destroy them in the end. Its pleasures were

for a moment. In the end, folly would destroy them. Only a life lived under

the wisdom of God could satisfy.

For Consideration:

What does Solomon tell us about the security of the wisdom

that comes from God?

What are the two requirements for all who will seek the

wisdom of God?

What do you personally need to leave behind to know the

wisdom of God? What particularly hinders your growth in

wisdom?

What is the connection between wisdom and correction in

this passage?

Though folly offered sweet and delicious food, what was the

result of eating what folly offered?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for the wisdom He offers. Ask Him to help

you to be more willing to receive from Him.

Ask the Lord to show you if there is any way in which you

have not received correction that leads to greater wisdom.

Ask the Lord for grace not to be deceived by the sweetness of

folly.

10 - THE WAY OF THE

RIGHTEOUS

Read Proverbs 10:1-32

roverbs 10 is a collection of wise sayings that relate to the way the

righteous person is to live. The righteous person is compared in this

chapter to the wicked person. We see the fullness of the life of

righteousness and the barrenness of the wicked person's life.

Solomon began chapter 10 by reminding his readers that a wise son would

bring joy to his father but a foolish son would bring grief to his mother. We

should not make too much about the use of the terms father and mother

here. Solomon is using poetic language. What he is telling us is that the son

or daughter who is wise is a real delight to his or her parents. Remember

that the wisdom spoken of here is a wisdom that comes from God and is

rooted in the fear of the Lord. There can be no greater delight and joy for

godly parents than to see their children live a life of reverence and respect

for the Lord God and His purpose.

Solomon goes on to compare the wise son and the foolish son. He reminds

his readers, in this chapter, of the blessings attached to living a life of fear

and reverence for God. We will examine the various wise sayings of

Solomon in this chapter and see what he tells us about the blessing of the

righteous life lived in the wisdom of God.

The Treasure Of The Righteous (Verses 2-5)

In verses 2-3 Solomon told his readers that ill-gotten treasure had no value.

This treasure was obtained by evil means (possibly by theft or through

excessive interest). What we have not honestly worked for will have no true

value in our minds. What delight can we take in possessions that were taken

by force from someone else? On the other hand, the man who has worked

hard and honestly for what he has can look at what he has obtained with

great delight and joy. To him the little he has obtained honestly is worth far

more than all the ill-gotten treasures of the wicked

One of the great treasures of life is righteousness. Solomon told his readers

in verse 2 that righteousness delivers from death. The treasures of the

wicked have no value to him, but the fruit of righteousness is life. Those

who have entered a right relationship with God have something that this

world with all its treasures cannot afford. They have eternal life and eternal

blessing in the presence of God.

Part of the treasure of the righteous has to do with the knowledge of the

Lord's wonderful care and provision. Those who are in a right relationship

with God know His provision. God cares for those who belong to Him. Like

a shepherd, God cares for His own. The wicked, however, never seem to

find the satisfaction they desire. There always seems to be something

missing in the life of the wicked person. There is a void that cannot be filled

apart from God. Righteousness brings satisfaction and fullness.

This truth does not mean that the righteous can sit back and do nothing.

God provides for His people but He also expects them to work hard.

Solomon told his readers that laziness was a sure way to poverty but

diligent (hard working) hands brought wealth (verse 4). The person who

gathered crops in the summer would have provision for the winter but the

one who slept during the harvest was disgraceful.

We need to see verses 3-4 in their context. These verses show us how God

provides for the righteous. He doesn't just drop His provisions from heaven

on them, He expects them to work. The righteous man is a hardworking

man who experiences the blessings of the Lord in that hard work.

The Memory Of The Righteous (Verse 6-7)

The wicked person will eventually be overwhelmed by his evil words and

deeds. The head of the righteous, however, would be crowned with blessing

(verse 6).

Solomon reminded his readers that the righteous person would be

remembered. People would look back on their life with respect. They would

be blessed to have known the righteous person. This is not the case for the

wicked. We would prefer to forget the wicked person and their evil deeds.

The wicked person takes all memory of his ungodly life with him to the

grave. The righteous person is remembered long after he has died.

The Security Of The Righteous (Verses 8-10)

In verses 8-10 we see that the righteous person is secure while the wicked

person comes to ruin. "The wise in heart accept commands," Solomon told

his readers. The commands spoken of here are the commands of God. The

wise person lives according to the commands of God but the fool rejects

God’s wisdom. The fool walks in a crooked path (verse 9). That is to say, he

is not guided by the principles of righteousness but goes wherever he wants.

According to verse 10, the fool "winks maliciously and causes grief.” He is

a deceiver and winks in an attempt to deceive his neighbour. There is no

security in this path. On the other hand, the man of integrity can be

confident that the path he treads is secure. It is a path of blessing and

honour. God will walk with him on this path. He has nothing to fear.

The Lips Of The Righteous (Verses 11-21)

There is a world of difference between the words of the righteous and the

words of the wicked. Solomon tells his readers that the mouth of the wicked

stir up violence (verse 11), dissension (verse 12) and ruin (verse 14). We

don't have to think too hard to understand what Solomon is saying about the

words of the wicked. We have all felt the bitter sting of those evil words in

our lives. Those words have cut and insulted. They break and destroy those

they touch. We have all experienced the fruit of evil words in our lives.

The words of the righteous, however, are very different. Solomon compared

them in verse 11 to a fountain of life. These words are refreshing and life

giving. According to verse 12, they love and cover wrong. That is to say,

they are not quick to point out faults. Instead, they edify and encourage.

The words of the righteous are words of wisdom (verse 13) and knowledge

(verse 14). They are words that come from God and His wisdom. They

build up and direct. Unlike the words of the wicked that lack judgment

(verse 13) these words are discerning words that guide and bring wise

counsel.

What a pleasure it is to be in the presence of a righteous person and to listen

to his or her edifying and uplifting words of wisdom. This is not the case

for the evil person whose words are bitter and destructive. Solomon

described this in verses 15-16 when he told his readers that the wages of the

righteous brought wealth and life but the income of the wicked only

brought poverty and punishment. Spend time in the presence of the

righteous and listen to their words. You will soon experience something of

the richness of their lives. You will come away from them richer in spirit

and mind. Time spent with the evil person, however, will only reveal how

poor they are. Their lips speak of riches and great things but we cannot help

but come from their presence feeling empty and barren. The lips of the

righteous are a source of blessing. Their words show the way of life (verse

17). The wicked who ignore the correction of the Lord can only lead people

astray.

Continuing on in the same theme, Solomon told his listeners in verse 18

that the lips of the evil person were deceptive. They speak in friendly terms,

but when the person isn’t present, they slandered and spread gossip about

him. They speak fine words when they need to, but those words come from

an evil and wicked heart. God is not pleased with them (verse 20). Their

words lack judgment (verse 21). That is to say, they lack an understanding

of the truth of God.

Solomon reminds us that we are all capable of speaking evil words. The

more we say, the more likely it is that we will sin in what we speak. The

wise person is a person of few words. The wise person will carefully weigh

his words (verse 19).

According to Solomon the tongue of the righteous is choice silver. The

words that come from the tongue of the righteous person are of great value

because they express the wisdom of God. They build up and edify. These

words direct and guide in the way of truth. They are more valuable than the

finest silver.

The Delight Of The Wise (Verses 22-25)

The path of evil and wickedness will not bring any ultimate delight.

Solomon reminded his readers that the fool found no pleasure in evil

conduct (verse 23). The pleasure of sin is temporary. It will not last. It will

ultimately bring us to ruin. Countless lives have been destroyed by sin and

evil. They have been lured by its exterior beauty and fell prey to its devices.

Sin eventually overtakes the wicked (verse 24). The storm of God's

judgment will sweep them away and they will have nothing in the end.

This is not the case for the righteous. Solomon reminds us that the blessing

of the Lord brought wealth to the man of understanding (verse 22). The

man of understanding will find great delight in wisdom (verse 23). While

the wicked would be destroyed, God will satisfy the desire of the righteous

(verse 24). In the Day of Judgment the righteous would stand firm (verse

25).

The Lord satisfies the delight of the righteous. Men and women around this

world are searching for delight and satisfaction. They are seeking for it in

the wrong places. They look for it in the things of this world. True and

lasting delight can only be found in a relationship with God. He, who has

found a right relationship with God, will also find true delight.

This life of righteousness is a life that is characterize by two things,

according to Solomon, in verses 26-27. First, the life of righteousness is a

disciplined life. Solomon compared the lazy person to vinegar (verse 26).

Imagine taking a cup of vinegar and trying to drink it. What would be the

result? Surely you would spit it quickly out of your mouth. This is what the

lazy person is like to God. Solomon also compared the lazy person to

smoke. Have you ever stood over a smoking fire and had a big puff of

smoke suddenly rise from that fire and go straight into your eyes? This is a

most unpleasant experience. The lazy person is like this. He is offensive.

God expects His servants to work hard and live a disciplined life.

The second characteristic of the righteous life, according to Solomon, is the

fear of the Lord. Solomon tells us that God gives life to those who walk in

the fear of His name. It delights God's heart to see His people walking in

reverence and respect for His name. Those who refuse to walk in the fear of

the Lord will not experience the blessing of God. Their lives will be cut

short (verse 27).

The Joy Of The Righteous (Verse 28)

In verse 28 Solomon told his readers that while the hopes of the wicked

would come to nothing; the life of righteousness was a life of joy. True joy

and satisfaction could only be found in walking in the wisdom of God.

The Refuge Of The Righteous (Verse 29-30)

The Lord God would be a refuge for the righteous. This tells us that things

would not always be easy for them. There would be times when the

righteous would need a refuge from the attack of their enemies. God would

be that refuge for them. This was not the case for the wicked. They would

be left without refuge in their time of need. This would result in their ruin.

The righteous would never be uprooted (verse 30). Their roots were deep in

their God and He would keep and protect them. The wicked, however,

would be driven away by the storm of God's wrath. They would not inherit

His blessings.

A Final Word About The Mouth Of The

Righteous (Verses 31-32)

Solomon concludes this chapter with a final word about the mouth of the

righteous. He reminded his readers that the mouth of the righteous would

bring forth wisdom (verse 31) and would know what was fitting (verse 32).

In other words, when you speak to a righteous person you can be sure that

he or she will give you wise and godly counsel that is appropriate to your

situation. That counsel will lead you on the path of righteousness and truth.

The mouth of the wicked person was perverse and would be ultimately cut

off. God would judge the evil and their harmful words. They would perish

and stand before God in judgment.

Solomon shows us the blessings of righteousness. Those who follow the

way of righteousness and wisdom find blessing, delight and joy in this life

and the next. They live a life that will touch many long after they die.

For Consideration:

How is righteousness (a right relationship with God) a

treasure?

What does Solomon teach us about the importance of hard

work and a disciplined life? Does this describe your life?

How is the way of righteousness the only way of security for

us?

Compare the words of the righteous with the words of the

wicked. What is the difference?

Can we experience lasting delight and satisfaction if we do

not walk in the way of righteousness? Explain

For Prayer:

Have you discovered a right relationship with God through

the Lord Jesus? Take a moment to consider the wonderful

blessings that this life has brought you. Thank the Lord

specifically for those blessings.

Ask the Lord to help you to live a disciplined and hard

working life. Ask Him to show you clearly what He wants

you to do.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the times your words were

not spoken out of a right relationship with God. Ask God to

enable you to speak words that uplift and bless those who

hear them.

Ask God to make your life one that brings rich blessing to

others.

11 - THE FRUIT AND

CHARACTER OF

RIGHTEOUSNESS

Read Proverbs 11:1-31

n chapter 11 Solomon spends a significant amount of time discussing

the fruit and character of the righteous person. Throughout this

passage he compares the righteous person and his righteous acts with

wickedness and its deeds.

In verse 1 Solomon underlines the importance of absolute honesty in

business and dealings with other human beings. Here he reminded his

readers that the Lord abhorred dishonest scales. In other words, God sees

dishonesty as uncleanness. Accurate weights are a delight to the Lord.

Righteousness will be reflected in the way we do business. Righteous

people will be honest in their dealings with customers and neighbours.

Another characteristic of righteousness, according to Solomon, is humility.

Pride leads only to disgrace. Solomon told his readers, however, that

humility would lead to wisdom. The humble person is a person who

recognizes his or her need of God and His wisdom. This is the first step to

receiving the wisdom of God. The proud do not see their need. They move

in their own strength and understanding. This will only lead to disgrace and

defeat. Human wisdom and understanding is insufficient for a life of

godliness. Righteous people will recognize their need of God and His

wisdom and humble themselves to receive it. This will result in tremendous

blessing.

"The integrity of the upright guides them" said Solomon (verse 3). The

righteous person is a person of integrity. Integrity has to do with moral and

spiritual purity and innocence. It is the character of a person who is in a

right relationship with God. The righteous person is guided by a desire to

remain in that place of moral and spiritual purity before God. All his or her

decisions are based on this desire to be faithful to God. This is not the case

for the unfaithful person, according to Solomon. Unfaithful people are

destroyed by their duplicity. Duplicity has to do with hypocrisy and

insincerity. While integrity will guide the righteous person, the wickedness

of the unrighteous will be their downfall. The righteous person is guided by

a desire to maintain moral and spiritual purity.

According to Solomon there are many blessings of righteousness in our

lives. In verses 4-11 Solomon discusses some of these blessings.

In verse 4 Solomon tells his readers that righteousness delivers from death.

This is something that all the wealth of this world cannot give. The day of

God's judgment is coming when He will judge the earth. All the wealth of

the rich will not help them in that day. All our wealth will be stripped from

us and we will stand before a holy God. All that will matter on that day is a

right relationship with God (righteousness). The poor and the rich will stand

on equal footing. Those who are in a right relationship with God through

His son Jesus will live in His presence. Those who have rejected Him will

suffer the consequences.

Righteousness also leads us on a straight path according to Solomon in

verse 5. A straight path is a path where all the obstacles have been

overcome. It is a path of purpose and clear direction. What Solomon is

telling us is that when we live a righteous life, we are living the life that

God intended for us. It is a life of purpose and blessing. God honours those

who chose to walk in the path of righteousness. The wicked, however, will

be brought down and defeated by their wickedness.

In verse 6 Solomon tells us that righteousness delivers the upright. We have

seen how this is true when it comes to the judgment of God. Only those

who are in a right relationship with God will be spared from judgment. We

need to understand, however, that righteousness also delivers us from many

troubles here on this earth. Sin and wickedness will only cause heartache

and pain. Righteousness will deliver us from much of that heartache.

The wicked person is often trapped by his or her evil desires (verse 6). We

don't have to look very far to see how this is true. Countless people have

fallen prey to the sinful desires of the flesh. This has resulted in their

destruction. Righteousness teaches us what is right and godly. This will

protect us from the snares of evil desires that will only harm us.

All our worldly desires will come to nothing. Our riches and achievements

will end in death. When we do not set our heart on the things of God, when

we die, all our hopes perish with us. This is not the case for the righteous

person who does not live for this earth and its pleasures. The righteous

person lives with eternity on his or her mind. When they die, they have a

wonderful hope of eternal life in the presence of their Lord and Saviour.

God will protect the righteous and rescue them from trouble. It is true that

the righteous will have trouble in this life but God is not blind to their need.

God will reach out to them in their need and deliver them. In the end,

judgment will come on the wicked. God will punish them and deliver the

righteous (verse 8)

In verse 9 Solomon tells us that the righteous will escape the mouth of the

godless. The mouth of the godless is filled with lies and deceit. Wickedness

cries out to all who will listen. It offers pleasures, prestige and power. There

are many who hear the call of wickedness and are deceived. This has

resulted in the destruction of many homes and families. Countless lives

have been ruined by the lure of sin and its appealing words.

Solomon tells us that the righteous will be protected from the appealing

words flowing from the mouth of the godless. Through knowledge they will

be rescued. The knowledge spoken of here is the knowledge of God and His

Word. God and His Word will keep the righteous safe and protect them

from the trap of the evil-doer’s words.

Another blessing of righteousness can be seen in what it does for the city in

which the righteous live. Verse 10 tells us that when the righteous prosper,

the whole city rejoices and when the wicked perish there are shouts of joy.

The health of a city is in its righteousness. We have all seen cities filled

with ungodliness. These cities are dark and barren. They are held under the

curse of God. Violence and crime abound. They are not pleasant places to

live. When righteousness triumphs in a city, however, the picture is quite

different. The blessing of God falls and prosperity fills its streets.

Righteousness causes a city to rejoice. A city is blessed by the presence of

righteous people. Solomon tells us that their blessing on that city will cause

it to be exalted. God hears the prayers of the righteous in the city and

extends His hand to honour that city. This is not the case for the wicked.

Their words will only destroy a city and bring it to ruin (verse 11).

In verses 12-13 Solomon speaks to us about the words of the righteous. He

reminds his readers that the man of understanding (spiritual and moral

understanding) will hold his tongue but the person who lacks judgment

derides his neighbor. In other words, righteous people will be careful in the

use of their words. They know the power of words to destroy. They will

carefully measure their words so that they do not cause damage. The

unrighteous person, on the other hand, multiplies words that bring

destruction and ruin for many.

The words of a righteous person are not only measured, they are also

trustworthy. A gossip will betray a confidence. A gossip will spread stories

about his or her neighbor whether those stories have been confirmed or not.

A righteous person, however, is trustworthy and knows how to keep a

secret. You can put your trust and confidence in a righteous person.

Righteous people will not gossip or spread stories. Their words are

measured. They are careful about what they say.

In verses 14 to 16 Solomon gives us yet two other qualities of

righteousness. In verse 14 he tells us that for the lack of guidance a nation

falls but many advisors make victory sure. The righteous person is not a

"loner." Righteous people see their need of wisdom as it comes from God

and from advisers. There is a temptation to be proud for us all. We believe

that if we need help it is an indication of weakness. The reality of the matter

is that God has designed the church in such a way that not one of us has all

the gifts necessary to expand His kingdom. We need each other. We need

the experience and wisdom that God has given to others. This means that

we will have to listen to each other and learn from each other. Only as we

learn to work with others can we be assured of victory. The righteous

person will see his or her need of others and seek their advice and support.

Another quality of the righteous person is kindness. Verses 15-17 describe

this kindness. Verse 15 begins with a warning. Some people feel that

kindness means that we have to reach out to everyone who needs help. I

have had times when I have said "no" to a person seeking help of one form

or another. I have done this because I did not feel that it was the way God

would have me use my resources. I have at times fallen into the trap of

giving too much. In this case I put my own family under undue strain

because of giving when I really had nothing to give.

Solomon warns us about putting up security for another. That is, to stand

with someone in their financial struggle by legally binding ourselves to

them and their financial problem. To do this, we risk losing all we have

because of their problem. If we put ourselves in this situation we tie up our

money so that it cannot be used as God intended. Solomon warns us that

doing this will cause us heartache.

Having warned us about putting ourselves under a legal agreement with our

brother or sister in need, Solomon then moved on to remind us that a kind-

hearted woman gained respect but a ruthless man only gained wealth. It is

an honourable thing to be kind. Those who open their hearts in kindness

will gain respect which is of greater value than wealth. Kindness will

benefit the person who is kind but those who are cruel and unkind will only

bring trouble on themselves.

There is a great benefit and blessing in kindness. The righteous person will

be kind but he or she will not sacrifice their responsibility before God to

pay their own bills and provide for their families. They will not bind

themselves under legal obligations that will keep them from being wise

with the resources that God has given.

In verse 18, Solomon returns to a discussion on the benefits of

righteousness. He told his readers in verse 18 that while the wicked man

earned deceptive wages, the person who sowed righteousness would reap a

sure reward. The wages of the wicked would be taken from them but the

fruit of righteousness would last forever.

The righteous person experiences a satisfying life but the one who pursued

evil rushes to his or her death (verse 19). Those who are in a right

relationship with God know eternal life. They also know quality of life here

on this earth. Those who turn from righteousness, however, pursue a life

that leads to death (see Romans 6:23).

The righteous person delights the heart of God but He detests those who

have a perverse heart (verse 20). What a blessing it is to know that the Lord

delights in us and that His blessing is on us because He loves us.

Verse 21 tells us that the righteous would go free but the wicked would be

judged. Another benefit of righteousness has to do with knowing that we

will stand before God in the Day of Judgment and be declared innocent.

When we consider the eternal punishment that awaits those who turn from

God, what a privilege we have to know that because of what the Lord Jesus

has done, we will be declared righteous and set free to enjoy the benefits of

eternity in the presence of our Lord.

The righteousness that Solomon speaks about in this chapter is not an

external righteousness only. There are those whose righteousness consists

of outward actions only. Solomon reminded his readers in verse 22 that a

beautiful woman with no discretion was like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

Imagine seeing a pig with a gold ring in his snout. Will that gold ring

change the pig's nature? Will he stop wallowing in the mud just because he

has a gold ring in his snout? A pig is a pig and will always have a pig's

nature even if you dress him up with a gold ring. External beauty does not

make a person wise or discerning nor will religious or kind actions make a

person righteous. Righteousness comes from the heart. God does not look at

the outward appearance but on the heart (see 1 Samuel 16:7).

In verse 23 Solomon promised that the desire of the righteous would end in

good but the hope of the wicked would end in wrath. The greatest desire of

the righteous person is for God and His purposes. The righteous person is in

tune with God and His desire and wants exactly what God wants. The

wicked seek after their own interests. Their hope is in the things of this

world. Because they do not seek God and His ways, the only true certainty

for them is the wrath of God. The righteous, however, will be fully satisfied

in their God and His purposes.

In verses 24-28 Solomon returns to a discussion of how the righteous

person uses his or her possessions. We are told in verse 24 that the person

who gives freely gains even more but the one who withholds unduly will

come to poverty. There are two things we need to understand from this

verse.

First, God delights to bless those who use His resources wisely. Someone

once said: "God will get His resources to you if He can get them through

you." In other words, God will bless those who are generous with what He

gives. God has chosen not to distribute His resources equally. This is

because He wants us to share in the blessing of generosity. He has chosen to

use us to distribute His wealth. The problem is that we are not all wise

stewards of that wealth. Sometimes we are tempted to keep what we should

give. Solomon tells us that God will bless those who give. We don't give in

order to get more. We give because this is the heart of God for us. We give

to share in the expansion of God's kingdom. God delights to use us as

instruments of blessing to others. If we will be the vessels of blessing to

others, God will fill those vessels so we will have enough to share.

Solomon tells us that the one who "withholds unduly" will come to poverty.

The King James Version of the Bible translates this phrase: "withholdeth

more than is meet." It is important that we understand what Solomon is

telling us here. There are times when we simply cannot give. Solomon is

not telling us that we have to give everything we have. He is telling us that

we are not to unduly withhold or we are not to withhold from others more

than is proper. We are to give when we have the power to give but we

should not give when doing that will cause undue strain on our own family

or loved ones. The apostle Paul told Timothy in 1Timothy 5:8:

"If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for

his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than

an unbeliever."

God only requires us to give what He has purposed for us to give. It is easy

for us to fall into false guilt when we are asked to give. We must give

generously but we must also give with wisdom. If by giving we fail to

provide for our own family or render ourselves incapable of paying what

we owe to others, then we have been unfaithful. On the other hand, those

who withhold blessing unduly will find that their blessing will fail. God

blesses those who give generously when they have the power to do so. God

promises that He will prosper a generous person and refresh those who

refresh others (verse 25). Riches kept longer then they should be kept will

quickly become a burden.

In verse 26 Solomon told his readers that the person who is willing to sell

would be crowned with blessing but the one who hoarded would be cursed

by people. People who keep what they should be giving will only incur the

anger of those who need what they have. On the other hand, people respect

and honour those who are willing to sell what they have so that others

might have what they need.

It is important that we notice that generosity is often associated with giving

freely without cost. Here Solomon speaks of a generous person selling. The

generous person is willing to share what he has. Sometimes he does this

freely and sometimes he does this at a cost to the person receiving the

article.

The person who seeks good would find goodwill (verse 27). In other words,

when people act kindly and generously, they will receive the good wishes of

their neighbours and friends. This was not the case for the wicked. Those

who lived wickedly would only receive the wickedness they sought. They

would be judged by God. What they did would eventually come back at

them and destroy them.

Anyone who trusted in riches and holds on to them would fall (verse 28).

This was not the case for the righteous. They are generous and share their

riches with others. God's blessing was on them because of this. They would

prosper like a green leaf. Stagnant water will breed bacteria but a flowing

river remains fresh and filled with life. This is how it is with riches. If we

keep them they will, like a stagnant pool of water, be the breeding ground

for all kind of sickness and disease. If we share those riches, they will be

life-giving not only for us but for others as well.

In verse 29 Solomon warned his readers that the person who troubled his

family would only inherit the wind. Imagine that you had a rebellious son

who lived a life of drunkenness and immorality. Would you leave all you

had to that son when you died? Would he not only waste his inheritance on

drinking and immorality? Would you not instead give what you had worked

so hard to achieve to someone who would use it wisely. "The fool will be

servant to the wise," Solomon told his readers. In other words, this foolish

son would lose his inheritance and be subject to someone who would use

his parent’s inheritance wisely.

Solomon is telling us here that we reap what we sow. God will bless those

who wisely use His resources. If we are faithful and wise servants, God will

bless and use us even more. If we are not, He will give His blessing to

someone else.

Solomon concludes this chapter with a reminder to his readers of the fruit of

righteousness. In verse 30 he tells us that the fruit of righteousness is a tree

of life. We read about the tree of life in both Genesis and Revelation.

Revelation 22:2 tells us that this tree had the power to heal the nations.

From Genesis 2:9 we understand that it imparted the knowledge of good

and evil. In other words, it was a tree that revealed God's wisdom to

humankind. Eating from the tree gave eternal life (Genesis 3:22). The

righteous symbolically ate from the tree of life. The righteous were those

who tasted the fruit of God's wisdom and found life in that wisdom.

Solomon reminds us that the fruit of this tree was so wonderful that it

needed to be shared with others. The wise person would share what he

discovered in God and His wisdom in an attempt to rescue the souls of men

and women from the path of destruction.

Solomon has attempted in this chapter to show us the character and fruit of

a righteous life. He reminded the righteous that they would be delivered

from death and trouble in this life. They would know lasting pleasure and

delight and be rewarded by God. These blessings were present realities for

the righteous. The experience of the ungodly would be very different. Their

future was very bleak. For this reason the righteous and generous person

would share what he had found in God in an attempt to win those who did

not know the truth of God's wisdom.

For Consideration:

Solomon tells us that the righteous person was a person of

integrity, honesty, humility, generosity and kindness. Are all

these qualities demonstrated in your life? What area needs

work?

Solomon reminds us that the words of the righteous are

measured. What did he mean by this? Do your words reflect

that you are a child of God?

What affect does righteousness have on our communities?

What affect does wickedness have?

What does Solomon tell us about the fruit of righteousness in

our lives? What blessings have you personally experienced

from walking with God?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to consider the different characteristics of

righteousness mentioned in this chapter. Ask God to show

you any area of weakness in your life. Ask Him to teach you

and strengthen you in this area.

Take a moment to thank the Lord for some of the blessing He

has given you as you have been learning to walk with Him in

righteousness.

12 - HUMILITY,

DISCIPLINE AND

DILIGENCE

Read Proverbs 12:1-28

olomon's vast wisdom is evident in how he speaks to so many

different life issues. Here in chapter 12 Solomon speaks to the

issues of knowledge, compassion, discipline, honesty and diligence.

We will examine these issues separately in this meditation.

Discipline And Correction (Verse 1)

Solomon understood that as human beings we would wander from the path

of wisdom. There is not one of us who does not need to be corrected. It

takes humility to accept correction. The person who accepts it, however,

will learn and grow. Solomon goes even further when he challenges us to

love discipline or correction. If we want to grow in our walk with the Lord

God we need correction. We should not be afraid of the Lord's discipline

because it will lead us into a deeper understanding of His truth and ways.

"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge," said Solomon. He actually

calls the person who refused correction “stupid” because by refusing

correction they refused to learn.

Favour And Stability (Verse 2-3)

A good man, according to Solomon, obtained favour from the Lord. We

need to understand goodness in the context of this book. Solomon has been

speaking about wisdom and righteousness. The good man is one who walks

in the way of the Lord. The good man has learned the art of living a life of

reverence and respect for God and His ways. This sort of man will obtain

favour from the Lord. The word favour here can also be translated by the

words pleasure, delight and acceptance. In other words, the person who

lives a life of righteousness and goodness will delight the heart of the Lord.

This is not the same for a crafty or deceitful man. He will be condemned.

Solomon reminds us that a man or woman cannot be established through

wickedness. The Lord Jesus told a parable of a man who build his house on

the sand in Matthew 7:26. He explained to his listeners that this person was

like a person who did not listen to His words. Anyone who builds his or her

life on wickedness and not on the Word of God will find that they have built

on a very feeble foundation. All their riches and achievements will be

wiped out in the day of God's judgment. Only what is built on God and His

word will last. Those who walk righteously will be secure. They will stand

in the Day of Judgment. They will know the presence and enabling of God

in their lives. God will keep and protect those who belong to Him and walk

in His ways.

A Wife Of Noble Character (Verse 4)

Solomon speaks in verse 4 about a wife of noble character (virtuous, KJV).

He tells us that she is her husband's crown. The word translated "noble" is

used in the Old Testament to refer to armies that were valiant and strong. It

is also used to speak of wealth. What Solomon is telling his male readers

here is that if they found a strong, virtuous and able woman, they found a

woman of tremendous value. They could be proud of such a woman. It

might be easy to assume that the Old Testament puts down women. This is

not the case. Solomon clearly tells us that a strong woman who is capable

and discerning is a woman to be honoured. She is a delight to her husband

and he can be proud of her. A shameful woman, however, is like decay in

the bones of her husband. We are not told what this shamefulness is but we

can assume that it is the opposite of being noble. That is to say, this woman

may be lazy, weak and foolish in behaviour and insight. Such a woman is a

burden to her husband.

The Just Way Of The Righteous (Verses 5, 6)

In verse 5 Solomon tells us that the plans of the righteous person are just.

That is to say, they are fair and good. The righteous man is concerned for

those around him. You can trust the advice of the righteous person. This is

not the case for the unrighteous. They are deceitful in their plans. Their

concern is only for themselves and their own advancement. They will not

hesitate to lie and cheat to get ahead. According to Solomon, their words

are like wild animals lying in wait for a victim to pass by (verse 6). While

the words of the unrighteous and wicked are violent and destructive, the

words of the righteous person rescue men and women from the ungodly.

Their words bless and uplift.

The Judgment Of The Wicked (7, 8)

There is no future in wickedness and evil. While it is not always evident,

the wicked will be overthrown and be no more. Admittedly, there are times

when we see the wicked prosper in this life. Sometimes they seem to get

away with their evil ways. Solomon reminds us that God sees everything

these wicked people do. He will judge evil and wickedness. The righteous

will stand in the Day of Judgment. According to verse 8 the man of wisdom

will be praised but the person with a warped mind will be despised.

Reality Is Better Than Pretending (Verse 9)

In verse 9 Solomon tells us that it is better to be nobody and have a servant

than to pretend to be someone and have no food. There are people who

want others to think that they are better than they really are. They pretend to

be someone special so that people will think highly of them. The fact of the

matter is that pretending does not change reality. You can pretend to be rich

but it will not change the amount of money in your bank account.

There are people who live in a fantasy world. Maybe you have met them.

They are always chasing after something better. They don't seem to be able

to accept what they have. They are so busy chasing after the ideal that they

don't have time to enjoy what they already have. Solomon tells us that it is

better to put aside some of those fanciful ideas and learn to appreciate what

we have than to live our lives in a pretend world that will never be ours to

enjoy. He is challenging us to be content and learn to enjoy what the Lord

God has given us.

The Effect Of Righteousness (Verse 10)

Righteousness affects every part of a person's life. In verse 10 Solomon tells

his readers that a righteous man cares for the needs of his animal.

Righteousness will be evident in many different ways in our lives. The

righteousness of some can only be seen in their church life. They attend

church faithfully but that same righteousness is not visible in their business

life or their private lives. Solomon tells us that true righteousness affects

every part of a person's life and is visible even in the smallest things.

According to Solomon, the kindest acts of the wicked person are cruel.

Often behind the kind deeds of an unrighteous person is a hidden motive.

The wicked person, for example will show kindness to a friend because

they are looking for something for themselves. These sorts of actions,

according to Solomon, were cruel. They take advantage of people and look

kind but in reality they were self centered and selfish.

Hard Work And Responsibility (Verses 11-12)

God created us to work. When He put Adam in the Garden of Eden He gave

him the responsibility to till the soil so that it would produce fruit. God

expected Adam to work for his food. He chose to bless the efforts of his

hands. It is for this reason that Solomon tells us that the person who works

his land will have abundant food but the one who chases fantasies lacked

wisdom and judgment. God answers prayer but He also expects us to work.

Often the provision of the Lord will come through hard work. We cannot sit

back and do nothing and expect that God will give us all we need. To do so

would be foolish. It is the general purpose of God that we work for what we

get. Solomon tells us in verse 12 that God would bless the labours of the

righteous person.

According to Solomon, the wicked desire the plunder of evil men. Instead

of honest work, the wicked steal or live off someone else. We have all met

people who are always trying to get something for free. These individuals

are not willing to work. Instead, they take all they can get from the hard

work of others. We are challenged to work hard so we can contribute to the

needs of others.

The Words Of The Righteous (Verses 13-14)

"An evil man," said Solomon, "is trapped by his sinful talk" (verse 13). In

other words, the words of the evil man will ultimately be his downfall. The

evil person will be judged by his or her words. Those words will often come

back at them. Their dishonesty will be discovered. Their slander and gossip

will eventually cause people to turn from them. Their betraying words will

cause them to lose friends. People will no longer trust them. Beyond this,

they will be judged by God for their hypocrisy and deceit.

This is not the case for the righteous person. The righteous person escapes

the trouble that comes to the wicked person because of their words. The

words of the righteous person are true and honest. You can trust what a

righteous person says. They will not gossip or slander. Instead, they build

up and encourage. Solomon told his listeners in verse 14 that "from the fruit

of his lips a man is filled with good things." Just like a hard worker is

rewarded by God for his or her hard work, so God rewards the righteous

person for their good and gracious words.

Advice (Verse 15)

Verse 15 tells us that the wise person listens to advice but the fool does

what seems right to him. If we are to listen to advice, the first thing we need

to do is recognize that we need it. This requires humility. The fool is a

proud person who fails to recognize his or her need. The wise person,

however, will be careful to listen to advice. Wise people have become wise

because they have learned from others. How easy it is to feel that a need for

advice is a sign of weakness. The reality of the matter is that we never

outgrow our need for advice and counsel. Those in leadership, in particular,

need to learn how to listen to others and seek their advice. We are never too

old to learn from others. Notice that though this person is already described

as being wise, they are still listening to advice.

Patience With Others (Verse 16)

In verse 16 Solomon tells his readers that a prudent man overlooked an

insult but the fool showed his annoyance at once. There are times when we

speak words out of frustration and anger. What happens when someone

responds to our angry words with more anger? To express anger with

someone who has insulted us will only invite more problems.

The wise person overlooks an insult. If we overlook an insult two things

happen. First, realizing that we are not going to respond, the person

insulting us will quickly walk away and say no more. Second, if we

overlook an insult we give the person who insulted us reason to consider

what they have been saying about us. Responding to someone who insults

only reinforces their opinion of us. When we respond in kindness instead

they may come to realize that their words have no foundation.

Words (Verses 17-19)

Solomon reminds us of the power of words in verse 18. He tells us that

reckless words can pierce like a sword. Who among us has not felt the

destructive power of words? Words have the power to destroy reputations

and friendships. They can discourage and hinder. Like a sword they cut,

wound and kill.

Wise people will be careful in how they use their words. They will use their

words to heal and bless. The wise person is one who has learned how to use

his or her words to build up and encourage.

Solomon reminds us that truthful lips will last forever but the lying tongue

would last only for a moment. Those who practice lies, deceit and

dishonesty will one day be judged and destroyed. They will be exposed for

who they are.

Promoting Peace (Verse 20)

There are two kinds of people in the world. There are those who insult and

plot evil against their neighbour and there are those who promote peace.

Solomon gives us a quick glimpse into the hearts of these two types of

people. In the heart of the one who plots evil is deceit. These individuals

have no rest. They constantly seek to get ahead of their neighbour by

deceiving and lying. This is a stormy heart of confusion and chaos. In the

heart of the person who promotes peace the bright sunshine of joy floods

their being. These are individuals who seek the good of their neighbour.

This heart flourishes and rejoices. Again we see the wonderful benefit of

righteousness.

Protection For The Righteous (Verse 21)

Solomon tells us that no harm falls on the righteous but the wicked will

have their fill of trouble (verse 21). We should not see here that the

righteous person will never have problems. There will be plenty of

problems in the life of the righteous. Those problems will often come to

them from the ungodly.

What we need to understand is that the Lord will be with the righteous. He

will keep them and preserve them in the midst of their trials and difficulties.

Their desire for God and His ways will keep the righteous from trouble that

comes to the ungodly who wander from the path of righteousness.

Righteousness and wisdom keep us from falling into the trap of Satan.

God's Word, as the guide for the righteous, will keep them on the path of

security and safety even though they may suffer for it.

Those who turn from the wisdom of God and His righteousness will find

themselves on a path that leads to trouble and despair. There is no hope for

the wicked apart from judgment and destruction. While the path of

righteousness may be a difficult path to tread, it is the path of security,

safety and blessing.

Truthfulness (Verse 22)

Solomon makes it clear in verse 22 that the Lord detests lying lips. Honesty

and truthfulness are very dear to the heart of God. Everything that God does

is honest and true. He has an intense hatred for anything that is dishonest.

There are times when absolute truthfulness will be difficult. An

understanding of God's intense hatred for dishonesty however, should

motivate us to speak what is true.

Keeping Knowledge To Oneself (Verse 23)

"A prudent man keeps knowledge to himself." Solomon tells us in verse 23,

"but the fool blurts out folly." This is not to say that we are not to share the

knowledge God gives us with others. The wise or prudent will not be quick

to respond. They will carefully consider what they need to say before

sharing their insights. The fool, however, in an attempt to appear wise, is

quick to give his advice. He does not take the time to consider the nature of

the problem but has a pat answer for all of life's problems. His advice only

betrays his lack of understanding.

Diligence (Verse 24)

Diligence relates to hard work, trustworthiness and perseverance. Solomon

tells us in verse 24 that those who are diligent will rule but the lazy person

will end up being a slave. Again we see the importance of hard work. We

cannot expect that things will come to us without having to work for them.

This is not God's way. Admittedly, there are times when our human efforts

will only hinder the blessing of the Lord. At the same time, however, God

expects us to be diligent and hard workers. His kingdom is advanced as we

faithfully serve in His strength and direction.

God will bless the efforts of our hands if those efforts are being directed and

anointed by His Holy Spirit. We should not expect that things will change if

we are not willing to work toward making those changes. Some time ago I

wrestled with a personal problem in my life. When I finally came to accept

that I needed to make some changes in my life I surrendered the matter to

God telling Him that I needed His healing and direction. As I prayed, the

Lord spoke to my heart and told me that He would heal but that I needed to

obey. In other words, I would find victory over this issue as I learned to

walk in obedience. Over the course of the next few months I struggled with

obedience in this matter. It was not easy to discipline myself to be obedient.

It meant learning how to walk in a new way. It meant expressing things that

did not come naturally to me. As I obeyed however, God blessed. I learned

over those months that victory does not always come without effort.

Sometimes victory comes through hard work and discipline.

Victory in the Christian life will sometimes be through great struggle and

hard work. We should not expect victory without diligence, hard work and

perseverance. It is diligent hands that will rule, Solomon tells us in verse

24. Expect to work hard. Persevere in obedience to God and His leading

and you will be honoured.

The Anxious Heart (Verse 25)

Anxiety is a terrible thing. Personally I have wrestled with anxiety all my

life. Anxiety causes undue stress. It has a tendency to exaggerate problems

and their outcome. It can paralyze us so that we are unable to move ahead.

Fear of the unknown or imagined can overwhelm us. I suppose that all of us

have experienced this type of anxiety at one time or another. Solomon tells

us that anxiety, "weighs a man down." 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our

anxiety on the Lord God because He cares for us.

Solomon tells us also that a cure for anxiety is the kind word of a friend.

Words have the ability to minister and calm the troubled soul. They can

quiet our fears and give us confidence and hope. Sometimes all we need is a

simple word of encouragement to keep us going.

Friendships (Verse 26)

Verse 26 has been translated in various ways in different Bible translations.

The NIV tells us that "A righteous man is cautious in friendship," but adds

in a footnote another possible translation: "a guide to his neighbour." The

New King James Version translates "The righteous should choose his

friends carefully." The New Living Translation uses the phrase "The godly

give good advice to their friends."

While there is some question among translators as to the best way to

translate this verse, the idea is that the righteous person is careful about the

kind of friends he or she keeps and will treat those friends with great

respect and dignity. This is not the case for the wicked. They choose friends

that will lead them astray or that they can lead into their evil ways. The

friends we have will be an influence either for good or bad in our lives. The

righteous person will be cautious as to who he chooses as a friend.

Prized Possessions (Verse 27)

"The lazy person does not roast his game," Solomon tells us in verse 27.

The diligent man however, "prizes his possessions." What Solomon is

telling us here is that the lazy person does not care for what he or she has.

The lazy person doesn't even have the time or energy to properly cook his

food so that he can enjoy it. He sacrifices the enjoyment of his possessions

because he is too lazy to make the effort. The hard working person will

care for his possessions. He will have many years of enjoyment in the

labours of his hands and has a deeper sense of the value of those things he

has worked hard to obtain.

The Way Of The Righteous (Verse 28)

Solomon concludes this chapter by telling his readers that the way of the

righteous brings life and immortality. The way of the righteous was the path

to God. What Solomon is telling us is that the righteous person is one who

honours God in his life. He lives in the fear of the Lord and in reverence for

His name. This is the path of true wisdom. It is also the path of life.

For Consideration:

What does Solomon teach us here about accepting correction

and advice?

What does verse 4 teach us about Solomon's view of women?

What do we learn here about the words of the righteous?

What does verse 9 teach us about being content with what

God has given? Are you content with what God has given

you?

Solomon reminds us that true righteousness will impact every

aspect of our lives. How does this righteousness impact how

we use our words, or how we respect creation?

What do we learn about the importance of hard work in this

chapter?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you humility to accept correction and

advice.

Ask the Lord to guard your lips so that they only speak what

is true and uplifting. Ask Him to give you wisdom to know

when you need to be silent.

Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your life that is not in line

with what Solomon is teaching in this chapter. Ask Him to

forgive you for any particular shortcomings.

13 - PROSPERITY,

CORRECTION AND

INTEGRITY

Read Proverbs 13:1-25

n chapter 13 of the book of Proverbs, Solomon shares his insight on a

variety of subjects. In particular, he shares his experience on

prosperity, correction and integrity.

Instruction (Verse 1)

"A wise son heeds his father's instruction," Solomon told his readers. Notice

that those who are wise do not have all the answers. Wise people realize

that they still have much to learn. They will listen to instruction and gain

understanding. They are not too proud to admit their need. The mocker, on

the other hand, does not listen to rebuke. To listen to instruction is to admit

a lack of understanding and knowledge. The mocker is too proud to admit

that he or she does not understand. They will stubbornly remain on the

wrong path rather than admit they are wrong. The wise person will listen to

instructions and learn from them.

Enjoying Good Things (Verses 2-3)

In verse 2 Solomon told his readers that from the fruit of the lips a man

enjoyed good things. In other words, the words of a good person bring

blessing. The words we speak are a reflection of what is in our heart.

Speaking to the religious leaders of His day, Jesus said in Matthew 12:34:

"You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything

good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

The righteous person speaks words that come from a heart that has been

touched by God. Those words are words that bring blessing. They are

words of encouragement and edification. Those who sit with a righteous

person will be blessed by his or her words. This is not the case for a wicked

and unfaithful person. The words of an unfaithful person are words of

violence. These words harm, destroy and tear down. They come from a

heart that is overcome with bitterness and rebellion.

Solomon told his readers in verse 3 that the person who guarded his lips

guarded life. In other words, the words we speak will either judge or

condemn us. This is because our words are a reflection of our heart. Those

who speak rashly will come to ruin. The words of the wicked cannot be

trusted. They are proud and dishonest. They say what is convenient and not

what is true. They will be exposed for who they are.

Satisfaction (Verse 4)

Solomon told his readers in verse 4 that the desire of the diligent would be

fully satisfied. This does not mean that if we are trustworthy and

hardworking we will get whatever we want. There have been many times in

my life when I thought I wanted something only to find out that when I

finally received it, it was not what I thought it would be. There are all kinds

of things in this world that attract our attention but they do not satisfy our

desire. Many men and women around this world attest to the fact that

though they had everything they could ever want they were not satisfied.

Solomon promises that the desires of the diligent would be fully satisfied.

The diligent are those who seek the Lord and His heart. They live for the

Lord and trust in Him. Those whose heart is set on knowing and serving

their God will know full satisfaction. They may have nothing in this world

but their deepest desires have been satisfied.

Solomon made it very clear that the lazy person would get nothing (verse

4). God delights in pouring out His blessing but He particularly delights to

pour that blessing on those who are diligent. He expects us to be faithful,

trustworthy and hard working. Solomon tells us that laziness will only bring

God's judgment. God expects us to work hard and be diligent. This is the

clear teaching of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 25:26-29. Speaking to a lazy

servant he said:

"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew

that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have

not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money

on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would

have received it back with interest. "'Take the talent from him

and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who

has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.

Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from

him."

This is a real challenge for us. Those who do not faithfully use what God

has given them will find that even what they have will be taken from them.

Would you hire a person who was lazy? Neither will God bless those who

are not diligent in serving Him.

Integrity (Verses 5-6)

"The righteous hate what is false," Solomon said in verse 5. What we need

to see here is that those who love the Lord also love truth. “Hate” is a strong

word but it shows the intensity of God's feelings toward falsehood and lies.

The hatred of the righteous for falsehood is such that they will see it as an

enemy. They strive to bring integrity and honesty into their society and

workplace.

Notice in verse 6 that righteousness guards the man of integrity. In other

words, righteousness kept him or her in their integrity. Righteousness is a

shield against falsehood and dishonesty. Those who walk in holiness and

righteousness will hate falsehood. Their relationship with God will protect

them from deceit.

The wicked who delight in falsehood will only bring shame and disgrace to

a society or workplace. It is a shameful thing to be dishonest and

unreliable. A society that is based on dishonesty and deceit will not stand. It

will be judged. The blessing of God will be removed. The sinner will be

judged and overthrown (verse 6).

The Dangers Of Riches (Verse 7-8)

In verses 7-8 Solomon reminds us of the dangers of prosperity and riches.

Here in these two verses he reminds his readers of three dangers in

particular.

In verse 7 Solomon tells us that there were people who pretended to be rich

when they were really poor. People pretend to be rich because they are not

content with what they have. They want people to think they are important

because of their money and possessions. These people base their value on

the amount of money they have. Riches can lead to discontentment and

pride.

Solomon also tells us that there were those who pretended to be poor but

had everything. Why would a rich person pretend to be poor? In part, the

reason may have something to do with greed. The rich person does not want

others to know what he or she has because they do not want to share it.

Instead they keep what they have a secret. They hoard up their wealth and

keep it all for themselves. Solomon is telling us that the second danger of

riches and wealth is that they can lead to greed.

The third danger of riches and wealth has to do with the temptation to

corruption. To explain what he means Solomon used the illustration of a

person who was kidnapped. His captors demand a ransom for his life. What

does the rich person do in a situation like this? The rich person will pay the

price required to his wicked captors and send them on their way profiting

from their sin.

Imagine, now, that the person who was kidnapped was poor and had no

money for a ransom. The situation would be quite different. The poor man

"hears no threat." The poor person is not tempted to use his or her money in

ways that will promote evil.

Solomon tells his readers here that with money comes great temptation. A

pool of water becomes stagnant and breeds bacteria when it has no outlet.

So it is with those who hoard their money. They will find that their money

will quickly begin to breed all kinds of temptations.

The Light Of The Righteous (Verse 9)

"The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is

snuffed out," Solomon tells us in verse 9. The blessing of God is on the life

of those who honor Him but those who pursue evil will be judged. We do

not always see this immediately. There are times in this life when it seems

that the wicked prosper. While this is often the case on this earth, this

prosperity will not last. The Lord will judge sin and evil. The wicked will

always be judged.

Taking Advice (Verse 10)

In verse 10 Solomon returned to a discussion on taking advice. He tells us

that the wise will take advice but the proud breed quarrels. The wise person

is one who understands he or she needs others and their experience. Wise

people know that they do not have all the answers. They learn from the

experience and knowledge of others. This is not the case for the proud. The

proud cannot take advice. The proud does not want others to think they

need help and counsel. They resent anyone who tries to tell them what to

do. This will lead to tension, bitterness and quarrels.

A good leader is one who realizes his or her need of counsel and advice.

The wise pastor will listen to those God has placed under his authority.

Little By Little (Verse 11)

In verse 11 Solomon told his readers that dishonest money would dwindle

away. There may be two reasons for this. First, those who obtain money by

dishonest means do not fully appreciate the value of that money. They have

not had to work hard for it and do not care for what they have. Second, their

money dwindles away because they are not in a right relationship with God

and are under His curse. They experience what the people of Haggai's day

experienced.

"You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but

never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put

on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them

in a purse with holes in it." (Haggai 1:6)

This is not the case for the righteous person who works hard for his or her

money. Those who work hard to earn an honest living understand the value

of the money they have earned. They are wise stewards of what God has

given them. They use it wisely. God honours their hard work and pours His

blessing on them.

Hope Deferred (Verse 12)

Have you ever prayed for something for a long time and did not see an

answer? When I was young I remember waiting for a package to arrive in

the mail. Every day I watched to see if it had arrived. It seemed like it took

forever. Sometimes we long to see God doing something but it seems that

He is not answering our prayer. How discouraging this can be.

What a difference it makes, however, when our longing is fulfilled.

Solomon compared this to a person eating from the Tree of Life. This tree,

according to Genesis and Revelation, gives life and healing. Like a mother

in labour forgets the pain of her labour at the sight of her new born baby, so

the fulfilling of a longing brings healing and life back to those whose heart

was sick.

What is your hope and heart cry today? Don't lose hope. Wait on the Lord

and keep your burden before Him. The day may yet come when you will

see its fulfillment and all the pain and struggle will be worth it.

Instruction, Teaching And Understanding (Verses

13-15)

Solomon returns again to the importance of listening to instruction. He told

us in verse 13 that those who refused to be instructed would suffer. There

were great blessings in listening to instruction. The teaching of the wise was

a fountain of life (verse 14). In other words, those who listened to wise

instruction would be refreshed by this life giving fountain and preserved

from the snare of death. In verse 15 Solomon also reminded his readers that

the one who listened to good understanding would gain favour. They would

gain favour with God and with people. People would respect them for their

humility to listen but also for the growing wisdom and discernment, gained

through listening to instruction.

Those who refused to listen to wisdom, teaching and understanding would

suffer the consequences of their pride. Without instruction in wisdom and

understanding they would fall into the snare of death (verse 14). Their path

would be difficult because they were not guided by wisdom and

discernment.

Acting Out Of Knowledge (Verse 16)

The prudent man was a man who acted out of knowledge. Notice that

knowledge is to be acted on. Knowledge that is stored in the brain but never

works its way into life is of very little use. The difference between the

prudent man and the fool has to do with the application of knowledge. The

prudent and wise man applies knowledge to life. The fool may have a great

accumulation of knowledge in his head. You can have great intelligence and

still be a fool because the knowledge you have is not acted out in life. The

fool is recognized by his inability to apply knowledge to life.

Trustworthiness (Verse 17)

Trustworthiness is very important in our society and workplace. Solomon

tells us that the trustworthy envoy brings healing. Imagine what our society

would be like without people we could trust. Trust is vital for every society

and relationship. Trustworthy people bring healing to our society. They

restore confidence and health to relationships. A wicked person who cannot

be trusted only brings trouble, broken relationships and a breakdown of

society.

Discipline And Correction (Verse 18-19)

The person who ignores discipline will come to poverty and shame. We all

need to be disciplined and corrected. Not one of us is able to live a perfect

life. Wise people will seek correction because they know that correction

will only make them better. In the end, the person who accepts correction

will be honoured.

"A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul," Solomon tells his readers in verse

19. The problem with our longings, however, is that they do not come easy.

Victory is not won without a battle. The diploma only comes after long

hours of study and discipline. The race is won only after strict training. The

fulfilling of a longing is very sweet to the soul. Solomon reminds us,

however, that the fool does not want to turn from evil. That is, he will not

be corrected. He wants his own way. This will only act as a barrier to his

longing. Only those who accept correction and discipline can experience the

sweetness of a fulfilled longing.

Companions (Verse 20-21)

The friends we have will influence us either for good or for evil. Solomon

reminded his people in verse 20 that those who walked with wise people

would themselves grow wise. It is not difficult to see how this is true. Peer

pressure is a very powerful force. We would do well to choose friends who

can be a positive influence on us for righteousness.

The Inheritance Of The Righteous (Verse 21-22)

Solomon reminds us that the companion of fools will come to ruin.

"Misfortune pursues the sinner," he told his readers in verse 21, "but

prosperity is the reward of the righteous." There is blessing in living a life

of righteousness. God will honour those who follow Him. They will leave

an inheritance for their children (verse 22). The wealth of the sinner,

however, will ultimately be given over to the righteous. This may not

always happen in this life but we can be sure that the wealth of the wicked

will be stripped from them. Only those who walk with God and serve Him

will know the fullness of blessing that God has reserved for them alone.

The wicked will be stripped of everything and judged eternally.

Injustice (Verse 23)

As if to remind us that this inheritance of the righteous will not always be

evident in this life, Solomon tells us that while a poor man's field may

produce abundant food, injustice sweeps it away. We are living in a world

filled with injustice and evil. Things happen in this world that are difficult

to understand. Sometimes it seems that evil rules. Through injustice, the

poor are stripped of the little blessings they have in life. We need to be

encouraged in verses 21-22. While injustice reigns in this world, God will

bless those who are faithful to Him. Injustice will be defeated. God will

strip the wicked of unjust gains and give them to those who love and obey

Him.

Discipline (Verse 24)

Again, Solomon underlines the importance of correction and discipline in

our lives. Parents who love their children will discipline and correct them.

Imagine a parent who did not train or correct their child. What would the

child be like when he grew up? The parent who loves his or her child will

do everything they can to train that child in the way he or she should go.

This will sometimes mean correction and discipline. While that correction

is not always pleasant it is for the good of the child. The same is true for us

in our relationship with God. God will correct and discipline us as well. He

does so for our good. All who accept this correction will be better for it.

Contentment (Verse 25)

Solomon concluded this chapter with a final word about the blessing of

living a righteous life. "The righteous eat to their hearts' content," he told

his readers. God will care for His people. We need to understand this in the

context of what Solomon tells us about injustice in verse 23. Sin and evil

have affected this world tremendously. There are times when the righteous

do suffer. Solomon is telling us that God's blessing is on those who love

Him and He will care for them. God will deal with injustice and evil that

strips His people of their needs. In the end, the wicked will be punished and

go hungry.

For Consideration:

Does being wise mean that we have an answer for

everything? What does Solomon teach us about the need to

accept instruction and correction?

What is the difference between having our desires satisfied

and getting what we think we want in life?

How important is trustworthiness? What impact does

trustworthiness have on a society?

What does Solomon teach us about the dangers of riches?

What particular challenge do you take from this?

How important are the friends we choose? How do they

impact the type of life we enjoy?

What do we learn here about ultimate justice? Will we always

see justice in this life?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to be more open to learn from

others.

Have you been satisfied in the Lord? If not, ask Him to strip

away anything that would distract you from complete

satisfaction in Him.

Thank the Lord that He is completely trustworthy and just.

Thank Him that He will always deal with sin and evil.

Ask God to show you His purpose for your life. Ask Him to

give you grace to work faithfully toward that purpose.

Ask God to restore truth and justice to your society.

14 - WISDOM,

DISCERNMENT AND JOY

Read Proverbs 14:1-17

The Wise Woman (Verse 1)

olomon begins chapter 14 with a word about a wise woman.

Scattered throughout this book of Proverbs are passages that speak

about his deep admiration of wise and strong women. Here in verse

1 Solomon elevates the woman of wisdom. Notice that he tells us that the

wise woman built her house. He recognized the vital role of the woman in

the family unit. As a wise woman she managed her household well. Her

family was indebted to her for her skills and ability. Her efforts served to

strengthen and build the members of her household.

So many problems have come about in our society because the family unit

is not as strong as it needs to be. Solomon takes a moment here to recognize

the tremendous value of a woman who manages her home with skill and

wisdom. He also condemns the woman who does not take this role

seriously.

Fearing The Lord (Verse 2)

The fear of the Lord will affect how we walk. Solomon tells us in verse 2

that the person whose walk is upright fears the Lord but the one whose

ways are devious despise the Lord. To fear the Lord is to reverence and

respect His ways. You cannot say that you fear the Lord if you are not

walking in His path. No one who does not live in obedience to God can be

in a right relationship with Him. Solomon goes as far as to say that the

person who does not walk in a manner that respects and reverences God,

despises Him. That is to say, they treat God with disrespect and openly

dishonour His name.

We can measure our fear of the Lord by the life we live. Does our life

reflect His heart? Do we walk in a way that brings Him honour and glory?

The person who loves and respects God will demonstrate this in how he or

she lives.

The Lips Of The Wise (Verse 3)

There is another way that our fear of the Lord is proven. Solomon tells us in

verse 3 that the lips of the wise will protect them but the talk of the fool

brings a rod to his back. In other words, those who fear the Lord will

demonstrate reverence and respect for His name in the use of their words.

Notice that Solomon tells his readers that the lips of the wise protect them.

This is quite obvious from a practical point of view. The liar and deceiver

will be punished not only in this life but also in the judgment to come. The

person whose words are true and honest generally does not have anything to

fear.

The Right Tools (Verse 4)

"Where there is no oxen the manger is empty," Solomon told his readers in

verse 4, "but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest." When

a farmer does not have strong oxen to help plow the fields, the harvest is

not likely to be very good. The barns will be empty in the day of the

harvest.

Solomon is telling us that that if we want to see a good harvest we need to

have the right tools. The tool of the farmer was his oxen. The farmer

understood the value of those oxen and cared for them because he knew his

harvest depended on their health. This principle also applies to other areas

of life. For a number of years now I have been writing these devotional

commentaries. I have been doing this for a very particular reason. It is my

desire to provide believers around the world with the tools they need for

growth and maturity in their walk with God. Without the right tools, the

work will suffer. If the work of the kingdom of God is to be advanced, we

need to take advantage of the tools God has given us for its advancement.

Truth (Verse 5)

God is seeking people who are true witnesses. As His servants we are to be

absolutely honest in our dealings with others and in what we speak. This

means that people should be able to count on what we say. They should be

able to trust to be people of integrity.

Knowledge (Verse 6)

Knowledge comes easy to the discerning (verse 6). The mocker, however,

seeks wisdom but cannot find it. Solomon tells us that there are two types of

people in the world.

First, there are those who are mockers. These individuals do not take God

into account. They live their lives in human wisdom. They see God as a

crutch for the weak. They look to science, medicine and technology for

their answers. While these individuals are very wise in the ways of the

world, true knowledge escapes them because they do not turn to God and

His Word.

The second type of person is the discerning. These people understand their

need of God. They look to God for answers to life. They are obedient to the

Word of God and seek God's purpose and ways in that Word. Solomon tells

us that these individuals find the wisdom and understanding they seek.

They find meaning and purpose in the Word of God.

As wise as mockers may be in the eyes of this world, they will lose

everything in the end. They are walking down a path that leads to

destruction.

Fools (Verses 7-9)

In verses 7-9 Solomon tells his reader to stay away from the fool. We need

to understand here that the fool does not necessarily lack intelligence. The

fool can be very intelligent in the eyes of this world. Solomon tells us in

verse 7 that we will not find knowledge on the lips of the fool. The

knowledge Solomon speaks about here is not worldly knowledge but true

spiritual understanding and wisdom. We have all had intelligent teachers

who have taught us much about this world but who know nothing about

spiritual matters. Solomon is challenging us to seek the company of those

who know the Lord and love His ways.

In verse 8 Solomon reminds us that the fool’s folly is deceptive but the

prudent give thought to their ways. This tells us something about those who

do not seek God for their wisdom and understanding. They live in

deception. Not only are they deceived themselves but they also deceive

others. Those who love the Lord and His ways are wise. They are careful to

give thought to their ways. They submit their ways and words to the Lord

and His purposes.

According to verse 9 the fool mocks the idea of "making amends for sin."

The fool does not submit to the Lord God and His ways. Their concept of

sin has been distorted because it is not governed by the Word of God. They

do not see the need to repent of sin and be made right with God. This is

very dangerous. The result is an abundance of sin and corruption in society.

The righteous, on the other hand, see the need of repentance and

reconciliation. They will do their best to live in harmony with God, His

Word and their fellow citizen. This will have a tremendous impact on their

society. Wisdom accepts God's purpose and will.

Bitterness And Joy (Verse 10)

Each heart knows its own bitterness and no one else can share its joy. Paul

tells us in Romans 12:15 that we are to "rejoice with those who rejoice;

mourn with those who mourn." It is clear from this that God has called us to

share the joy and sorrow of our brother and sister. Having said this,

however, we need to understand what Solomon tells us in verse 10.

"Each heart knows its own bitterness." None of us will ever be able to walk

through life with no struggle or pain. No one, apart from God can fully

understand our experience of that pain. People respond differently to similar

situations in life. We need to remember this when we counsel or seek to

comfort those who are suffering. We cannot expect everyone will respond

like we do to problems. Each heart knows its own bitterness.

What is true for bitterness is also true for our joy. While we can comfort

and encourage each other, our experiences of joy and sorrow will differ

from one person to another. God has created us differently. None of us are

the same. There is a joy and there is a sorrow that is unique to each person

and no one else can really know but that person and God.

The Righteous Will Flourish (Verse 11)

Solomon reminds us in verse 11 that the house of the wicked will be

destroyed but the tent of the upright will flourish. Notice the words used

here. The wicked are living in houses while the righteous are living in tents.

While the wicked may seem to prosper, their luxurious houses will be

destroyed. Their wealth and prosperity will not last. The righteous may not

have as much money or comfort as the wicked but their future is secure.

They will flourish even though they do not have what the wicked have.

We need to see that prosperity in God's eyes is not about money and

worldly possessions. The righteous in this verse do not have what the evil

person does, but they are flourishing in God's eyes. To flourish in this sense

has to do more with our relationship to God and our riches in Him than it

does with what this world offers. We can have everything this world has to

offer and still not flourish.

Outward Appearance (Verse 12)

Solomon challenges us not to be deceived by outward appearance and

worldly logic. Satan will dress up sin to make it attractive. He will make sin

and rebellion seem logical. I have often spoken with individuals who were

deceived by Satan in this way. They tried to justify their sinful or careless

action by logical explanations and careful human reason. Satan used this

careful reasoning in the Garden of Eden. He made the fruit of the tree look

attractive. He showed Eve all the benefits of eating from that tree. When

she ate she took all of humanity with her into sin.

Solomon reminds us that we need a better guide than human wisdom and

sight. Our eyes and our minds can be deceived. Only God's Word can guide

us through this world and protect us from the snares Satan has set before us.

Laughter And Grief (Verse 13)

Continuing on in the same theme as verse 12, Solomon tells us that not

everything is what it appears to be. He tells us in verse 13 that even in

laughter the heart can ache. We have all met individuals who appeared to be

happy and joyful people who carried a deep pain in their heart.

Joy may end in grief. Imagine the joy of a mother who gives birth to her

newborn child. As the years pass however, that joy is turned to grief as the

child wanders in rebellion. Things are not always what they appear to be in

this sinful world. Even our joy and happiness can be stripped from us in an

instant. How thankful we need to be that those who love the Lord have a

hope of something better. In the presence of God we will have perfect joy

and peace. No heartache will hide behind our laughter.

Faithfulness Will Be Rewarded (Verse 14)

While this life is filled with uncertainties, God promises to reward our

faithfulness. God is not blind to our actions. In His time He will reward

those who remain faithful to Him.

Think About It (Verse 15)

In verse 15 Solomon challenges his readers to give careful thought to their

steps. In light of the fact that not everything is what it appears to be on the

outside, we need to be careful to submit everything to the microscope of

God's Word. The simple person will believe anything but prudent and wise

people will consider what they hear and submit it to the teaching of true

wisdom as found in God's Word.

Hotheadedness (Verses 16-17)

Wise people are those who have submitted themselves and their actions to

God. They reject sinful ways. This is not the case for the fool. The fool is

"hotheaded and reckless." They are not in control of their emotions. They

are quick tempered and respond out of anger and bitterness. While the wise

person is guided by God's Word, the fool is governed by emotions.

For Consideration:

Solomon recognizes the importance of family in verse 1.

What have you been doing to strengthen your family?

How do our actions show what we think about God?

What tools has God given you for maturity and service? Are

there people around you that lack those tools? What can you

do about it?

What is the difference between worldly knowledge and the

truth of God?

What does Solomon tell us about the deception of evil? Why

is it important that we submit everything to the microscope of

God's Word?

For Prayer:

Ask God to give you discerning eyes to see the deceit of

Satan in this world.

Thank the Lord that He has given you His Word to be your

guide.

Do you know people who are being deceived by the enemy?

Ask God to open their eyes to the truth.

15 - WEALTH,

FRIENDSHIP AND

BLESSING

Read Proverbs 14:18-35

t is true that often in this life the wicked seem to prosper. In Proverbs

14:18, however, Solomon reminds us of the temporary nature of the

blessings of the wicked.

The Inheritance Of The Simple (Verse 18)

"The simple inherit folly," Solomon said. The simple are those who refuse

to walk in the ways of the Lord. They are simple because their minds have

been closed to the truth. They live for this world and its pleasures but know

nothing of the richer blessings of eternity. These people, says Solomon, will

inherit folly. In other words, they will look back on a life, lived in luxury

and comfort and realize how foolish they were to ignore the realities of the

eternal kingdom of God.

The wise person, on the other hand, is crowned with knowledge. He has a

true understanding of life and its meaning. He has knowledge of God and

His kingdom. He does not live for the temporary pleasures of this world but

for eternity.

Solomon reminds us that evil people who do not acknowledge God will one

day bow in the presence of those who are good. They have their time on

this earth. They may rule over the righteous and oppress them. The day is

coming when they will take their place at the feet of those who love the

Lord. They will be judged for their evil and the righteous will rule over

them.

We ought never to envy those who are evil. They may have everything their

heart desires in this life but they will perish in the end.

Friends For The Rich (Verses 20-21)

Human nature is such that it admires those who are wealthy according to

the world's standard. When we see someone who is rich and influential we

want to know them. We see them as being important and consider it an

honour to be their friend. This is not the case with the poor. Human nature

tends to push aside the poor. Who would boast of being a friend of a person

who had nothing? The poor are often shunned but rich people have many

friends.

How important it is for us to be aware of this tendency. Jesus is described in

Matthew 11:19 as being a friend of sinners. He was aware of the needs of

the poor and often reached out to them. Solomon went on in verse 21 to tell

us that the person who despised his neighbour sinned. The context would

lead us to believe that this neighbor was poor. To despise a neighbor

because he or she is poor is sin. Solomon challenged his readers instead to

be kind to their needy neighbour (verse 21).

Planning What Is Good (Verse 22)

Continuing on in the theme of showing compassion and kindness to one’s

needy neighbor, Solomon told his readers in verse 22 that those who plotted

evil would go astray but those who planned to do good would find love and

faithfulness. There were those who oppressed their needy neighbour. Maybe

they did not like them in their neighborhood and did what they could to get

rid of them. Maybe they denied them justice. Maybe they simply despised

them and ignored their needs when they had the power to help them.

Solomon reminds us that those who did this strayed from the purpose of

God. They would be judged as transgressors of God's Word.

On the other hand, those who planned what was good would find love and

faithfulness. Notice that there is purposefulness in verse 22. These

individuals see the need that is before them and choose to do something

about it. They plan to do good for their neighbour and carry that plan

through. Those who do this will find love and faithfulness. They will know

the love and faithful provision of the Lord for their efforts. They will also

know the love and faithfulness of the needy they help.

Hard Work (Verse 23)

In the book of Proverbs Solomon elevates the importance of hard work.

Here in verse 23 he reminded his readers that the person who worked hard

would bring in a profit. There were those who had big plans. They spoke of

those plans and boasted of great things they would do. Those people did not

see their plans accomplished, however, because they did not work hard to

make them happen.

If we want to see things happen we need to work to see them happen. While

God is not dependent on us to accomplish His purposes, He does expect us

to work for what we get. Unless I work hard to write these books they will

never be a blessing to people around the world. We can sit back and pray

for blessing but if we are not willing to be the channel, how will that

blessing come? God promises to reward our efforts for the sake of His

kingdom. We cannot expect fruit if we do not plant seeds and cultivate the

soil. God calls us to be hard working servants. He delights to bless the wise

efforts of our hands.

The Wealth Of The Wise (Verse 24)

"The wealth of the wise is their crown," Solomon tells us in verse 24. We

need to see here that the individuals Solomon speaks about are both wise

and wealthy. Solomon is not speaking here about wealthy people who do

not know God and His ways. In the context of these verses Solomon has

been speaking about the profit of hard work (see verse 23). The wealth of

those who reverence and respect God has come to them through hard and

honest efforts. Solomon is telling his readers that God rewards the hard and

honest work of the wise with His blessing. The wise who have worked hard

for what they receive will wear those blessings like a crown. These

blessings are the reward of hard and diligent work.

This is not the case for the fool. Their wealth has not been obtained by

following God and His Word. They are not motivated to honour God and

live for Him. Their riches will never satisfy. Without God in their lives,

those riches will only be a hindrance. They will one day be taken from them

and they will stand before God with nothing. This, according to Solomon,

was folly. When we do not live for God, even our money and possessions

have no ultimate meaning or purpose.

A Truthful Witness (Verse 25)

Solomon tells us in verse 25 that a truthful witness saves lives but a false

witness is deceitful. False witnesses will condemn the innocent. They do

not care whether an innocent person lives or dies. Their only concern is for

themselves and their own interest. The truthful witness, on the other hand,

is concerned for truth. He will not see the innocent condemned. His concern

is for justice.

The Security Of Those Who Fear The Lord

(Verses 26-27)

Those who fear God have built their lives on a secure foundation. The fear

of God is a secure fortress (verse 26). Those who respect and honour the

Lord God will find security in their obedience and love for the Lord. God

surrounds those who live in obedience to Him. He is a refuge for all who

love and honour Him.

The fear of the Lord is also like a fountain of life. Those who reverence and

respect the Lord will not only find security in Him but also refreshing and

renewing. The Lord refreshes those who reverence and respect His name.

This refreshing of the Lord will keep us from the snare of death (verse 27).

Imagine a person walking through the desert. He is parched and dry and

does not know how he will be able to take another step. There before him,

however, is a fountain of living water. As he drinks that water, he is

refreshed and renewed. His life is spared and he is given strength to

continue his journey. Those who fear the Lord, Solomon tells us, will know

this refreshing in the desert of life.

The King's Subjects

We have already seen how Solomon reminded us that a rich person has

many friends (see verse 20-21). Here in verse 28, however, he reminds us

that a large population was the glory of the king and without any subjects,

the prince would be ruined. What kind of king would Solomon have been

had he ruled over a kingdom with no citizens? No one would take him

seriously. Even the servants of the king's court were important. Without

these servants, the king would be ruined. The king cannot defeat his enemy

without soldiers. Solomon is telling us here that every person is important.

The servant is just as important as the leader. Even those who appear to be

small and insignificant are important and the king’s success depends on

them. How careful we need to be not to look down on anyone.

Patience (Verse 29)

We are reminded in verse 29 that "a patient man has great understanding but

a quick-tempered man displays folly." What problem is solved by losing our

temper? We only create further problems when we become angry. A patient

person will wait for the right time. He demonstrates compassion and respect

for others. He is not rushed to get his own way. The patient person builds

relationships. He wins more friends than the man who gets angry because

he does not get his way.

Peace (Verse 30)

How easy it is to envy what others have. This will only make our lives

miserable. Instead of envying what others have, we need to learn to be

content with what God has given. If we are at peace with our lot in life, our

life will be easier. Peace and contentment with what we have, gives life to

our body. Discontent, on the other hand, only leads to bitterness and strife

which in turn will destroy us.

Kindness (Verse 31)

Kind people are content with what they have. Because they are at peace

with what they have, they are willing to share with others. They have no

need to accumulate more than they need.

Solomon reminds us that the one who oppressed the poor showed contempt

for their Maker. God does not bless every person in the same way. He gives

more to some than others. He gives some people far more than they need

and allows others to have less than they need. Why does God not give

equally to everyone? Obviously, the reason is so that those who have more

than they need can share in the privilege of giving to those who have less.

What a privilege it is for us to share in this ministry of giving. God delights

to use us as His co-workers in ministering to those in need. When we show

contempt for the poor, we are not only refusing to see them as God sees

them, but we are also refusing to use God's resources as He intended.

When we have more than we need, we can be sure that this is not without

reason. God wants to use us to be instruments of blessing to someone else.

To keep what is not ours to keep, is to show contempt for God and the

blessings He intended for someone else. Those who show kindness with

their wealth honour God by using His resources for the purpose for which

they were intended.

The Refuge Of The Righteous (Verse 32)

Those who love the Lord and are in a right relationship with Him have an

assurance beyond this life. They know that God promises them eternal life

in His presence. Death is not an end for the righteous. Even if the righteous

person loses his life, he still has the hope and comfort of eternal life. This is

not the case for the wicked. They have no such hope. They are brought

down to judgment.

Wisdom And Its Benefits (Verse 33-34)

In verse 33 Solomon tells us that "wisdom reposes in the heart of the

discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known." Solomon may

be saying that the wisdom of the discerning is evident even to those who do

not follow the Lord. The blessing of God that comes from this wisdom is

evident even to the fool. This interpretation fits what Solomon says in verse

34. Here he told his people that righteousness exalted a nation. The wisdom

of those that lived according to the righteous principles of God had an effect

on the nation as a whole. When God blessed a nation because of His people,

even the fool benefited from that blessing. The presence of godly people,

like light and salt, enhanced the lives of all who lived in that community.

A Gentile woman came to Jesus one day seeking His touch. Jesus

responded to her in Matthew 7:27:

"First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is

not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

Hearing this, the woman responded: "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under

the table eat the children's crumbs" (Matthew 7:28). In other words, even

those who do not follow the Lord and His ways benefit from the blessing of

the Lord on His people.

The wisdom of the wise and the benefits that come to those who live godly

lives will be evident and experienced to some extent even by those who do

not love God. Unbelieving children in godly homes enjoy the blessings of

God on their parents. A nation will experience the fruit of the blessing God

pours on His people in their midst. Righteousness will exalt a nation.

A Wise Servant Is A Delight (Verse 35)

A wise servant will delight the heart of the king but a shameful servant will

only incur his wrath. Those who live according to the wisdom of God will

know God's wonderful blessing. They will delight His heart. In a similar

way, those who live a godly life will be a blessing and delight to their

nation. As believers, we ought to be a delight to those we meet. We are light

in a dark society and salt in a decaying world.

For Consideration:

What do we learn in this passage about the futility of life

without God?

What challenge do you find here about being a friend to the

poor and needy?

Have you ever found yourself judging someone based on

their wealth and influence in society? Why is this wrong?

What does Solomon teach us about contentment and peace

with what God has given us?

What effect does righteousness have on our society?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to be a friend to those in need. Ask

Him to help you to use what He has given to minister to

others.

Thank God that He delights to bless our efforts for the

kingdom. Ask Him to show you how He would have you

serve Him.

Thank the Lord for the security and refreshing He gives those

who live in the fear of His name.

16 - WORDS,

CORRECTION AND

CONTENTMENT

Read Proverbs 15:1-33

n chapter 15 Solomon speaks on a variety of subjects. He begins with

some thoughts about words.

Words (Verses 1-4)

In verses 1-4 Solomon has several things to say about words. In verse 1 he

reminds us that the way we use words is very important. "A gentle answer

turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger,” he tells us. A gentle

answer is an answer that takes into account the person who is receiving the

word. We can speak the truth in a harsh way. We need to speak truth but we

should also learn how to speak truth in love, considering how it will be

received by the person to whom we speak. There are those who feel that as

long as what they say is true they don't have to worry about their intentions.

This is not the case. You can preach the truth from the pulpit with bitterness

in your heart. You can hurt a person unnecessarily, depending on how you

speak that truth. To speak with gentleness is to consider how the person to

whom we speak will receive the word. It is true that the truth will

sometimes hurt but it is not our intention to hurt people with our words. A

sharp knife can be very useful to the surgeon but in the wrong hands it can

also kill. The same is true for our words. A gentle answer will sooth a

troubled spirit but truth spoken without respect and consideration for the

person for whom it is intended can stir up trouble.

Solomon reminds us in verse 2 that the mouth of the fool spills out

foolishness. Fools do not weigh their words. They say whatever comes to

their mind. They do not consider the outcome. The wise person, however,

speaks words of knowledge. These words are carefully weighed.

How often have we spoken words without discernment? To speak whatever

comes to our mind without discerning the usefulness and benefit of those

words is foolish. The words that come from our mouths should be words of

wisdom and knowledge. We need to consider that the eyes of the Lord are

everywhere (verse 3). He sees what we do and hears what we speak. We

will give an account to Him for our actions and words. We need to be

careful to consider the words we speak.

The tongue is a powerful tool. Words have the potential to bring life and

healing but they also have the power to crush and destroy (verse 4). It may

be that we will have to answer to God more for our careless words than for

anything else. A careless word spoken to our spouse or children can affect

them for life. How many people have never reached their potential because

someone told them they would never amount to anything? How many

people, on the other hand, have taken steps of faith and moved on to great

things because they were encouraged by a word from a brother or sister?

We need to learn how to use our words so that our tongues bring healing

and life. We will be judged for the damage our words have caused.

Correction (Verse 5)

In the book of Proverbs, Solomon repeatedly challenges his readers to listen

to correction and to accept discipline. He reminds us that it is only a fool

who spurns his father’s discipline. Correction and discipline are the means

by which God draws us closer to Himself and imparts greater wisdom. It is

not easy to be corrected but those who accept it will benefit.

The Treasure Of The Righteous (Verse 6)

Solomon tells us in verse 6 that the house of the righteous contains great

treasure. We should not see from this that the righteous will be wealthy in

this world’s goods. To limit treasure to money and possessions is to miss

the teaching of the Scripture as a whole. The wealth of the believer is far

greater than what this world offers. He who has all the wealth of the world

but does not have Christ has nothing. The treasure of the righteous is far

greater than worldly wealth. The righteous have the blessing of salvation

and peace with God. They know the fellowship of His Spirit and walk in

His blessing. The house of the righteous is filled with blessing even though

they may not have money and possessions.

This is not the case for the wicked. Their income only brings them trouble.

What this world offers will never satisfy. The fool may have all that this

world has to offer and still be discontent and unsatisfied.

Lips Of The Wise (Verse 7)

Solomon returns to the use of words in verse 7. Here he simply repeats what

he said in verse 2, reminding us that the lips of the wise spread knowledge.

The knowledge spoken of here is not worldly knowledge. There are many

people who have great understanding of this world. These individuals,

however, do not know the Lord and His purposes. Those who do fear the

Lord, however, will be people who honour Him in the way they use their

words. When they speak, they speak from a heart that is in tune with God

and His purposes. They speak a wisdom that is not of this world. They

share a wisdom that this world needs to hear. They do not hide what God

has given them but share freely the purpose of God for life with all who will

listen.

What God Detests (Verses 8-9)

In verses 8-9 Solomon tells us that there are several things God detests. In

verse 8 he tells us that that Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked. We

should not see the sacrifice of the wicked to be a pagan sacrifice to a

foreign god. The sacrifice Solomon refers to may be a legitimate sacrifice to

the Lord God. God does not look merely at the outward action but also at

the heart of the person bringing a sacrifice. When He sees a wicked person

coming into the temple to worship with a sinful heart, He refused their

sacrifice. Solomon goes as far as to say that God detested the sacrifice of

the person who came before Him with a sinful heart.

Solomon tells us in verse 8, however, that the prayer of the righteous

pleases the Lord. What is important here is the condition of the heart. God

is more interested in the motivation of the heart than He is in the outward

actions. God detested the ways of the wicked but loved those who pursue

righteousness from their heart (verse 9).

Correction (Verses 10-12)

Once again Solomon returns to the importance of correction and discipline

in our lives. He reminded his readers that discipline would await those who

left the path (verse 10). This discipline would not be pleasant but the person

who hated correction would die. Discipline is a necessary part of life.

Without it we wander down the wrong path and perish. Parents who love

their child will correct them. This is how it is with God. He disciplines us

because He has great plans for our lives. His desire is that nothing hinder us

from accomplishing His purposes.

In verse 11 Solomon tells us that Death and Destruction lie open before the

Lord. What we should understand is that hell and the grave are open to the

Lord's all seeing eye. He sees what is taking place in these places of

horrible torment. These places are presently unseen to our human eye but

not hidden from God. God knows all about the path of Death and

Destruction. He knows when we are heading directly for that path and will

not hesitate to stop us by correcting and disciplining us for our good.

According to verse 12 it is only the mocker who will resent such correction

from God. Would you resent someone who interrupted your schedule to

save your life? Would you resent someone who wounded you to spare you

from even greater harm? So it is with the correction of the Lord. His

correction may be painful, but only the fool would resent being corrected by

God who has their best interests at heart.

The Happy Heart (Verses 13-15)

Solomon reminds us of the importance of a happy heart. When our heart is

happy it will be reflected in our face (verse 13). People will see the

happiness of our heart in our behaviour. What a powerful testimony this is

to a world seeking meaning and happiness.

When our heart aches our whole spirit is crushed. This too is evident in how

we act and look. It is hard to hide a crushed spirit. Those who live under

oppression will find that their days are "wretched" (verse 14). Oppression

wears out the mind and body. This oppression can be in many forms. For

some it comes through the abusive actions of those around them. For others

it comes through worry, bitterness or anger in their lives. All these things

can drag a person down and make their lives very difficult. Each day

becomes a burden. A cheerful heart, on the other hand, is a continual feast.

It refreshes and restores. It brings delight and joy to the whole being.

Sandwiched between verses 13 and 15 which speak of the cheerful and

happy heart is Solomon's challenge to his readers in verse 14: "The

discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly."

In the context of this discussion on the happy heart we should understand

that those who have a discerning heart will seek to find this happy heart that

Solomon speaks about. They will learn to enjoy the continual feast that

comes from a happy heart rooted in a relationship with the Creator.

Less Is More (Verses 16-17)

Wealth will not buy a happy and contented heart. In fact, sometimes our

wealth stands in the way of our experience of happiness. In verse 16-17

Solomon told his readers that it was better to have little and live in the fear

of the Lord than to have great wealth and live in turmoil. It was better to

have a simple meal of vegetables, where there was love, than to feast on a

fatted calf where there was hatred. He is telling us that we can have

everything this world has to offer and still not be content and satisfied. This

world's riches cannot buy a right relationship with God nor can it buy the

love and devotion of close friends. Contentment and happiness can only

come in the context of the fear of the Lord. That is to say, we can only

know true satisfaction in the context of a right relationship with our Saviour

and in contentment with what He has given.

Patience (Verse 18)

Those who are hot-tempered stir up dissension (verse 18). The anger and

bitterness of the hot-tempered person will only cause problems and make

people angry. Their bitterness and anger is fuel for the fire. Patience,

however, will put out that fire and calm a quarrel.

Laziness And Hard Work (Verse 19)

Solomon describes the path of the righteous as a highway. A highway is

cleared from obstacles. This is not the path of the lazy person. His path is

blocked with thorns. Thorns can be removed from the path. The lazy

person, however, is unwilling to put the effort into clearing them from the

path. I am not sure what thorns are in your path today. In the strength of the

Lord those obstacles can be removed. This may require effort on our part

but the righteous person sees the importance of removing all obstacles that

hinder his walk in the ways of the Lord.

Foolishness (Verse 20-21)

Foolishness and sinful ways may bring pleasure and delight for a moment

but that delight is only for a moment (verse 20). This world offers

"happiness" and "satisfaction" but we should not be deceived by what the

world seeks to sell as happiness and satisfaction. "Folly delights a man who

lacks judgment," Solomon told his readers in verse 21. The wise person is

not deceived by the advertisements of this world. The wise person will

bring joy to his father because he listens to his instruction. The fool turns

his back on the wisdom of his mother to seek the things of this world. The

“man of understanding keeps a straight course,” Solomon says to us in

verse 21. That is to say, the wise person will not let the temporary pleasure

of sin mislead him. Instead he will choose to walk in the way of the Lord

without veering from it.

Taking Advice (Verse 22)

None of us are able to get through this life without others. Only fools feel

that they know everything. Solomon reminds us that the sure way to fail in

our plans is to refuse the counsel of others. It is not easy to seek advice. To

seek advice requires that we be humble enough to realize we need that

advice. If we want to succeed in life, however, we will learn to listen to

others and their advice.

A Timely Word (Verse 23)

While there is great blessing in receiving advice (verse 22) there is also

great blessing for those who give advice. "A man finds joy in giving an apt

reply," Solomon told his readers. Solomon, as one of the wisest men of his

day, would have often given advice to those who came to him. He saw how

people responded to his words of wisdom and advice. He saw them leave

his presence encouraged and blessed because they listened. He also

experienced the joy of being able to offer a timely word to those who

needed it.

The Path Of The Righteous (Verse 24)

Those who walk in the path of righteousness keep their lives from going

down to the grave. While we will all have to die, Solomon is telling us that

those who walk in the path of righteousness will preserve themselves from

a premature death. Sin will keep us from experiencing the fullness of life as

God intended.

Pride (Verse 25)

Pride is a terrible thing in the eyes of the Lord. God will judge those who

are proud but preserve those who love and trust Him. He preserves the

widow's boundaries so they are not taken from her. He takes up the defense

of the humble. This is not the case for the proud. God's hand is against the

proud. The proud live for themselves. They do not see their need of the

Lord. Solomon tells us that God will tear down the house of the proud.

Pure Thoughts (Verse 26)

God looks beyond our outward actions and appearance to the thoughts of

our heart. There is not a thought that God does not hear and know about.

Solomon tells his readers in verse 26 that the Lord detests the thoughts of

the wicked but delights in those who are pure and pleasing to Him. How

many thoughts run through our mind each day? Those thoughts are not

voiced to anyone but they are known to God. Do our thoughts bring delight

to God or do they grieve His heart?

Greed (Verse 27)

Another thing that God detests is greed. Solomon told his readers in verse

27 that the greedy person would bring trouble to his family. The greedy

person is one who does not want to part with his money and possessions.

This type of person will not spend even what is necessary to provide for the

comfort of the family. The family of the greedy person will suffer.

There is another thing that greed will do. Greed will also lead to corruption

and dishonesty. In verse 27 Solomon gives an example of a person who

takes a bribe. Because of their love for money and possessions, the greedy

person is willing to be dishonest to make money. This leads to trouble and

judgment. Solomon reminded his readers that those who hated bribes would

live and be spared God's judgment.

More Words (Verse 28)

In verse 28 Solomon repeats what he told us in verses 1-4. Words have a

powerful impact on those around us. The righteous person will be careful in

how he or she uses words. While the fool gushes out whatever comes to his

or her mind, the righteous person considers his words before speaking them.

He considers whether the words he speaks will be helpful for those who

hear them. This requires tremendous effort and discipline on the part of the

righteous but when we understand the importance and impact our words can

have, we will want to be careful about what we speak.

The Prayer Of The Righteous (Verse 29)

While we cannot merit our salvation by means of our good works, we can

experience a deeper sense of intimacy with God by walking in obedience.

Solomon reminds us in verse 29 that the Lord is far from the wicked. Their

wickedness drives the presence of God from them. This is also true for the

believer who lives in sin. Sin will keep us from experiencing the blessing of

God in our lives and hinder the experience of intimacy with Him.

Those who walk with the Lord in righteousness will know deep fellowship

with their Saviour. God will hear their prayers. When Solomon speaks

about the Lord hearing the prayer of the righteous he is not just saying that

God hears the words the righteous speak, he is telling us that God answers

those prayers. He pours out His blessing on those who walk in

righteousness.

Cheerfulness (Verse 30)

In verse 30 Solomon again reminds us of the importance of cheerfulness.

He told us in verse 15 that a happy heart made the face cheerful. Here he

takes this a step further. In verse 30 he tells us that that cheerful face can

restore the heart. Sometimes words are not necessary. A reassuring and

cheerful look from another person can make our day. Maybe this comes

from a person you met on the way to work. Maybe it is the smile of a long-

time friend. Somehow their presence changes things for you. You were

comforted and reassured. Your heart was given confidence and joy was

restored. Our cheerful disposition will have an impact on those around us

for good.

In a similar way good news can bring health and healing to our bones. Good

news rejoices the heart and gives life. Bad news will weigh heavily on us

and wears us down but good news will lighten our step.

Rebuke And Discipline (Verse 31-32)

It is hard to miss what Solomon feels about correction and discipline.

Solomon was one of the wisest men who ever lived. He knew more about

the world than others in his day. If there was anyone who could have gone

without the advice and counsel of others it would have been him. He

reminds us, however, that those who listen to life-giving rebuke will be at

home with the wise. In other words, the wise person will listen to rebuke.

Those who refuse discipline only harm themselves. If you want to grow in

understanding and wisdom, then you will need to be corrected. It is true that

God gives wisdom to His people but He does this often through correction

and discipline.

Solomon concludes this section by reminding us that true wisdom comes

from the fear of the Lord. In other words, we can never understand life

apart from God and a correct relationship with Him. Only those who have a

longing to know God and walk in His purpose know true wisdom.

"Humility comes before honour," Solomon told his readers in verse 33. If

we want to be honoured and walk in the wisdom of God, we will need to

learn first to walk in humility. The humble person is one who accepts the

discipline of the Lord and learns to walk in the fear of the Lord. This person

will grow in wisdom and knowledge. This person will be honoured by God.

For Consideration:

What do we learn about the importance of our words? What

does it mean to consider our words before we speak? What

harm can be done by our words? What blessing can we bring

through our words?

Why is correction and discipline important in our relationship

with God? What is the connection between correction and

wisdom?

Can this world bring us true satisfaction and contentment?

Where does true happiness and contentment come from?

What does Solomon tell us about the importance of happiness

and contentment in this life? Should we strive to be happy

and content? What will be the benefit in our life and the lives

of other?

What is the importance of humility? What is the promise of

God for the humble? What is the connection between

humility, correction and discipline?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to walk in humility before Him,

accepting His correction and discipline.

Is your heart a cheerful and happy heart? If not, ask God to

remove anything that would keep you from experiencing true

happiness and contentment in life.

Thank the Lord that He loves you enough to discipline and

correct you.

Ask God to forgive you for words you have spoken that hurt

others. Ask Him to help you to consider your words before

you speak.

17 - THE WAYS OF THE

RIGHTEOUS

Read Proverbs 16:1-33

The Plans Of The Heart (Verse 1)

here have been many things I have wanted to do in my life. Not all

of those plans come from God or are in His purpose. "To man

belong the plans of the heart," Solomon tells us. As human beings

we make all kinds of plans. Our agendas are full. We have all kinds of ideas

and dreams. Solomon reminds us, however, that "from the Lord comes the

reply of the tongue." In other words, it is the decree of the Lord that will

come to pass. All our plans amount to nothing if God is not in them.

Notice also that God weighs the motives of our hearts in the plans we make.

God is concerned about our intentions. Sometimes those motives are hidden

from our own eyes. How many times have we had a passion to do

something for the Lord only to discover that our motives were not for the

Lord but for ourselves? Not only do we need to seek God about our plans,

but we also need Him to reveal any secret motive we might have that would

dishonour His name.

In verse 3 Solomon challenges his readers to commit whatever they did to

the Lord and their plans would succeed. When we commit what we do to

the Lord, we are doing two things. First, we are seeking His permission to

do what we do (verse 1). Second, we are submitting our attitude and

motives to the Lord for examination (verse 2). The person who commits his

or her ways to the Lord desires only to do what the Lord permits. Solomon

promises that when we seek God about our plans they will succeed.

In verse 4 Solomon tells us that the Lord worked out everything for His

own end. Not everyone will commit their plans to God. There will be those

who seek to carry through their own ideas. God will use even the wicked

plans of evil people to accomplish His greater purposes. Even the wicked

and their ways will one day be judged and bring honour to the Lord God.

Pride (Verse 5)

Those who do not commit their plans to the Lord are proud. They lift

themselves up above Him and His purposes. They want their own way and

their own agenda. Solomon reminds the proud that God detests their pride

and will punish them for their arrogance.

Love, Faithfulness And The Fear Of The Lord

(Verse 6)

In verse 6 Solomon told his readers that sin was atoned for through love and

faithfulness. I don't believe that Solomon is speaking here about salvation.

We know, however, that it was through the love and faithfulness of the Lord

Jesus that our sins were atoned. Atonement has to do with reconciling two

parties. Imagine that, because of an offense, a division is caused between

two brothers. How will this division be healed? In some cases a fine must

be paid. In other cases a wrong must be made right. In almost every case an

apology needs to be made. When these things are done, then the wrong can

be atoned or made right and both parties can be reconciled.

Here in verse 6 Solomon tells us that it is through love and faithfulness that

sin is atoned for. In other words, when we prove our love and faithfulness to

someone, relationships are restored. Imagine that a husband has been

unfaithful to his wife. How can this wrong be made right? Ultimately the

only way this can be made right again is for him to prove his love and

faithfulness to his wife over time. In time, she will see that he is sincere and

truly loves her. The same is true in other relationships. If you have hurt a

brother or sister, than make it your goal to love them and be faithful to them

in every way. Prove your faithfulness and love to them and you will have

regained a friend.

Solomon reminds us that the fear of the Lord will protect us from falling

again. "Through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil" (verse 6). When

we live in the fear of the Lord, we will avoid conflicts with people around

us that require atonement.

At Peace With The Enemy (Verse 7)

Again in verse 7 Solomon tells us that when our ways are pleasing to the

Lord, His blessing will fall on our plans. When we walk in God's ways, He

goes before us to prepare the way. Even our enemies will live at peace with

us. God will blind their eyes or calm their anger so that His purposes in us

will be accomplished.

We should not see from this that we will never have enemies. The life of the

righteous is not always easy. We will always have enemies. What Solomon

is telling us, however, is that God will give us victory. These enemies will

not be able to hinder God’s purpose for us.

Righteousness (Verse 8)

In verse 8 Solomon reminds us that it is better to have little with

righteousness than to obtain great wealth through injustice. There are those

who are not content with God's plans. In their discontent, they resort to

injustice to obtain what they want. These individuals live under the curse of

God. They will be judged by God and lose all they have. Contentment in

God's purpose has great benefit. The ungodly pursue what God has not

given. The righteous learn to be happy with what God has given.

The Plans Of Man (Verse 9)

Again in verse 9 Solomon reminds us that while we all make plans in our

heart, it is God's purpose that unfolds. We can make all the plans we want

but only what God allows will come to pass.

We need to be careful that we do not take this statement of Solomon too far.

There are those who feel that they can do as they please and as long as God

does not stop them they must be in His will. God will not always stop us

from sinning. We can make decisions that are not in agreement with the

purpose of God in our lives. In this case, we will suffer the consequences

but God's overall purpose will still be accomplished. God is not threatened

by the detours we take in life. A clear example of this is seen in the children

of Israel wandering through the wilderness. God's purpose was to take them

to the Promised Land. Because of their sins, the journey took forty years.

They could have arrived much sooner but the detour prolonged their

journey. They still arrived in the Promised Land, but the journey was long

and hard and many people left their lives in that barren wasteland. God can

take you the direct route or through a barren wasteland. He will accomplish

His purpose but your decisions will often determine the route He will take

you.

The Ways Of The King (Verses 10-15)

In verses 10-15 Solomon speaks about God's purpose for the king. He

speaks here about a righteous king as God's representative on the earth.

Solomon tells us several things about a righteous king in this passage.

First, the lips of a righteous king speak as an oracle and were never to

betray justice (verse 10). In other words, the king was God's representative

to bring justice to his country. He acted on God's behalf to punish sinful

behaviour or to reward faithfulness. The king was to govern justly. All

people were to be treated fairly. No one would receive special favour. Evil

in all its forms was to be punished without exception.

Second, the king was to be honest in his dealings (verse 11). Solomon

reminds him that honest scales and balances were from the Lord.

Third, the king's throne was to be established through righteousness.

Righteousness has to do with living in a way that pleases God. The king

was to rule in righteousness. He was to do everything in a way that

honoured his Lord. All his decisions were to be in accordance with the

purpose of God. The king was subject to God and would give an account to

Him. He was not to tolerate ungodliness in his kingdom but was to fight for

righteousness.

Fourth, the king was to be honest in his speech. He was to value the man

who was honest. How easy it would be for the king to surround himself

with those who would help him advance his kingdom by whatever means.

Solomon reminded the king that neither he nor anyone who served him was

to be dishonest in their dealings with the citizens of his kingdom. Absolute

honesty was to be the rule. Those who were honest were to be honoured.

How we need to see this honesty in our land today.

The king's wrath, according to Solomon, was a messenger of death (verse

14). In other words, when the king was angry with a subject he had the

power to take that subject's life. He was God's representative to bring

justice and punish evil. The wise person would do everything not to incur

the wrath of the king. On the other hand, when the king's face brightened it

meant life for his subjects. He had the power to show his favour toward

those who honoured him and respected his reign.

Wisdom Better Than Gold (Verse 16)

Wisdom is better than gold, Solomon told his readers in verses 16. Wisdom,

as we have said, is the art of living a life of reverence and respect for God.

We can have all the gold in the world but if we are not right with God, all

this will amount to nothing in the end. Nothing can be compared to

knowing God and walking in His wisdom.

The Highway Of The Upright (Verse 17)

Those who love the Lord and walk in His ways will avoid evil and keep

their life. The ways of the Lord are perfect. Those who delight in His ways

will be spared much evil. God will direct them on the path they need to

take.

Pride And Destruction (Verse 18-20)

There are those who, in their pride, refuse to submit to God and His

purpose. In verse 18 Solomon made it clear that these individuals would

suffer the consequences of their pride. "Pride goes before destruction,"

Solomon warned. The sure way to fall and never get back up is to allow

your spirit to become proud and arrogant. As Solomon said in verse 5:

“The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They

will not go unpunished.”

According to Solomon, it is better to be lowly and oppressed than to share

in the plunder of the proud. The oppression of the humble only lasted for a

moment but the judgment of the proud would be for eternity.

Those who were humble enough to receive instructions would prosper

(verse 20). Those who trusted the Lord would be blessed. This was not the

way of the proud. They felt that they were in control of their own destiny.

They thought only of themselves and their comforts. They did not feel the

need of the Lord. Only those who recognized their need and humbled

themselves under His hand would know His blessing. The proud would be

judged.

The Wise In Heart (Verses 21)

There is a connection between wisdom and discernment. Solomon told his

readers in verse 21 that the wise of heart were called discerning.

Discernment is the ability to recognize truth from error. The discerning

person is a person of understanding and good judgment. The wise person

has the ability to discern good from evil. This ability comes because he is

learning from God and His word.

One of the things that amazes me is how what is perceived to be evil in one

generation can so quickly become acceptable in the next generation. Our

human concept of what is wrong changes from one generation to the next. It

is only in the unchanging wisdom of the Lord that we can have true

discernment. His Word will reveal what is right and what is wrong.

Learning And Understanding (Verse 21-22)

Notice also in verse 21 that Solomon tells us that pleasant words promote

instruction. In other words, when we make learning a pleasant thing for our

students they are more likely to learn. When study is difficult and the

teacher is harsh, students are not likely to enjoy their education. The wise

teacher will seek ways to make learning a pleasant experience.

This is especially true when we consider the fact that "understanding is a

fountain of life to those who have it but folly brings punishment to fools."

The wise teacher, understanding the importance of learning, will do her best

to encourage her students to greater heights. This is especially true for those

who instruct in the ways of the Lord. This type of understanding is life for

all who possess it. It is a fountain of refreshment and renewing. Those who

walk away from this knowledge and understanding of God will suffer.

The Heart And The Mouth (Verse 23-24)

The wise person's words come from a heart that has been touched by God.

The heart is the source of our motivation and love for God. It reveals our

true character. The sincere and godly character of a wise person is reflected

in how he or she speaks. Their words are not idle or vain words. Each word

is carefully weighed out and worth listening to. The words of the wise

person promote instruction (verse 23).

Another thing about the words of the wise person is that they are pleasant to

hear and promote healing of the bones. Because the words of the wise

person are carefully weighed before they are spoken, they bring godly

instruction and healing. The words of the wise person encourage and

refresh. They also correct and warn when necessary.

Do all our words bring instruction in holiness, encouragement and

refreshing? We would do well to put our words to the test. The words from

the lips of a wise person reflect his or her heart. Their words are spoken

with this intent. Nothing ungodly will leave their mouth.

The Way That Seems Right (Verse 25)

Wisdom and discernment are very important if we are to live the way the

Lord would have us live. This is especially true when we understand that

things are not always as they appear. Solomon reminds us in verse 25 that

there is a way that seems right but that way leads to death.

Satan has always been a master of disguise and deceit. From the very

beginning he has been a father of lies. Any hunter knows that if you want to

trap an animal you need to do so by deception. The trap must be hidden, the

bait must be attractive. This is how the enemy works. He will make things

look attractive in an attempt to lure us into the trap he has prepared. Only

those who have discernment will see those traps for what they are. The

wisdom we need is found in the pages of the Scriptures and through the

leading of God's Holy Spirit. We are wise if we follow this leading and

instruction. It will keep us from falling into the carefully disguised traps of

Satan.

The Labourer's Appetite (Verse 26)

"The labourer's appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on" (verse

26). A rich person does not have to work to provide for their basic needs.

This is not the case for a labourer. This person knows that if he or she does

not work hard there will be no food on the table. Their hunger motivates

them to work hard. Their hunger will motivate them to be disciplined and

persevere when times are hard. When we have a reason to work, motivation

will not be a problem.

The Ways Of The Scoundrel (Verse 27-30)

In verses 27-30 Solomon warns his readers about the ways of the ungodly.

He has several things to say about them in these verses.

First, the ungodly person plans evil (verse 27). You don't have to think too

hard to understand what Solomon is saying here. Listen to what your

unbelieving friends are saying. Listen to the unbeliever at your workplace.

It will not be long before you hear them planning to do ungodly things.

They are not governed by the ways of God. They delight in evil.

Second, the speech of the ungodly is like a scorching fire (verse 27). The

words of the righteous instruct and heal but the words of the ungodly burn

like fire. Their words criticize and condemn. Their words mock and tear

down. They are not careful about what they say. They say whatever comes

from their heart.

Third, the ungodly stirs up dissension and separates close friends (verse 28).

This takes place through their words. Verse 28 mentions gossip as a tool of

wickedness. A story is worth more than a friendship to the ungodly. These

people use their words as weapons to devour and destroy each other. This

breaks up friendships and brings division among brothers and sisters.

Fourth, the ungodly will not hesitate to entice their neighbours and lead

them down a path that is not good for them (verse 29). This is because the

ungodly are not guided by the wisdom of God. They are motivated by their

own pleasure. They invite people to join them in their evil plans. They lead

their neighbour astray. Notice in verse 30 that they wink their eye, plotting

perversity and evil. That is to say, they deceive, lie and manipulate to get

whatever their heart wants.

We need wisdom and discernment to avoid the traps the ungodly set on our

path. Those who are not guided by the wisdom of God will quickly fall into

their trap.

Gray Hair (Verse 31)

Solomon challenged his readers in verse 31 to respect those who were older

among them. Gray hair, according to Solomon, was a crown of splendour.

With gray hair came wisdom and understanding. This shows us that while

wisdom is a gift from God and is contained in the Scriptures, there is also

an aspect to wisdom that comes only from years of experience with God

and His Word.

Solomon told his readers that gray hair is attained by a righteous life.

Solomon speaks very particularly here about those who have lived a

righteous life. We need to honour the elderly among us who have lived

faithfully for the Lord. These individuals have much to teach us about

walking in a way that reverences and respects the Lord. We must also learn

to draw from the wisdom of those who have lived longer than us. Their

experience with God and His Word has much to teach us in our walk.

Patience (Verse 32)

In verse 32 Solomon reminds us of the importance of patience. Patience is

better than a warrior. The older I grow the more I realize that everything has

a time. I have seen those who have, through impatience, taken positions or

responsibilities they were not ready to assume. I have also seen those who

had waited for a long time to be released into ministry. When they took that

responsibility, God's blessing was on them. I have seen people wear

themselves out with worry over a particular issue, to no avail. I have also

seen God work in a miraculous ways for those who waited on Him.

Solomon challenges us to be patient. The person who is patient is willing to

wait for God to move in His time. The impatient person feels it is necessary

to take matters into their own hands. Waiting on God and His timing will

always bring blessing.

Every Decision From The Lord (Verse 33)

Solomon concludes this chapter with a word about God's sovereignty. He

reminds us that while we cast the lot into the lap it is God who determines

how that lot will fall. We can worry and burn ourselves out over issues in

life. We can make our plans but only what God permits will take place. He

is in control of all circumstances. How much better it is for us to wait

patiently on Him and move as He leads.

For Consideration:

What is the difference between our plans and God's

purposes? Do they always agree?

Is God's purpose hindered by the "detours" we take in life?

Explain.

What does Solomon teach us about the ways of the king in

verses 10-15? What does this teach us about the qualities of a

good leader?

What does God feel about pride? What is the result of pride

in our lives and society?

Why do you suppose Satan disguises his ways? What does

this teach us about the importance of wisdom and

discernment?

Why is patience important? Have you always been patient?

What was the result?

For Prayer:

Ask God to enable you to surrender your plans to Him.

Thank the Lord while we may suffer for our sin, His purposes

will still be accomplished.

Ask God to give you greater patience to wait on Him and His

ways.

18 - INTEGRITY, JUSTICE

AND RELATIONSHIPS

Read Proverbs 17:1-28

Peace Is Better Than Feasting (Verse 1)

olomon spends a certain amount of time in chapter 17 speaking

about relationships. He begins in verse 1 by reminding us of the

importance of peace and quiet. Solomon told his readers in verse 1

that it was better to eat a dry crust of bread with peace than to have a house

full of feasting and strife. This really needs no explanation. The poor person

who lives at peace with his friends and neighbours has far more blessing

than the rich person whose friends only seek to take advantage of him.

Riches will not buy peace of mind. Money is not the measure of true

prosperity. Peaceful and quiet relationships are of more value than money

and possessions.

A Wise Servant (Verse 2)

Position in life is not always important. A servant who is wise and faithful

will be recognized as being of greater value than a disgraceful son. People

are recognized for their character. Faithfulness will be rewarded. Even the

poor and uneducated will be recognized for their faithfulness and diligence.

God is not particularly interested in where I was educated or the type of

family I come from. He is interested in my faithfulness and obedience to

Him and His Word. You might not have a high position in society. You

might not be formally educated or trained but by your faithfulness and

diligence you prove your worth and will be rewarded.

The Testing Of The Heart (Verse 3)

God is not deceived by our outward appearance or position. He is interested

in our heart. Solomon reminds us that God will test and purify our hearts.

He reminded his readers in verse 3 of how silver was put in a melting pot so

the impurities could be removed. Gold was put in a hot furnace to be

purified. The heart, however, God reserved for Himself. In other words,

God Himself tested and purified the heart.

The process of testing the heart is not an easy one. This testing will come

through various means. It may come from suffering and pain. It may come

through prolonged periods of not hearing from God. In all this, however,

God's purpose is to purge out any impurities.

Evil Lips (Verse 4)

Solomon often spoke of evil lips and tongues. Here in verse 4, however, he

spoke about those who listen to evil lips and malicious tongues. He

reminded his readers that it was only the wicked person who listened to evil

lips. It was the liar who paid attention to malicious tongues. We often

comfort ourselves with the fact that we have not spoken evil, but do we

listen to evil? What we need to understand is that it is the evil heart that

delights to hear evil words. If you find yourself delighting in inappropriate

remarks and jokes you need to examine your heart to see why this delights

you so much. Solomon reminds us that what we listen to is an indication of

the condition of our heart.

Mocking The Poor (Verse 5)

Solomon was a rich man. In his day, he was the richest man on the earth.

Notice what he tells his readers in verse 5, however. He reminds them that

whoever mocked the poor showed contempt for their Maker. Solomon

understood that the rich person and the poor both had the same Creator.

God did not judge people by their money and possessions. To mock the

poor person was to insult the God who created them.

Instead of mocking and looking down on someone who has less than we do,

we are to have hearts of compassion toward them. Solomon warns his

readers about "gloating over" disaster in others. Those who gloat over

someone else's disaster look down on them as if they deserved the disaster

that came their way. These individuals judge people on the basis of physical

wealth and position. When disaster takes away a person’s wealth and

possessions the evil person thinks less of them. To judge a person’s value

based on money or possessions is sinful and, according to Solomon, shows

contempt for God.

Parents And Children (Verse 6)

Grandchildren are a real delight to the aged. They are an indication that

their family line will continue for years to come. Parents too are the pride of

their children (verse 6). It is true that not all parents have been good

parents. There is a connection, however, between parent and child that is

difficult to break. The child looks up to their parents and will be influenced

by them more than any other person in life. The challenge for us as parents

and grandparents is to be godly examples our children can look up to and

respect.

Arrogant And Lying Lips (Verse 7)

Someone once said: "There is one thing worse than being a fool and that is

opening your mouth and proving it." Solomon put it this way: "Arrogant

lips are unsuited to the fool." A fool really has nothing to boast about.

Foolishness is not something to be proud of yet there are those who prove

their foolishness by boasting of their lifestyle and foolish decisions. I have

met unbelievers who boasted of their sinful ways and foolish decisions.

They tell stories of their foolish and evil ways in an attempt to get people to

respect them. In reality they boast of immorality, irresponsibility and

insensitivity.

Arrogance and the fool are like a leader with lying lips. You cannot trust

what they say or do. A ruler should be one we can trust. He or she ought to

be one whose word is dependable. No one wants to follow someone they

know will deceive them?

Bribes (Verse 8)

There are those who use bribery as a means to get anything they want in

life. In verse 8 Solomon describes such a person. To this person, a bribe is a

charm. If they want something they will bribe someone to get it. They will

offer them money or a favour to bend the rules or speed up the process.

They think that if they bribe people they can get whatever they want from

them. Solomon tells us to beware of this type of person.

Covering An Offense (Verse 9)

There are times in life when we will have to overlook offenses. We have all

had people offend us. When we are offended, we are faced with one of two

possibilities. First, we can overlook that offense and forgive the person who

has offended us. Second, we can carry that offense with us everywhere we

go and tell everyone we meet about what has happened to us.

If we are willing to cover the offense and forgive the person who has

offended us, we will promote love and healing of relationships. If, on the

other hand, we refuse forgiveness and repeat this matter to others, we will

separate close friends and destroy all hope of the relationship being healed.

It is not easy to forgive an offense. We feel like justice needs to be done. We

feel somehow that the other person needs to realize the depth of hurt they

have caused. We want them to pay somehow for what they have done.

Sometimes we feel that if we forgive and cover the offense, we are

justifying what that person has done. The alternative, however, is worse. By

refusing to forgive we not only harm ourselves but risk harming many other

people with our hard and rebellious attitude.

Rebuke (Verse 10)

A discerning and wise person will not hesitate to receive a rebuke. This

type of person realizes that rebuke and correction is the key to growing in

wisdom and discernment. The wise person will not resist correction and

rebuke. This is not the case for a fool. The fool hates to be corrected. A

gentle rebuke will change a wise person more than one hundred lashes to

the back of a fool. You can beat a fool and he will still not change his ways.

An Evil Man (Verse 11)

God will judge those who are bent on rebellion. While His timing is not the

same as ours, God will punish the evil person for their rebellion. Solomon

tells us that a merciless official will be sent against the person bent on evil.

God sees those who mock His ways and live in rebellion. In time, He will

judge them without mercy. Evil will not triumph.

A Fool In His Folly (Verse 12)

A foolish person acting out their foolish ways can cause great harm to a

society. These individuals will not listen to reason or correction. They are

not governed by principles of righteousness. Solomon tells us that it would

be much better to meet an angry mother bear robbed of her cubs than an

unreasonable fool acting out his foolishness. A foolish person does what

they want with no regard for reason, righteousness or common sense.

Because they are not guided by the wisdom of God they promote evil. This

results in the decay of moral principles in our society and leads ultimately

to its downfall.

Paying Evil For Evil (Verse 13)

We have already seen in verse 9 how Solomon challenged his readers to

cover up offenses. He develops this further in verse 13 when he warns that

the person who pays back evil for good will find that evil will never leave

his house. It is hard to imagine why a person would want to pay back evil

for a good done to them. Maybe they do so by speaking evil of the one who

has blessed them. Maybe they try to take advantage of the person who has

shown them kindness. The person who repays evil for good promotes a very

disturbing kind of evil. It is an evil that curses the one who blesses. These

people will live under the curse of God. That curse will not leave their

home until they repent of their sinfulness.

Have you ever complained about what God is doing in your life? Have you

ever disrespected parents who have provided for your needs? Have you

spoken evil of your spiritual leaders? This verse ought to be a warning to us

of the dangers of repaying evil for good.

Dropping A Matter (Verse 14)

The desire to be right often is so strong in us that we will fight to prove our

point. What we fail to take into account is that our fighting to prove our

point can cause great damage. Solomon compared this to breaching a dam.

What happens when a dam is broken open? All the water stored behind that

dam bursts through in destructive power over everything in its way. It is

better to stop an argument before that takes place. To prove we are right we

are sometimes ready to risk causing great damage. Of what use is it to be

right if in the process we do great wrong?

Justice (Verse 15)

All this talk about overlooking faults and dropping a matter might cause us

to wonder if God really is a God of justice. Solomon reassured his readers

in verse 15 that God was indeed a God of justice. He would not let the

guilty go free.

We need to realize that there are times when our pursuit of justice can cause

greater injustice to be done. The older I get the more I realize that life's

decisions are not always clear.

Legalism pursues the sinner without taking anything but law into account.

The legalist will not drop a matter until justice has been done. Solomon tells

us that God despises the acquitting of the guilty. It does not bring Him

delight to know that sinners are getting away with their sin. The problem,

however, is that we often try to take the responsibility of judging on

ourselves. There are times when we need to leave the judgment to God.

Injustice and evil abound all around us. What we need to understand is that

God will judge. The guilty will account for their actions. This means that

we are free to forgive, drop a matter and move on, leaving judgment of the

matter to Him.

Money And The Fool (Verse 16)

We have already seen in this chapter that money cannot buy peace (verse 1).

Solomon reminds us in verse 16 that money is of no benefit to the fool. The

fool may have all his or her heart desires in this world but they will lose it

all in the end and stand before a holy God to be judged.

Wisdom is of far greater value than money. Wisdom is the art of living in

reverence and respect for God. It has benefits in this life and the life to

come that far outweigh anything that money can buy.

Friends And Brothers (Verse 17)

A true friend is one who loves at all times. You can count on friends to be

there when you need them. Even when things are strained in the

relationship friends will stick with each other and work things out. The

same is true in our family relationships. Brothers are born to support and

encourage each other in difficult times. While we may not always get along

with family members, in times of difficulty, a family comes together. What

Solomon is saying here is a general principle. There will always be

exceptions to this principle but generally speaking there is a bond between

family and friends that cannot easily be broken.

Pledges And Securities (Verse 18)

In verse 18, Solomon reminds us that while family and friends come

together in times of difficulty, the person who puts up security for his

neighbour or strikes hands in a pledge lacks judgment. We need to examine

verse 18 in light of verse 17 about friends and brothers loving and

supporting each other. Imagine that you have a friend or family member

who falls on hard times and is in real need of money. What do you do in

this situation? Obviously, you will do whatever you can to help them. We

need to be careful, however, about how we help. Solomon warns us about

putting up security or making a pledge. In doing this, we take on our friend

or family member’s financial problems ourselves. We give their creditors

the right to demand that we pay any debt our friend cannot pay. There are

two problems with doing this. First, this does not encourage our friend to

take responsibility to pay his debt and could be the source of division

between friends or family members. Second, by putting ourselves under this

type of legal obligation, we risk not being able to pay our own bills and

provide for our own family. By helping our friend we could very well be

hurting our own family for whom God has given us primary responsibility.

While we are to do all we can to help our brother or sister in need, we need

to be careful that in doing so we do not fall into a greater sin of not caring

for those under our responsibility. This same principle can be applied to a

variety of other areas of life. Imagine the father who spends so much time at

work that he has no more time for his wife and family. God expects us to

care for our families. Only a fool would destroy his or her own family to

help a neighbour. The challenge here is to give what we can to help our

neighbour without harming those whom God has put under our

responsibility.

Quarrels (Verse 19)

"He who builds a high gate invites destruction," Solomon wrote in verse 19.

Why would a person build a high gate? There may be a variety of reasons

for this. The context indicates, however, that it has something to do with

quarrels. Imagine that two neighbours have a dispute. In order to resolve

this dispute, one neighbor puts up a high fence around his property. What is

the result? That high fence is a constant reminder of the unresolved dispute

between them. It does nothing to solve the problem but only invites further

quarreling and disputes.

There are all kinds of high gates we can build in our relationships. They

don’t have to be physical gates. They can be attitudes or actions that keep

us from resolving the matter that separates us.

Solomon tells us that the person who loves a quarrel loves sin. We all know

where a quarrel leads. A quarrel is like a burst dam (verse 14). When a

quarrel breaks out we can never tell what the result will be. It is fertile soil

for all kinds of evil. Words are spoken and deeds done that we regret for

years. Quarrels are breeding ground for sin and evil. The challenge is to pull

down those high gates that keep us from resolving our dispute.

Perversity And Deceit (Verse 20)

"A man of perverse heart does not prosper," writes Solomon in verse 20. A

perverse heart is a crooked, twisted or perverted heart. It does not walk in

the ways of God but deviates from the path. It is not governed by the truth

of God's Word. God's blessing will not be on such a heart. Those who have

a perverse heart may have money and possessions but they will not prosper.

They will be living under the curse of God. Their heart and soul will be

empty.

The same is true for the person whose tongue is deceitful. They will fall

into trouble. The time will come when their lies will be exposed. Even in

this life evil and wickedness will strip away their blessing. A deceitful

tongue will have a direct influence on the quality of our life.

A Fool For A Son (Verse 21)

"There is no joy for the father of a fool," Solomon wrote. A foolish child

will only bring grief to his parents. Fools should never think that their

foolishness is only affecting their life. Foolishness touches everyone we

come in contact with in life. A foolish son grieves the heart of his parents.

Foolish parents grieve their children. Foolish labourers grieve their

employers. The fool will never know how many people are directly or

indirectly affected by their foolishness. Fools will have to answer to God

for the negative impact they have on countless people in this life.

A Cheerful Heart (Verse 22)

A crushed spirit dries up the bones but a cheerful heart is good medicine.

When our spirit is crushed we do not have energy or interest in life.

Personally, when I am feeling down, relationships with others suffer. I am

not able to minister to them as I should.

What a difference, however, when my heart is rejoicing and cheerful.

Cheerfulness seems to give us energy to bless others. Cheerfulness is

contagious. Those who have a cheerful heart want to bless and encourage

others. They want others to experience the happiness they themselves are

feeling. God has designed us to be happy. We are most healthy when we are

cheerful. We need to seek a cheerful heart.

More About Bribes (Verse 23)

Solomon reminds us of the evil of bribes. There are those who accept bribes

in secret for the purpose of perverting the course of justice. This is an evil

practice. Those who love the Lord will live for Him and walk in His path.

They will hate all injustice and dishonesty. They will have nothing to do

with distorting justice through bribes even if they suffer for it themselves.

A Discerning Man (Verse 24-25)

A discerning person will keep his or her eyes on wisdom. That wisdom is

found in the Word of God and the direction of His Spirit. The wise person

will not get distracted by everything that comes his or her way. The fool,

however, seems to move from one thing to another. They appear to be open-

minded, but in reality they have no direction or conviction. Because the fool

will not listen to the wisdom of his father or mother, he will only bring grief

and bitterness to their heart.

In our day "open mindedness" is seen as a positive thing. The reality of the

matter is that those who are open to everything have no convictions. Open

mindedness can be a great hindrance and curse to a society. Imagine a man

trying to get from point A to point B by following every road that he came

to. Would it not be wiser for him to open a map and find the road that will

lead him straight to his destination? If he wants to get from one place to

another, he has to be narrow minded. Not just any road will take him where

he wants to go. He needs to be purposeful and disciplined. This is the way

of wisdom.

More About Justice (Verse 26)

In our society innocent people suffer unjustly. Solomon saw this happen in

his day as well. He saw innocent people being punished for doing right. He

also saw officials being flogged because they were people of integrity. We

see corruption and dishonesty all around us in business, politics and

relationships. Dishonesty and injustice has become so much part of our

culture that we mock those who seek to live in absolute honesty. Those who

are not willing to "bend the truth" are refused a position. In a very real way,

innocent and honest people are being punished. Solomon tells us that this is

not a good thing for a society. We know that our society is under the

judgment of God when we see good and honest people suffering for their

integrity.

Use Of Words (Verse 27-28)

Solomon concludes chapter 17 with some thoughts about the use of words.

He challenges his readers to use words with restraint. The reality of the

matter is that the more we talk, the more we risk falling into sin. Those who

have great knowledge are people who will be careful in how they use their

words. They know how much damage can be caused by those who do not

use their words carefully. They will discipline themselves to be even-

tempered so that in anger they do not say things they will regret. Solomon

reminds us that even a fool will be thought wise if he closes his mouth and

does not speak. Our speech reveals our true nature.

For Consideration:

What is true wealth? Does money have anything to do with

true prosperity? What does Solomon teach us about this in

verse 1?

What does verse 2 teach us about the importance of being

faithful?

If we enjoy listening to evil, what does this say about our

heart?

How easy is it to judge someone on the basis of their wealth

or position in society?

What does Solomon teach us about dropping a matter and

covering up an offense?

Why is it important that we use words with restraint?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you grace to cover the offenses of those

who hurt you. Thank Him that He has done this for you.

Ask God to give you a cheerful heart.

Ask God to give you wisdom to know how to use your

words.

19- WORDS, WEALTH

AND FRIENDSHIPS

Read Proverbs 18:1-24

An Unfriendly Man (Verse 1)

hat is the reason for unfriendliness? Solomon told his readers

in verse 1 that unfriendliness and selfishness walk hand in

hand. There is great wisdom in this statement. Unfriendly

people can often fall into the temptation of thinking only of themselves.

They do not want to make an effort for anyone else. They do not reach out

in acts of compassion and kindness. They do not think of the needs of other

people.

Unfriendliness will also blind us and keep us from making sound

judgments. Our decisions will not be based on what is right and godly but

on what pleases us and makes our life more comfortable. Unfriendliness

will cause us to lose sight of the problems of other people. The decisions

and judgments of an unfriendly person will be stained with selfish motives.

Unfriendliness is not just a personality trait; it can also be a sin that should

be confessed.

The Fool's Delight (Verse 2)

In verse 2 Solomon reminds us of the fool and his opinions. He told his

readers that while the fool had no interest in taking the time to understand

things, he still had an opinion about them and delighted to share that

opinion. I have met people who tell me all kinds of things about God, even

though they have never once read the entire Bible. These individuals speak

about God and His characteristics but they do not speak from

understanding. They share their uninformed opinions with passion but they

are not based on a true understanding of the Scriptures that teach about

God.

Solomon tells us that the fool has many opinions. He may speak with

passion and seem to be wise, but what he speaks does not come from

understanding. He has never taken the time to consider the things he speaks

about. The challenge is for us to refrain from speaking on matters we know

nothing about.

Wickedness And Shame (Verse 3)

What is the fruit of wickedness and shameful activities? Solomon tells us

that wickedness will lead to contempt and shameful activities will lead to

disgrace. With wickedness comes contempt. This contempt relates to how

others feel toward the wicked person or possibly even how the wicked

person will ultimately feel about themselves. Wicked people will not be

respected nor can they respect themselves. They will be seen with

contempt. The same is true for those who bring shame to a society. These

individuals will be disgraced.

Words (Verse 4)

“The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters but wisdom is like a

bubbling brook” Solomon told his readers in verse 4. Solomon seems to be

comparing human wisdom to God's wisdom in this verse. Human wisdom,

according to Solomon was like deep waters. Deep water can be very

dangerous. Many people have been drowned in the deep water of the sea.

The wisdom of God, on the other hand, is like a bubbling brook. The

bubbling brook is a source of refreshing water. Compare the man sitting

quietly by a refreshing brook to the man thrashing about and ready to drown

in the deep waters of the sea. God’s wisdom, like the bubbling brook, is

intended to bring us peace and refreshing.

Injustice (Verse 5)

There were those in Solomon's day who showed favour to wicked people.

Even wicked people have friends. Possibly the money of the wicked

enabled them to purchase favours from those in authority. This corruption

of justice meant that the innocent were suffering unjustly. Solomon

reminded his readers that that this was not a good thing. Any society that

allows this sort of injustice will suffer the consequences of their actions.

The Lips Of The Fool (Verses 6-8)

In verses 6-8 Solomon has several things to say about the words of the fool.

Notice first in verse 6 that the lips of the fool bring strife. The words of the

fool cause confusion and discord. The fool's words divide brothers and

sisters.

Second, the mouth of the fool "invites a beating" (verse 6). The fool says

things for which he needs to be punished. Because his words are harmful

and divisive, the fool needs to be stopped. He is beaten so that he will not

continue to hurt people with his words.

Third, the fool's mouth is his undoing (verse 7). Solomon tells us that his

lips are a snare for his soul. The fool will be judged by his words. The fool

will have to answer to God for careless and hurtful words spoken without

thought. How careful we need to be with our words.

Solomon reminds his readers in verse 8 that the words of a fool will

sometimes be received with delight. "The words of a gossip are like choice

morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts," he said in verse 8. In other

words, people delight to hear gossip. They take it in like delicious food. The

fool will not have a problem finding people who will listen to him. The

problem, however, is that he will have to answer to God for every idle and

hurtful word he speaks. He will also have to answer for the damage his

words caused in the lives of those he offended.

Slackness (Verse 9)

God has designed things in this world in such a way that we need to work

for our needs. Those who are lazy and refuse to do their part only hinder

others. Imagine that you have at your workplace one individual who refuses

to work. What will be the result at the workplace? Others will have to work

even harder. The work will suffer because one person does not do his or her

part. The person who is slack or lazy needs to realize that he is hindering

others. Our laziness does not affect ourselves alone. The person who is lazy

is related to the one who destroys in that he hurts others by his laziness.

The Name Of The Lord (Verse 10)

Solomon compared the name of the Lord to a strong tower in verse 10. A

strong tower was a place where a person could find safety. The enemy could

not penetrate that tower. This is what the name of the Lord is like. His name

is powerful and strong. Satan and his angels flee at the authority of His

name. Nature bows to the authority of the name of the Lord. Kings and

worldly powers will one day bow down and confess that His name is above

all other names. The angels of heaven worship His name. Those who are

protected by His name are safe from their enemies. There is no greater

authority than this name. No power of hell or earth can challenge the

authority of this name.

The Wealth Of The Rich (Verse 11-12)

Solomon noticed how the rich of his day placed their confidence in their

wealth. Notice how he told his readers that to the rich their wealth was a

fortified city. They saw it as an unscalable wall. They hid themselves

behind their wealth believing that nothing could touch them.

In verse 12, however, Solomon reminds his readers that the pride of the

wealthy was the first sign of a downfall. "Before his downfall a man's heart

is proud," Solomon reminded his listeners. God hates pride and will not

hesitate to humble those who fall into it. While pride is a sure sign of

coming judgment, humility, on the other hand, would be honoured. God

will lift up the humble but defeat the proud.

Answering Before Listening (Verse 13)

We have all had the experience of having people answer us without really

understanding what we were saying. Solomon told his readers in verse 13

that they were to listen before they answered. While this should go without

saying, how often have we stepped out into something without seeking

advice? Solomon reminds us of the foolishness of making decisions or

answering before we have truly understood the implications of our

decisions.

The challenge of this verse to us is to see the importance of understanding

where our brother or sister is coming from. Those who are involved in

counseling understand the importance of listening to those they counsel.

Before answering or giving advice to someone, we need to be sure we

understand their problem. Someone once said that God gave us two ears but

only one mouth so we need to learn to listen twice as much as we speak.

There is wisdom in this advice.

A Crushed Spirit (Verse 14)

The attitude of our heart is very important. I have met individuals who were

in tremendous pain and yet the joy of the Lord was evident in their lives. I

was involved for some years in a small church planting effort in a rural

community where I live. One of the members of that group was dying of

bone cancer. She had every human reason for despair. Her body was filled

with pain. She was, however, filled with the joy of the Lord until her death.

She seemed to brighten up the room. She was a source of blessing and

encouragement to all of us in her dying days. Her spirit was not crushed by

the load she bore. Instead, she found strength and encouragement in the

Lord her God. Our spirit will sustain us in sickness (verse 14). I have also

met individuals who have given up hope. They did not have the strength of

spirit to continue living. They became discouraged and overwhelmed by

their problems. Their spirit was crushed and life did not have any more

meaning. They give into death and defeat. "A crushed spirit, who can bear,"

Solomon asked.

The Heart Of The Discerning (Verse 15)

Those who are discerning and wise will seek knowledge. The knowledge

Solomon speaks about here is not mere worldly knowledge, although this

may be important. We need to understand that there are those who know

much about this world who are not wise. Universities all over this world are

filled with brilliant minds that are not wise in the Biblical sense. The

knowledge that Solomon speaks of is the knowledge of God and His

purposes. Those who seek to know God and understand His ways are wise

and discerning people. They desire to know God more and understand His

heart for them. This knowledge is not simply for the purpose of filling their

minds but to enable them to walk in a closer and more intimate way with

their God.

The Power Of A Gift (Verse 16)

It is amazing what a gift can do to soften a heart. Solomon noticed in his

life that there were those who used gifts as a means to get what they wanted

in life. "A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence

of the great," Solomon told his readers. While gifts are not wrong in

themselves, they can be given with wrong motives. I remember standing in

line in a customs office in a country where we lived for some time. As I

stood there I watched various individuals secretly hand cash to the person

behind the desk in an attempt to gain favour so they would not have to pay

taxes on the goods they were receiving. Over and over again the customs

officer received their gifts and bent the rules.

Solomon is reminding us of the nature of human beings. We give gifts in

order to prosper our own ends. This was widely practiced even in

Solomon's day. It still is in our day. This means that those who have money

and influence are able to pervert justice and gain favour while those who

refuse to bribe suffer.

Settling Disputes (Verses 17-19)

Solomon has several things to say about settling disputes in verses 17-19. In

verse 17 he told his readers that the first person to present his case appeared

to be right until the second person came to question him.

Some time ago I ministered in a church that had experienced severe

division. The division was such that the church could no longer grow. God

had called me there to help sort out the problems and help the church move

ahead. I remember listening to the leaders share their understanding of the

problems they had with certain individuals. What they said made sense to

me until I sat down with these people individually. I realized that neither

party had a complete understanding of the problem. How easy it is to listen

only to one side of a problem. Listening to both sides of the issue will often

give us a totally different perspective. If we are going to deal with disputes,

we will need to open our mind to see both sides of the problem.

The second thing Solomon has to say about settling disputes is in verse 18.

Here he told his readers that casting the lot could settle disputes and keep

strong opponents apart. We should understand here that in the mind of the

Israelite, the casting of the lots was a way of determining the will of the

Lord. The decision of the lot was not a result of chance but a way to

determine the will of the Lord. Solomon makes this clear in Proverbs 16:33:

"The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the

LORD."

In Joshua 19:1, 10, 17 we see that the tribes of Israel were assigned their

land by the casting of lots. In Acts 1:26 the disciple who would replace

Judas was chosen by the casting of lots. If we are to understand what

Solomon is telling us here, we need to do so in the context of the Jewish

mindset. When I was a young boy growing up we would toss a coin in the

air and guess on which side it would fall. This was our way of determining

who went first at a game we would play. The Israelites would do a similar

thing in their day but they would commit the decision to the Lord and

accept whatever the lot determined to be the will of the Lord.

Solomon is telling us that when both parties commit themselves to do the

will of the Lord, something as simple as the casting of lots can settle a

dispute. In casting the lots both parties commit the decision to the Lord and

let Him determine what they should do. Disputes can be settled if we are

willing to let the Lord be the final authority and speak His will.

In verse 19 Solomon told his readers that an offended brother was more

unyielding than a fortified city and that disputes between brothers and

sisters were like barred gates. Those who are offended are often unwilling

to listen to those who have offended them. When I offend a brother or sister

I am building a wall between us. Sometimes that wall of offense is so thick

that the offended brother or sister is unwilling to listen to anything we have

to say. They refuse to be reconciled. That wall can be very difficult to break

down. In some cases, reconciliation may never come between offended

parties. We would do well to give careful thought to what we say or do lest

we be an offense to a brother or sister.

The Power Of The Tongue (Verse 20-21)

The tongue is a powerful tool. Solomon tells us in verse 21 that the tongue

has the power of life and death. I remember a message spoken to all first

year Bible College students at a Bible School I attended many years ago on

this passage. The professor reminded each of us that by our words we could

invite our brother to live, be blessed and encouraged or to die, be cursed

and discouraged. What a challenge this is to us today. Our words will either

build up our brother and sister or tear them down. How many people have

gone on to do great things because of a word of encouragement offered in a

time of decision? How many people, on the other hand, have turned from

the way because of a hurtful or discouraging word? There are children who

have gone through life believing a lie told to them by some careless adult.

That careless word stripped them of any desire to do anything with their

life, it invited them to die. Words are very powerful.

In verse 20 Solomon tells us that "from the fruit of his mouth a man's

stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied." There are

two things we need to say by way of interpretation. First, God has

determined that our words be such powerful tools for the kingdom that He

will bless and honour those who used them correctly. We are blessed

according to how we use our words. God honours those who use their

words for the sake of the kingdom. "From the fruit of our mouth our

stomach is filled." In other words, when we speak truth and godliness from

our mouth, God honours that and provides for our need.

Second, Solomon told his readers that a person will be satisfied with the

harvest from his lips. I picture here a farmer who sits back and looks over

the harvest at the end of the year. He realizes that all the seeds he planted

are now producing fruit. It is with great delight that he watches the seeds

grow and bring their fruit. The same is true for the person who plants words

of encouragement and blessing in the lives of those they meet. The day will

come when those seeds will begin to grow and produce fruit. What a joy it

is to watch those words take root and produce abundant fruit in those we

have encouraged and blessed. There is tremendous satisfaction in seeing the

fruit of our words. God is pleased to use words to produce an abundant

harvest.

Finding A Wife (Verse 22)

Solomon was a man of many wives. It is quite interesting that he tells his

readers that the person who found a wife (singular) found a good thing and

received favour from the Lord. In other words, a good wife was a real

blessing from the Lord.

Let me say here that there are times when we fail to see these good qualities

of our husband or wife. God does not make a mistake when He puts a

husband and wife together. He does so for a reason. He does so, so that we

will complement each other in the work He has for us to do. Unfortunately,

we do not always learn to work together and complement each other.

The challenge of this verse is two-fold. First, I need to ask myself if I am a

"good" husband to my wife. This may require making some changes so that

I am in line with God's purposes for me as husband. Second, do I recognize

and accept the qualities God has given my wife? If God has put us together,

we can be sure that there is a purpose in this. We need to pray that God will

help us to see the good qualities He has given to our husband or wife. We

may very well be more favoured than we realize.

Relationships (Verses 23-24)

As Solomon concludes this final section of chapter 18, he has some things

to say about relationships. Notice first in verse 23 that sometimes

relationships are formed on the basis of money and status in society. "A

poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly" (verse 23).

This is a reality in our sinful world. A poor person cannot find friendship

and compassion in a rich person. While there are always exceptions to this

rule, the reality of the matter is that we seem to form friendships and

relationships with those who are of equal status in society. Those who have

money find it much harder to be friends with those who have none.

Sometimes they may even resent them for having less.

Notice secondly in verse 24 that Solomon reminded his readers that the

person who had too many friends would come to ruin. There may be a

simple reason for this. The person who has too many friends will not be

able to please them all. Trying to please all his or her friends will only lead

to problems and competition. This in turn will bring ruin. It is important

that we choose our friends carefully. It is better to have fewer friends who

stand with us and share our vision than to have many and come to ruin.

There is a friend, Solomon told his readers, that is closer than a brother.

This type of friend sticks with us no matter what. He shares our heart and

has our interest in mind. Ultimately, the Lord Jesus is that friend for all of

us but God also gives us brothers and sisters who will stand with us as

well. We would do well to be this kind of friend for others.

For Consideration:

Is unfriendliness a character trait or a sin? Explain.

What do we learn about the importance of listening and

understanding before making decisions or offering advice?

What does Solomon teach us about the importance of our

words? How do our words affect others?

How does the attitude of our spirit affect how we face

difficulty?

How do friends influence us? Why is it important that we

choose our friends wisely?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you a more friendly nature that seeks to

reach out and bless others.

Ask God to give you the ability to use your words wisely to

build up those you meet.

Are you facing a trial or difficulty right now? Ask the Lord to

give you a right attitude toward that problem or trial.

Take a moment to thank the Lord for your marriage partner.

Thank Him for putting him or her in your life. Ask God to

show you their "good" qualities.

Ask the Lord to give you friends that will stand with you and

bless you in God's purpose and plan for your life.

20 - FRIENDS, TRUTH

AND DISCIPLINE

Read Proverbs 19:1-29

Poor And Blameless (Verse 1)

ccording to Solomon, it was better to be poor and have a

blameless walk than to be a fool with perverse lips. The poor

man who lived a blameless life could lie down at night and sleep

in peace. His conscience was clear before his Maker. This was not the case

for the fool who did not guard his tongue. The man who did not watch what

he said could not live at peace with his neighbour or with his God. He was

guilty in the words he spoke. He would have the guilt of godless and hurtful

words on his heart. No wealth could ease this guilt. He might hide his guilt

with drink and possessions but he would still have to answer to God. He

would be judged and found guilty before God. Better to have nothing in life

then to be guilty before God for careless words.

Zeal Without Knowledge (Verse 2)

It is a wonderful thing to be zealous. We need more people zealous for the

things of the Lord. We need to see people who are excited to worship and

serve our wonderful and awesome God. Solomon reminds us that zeal,

however, must be combined with knowledge if it is to be healthy and long

lasting.

Some time ago I spoke with a pastor who told me that when he came to his

church all the people wanted to do was study the Bible. He told me that he

quickly dealt with this by shifting the focus to worshipping the Lord. While

worshipping God is wonderful and important, I reminded him that it was

the Scriptures that fueled worship. We need to know the God we worship.

We need to understand His ways. If we are going to sustain zeal for worship

and service we need to anchor it in a clear understanding of the Word. The

truth that God gives us in His Word will build us up and strengthen our

worship and service.

Solomon warns his readers that being hasty can cause us to miss the mark.

We need to take the time to understand and consider the options or

implications of what we are doing lest our lack of understanding lead us

down the wrong path.

Raging Folly (Verse 3)

The fool is someone who refuses to accept understanding and correction.

The fool may be a very intelligent person. In verse 3 Solomon tells us that

foolishness, however, will ruin the fool’s life. Maybe their lifestyle has

ruined their family and left them poor and hungry. The decisions of the fool

leave him standing before a holy God who will judge. The fool sees the

fruit of his actions and decisions but does not care. Despite what has

happened in his life, the fool still rages in his heart against the Lord. That is

to say, he refuses to listen to God. He stands defiantly and shakes his fist at

God. He refuses to learn from his errors. He turns his back on God knowing

full well that this will mean his ruin. The fool is not ready to listen, be

corrected or change his ways. He would rather go to the grave a broken man

than change.

Wealth And Friends (Verse 4, 6-7)

While Solomon told his readers earlier that he would rather be right with

God than rich (verse 1), he reminds us in verse 4 that the rich man will have

more friends than the poor man. Everyone wants to know a rich person.

Nobody boasts about knowing a poor person. Somehow, when we are

friends with rich people, we feel that our own position in society is raised.

We feel that people will respect us more because of who we know.

"A poor man's friend deserts him," Solomon tells us (verse 4). What social

or financial benefit is there for me to know a poor person? The poor person

cannot help me when I am in financial need. The poor person will not give

me a higher standing in society. When things get difficult, the poor man's

friends desert him. When opportunity presents us with a chance to move up

in society the poor man's friends will think nothing of leaving them behind

to advance their own cause.

In verse 6 Solomon told his readers that those who give gifts will have

many friends. Everyone likes people who make life more comfortable for

them. A poor person, however, who can give no gifts or special favour, will

be shunned. Even when the poor man looks for them they will not be found.

They do not want to associate with him in his poverty (verse 7).

Solomon is telling us that many friendships are based on selfish motives.

We are friends with people who can help us or make our lives more

comfortable. We have, for the most part, lost the art of loving

unconditionally. We love for what we can get. Jesus taught us a different

love. He came to love the unlovely. He gave Himself to those who had

nothing to offer in return.

Justice For False Witnesses (Verse 5, 9)

In verses 5 and 9 Solomon reminds us that false witnesses will not go

unpunished. Verse 5 tells us that they will not go free. Verse 9 tells us that

they will perish. The day is coming when these false witnesses will stand

before God to give an account of their words. This may not happen

immediately but we can be sure that God is not blind to their evil and the

harm they have caused others by their deceit and lies.

Prosperity And Wisdom (Verse 8)

There is a blessing attached to getting wisdom and understanding. Solomon

tells us that the person who gets wisdom loves his own soul. That is to say,

he or she is living in a way that will prosper their soul. The wise person is

one who seeks the will and heart of God. That person will experience the

blessing of God in his life. He will know His favour and guidance.

Fools And Luxury (Verse 10)

"It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury," Solomon tells us in verse 10.

Imagine a fool with much wealth. How would that wealth be used? His

wealth would be wasted? There is something else about a fool and his

wealth. It will never bring satisfaction, nor will it save him from eternal

judgment. The fool places his confidence in wealth. This is like putting

one's trust in a sinking ship. The fool's wealth will not last nor will it satisfy

his soul.

The same is true for a slave who rules over princes according to Solomon.

We need to understand that Solomon is not expressing any prejudice against

the poor slave. What he is showing us here is that background and training

is important. The slave did not grow up being trained to govern. The prince,

however, from the time of his birth was being groomed for leadership.

Solomon is telling us that training and preparation for leadership is

important. We don't send a soldier into battle without first training him or

her in how to fight. We don't trust our lives to an unskilled and untrained

doctor. Nor do we give the leadership of a nation to someone with no

experience.

Patience (Verse 11)

Patience is an important virtue in life. The wise person will learn patience.

Patience is the fruit of wisdom in our lives. Solomon gives us an example of

what he means by this in verse 11. He speaks of a person who has been

offended by a brother or sister. The wise person will be patient with the

person who has offended him and overlook the offense. In doing this he

brings peace and forgiveness into the relationship. The impatient person,

however, by responding in a negative or critical way, will only cause more

damage and invite further offense.

The King's Favour (Verse 12)

In verse 12, Solomon reminds us of the wisdom of respecting those in

authority over us. The king's rage is like the roar of the lion. That is to say,

it is a terrifying thing when the king is angry. He has the power and

authority to punish and execute justice. On the other hand, what a blessing

it is to know the favour of the king. His favour is like the dew that

refreshes. This same principle is true for our relationship with God. To

know His anger is a terrifying thing. The blessing of knowing His favour

cannot be measured. Those who are wise will do everything to live a life

that will please and honour those in authority over them. This is also true of

their relationship with God.

Foolish Sons And Quarrelsome Wives (Verse 13)

Not all close relationships are positive and helpful. The relationship

between a father and a son is one such relationship. A foolish son can be the

ruin of his father. The foolish and disobedient son can be a source of much

grief and agony for a father.

Another such relationship is the relationship between a husband and wife.

This ought to be the most blessed of all earthly relationships. Imagine,

however, that the wife is a quarrelsome wife who is constantly looking for

ways to argue with her husband. Maybe she is always finding fault with him

and is never happy with what he does. What kind of life will this couple

have? Solomon compares this to the sound of a constant dripping that never

stops. The relationship that was intended for mutual blessing now becomes

a burden and trial.

What Solomon is telling us is that even the closest relationships need work.

Close relationships can destroy us if we do not take care to respect each

other and work out any problems that come between us.

A Prudent Wife (Verse 14)

While Solomon compared a quarrelsome wife to a constant dripping in

verse 13 he recognized the tremendous blessing of a prudent wife. He

reminds us that while we can inherit houses and wealth from parents, a

prudent wife is a blessing directly from God. Solomon valued a prudent and

wise wife more than all the wealth and houses he had. The prudent wife is

one who lives according to the wisdom of God. She has learned the art of

living a life that respects and reverences God in all things. Her heart is to

please God. This is reflected in every aspect of her life. A godly wife is a

treasure to be valued more than anything this world can offer.

Laziness (Verse 15)

God has determined in His wisdom that we are to be partakers of His

blessing through hard work. This is not to say that He will always make us

work for what we get. He is also a God of grace who gives us what we have

not worked for. The reality of the matter, however, is that we cannot sit

back, do nothing and expect that God will give us all we need. Laziness

causes a man to sleep instead of working. The result is that he does not have

food on his table. He cannot blame God for this. God provided the

opportunity to work but he was too lazy to take that work. "The shiftless

man goes hungry," Solomon said. The shiftless man is one who is idle or

slack. That man should not assume that God will fill his table with food. If

he is not willing to work, he should expect that his table will be empty.

In verse 24 Solomon illustrates this point even more. Here he tells his

readers that laziness is self-destructive. The lazy person does not have the

energy necessary to even lift his own food to his mouth. Lazy people will

not take the time or make the effort to care for themselves. This may mean

that they will not get the proper exercise or food. They will not take the

time in the Word of God nor will they exert themselves to be obedient to

God and His leading. Ultimately, they will have to answer to God for their

laziness. In this life they will never reach their potential but will be sickly

and weak. Laziness is an enemy that needs to be defeated before it destroys

us.

Obey Instructions And Live (Verse 16, 20)

In verse 16 Solomon tells us that the person who obeyed instructions

guarded his life but he who was contemptuous (proud, rebellious or

argumentative) would die. There are those who do not like being told what

to do. They want to do things their own way. The experiences of other

people do not seem to help them. They are destined to learn the hard way

by falling into the traps that others have warned them about.

Solomon reminds these people that it would be better for them to learn to

listen to instructions. We need each other. If we do not listen to the

instructions of those who have gone before us, we will likely fall into the

same traps they fell into. Their instruction and experience can be of great

benefit to us. We would do well to listen. In verse 20 Solomon makes it

very clear that the person who listened to instruction would learn wisdom.

Kind To The Poor (Verse 17)

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward him for

what he has done," Solomon told his readers in verse 17. We live in a world

that seems to be quite imbalanced. There are those who seem to have far

more than they need and those who have far less than they need. God has

from the very beginning allowed this seeming imbalance. He does so, so

that we can enter the joy and blessing of giving. God gives us more than we

need so that we can experience the joy of giving to those who don't have.

Solomon told his readers that those who gave to the poor were loaning to

God. God would repay them for what they had given to those in need. God's

blessing would be on them for their acts of kindness. God delights in

ministering to the poor. He is looking for people who will be channels of

His blessing to the needy. If we will be channels, God will supply the

resources necessary. We will also be blessed in the process.

Discipline (Verse 18, 25, 29)

Discipline is a necessary part of life. When we refuse to correct those we

love and allow them to continue on their evil path, we hasten their death.

Would you not do what you could to stop a person from traveling down a

path that would mean certain destruction? Correction and discipline are

never easy but they are necessary. The future of our children depends on

correction. As they learn from discipline they correct their ways and are

restored to the path of life. Correction and discipline will save us from a life

of sorrow and destruction.

In verse 25 Solomon reminded us that while the experience of discipline is

not easy it is for our good. "Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn

prudence; rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge," Solomon

told his readers. The purpose of discipline is to give understanding. While

the flogging will never be pleasant, the reward will be greater

understanding. This in turn will preserve the person being disciplined from

great sorrow and harm in the future.

Penalties are prepared for mockers and beatings for the backs of fools,

Solomon said in verse 29. Where would our society be if there was no

means of punishing those who did wrong? Justice must be applied. For the

good of our society we cannot allow sin and evil to remain unpunished.

A Hot-Tempered Man (Verse 19)

The hot-tempered man is a person who needs to be disciplined. We have all

met individuals like this. These individuals have no control over their

temper. They are easily angered. When they get angry there is no way of

knowing what they are capable of doing. In anger they lash out at those who

have offended them.

Solomon noticed that this kind of man could be punished for his angry

outbursts but he would not learn from it. The next time someone offended

or upset him he would fall into the same trap.

How important it is for us to get to the root of our problems. We can train

branches by correcting them but if the root is bad, the fruit also will be bad.

Correction does not always change the heart. Only God can change the

heart.

Man’s Plans And God’s Purposes (Verse 21)

God is Lord over all our plans. We can make all the plans we want but we

have no control over our destiny. In an instant, all our plans can be stripped

from us. Only what God allows will take place. How foolish it is to think

that we can control our destiny. Our lives are in the hands of the Lord. He

gives and takes life as He pleases. He blesses or strips His blessings from us

as he sees fit. It is for us to submit to His plan.

There is another thing we need to see here. We can make all the plans we

want but none of those plans will change God's overall purpose. God has a

plan for this world and our plans will not hinder that purpose. No plan of

evil man or demon will ever be able to change the course of God's purpose

for those who love Him.

This does not mean that we can do as we please. The shape and colour of

our lives will change according to the decisions we make in life. You can

make bad decisions that will have dangerous implications on your life. You

can make foolish decisions that will result in a wasted life for which you

will have to give an account to God. God's purpose for this universe will not

be changed, however, by the decisions we make. Sin will be defeated,

justice and righteousness will triumph. Nothing we do will affect this great

overall plan of God. We will suffer the consequences of our decisions but

God's plans are above ours and will prevail.

Unfailing Love (Verse 22)

What a blessing it is to know that we are loved. Every person on this earth

needs to be loved. What an even greater blessing it is to know that no

matter what we do or what happens to us, we will still be loved. Unfailing

love is a blessing beyond all others in this life. Unfailing love brings

security and comfort to our hearts. This is the type of love the Lord God has

for His people. We can fall into deep sin and His love will not diminish. His

love for us is not dependent on how much money we have or how much we

have served Him. It is unconditional and never failing. Solomon often fell

into sin but he also knew that reality of God’s unfailing love.

Better To Be Poor Than A Liar (Verse 22)

Notice in verse 22 that Solomon told his readers that it was better to be poor

than to be a liar. The poor can sleep with a good conscience at night if they

worked hard and lived in integrity of heart. This is not the case for the liar.

Liars know they are guilty. They may hide their guilt but they cannot

remove the sting of their conscience. They know they have hurt many

people. They know they have made many enemies. They cannot have peace

of mind. While the poor man sleeps the restful sleep of innocence, the liar

lies awake at night with guilt and a nagging conscience.

The Fear Of The Lord (Verse 23)

We have seen from verse 22 that the liar has no peace. In verse 23 Solomon

reminded his readers that the way to rest content and untouched by trouble

is to learn the art of fearing the Lord. As we have said so many times in this

commentary, the fear of the Lord is the art of living a life of respect and

reverence to God. Those who live their lives in reverence and respect for

God will have no need for concern. They live in harmony with their

Creator. These individuals can rest contentedly. They will be untouched by

trouble. This does not mean that they will never experience trouble in life.

Trouble may abound all around those who fear the Lord but the Lord

enables them to face that trouble with peace and contentment.

The Son Who Brings Shame (Verse 26-27)

In verse 26, Solomon spoke to mature children. These children had grown

up and were likely on their own. Solomon told these children that they were

not to rob their parents or drive them out. Likely Solomon is referring to an

older child who does not want the care and burden of his parents in their old

age. He does not want the responsibility of providing for them in their final

years. Instead of providing for his parents in their time of need, he uses his

time and money for himself. There is indication here that this son even

sends his parents away from his home to fend for themselves. According to

Solomon, this person was guilty of robbing his parents of the care they had

earned. The child who refuses to reach out to his parents in their time of

need brings shame and disgrace to himself and his parents. He would

answer to God for his disrespect. Jesus speaks about a similar thing in Mark

7:9-13.

Not only did this son show disrespect for his parents, but by refusing to

listen to instruction, he wandered dangerously from the path of knowledge

(verse 27). He would find himself on a path that leads to judgment and

destruction.

Corrupt Witnesses

There have always been those who have been willing to twist the truth even

though this meant serious consequences for an innocent party. These

individuals do not hesitate to lie to protect themselves or make others look

bad. They care nothing for justice or truth. They "gulp down evil" like

cheap wine. They are evil people who will one day face their Maker and

answer for their sinful actions.

For Consideration:

Solomon tells us that a right relationship with God is of

greater value than wealth and possessions in life. Do you

agree with this? Do you know of modern day examples to

prove Solomon's point?

Solomon reminds us in this chapter that even close

relationships can turn sour if we do not work hard on them.

Do you have relationships that need some work? Explain.

What does this passage teach us about the heart of God for

the poor?

How important is discipline and correction in life? What

happens to those who refuse correction?

What is the connection between contentment and the fear of

the Lord in this chapter? Can we truly be content if we are

not walking in the fear of the Lord?

For Prayer:

Have you ever found yourself judging people on the basis of

their position in society or what they could contribute to your

life? Ask God to help you to see people as He sees them.

Thank the Lord for His discipline and correction. Ask Him to

change your heart and not just your behaviour.

Thank the Lord that His purposes will never change even

though we have often fallen short of His standard.

Ask the Lord to show you if there is anything in this chapter

you need to work on. Ask for grace to walk in victory.

21 - HONESTY,

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND

JUSTICE

Read Proverbs 20:1-30

Wine And Beer (Verse 1)

olomon begins chapter 20 with a word about wine and beer. "Wine

is a mocker and beer a brawler," he said. Solomon warns his people

about the danger of over indulging in alcoholic beverages.

Countless lives have been ruined by the abuse of alcohol. Solomon called

his people to be aware of the danger of misusing these drinks. Those who

are led astray by them are not wise.

The King's Wrath (Verses 2-3)

As a king, Solomon understood the power that was in his hands. He

reminded his listeners that it was not wise to anger the king. To do so would

be to risk one’s life. Only the fool would get a king angry.

What is true of the king is also true of other relationships. "It is to a man's

honour to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel," Solomon said in

verse 3. How tempting it is to try to prove we are right. There have been

times in my life when I have felt very strongly about an issue. I truly

believed that I was right and the other person needed to change. I have, in

those times, stood my ground and fought to prove my point. More often

than not I have only succeeded in causing strife and the problem was not

resolved.

There are times when it is better not to say anything than speak out and

cause strife. Jesus taught us that when we are wronged we need to turn the

other cheek (Matthew 5:39). The apostle Paul challenged his readers to live

at peace with each other in as much as it was possible (Romans 12:17). The

call to peace and turning the other cheek is often ignored in an attempt to be

“right.” We fight for our rights and willingly risk offending each other in

the process. Solomon challenges us to seek peace and avoid strife and

quarrels. Sometimes this will mean dying to ourselves and humbling

ourselves before our brother or sister.

Laziness (Verse 4)

"A sluggard does not plow in season," Solomon tells us. In other words, the

lazy person is not disciplined. By the time they get around to plowing their

fields, it is so late in the season that there is not enough time for their crops

to grow. When the time for harvest comes, they look but find nothing.

We cannot expect to harvest if we do not plant in time for the harvest. There

are opportunities we miss because we have delayed too long or put off

doing what we should have done. This principle is true in our ministry for

the Lord as well. Have you ever felt the Lord leading you to speak to a

person and put it off only to find that that person had fallen into a sin that

may have been avoided if you had listened to the Lord? Has the Lord ever

asked you to speak to a person and you put it off only to find that he or she

needed wisdom or encouragement? It is quite possible for us to become

spiritually lazy. This will affect our personal harvest. Many of us will stand

before God and realize that we had wasted so much time and effort.

Solomon challenges us to diligence and discipline.

The Purposes Of A Man's Heart (Verse 5)

In verse 5 Solomon reminds us that the purposes of a person's heart are like

deep waters. It is not always easy to discern the heart of the Lord for our

lives. Even after many years of life I am still not sure I understand who God

has made me to be and what His purposes are for me. How you ever

wondered why you respond in a certain way or why something is important

to you and not so to someone else? We are very complex people. God's

purposes for us are not always easy to discern. There are things I struggle

with in life that my wife does not struggle with. I am different from every

other person on this earth. God has created me in a very unique way for a

unique purpose. God's purposes for us are like deep waters in that they are

sometimes very complicated to our simple minds.

Solomon reminds us, however, that the man of understanding will draw

those purposes out. That is to say, he will tap into what God is doing. Wise

people will take the time to understand what God is doing in them and

surrender to that purpose. They will understand that God has made them in

a special way for a special purpose. They will take the time to understand

this and get in line with God's plan for their lives.

A Faithful Man (Verse 6)

It is very easy to say that we love with unfailing love but words are easy to

speak. The test of unfailing love is not in words but in actions. There are

times when that love will be tried. Will I love when things are difficult?

Will I love when things are not going my way? Will I be faithful to my wife

when my needs are not being met? Will I stand with my friends when they

turn their back on me? Solomon reminds us that there are many people who

claim to have unfailing love but fewer demonstrate this in the tough times.

The Righteous Man (Verse 7)

The righteous man leads a blameless life. In saying this Solomon is not

saying that this man is perfect. None of us can live a perfect life.

Blamelessness does not mean perfection. The blameless man is one who,

when he falls, makes things right. He refuses to remain in sin. Just this

morning I had to phone my wife to apologize for being insensitive to her

before I left in the morning. A blameless man will repent and be reconciled

with those he has offended. He will not allow sin to remain in his life. He

will get up when he falls. He will return to the path of righteousness when

he has wandered from it. He does not live in known sin.

Solomon tells us that the children of this kind of man will be blessed. They

will be blessed because God's blessing will be on this man and his family.

They will be blessed because they have a godly example to follow. Our

actions as parents will have an impact on the lives of our children.

The Judgment Of The King (Verses 8-9)

A good and wise king will seek to weed out evil from his kingdom. He will

be watching what is happening in his kingdom and do his best to bring it in

line with the laws of the land and the purposes of God.

Having said this, Solomon told his readers that not one of them could say

that they had a pure heart and were without sin. If we know that the king

searches out sin and evil in his kingdom, will we not do our best to live a

godly life? The same is true in our relationship with God. The Lord God

will judge sin and evil. Like the king mentioned in these verses, His all-

seeing eyes search throughout the land to root out and destroy sin and

rebellion. Knowing this would we not do our best to live lives that will

please Him?

Differing Weights (Verse 10, 23)

The Lord God sees everything and knows everything we do. He even

knows the thoughts and intents of our heart. In verses 10 and 23 Solomon

reminded his readers that the Lord hated differing weights and measures.

That is to say, God expects us to be honest in all we do. Like the king of

verse 8, the Lord God searches throughout the land for those who practice

dishonesty. His all-seeing eye will judge those who are dishonest.

Actions (Verse 11-12)

What we do shows our true character more than the words we speak.

Solomon tells us that even a child is judged by his or her actions. A child

has not had years to prove themselves to others but their character is still

judged by their actions. How much more will adults be judged by their

actions?

The Lord God made ears to hear and eyes to see (verse 12). This verse may

be connected with verse 11. Could it be that Solomon is telling us that what

we do with our eyes and ears will show our true character? What delights

your eyes and ears? This will show you what is in your heart. When you see

with your eyes the need all around you, what will be your response? When

you hear gossip with your ears, what will you do with it? When you

neighbour cries out to you for help in a time of difficulty, will you respond

or will you block your ears? Our actions will reveal our character.

Hard Work (Verse 13)

Solomon extols the value of hard work. Here in verse 13 he spoke to those

who loved to sleep. He told them that if they loved their sleep too much

they would grow poor. God has determined that we should work for our

food. While He does bless us with gifts we have not worked for, it is His

purpose for us to work.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 Paul challenged the Thessalonians on this

matter.

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a

man will not work, he shall not eat." We hear that some among

you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such

people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle

down and earn the bread they eat."

God expects us all to do our part. We are not to depend on others if we can

provide for our own needs. Idleness and laziness are not godly. Solomon

challenges us, like Paul, to be responsible and work hard to provide for our

own needs and those of our family.

Words And Actions (Verse 14)

"It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer (verse 14). The picture here is a

market. The buyer is trying to get the seller to drop his price. In order to do

this he will look for every possible fault he can find with the object he

wants to buy expecting that the seller will lower his price. While the buyer

really wants the object, he pretends not to like it in hopes that he will get a

better deal. When the article is purchased he goes home to boast of how

wonderful it really is. He quickly forgets all the faults he discovered.

What we say on the outside and what we think on the inside are not always

the same. We need to be aware of this in our dealings with people.

Sometimes people do not want to admit their needs or are too ashamed to

share their real feelings. Wise people will not just listen to what a person is

saying but they will also watch their actions. The buyer arguing with the

seller about his product obviously is doing so because he wants to buy the

product. The wise person will look beyond these words.

There are many people crying out for help whose words say that everything

is alright but their actions and attitudes betray them. We should not be

fooled by what people say.

Lips That Speak Knowledge (Verse 15)

Even in Solomon's day there were people who did not understand the true

meaning of life. While gold and rubies were in abundance, those who spoke

true knowledge were rare. Solomon placed more value on knowledge than

on gold and rubies.

The knowledge that Solomon is speaking about here is not earthly

knowledge. There were many wise men in his day who understood the

things of this world. The knowledge Solomon speaks about is the

knowledge of God and His purposes. This is what brought delight to his

heart. Solomon grieved that there were so few people who understood the

meaning of life and walked in the knowledge of God. Not much has

changed over the years.

Putting Up Security (Verse 16)

In Proverbs 6:1-3 Solomon warned his readers not to put up security for

their neighbour. In doing so, they would put themselves under a burden they

could not handle. Here in verse 16 Solomon warns his readers again about

the practice of covering the debt of a stranger. "Take the garment of one

who puts up security for a stranger," he told his readers. Let’s take a

moment to consider what Solomon is saying here.

A person who guarantees the loan of a total stranger is foolish and

irresponsible with his money. He does not know whether that stranger will

repay what he owes. Imagine that a man put up security for a wayward and

immoral woman. What does this tell us about him? Will a wayward or

immoral woman pay him back what she owes? Can she be trusted when her

lifestyle is immoral and wayward? Solomon is telling us that the person

who is so foolish with their money as to stand behind total strangers and

immoral people cannot be trusted. For this reason he told his readers that if

ever one had to enter an agreement with such a person, they were to be sure

to take their garment as a guarantee that they would get something from

them.

Solomon is telling us that we need to be wise with our resources. God does

not want us to be foolish in how we use what He has given. We should not

put ourselves in a situation where we could lose what He has given us.

These verses also speak to the practice of gambling. God calls us to be wise

and careful stewards of His blessings and not risk losing everything by

foolish decisions.

Fraud (Verse 17)

There are those who gain wealth by dishonest means. Some of these

individuals live in great wealth and ease. They may enjoy their big cars and

homes. They may travel all around the world and experience all their heart

desires. Solomon told these individuals, however, in verse 17, that their

possessions would end up like gravel in their mouth. Their delight in these

things would not last. They would quickly become tired of them. The world

and all its riches would never bring true satisfaction.

Advice (Verse 18)

None of us can live without others. God has designed us in such a way that

we need each other. He has given gifts to the church in such a way that no

one has all the gifts. For the church to move ahead as it should, each person

is important.

In verse 18 Solomon challenged his listeners to make plans by seeking

advice. If they were to wage war, they were to obtain guidance. As wise as

Solomon was, he knew how much he needed the advice and counsel of

others. He challenges us to do the same. None of us should think that we

have all the answers. Before making any decision, it is wise to seek counsel

and advice.

Gossip (Verse 19)

We need to be careful with the words we speak. With the multiplying of

words comes a greater chance of sinning. A gossip is one who spreads

stories about others. The person who loves to talk will very quickly fall into

the sin of gossip. By spreading stories about others we break confidence

with them. Solomon warns us about building relationships with those who

speak too much. Sooner or later these individuals will hurt us with their

lips. The challenge for us here is to be careful about the words we speak lest

we fall into the sin of gossiping and betraying the confidence of those who

have confided in us.

Respect For Parents (Verse 20)

God expects that we honour our parents. The relationship between parent

and child is a sacred relationship. There are serious consequences for those

who curse their parents. Solomon told his readers that their lamp would be

snuffed out. The harsh judgment of the Lord would fall on the person who

cursed his parents (see Deuteronomy 5:16). Any society that does not

respect parents will soon find itself on a path of destruction. If children do

not respect the authority of parents neither will they respect others who are

in authority over them. The result will be devastating for the society as a

whole.

Inheritance Quickly Gained (Verse 21)

"An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the

end," Solomon said in verse 21. We do not appreciate what we do not have

to work for in life. We do not treat what we have received easily with

respect. Those who have worked hard for their possessions usually take

care of them more and understand more of their true value.

Waiting On The Lord (Verse 22)

How easy it is for us to take matters into our own hands. When we have

been wronged we want to make things right. We want people to understand

what they have done to us. We want them to pay for their wrong. Solomon

challenged his readers not to do this. Instead, they were to wait on the Lord

and let the Lord deal with the problem.

This is often a challenge for us. The Lord does care for us and our need.

Solomon tells us that the Lord will deliver us. Solomon's challenge for us

here is to wait and watch what the Lord does. All our striving to take

matters into our own hands will only hinder the good work God wants to

do.

Steps Directed By The Lord (Verse 24)

While we often think that we are in control of our own destiny, it is really

the Lord who directs our steps. It is the Lord who brings things onto our

path. He orchestrates the situations in our lives and allows things to happen

to us that change the course of our lives. We really have very little control

over the path our life takes. "A man's steps are directed by the LORD."

This being the case "how then can anyone understand his own way,"

Solomon asked? If it is God who determines the path we take, how can we

make any decisions apart from seeking Him? We must seek Him for

everything, for only His plans will succeed.

Rash Vows (Verse 25)

We need to be careful about the decisions we make in life. Sometimes we

are too quick to make promises. Verse 24 reminds us that we are not in

control of our steps. We cannot tell what will happen tomorrow. It is very

easy to make vows we cannot keep. To make promises and vows without

seeking the Lord or giving careful thought to what we are promising is a

trap. Those who make vows quickly will find themselves trapped in a

situation they do not like. They will want to get free from their promises

and vows but will not be able to do so.

Winnowing Out The Wicked (Verse 26, 27)

A wise king, according to Solomon, will winnow out the wicked by driving

a threshing wheel over them. When a farmer wanted to separate the wheat

from the straw, he would drive a cart over it so that the grain would fall off

the straw. The straw would be gathered and shaken so that the grain fell to

the ground where it could be gathered while the straw was taken away.

The wise king would make a distinction between the good and the evil

people of his land. He would seek out the wicked and judge them. These

wicked people would only cause problems. By dealing with evil, the king

guaranteed prosperity and blessing for his kingdom.

The same principle is true in our lives as well. We would do well to seek

out any sin and evil that stands between us and our God. All sin should be

rooted out and destroyed lest it cause our downfall.

In verse 27, Solomon reminds us that just as the wise king will search out

the evil in his land, so the lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of man. The

spirit of God searches deep into our very inmost being. Nothing can be

hidden from Him. He sees all the evil thoughts and attitudes that are hidden

deep within us. Just as the wise king will root these things out of his land,

so God will do the same. It is His desire to defeat sin and evil in us. We

would do well to open our hearts to Him.

Love And Faithfulness (Verse 28)

Rulers often come to power through various means. Some take their power

by force and seek to control those who are under them. Solomon tells his

readers in verse 28 that it was love and faithfulness that would keep the

king safe and make his throne secure. There is great wisdom in what

Solomon is telling us here.

The ruler who dominated and controlled his subjects by force would find

that he had many enemies. Those who tried to establish their throne by

deceit and dishonesty would be found out and exposed. Those who

faithfully served out of love for their subjects, however, would gain their

respect and devotion. This principle applies to many other aspects of life as

well. Parents, Christian leaders, teachers and bosses can all learn from this.

Love and faithfulness will always win out in the end.

The Glory Of Man (Verse 29)

Age will take away our strength and vitality. When we are young, we take

great delight in our strength and youthful energy. When we get older,

however, and our strength and energy is not what it used to be, our gray hair

becomes our delight. When Solomon speaks of gray hair he is speaking

about the wisdom and experience that comes with age. With old age, our

role may change but it is still a very important role. Youthful energy and

strength does not come with experience. How important it is for us to learn

to work together as young and old. Youthful energy and strength directed

and guided by the wisdom of age and experience is a powerful tool for the

kingdom of God.

Cleansing Away Evil (Verse 30)

We conclude chapter 20 with a challenge from Solomon about cleansing

away evil. "Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the

inmost being," he said. When it comes to evil in our lives and society we

need to take a harsh stand. Evil will only hinder us and draw us away from

the Lord and His purposes. We need to temper this harshness with what

Solomon tells us in verse 28 about love and faithfulness. The wise king will

establish his throne on love and faithfulness but he will also be careful to

weed out evil and deal with it harshly.

For Consideration:

What does Solomon have to tell us about avoiding strife and

quarrels? Have you ever faced this struggle? What makes us

want to quarrel?

What control does God have over our destiny?

In verse 7 Solomon tells us that the righteous person lived a

blameless life. Does this mean that the righteous person is

perfect? How can we live blameless lives?

How important is it that we weed out sin and evil? Are there

any areas of your life where sin still reigns? What are they?

How can you weed this out?

What does Solomon tell us in verse 22 about waiting on God

rather than taking matters into our own hands? Why do we

have such problems with waiting on God?

Solomon tells us that the king's throne is established by love

and faithfulness. What does he mean by this? What

implication does this have for other types of relationships?

For Prayer:

Ask God to give you grace to avoid strife. Are there any

particular issues in your life right now that cause strife? Ask

God to give you victory in this area of your life.

Thank the Lord that He is in control of your destiny. Thank

Him that your life is in His hands.

Ask God to help you to demonstrate your true character by

your actions and not just with words.

22 - SOVEREIGNTY,

DILIGENCE AND

VICTORY

Read Proverbs 21:1-31

The King's Heart (Verse 1)

hile a king may make many decisions in life, the Lord will use

what he decides to accomplish His purpose. God is not

threatened by the decisions that are made even by evil rulers.

He is able to use all decisions to accomplish His greater will. Solomon puts

it this way:

"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like

a watercourse wherever He pleases."

The Lord is able to direct or use each decision that is made by those in

power and authority. He will not only use the decisions that are made to

accomplish His overall purpose but can stop decisions from being made that

do not serve His purpose and will. This is not to say that God is the author

of sin and evil. Each ruler is accountable to God for the decisions they

make. There have been many bad decisions made by rulers of this earth.

Some of those decisions have meant terrible suffering and pain. Solomon is

telling us that God is able to overrule and use what was intended for evil to

accomplish good for the sake of His kingdom.

The Lord Weighs The Heart (Verse 2)

God's ways are very different from our ways. There are many things that

seem right to us but we are not the ultimate judges of what is acceptable

before God to whom we must one day give an account.

Maybe you have heard people say: "I don't know what’s so bad about this

particular sin, I'm not hurting anyone." In our modern age, we have been

pushing aside the Bible as a guide to moral truth. This has resulted in a

redefinition of morals. Our society is now accepting things as normal that

our ancestors would never have accepted. Our conscience no longer bothers

us nor are we shocked by those practices that were frowned on in former

generations. What we need to understand is that that the authority of

Scripture still stands in our day. God will weigh our actions to see if we are

lacking. Let me picture this as a scale with the Bible on one side and our

lives on the other. God will weigh our actions to see if they meet the

standard of His Word. What we think will not matter. Only what God says

will count. We will be judged by God alone and in accordance with His

standard.

Obedience Better Than Sacrifice (Verse 3)

Verse 2 tells us that we will be weighed according to God's standard and not

our own. Another aspect to this can be found in verse 3. There are times

when, in an attempt to serve God, we make great sacrifices. We may give

ourselves to do a certain ministry or offer our time and effort for a particular

purpose.

Solomon told his listeners that the Lord was not particularly interested in

our great sacrifices. If those sacrifices are not in obedience to the Lord then

they serve no purpose for the kingdom. God wants a people who are

obedient (see 1 Samuel 15:22-23). He is looking for men and women who

will listen to Him and move as He leads. All too often we can run ahead of

God, thinking that we are doing wonderful things when we are only getting

in the way. What is important is that we do what is right and just. In other

words, God is looking for us to live in obedience to His Word and the

principles of that Word. He is looking for obedience more than great

sacrifices. Just because we have given up much for the kingdom does not

mean that we are pleasing God. Only those who live in obedience are

pleasing to Him.

Pride (Verses 4)

Sometimes all our sacrifices are merely a sign of pride. The Pharisees in the

New Testament were a people who practiced very religiously the Law of

Moses. Jesus told a story about two men who went up to the temple to pray

in Luke 1:10-14. The Pharisee boasted that he fasted twice a week and gave

a tenth of all he owned. The publican had nothing to boast about in life. He

simply humbled himself before God, recognizing his guilt. Jesus told His

listeners that God heard the prayer of the publican and rejected the Pharisee

with all his sacrifices. God hates pride. Here in verse 4 He makes it clear

that haughty eyes and a proud heart are sin. That pride can be disguised in

the cloak of religious activities

Diligence (Verses 5-6)

Through the book of Proverbs, Solomon reminds his readers of the benefit

of diligence and hard work. In verse 5 he tells us the plans of the diligence

lead to profit but haste leads to poverty. Those who want to succeed, at all

costs, will often ignore the small details that bring success. The diligent

gives careful thought to his ways. He does not jump into things without

considering them. He is patient and works consistently and faithfully. The

plans of these individuals are more likely to succeed than those who are

rushed and careless.

There is a second truth we need to see in verse 6. Not only are we to work

faithfully and diligently but also Solomon challenges his readers to work

honestly. "A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly

snare," he told them. If we want to succeed in our plans, we must first be

sure that those plans are from God. When we are assured of this, then we

must work diligently and faithfully with integrity. Faithful, diligent and

honest work is the pathway to success.

The Way Of The Wicked (Verses 7-8)

Violence will only lead to problems and defeat (verse 7). Those who try to

achieve their goals and ambitions in life through violence will be dragged

away. Imagine the police coming to take these individuals away by force to

judge them for their violence. Of what good is their wealth in prison? God

will judge those who seek to achieve their plans through violence.

In verse 8 Solomon told his readers that the way of the guilty is devious.

That is to say, their way is filled with deceit and dishonesty. These

individuals are guilty before God for their actions. Those whose conduct is

righteous, however, are innocent and will know the favour of the Lord.

A Quarrelsome Wife (Verse 9, 19)

Solomon speaks at least five times in this book about quarrelsome wives

(19:13; 21:9, 19; 25:24; 27:15). One wonders if Solomon, with all his

wives, did not experience something of this personally. It is "better to live

on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife,” he said

in verse 9. He went even farther in verse 19 when he said that he would

prefer to live in the desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

The quarrelsome wife is one who seems only to find fault. This is not a

problem unique to wives. There are many husbands who fall into this

category as well. What Solomon is telling us here is that living with

someone who finds fault and criticizes what we do is not a pleasant

experience. Putting it another way, Solomon tells his readers that having a

pleasant and godly wife or husband is worth more than all the wealth he

had. What a privilege to live with a partner who is pleasant and agreeable.

This is a gift from God.

The Wicked Man (Verses 10, 12)

In verses 10-12 Solomon has some things to say about the wicked. In verse

10 he told his readers that the wicked craved evil. We all fall into sin from

time to time. The wicked, however, have cultivated their hunger for sin.

This becomes their longing. When their neighbour cries out to them for help

and mercy, they are refused this assistance and compassion. The evil

person’s heart has been sold out to sin. They will willingly step on the

needy to satisfy their lust.

Solomon warns the wicked that the "Righteous One" will take note of the

house of the wicked and bring it to ruin. The "Righteous One" spoken of

here is the Lord God. He will judge the wicked. While this may not happen

immediately, we can be sure that their judgment is coming.

Punishing The Mocker (Verse 11)

The theme of discipline is repeated constantly in the book of Proverbs.

"When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom," Solomon told his

readers in verse 11. When sin is punished those who see it will learn a

lesson from it. We punish wrong behaviour not only to correct the guilty but

also to warn anyone else of the danger of falling into this behaviour.

Correction is a way of instructing the simple.

Solomon went on to say that while the simple could be given wisdom by

seeing sin and evil punished, those who were already wise could still learn

from instruction. Not all learning needs to come from discipline. We can

learn from the instruction of others. The wise person will listen to

instruction and gain understanding so that he or she will not need to be

disciplined.

Giving Gifts (Verses 13-14)

God's desire for us is to be generous with what He has given. He has given

us more than we need for a purpose. He wants us to use what He has given

to bless others. There is a warning in verse 13 for those who shut their ears

to the cry of the poor. When we refuse to listen to the poor in their need,

what right do we have to cry out to God when we are in need? Can we

expect God to do for us what we are not willing to do for others?

There are those who give gifts not to minister to the needs of the poor but to

serve their own purposes. Solomon reminds us in verse 14 about the

practice of bribery. These people give gifts in secret to pervert justice. They

give a "concealed" gift to pacify the anger of a judge against them.

The person who refuses to give a gift to a poor does so because they are

only thinking of themselves. This is the same for the person who gives a

bribe. These people only give so that they will profit. Both people will have

to answer to God for the misuse of His resources.

Justice Brings Joy (Verse 15)

Bribes only hinder justice. When justice is done, however, there is great joy

not only for the person who received justice but for the society as a whole.

The only ones who do not rejoice in justice are those who have perverted it

and are found guilty. For these individuals, justice is a terrifying thing. It

exposes them for who they are and makes them pay for their sin and evil.

Straying From The Path (Verses 16-18)

God has laid out a path for the righteous in His Word. As our creator, He

knows what is best for us. Those who stray from the path He has set out

will suffer the consequences of their actions. "A man who strays from the

path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead," Solomon

told his readers in verse 16. We often fail to understand the importance of

this truth. We have treated the Word of God and its commandments lightly.

We have not been careful to follow them. All too often we have replaced

the clear instruction of God with our own ideas. Any society that wanders

from the path of God's Word will suffer the consequences.

In verse 17 Solomon warns us about another temptation. "He who loves

pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich."

Not only are we seeing societies turn from the clear teaching of the Word of

God to their harm but we are also seeing an increase in the pursuit of

pleasure. We don't have to look very far to see how this is true. God is not

against pleasure. The problem, however, is that sometimes we can get

caught up in the pursuit of pleasure. Pleasure can quickly become a god for

us. We can seek it at all costs. This world is filled with people who are

"pleasure-seekers." Solomon warns us that those caught up in the pursuit of

pleasure will end up in the "company of the dead." Pleasure in itself will not

satisfy the need of the soul. It will bring delight for a moment and leave us

empty. Those who get caught up in the pursuit of pleasure find themselves

spending all they have on something that never lasts.

"The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the

upright," Solomon reminded his readers (verse 18). If we want to prosper

and know true joy, we will need to remain on the path of righteousness God

has set out for us in His Word. Only in obedience and faithfulness can we

know true blessing and joy. The wicked and the unfaithful will not prosper.

Ultimately the righteous and the upright will rule over them.

The House Of The Wise (Verse 20-22)

The wise person is one who has learned the art of living in respect and

reverence for the Lord God. Those who choose to live such a life will know

the blessing of God. Those who choose to live in obedience to God and in

respect of His principles will wisely use what God has given them.

Solomon told his readers in verse 20 that the wise person's house would be

filled with stores of choice food and oil. This was not the case for the

foolish. The foolish person devoured all he had (verse 20). The fool did not

appreciate the good things the Lord had given. They were wasteful and

careless with their possessions and so they wasted away.

The person who pursued righteousness and love would find prosperity and

honour (verse 21). We need to understand that the prosperity Solomon

speaks of may include physical wealth but should not be limited to this. If

we limit prosperity to worldly wealth we miss the teaching of Scripture.

God is concerned about our entire being and not just our physical comfort.

Prosperity in the Bible has more to do with wholeness in every aspect of

our lives and personality. Seeking God and His righteousness will bring that

wholeness.

We have seen in these verses that the wise man is blessed by God and

experiences wholeness. Verse 22 tells us also that the wise man will be

victorious. He "attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold

in which they trust." God's blessing will be on the efforts of the wise. This

is in great part because the wise are living for God and seeking His heart.

Their efforts are in tune with God and His purpose.

Guarding The Mouth (Verse 23)

We are reminded of the importance of our words in verse 23. “He who

guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.” Who among

us has not spoken words that we wish we could take back? Words can be

powerful vehicles for blessing or for cursing. Words can destroy and

discourage. Those who are wise will carefully weigh their words before

they speak. They refuse to speak words that do not bless and build up. They

will not allow their words to damage and destroy what the Lord is doing.

Pride (Verse 24)

Solomon says two things about the proud and arrogant man in verse 24.

Notice first, that he called the proud man a "mocker." The proud person is

one who mocks what others have to say. He finds fault with everyone else.

He will not listen to instruction or correction.

Notice second, that the proud and arrogant man behaves with "overweening

pride." The term overweening has to do with excess. What Solomon is

telling us is that the proud man is excessive in his boasting and proud ways.

The words used in the original language lead us to believe that this person

could even be given to angry outbursts. This person will defend himself and

his ideas even if it means getting angry with others. They are quite willing

to hurt others to prove that they are right.

The Sluggard (Verse 25-26)

“The sluggard’s cravings will be the death of him” (verse 25). The lazy

person is too lazy to work with his hands. Because he refuses to work, he

will not have food for his table. He will literally die of starvation because he

will not work. The lazy person craves all kinds of things but is too lazy to

do what it required to satisfy those cravings.

On the other hand, the righteous person gives without sparing. Righteous

people are those who have worked hard for what they get. They have

resources to spare and can share with those in need. This is what God is

calling us all to do. He expects that we will work hard so that we can give

to those who have legitimate needs.

The Sacrifice Of The Wicked (Verse 27)

God is concerned about the motive behind our actions. In verse 27 Solomon

reminded his readers that the sacrifice of the wicked was detestable in the

eyes of God. God is not interested in their sacrifice because their heart is

not right before Him. This is the teaching of the Lord Jesus in Matthew

5:23-24:

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there

remember that your brother has something against you, leave

your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to

your brother; then come and offer your gift."

If the Lord refuses to accept the legitimate offering of a person who is not

in a right relationship with Him, how much more will He detest the offering

brought with evil intent? If you bring your offering with the purpose of

being seen by others, is this not an evil intent? If you serve the Lord in an

attempt to be better than your brother or sister and have people think more

highly of you, is this too not an evil intent? God is very concerned about

our motives. The challenge for us is to carefully examine our motives when

serving or giving to the Lord.

A False Witness (Verse 28)

Judgment is pronounced on false witnesses in verse 28. The false witness

will perish, Solomon tells us. God will judge all who are not truthful and

honest. Notice in verse 28, however, that the person who listened to false

witnesses would also be destroyed. God is so concerned about truth and

integrity that He will also judge those who support or encourage dishonest

people.

Giving Thought To One's Ways (Verse 29)

"A wicked man puts up a bold front." What Solomon seems to be telling us

here is that the wicked person comes across as very confident. This

confidence is not based on careful planning but on their ability to

manipulate and deceive. The righteous person will not resort to these tactics

but will give careful thought to their ways to be sure that they are in tune

with God's purpose and plan. The plans of the righteous will succeed

because they are in line with God's purpose. The bold confidence of the

proud and wicked may deceive many but they will have to answer to God

for their ways.

Victory Rests With The Lord (Verses 30-31)

The reason the plans of the righteous succeed is because they have been

submitted to the Lord and His greater purpose. "There is no wisdom, no

insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD," Solomon tells us in

verse 30.

We can make all the right preparations but the victory will not be because of

careful preparations but because of the Lord's mercy and grace. God

expects us to prepare and work for Him but we should never think that it is

our preparation that brings this victory. God's purposes alone will succeed.

For Consideration:

What does Solomon teach us about the sovereignty of God

over the plans and purposes of the nations? What comfort do

you find in this truth?

Why is obedience more important than sacrifice? It is

possible to make sacrifices that are not in obedience to God?

Give an example.

Solomon speaks in this chapter about living with a

quarrelsome wife. Are you a pleasant and kind partner for

your spouse?

What does Solomon teach us about the importance of our

motives when giving to the Lord?

While God calls us to give careful thought to our plans, why

is it foolish to trust in those plans? What does Solomon have

to say about this in verse 31?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to live in obedience to Him and not

run ahead of Him.

Thank the Lord that He is over all your plans and efforts.

Thank Him that He is able to overrule even the most evil

plans of the rulers of this world.

Ask the Lord to help you to be a blessing to your marriage

partner.

Take the time to examine the motivation behind your service

for the Lord today. Ask Him to examine you to be sure that

there is no evil intent in your ways.

23 - POVERTY,

WICKEDNESS AND

DISCIPLINE

Read Proverbs 22:1-21

A Good Name (Verse 1)

s Solomon begins chapter 22 he reminds his readers of the value

of a good name. A name is a reference to the character and

reputation of an individual. A good reputation is to be desired

more than great riches and esteemed more than silver. Those who have a

good name are respected and honoured in society. People with good names

can sleep at night knowing that they have been honest and compassionate in

their dealings with others. If their good name comes from a right

relationship with God, these individuals have a bright future. They not only

enjoy a good relationship with their neighbours but also with the Lord their

God. These things are worth more than anything money and riches can buy.

Solomon, who had all the money he could ever have wanted, makes it clear

that he would rather be known as a man of noble character.

The Rich And The Poor (Verse 2)

Riches are not the measure of our true value. Solomon told his readers in

verse 1 that a good name was worth more than riches. Riches do not buy a

good reputation. You can be poor and still have a good name because of

your character.

Solomon underlines this point in verse 2 when he reminded his readers that

the Lord God made both the rich and the poor. They all have the same

Creator who made all things good. The clothes we have or the homes we

live in do not increase or decrease our value. Our value comes from the fact

that we have been created by God.

A Prudent Man (Verse 3)

A prudent person is one who is sensible and wise. When prudent people see

danger they take refuge. This is not the case for the foolish. These people

take no thought of danger. They walk right into danger without concern for

the implications. They suffer for their foolishness. We are not to be

foolhardy. The wise and prudent person will not take unnecessary risks. He

will be careful in all his dealings. The fool ignores the obvious signs and

suffers the consequences.

Humility And The Fear Of The Lord (Verse 4)

Wealth in God's eyes is not merely money and possessions. A person can

have a lot of money and still be poor. Wealth has to do with who we are as

people. It has to do with our standing before God and the experience of the

fullness of His blessing in our lives. Solomon told his readers that if they

wanted to know the fullness of God’s richness, two things were necessary.

The first of these two requirements was humility. Proverbs 3:34 makes this

clear when it says: "He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the

humble." Pride will strip us of the blessing of God. There are proud people

in this world who have lots of money and possessions. Remember, however,

that wealth in the world's eyes is not the same a heavenly wealth. While the

humble of this earth may not see large amounts of money in their bank

account, they know the presence of God and His blessing. God delights to

give grace to those who live in humble obedience to His Word. The first

quality we need if we want to know the fullness of God's rich blessings is

humility.

The second quality necessary to experience wealth and honour is the fear of

the Lord. To fear the Lord is to reverence and respect Him and His ways.

Those who reverence and respect God live their lives in obedience to Him.

They do all things to glorify Him. They avoid those things that would

dishonour His name. God delights to bless those who honour Him. He

delights to pour out His blessings on those who live in obedience to His

Word.

The Paths Of The Wicked (Verse 5)

While the Lord delights to honour those who live for Him, those who

wander from the path of His Word will find that their path is lined with

thorns and snares. Thorns are designed to cause pain. Snares are designed to

trap and imprison those who fall into them. This is the path of wickedness.

This path is filled with thorns. It is lined with snares designed to entrap and

bind them. This is a very dangerous path. It is the path that all who are

wicked follow. It is a path of oppression, bondage and suffering.

Those who guard their soul will avoid the snares on the path. This does not

mean that the righteous will never have problems. Even the path of the

righteous is lined with obstacles. For the believer the obstacles on the path

are means by with God develops and trains us. These obstacles are used by

God to bring maturity and blessing into our lives.

Those who follow the path of wickedness will find that the thorns that line

this path only bring sorrow and grief. By guarding our soul and keeping it

on the path of righteousness we can assure that though the path be steep and

difficult it is the path that leads to greater blessing and maturity.

Training Up A Child (Verse 6)

We have been speaking about two different paths in this chapter. We have

seen the path that leads to blessing. This is the path followed by those who

are humble and fear the Lord. There is also the path of wickedness that is

lined with thorns and snares. This is that path of bondage and sorrow.

Solomon told his readers in verse 6 that if they would train a child in the

way he should go, when he was old he would not depart from it. The word

"train," in the original language, can mean "to start." The idea is that as

parents we are to start our children on the path of righteousness. Ultimately,

this is all we can do. Our children are with us for such a short period of

time. By the time they reach their teen years we have done almost all we

can do for them. In those early years of their life, we are to start our

children on the path that leads to God. We are to teach them about God and

His ways. All too quickly our children will reach an age where they will be

making their own decisions. If we have set their feet on the path of

righteousness, the probability is that they will continue on that path they

have learned from us.

I have heard this verse used to say that children of Christian parents will be

saved because they were raised in a Christian home and taught Christian

principles. We need to understand that Solomon is not speaking of salvation

in this verse. Salvation does not depend on parents or how well they train

their children. It is a gift of God that cannot be merited.

I remember speaking to a brother in Christ in a church I was serving as

pastor. He was very concerned about his children and that they come to

know the Lord. He began to wonder if he was doing enough as a father to

bring his children to the Lord. As we spoke, I reminded him of how as a

young boy his Hindu father would drag him out of church because he did

not want him to be a Christian. Even though his parents were strongly

opposed to him becoming a Christian this man accepted the Lord at an early

age. While it is important that we point our children to the Saviour and set

their feet on the path of righteousness, ultimately their salvation will not

depend on us but on God who gives grace and mercy to the most unlikely

people.

Solomon is speaking here about setting our children's feet on the path of

righteousness. He is telling us that we are to train our children in the ways

of the Lord. If we set their feet on this path they will be guided by the

principles of God's Word throughout their lives. These principles will be

instilled in their minds and influence the decisions they make and the

direction they take in life. By God's grace they may even come to know the

Saviour.

Lenders (Verse 7)

In this world in which we live, very often the rich rule over the poor. The

person who borrows is indebted to the one who has loaned. Solomon is not

saying that this is God's plan for the world. He is merely stating what he

sees in his society. As believers, we need to be careful that what is true in

our society is not repeated in the church. Even those who have very little in

life have been gifted wonderfully by God. Sometimes churches are run like

the world with those of influence and wealth receiving positions of honour.

While this is the way of the world, we need to set a different example in our

churches.

Sowing Wickedness (Verse 8)

Those who sow wickedness will reap trouble. While they may prosper for a

time, the day of their judgment is coming. The rod of their fury will be

destroyed, Solomon told his readers. The rod of their fury seems to relate to

their oppression of others. They had their time of oppression and fury. They

hurt others and stripped them of their possessions and hard earned money.

They ruled over them oppressively. For a time, they enjoyed the profits of

their oppression. All this would end. Their fury would be broken and they

would be called to give an account of their actions.

A Generous Man (Verse 9)

Verse 8 spoke about those who oppressed others. Solomon told his readers

that they would be judged. In verse 9 Solomon reminded his readers that the

generous person, on the other hand, would be blessed. The generous person

shared his food with the poor. Unlike the wicked person of verse 8, this man

chose to honour God by showing compassion to the poor. He shared the

wealth God had given him with others. God delights to bless the one who is

generous and compassionate. He who blesses others will himself be

blessed.

Drive Out The Mocker (Verse 10)

The mocker is a proud person who refuses to accept anything but his or her

own way. Mockers look down on those who differ from them. They want to

be right all the time. They will argue with those who disagree with them.

They will insult others in an attempt to look better themselves. This type of

person will only cause problems. Solomon tells us that if we drive out the

mocker, all strife and quarrels and insults will cease.

A Pure Heart And Gracious Speech (Verse 11)

In contrast with the mocker of verse 10, Solomon spoke of the one who

loved a pure heart and whose speech was gracious in verse 11. While the

mocker only caused quarrels and strife, the person whose speech is gracious

will have even the king as his friend.

The person Solomon speaks of here has a pure heart. That is to say, he is

humble and compassionate in his dealings. His speech is gracious. His

words are not insulting or quarrelsome but healthy and uplifting. He uses

his words and actions to build up and encourage friends and neighbours. He

refreshes the hearts of those who come in contact with him. We are left to

wonder if our words have this kind of impact on those who hear them.

The Lord Watches Over Knowledge (Verse 12)

It is God's delight to preserve His truth. We have seen this in the history of

Christianity. Satan and the enemies of the gospel have often tried to destroy

the truth. The Bible has come under tremendous attack but it has remained.

Preachers and teachers of the truth have laid down their lives because of the

fury of those who opposed the truth they taught, but the truth of God has

been preserved. Solomon makes it very clear that the reason for this is that

the eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge. God preserves His truth.

We can be confident that the truth we have today is the truth of God. The

Scripture has been miraculously kept so that we can know the truth.

While the Lord preserves knowledge and truth, He frustrates the words of

the unfaithful. Over the history of this world we have seen countless

philosophies and ideologies come and go. Human ideas and philosophies

have come and gone but the truth of God has remained from the beginning.

That truth continues to be powerful and effective in the lives of men and

women around the world.

The Sluggard (Verse 13)

Lazy people are masters of excuses. They are skilled at finding reasons why

they cannot work. In verse 13 Solomon illustrates this by giving us the

example of a lazy person who said: "There is a lion outside!" or, "I will be

murdered in the streets!" What he is telling us is that we can justify almost

anything we do. The person who wants to sin will find logical reasons why

this is the only way to go. The person who doesn't want to do something

will find reasons why they shouldn't do what they don't want to do.

Sometimes we can fool ourselves into believing these lies and

exaggerations. As believers we need to cast off all lies, exaggerations and

excuses and do what is right.

The Mouth Of The Adulteress (Verse 14)

We need to beware of lies and excuses that keep us from doing what we are

supposed to do. There is another type of lie that will encourage us to do

what we shouldn't. Solomon told his readers in verse 14 to beware of the

mouth of the adulteress. He compared the mouth of the adulteress to a deep

pit that those who are under the wrath of God will fall into.

Notice that the mouth of the adulteress is like a deep pit. A deep pit was

used to trap animals. The pit was made deep so that the animal could not

jump out. This is what Solomon is telling his readers. The words of the

adulteress are designed to trap and ensnare those who listen to them. Those

who follow the path of the adulteress will fall into a trap from which they

will not easily escape.

Notice also that it is those who are under the wrath of God who fall into this

trap. In other words, it is those who refuse the words of the Lord who listen

to the adulteress. It is the sinner who turns his back on the Lord to walk in

the path of the adulteress.

The Rod Of Discipline (Verse 15)

We are all born with a sinful nature that craves the things of this world. If

left to ourselves we would quickly follow the path of sin. This is our natural

tendency. You don't have to teach a child to hit his brother or sister. You

don't have to teach a child how to lie to protect himself. We do have to

teach them to tell the truth. We have to teach them how to respect and love

instead of doing what comes naturally. Solomon recognized this by his

observation of little children.

"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive

it far from him," he told his readers. In other words, if you want your

children to be what God intended them to be, you will have to discipline

them and point them in the right direction. The rod of discipline will drive

foolishness from a child. Every child needs correction if they are to grow up

to be mature and responsible adults. This does not change once we become

adults. Even as adults, we need to be corrected if we are to follow the path

of wisdom.

Justice And Wealth (Verse 16)

There are those who will not hesitate to pervert justice in order to prosper

their own goals. Solomon gives us two examples of this in verse 16.

The first example is that of a person who will oppress the poor to increase

his wealth. This person will deny justice to the poor, or by dishonest means,

strip them of all they have. He may impose heavy interest on their loans so

that they suffer undue hardship in paying him back.

The second example is that of a person who will give gifts to the rich in

order to gain their favour. This may come in the form of bribes or any other

type of gift that has as its goal to influence the decision of the rich in their

favor. This only encourages dishonesty and deceit. Decisions are made on

the basis of personal profit and not on what is right and just.

Solomon warns his readers that God does not approve of such decisions. He

will judge and bring those who practice such injustice to poverty. Though

they may have money, they will be poor and miserable.

The Sayings Of The Wise (Verse 17-21)

Solomon challenged his readers in verse 17 to listen to the sayings of the

wise and apply their heart to live in obedience to those sayings. It is one

thing to listen and another thing to apply one's heart to live in obedience. To

apply one's heart requires discipline and effort. God expects us not only to

listen but to obey.

In verse 18 Solomon tells us that we will find it pleasant to keep wise

sayings in our heart. What we need to understand here is that the wise

sayings that Solomon speaks of here are not mere human ramblings about

life. They are the words of God. Those who have God's word in their heart

find great delight in that word. God's word is refreshing and invigorating. It

brings comfort and direction when we need it. This is what Solomon is

telling us. He is telling his readers that listening to and taking God's word to

heart is a pleasant and wonderful thing.

Notice also that when we take God's words to heart, these words are not

only pleasant but they equip us to minister to others who are in need. The

words that we have taken into our hearts will be ready on our lips to bless

and encourage our friends and fellow believers when they are in need. The

apostle Paul expressed the same thoughts when he spoke to the Corinthians

in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the

Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts

us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any

trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

We can pass on the comfort we receive from God to others. The same is

true of wisdom. What God teaches us and we take to heart can then be

passed on to our brothers and sisters in need.

The book of Proverbs would not have been written if Solomon had not put

what he said in verse 18 into practice. He shares the truths that God had

taught him. In verses 19-21 Solomon gives two reasons for writing this

book.

First, he shared his wisdom with his readers in this book so that they would

put their trust in the Lord. This is his greatest desire. He wanted his readers

to look to their Creator and honour Him in all they did. He wanted them to

learn to trust Him and His purpose.

In verses 20-21 Solomon told his readers that he had given them these

sayings to teaching them what was true and reliable so that they could give

an answer to him who sent for them seeking advice and counsel. Again this

reflects the heart of Solomon. He wanted to equip his readers with the tools

necessary to give sound answers to those who needed it.

There is some confusion here in verse 20 regarding its translation. The New

International Version of the Bible says: "Have I not written thirty sayings

for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge." The word "thirty" is translated

in the King James Version by the word "excellent." It is not my purpose to

enter a debate here over which word is correct. The King James Version is

quite simple to understand. The words and sayings that Solomon gave were

excellent sayings that equipped his readers to minister to those to whom

God would send them.

Those who believe that the word should be translated "thirty," point to

section that follows verse 20 and note that there are literally thirty wise

saying from Proverbs 22:22-24:22. We will examine these sayings in the

next two meditations.

For Consideration:

Solomon reminds us in verse 1 of the importance of a good

name. Do you have a good name in your community?

Why is it so easy to measure the value of an individual by

their wealth? What does Solomon have to say to us here

about this practice?

Solomon challenges parents to set their children on the path

of righteousness so that when they are old they will not

depart from it. Is this path natural for a child? What kind of

things can we do to set our children on the path of

righteousness?

What comfort do you find in the fact that God preserves

knowledge? How does this give us assurance that the

Scriptures are completely reliable?

What is the difference between listening to the wisdom of

God and applying that wisdom? What truths have you learned

in the book of Proverbs? How have you applied them to your

life personally?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to have a good name in your society

so that you do not give any cause for people to turn from

God.

If you are a parent, ask the Lord to help you to set your

children on the path of righteousness. Take a moment to pray

for your children and their struggles. Ask God to keep them

on the path of righteousness.

Thank the Lord that He has preserved the truth of His word

despite the efforts of many to distort it.

Ask God to help you to take the truths you have been

learning in the book of Solomon and apply them to your

lives. Ask Him to give you opportunity to share those truths

with others.

24 - THE THIRTY

SAYINGS: SAYINGS 1-15

Read Proverbs 22:22-23:21

here is a very clear division here in the book of Proverbs. This

section begins in Proverbs 22:20 with the words: "I have written

thirty sayings for you" (NIV). This section of thirty sayings ends in

Proverbs 24:23 with the words: "Here are some further sayings of the wise."

In the next two meditations we will examine these thirty sayings of

Solomon.

Saying 1: Do Not Exploit The Poor (22:22-23)

Solomon began the first of thirty sayings by warning his readers not to

exploit the poor because they were poor. To exploit is to rob, plunder or

take advantage of someone. The person who exploits does not have a high

regard for the poor but sees them as inferior to those who have money and

possessions. These individuals see the value of a person on the basis of their

worldly wealth and influence.

Solomon also challenged his readers not to crush these poor and needy in

court. In other words, the poor deserved justice as much as the rich. While

the rich could gain respect because of their position and influence in

society, the poor did not have this opportunity. They still deserved justice.

Solomon warns those with money not to oppress the poor or take advantage

of them in court.

Notice that the basis of Solomon's warning here is the fact that the Lord

God would take up the cause of the poor and needy. God would plunder

those who plundered the needy. God does not see people as we do. He sees

the heart and attitude. God's value system is not based on wealth or worldly

possessions. Those who oppress the needy will have to answer to God for

their evil.

Saying 2: A Hot-Tempered Friend (22:24-25)

The second wise saying of this section has to do with the friends we make.

In particular, Solomon warns us not to make friends with hot-tempered

people. The "hot-tempered" person is one who is not in control of his or her

emotions. These people are quick to get angry and give full expression to

that anger.

The reason Solomon told his readers not to associate with this kind of

person was that the temptation would be to learn his or her ways. The hot-

tempered person is one who quickly finds fault with everything. It is all too

easy to find fault. It takes a person of true character to find something

positive to say in a difficult situation.

There is no telling what a hot-tempered person will do. This person is not in

control of his or her anger. This lack of control is not from God. Their hot-

temper would only create problems and would not bring glory to the Lord.

We are encouraged to keep away from hot-tempered people lest their ways

influence or ensnare us.

As believers we are to exercise control of our emotions. This is not to say

that we never get angry. Even Jesus was angry about the right things.

Anger, however, has a way of taking control. The believer is only to be

controlled by the Spirit of God. It is not without reason that one of the fruits

of the Spirit of God is self-control (see Galatians 5:23).

Saying 3: Pledges (22:26-27)

The third wise saying of Solomon relates to pledges. A pledge was a

financial commitment. Solomon obviously saw many people in his day

make financial commitments they could not handle, resulting in the loss of

everything they had.

Here in verses 26-27 Solomon challenged his readers to be wise with the

resources the Lord had given them. As believers, we are called to live

within our means. That is to say, we are not to take on more financial

commitments than we can handle. We should learn to be content with what

God has given us and not seek more in life than we can afford. The same

principle applies to our ministry. We should only take on what God has

given us the resources to do.

Saying 4: Boundary Stones (22:28)

Saying four relates to removing boundary stones set up by the forefathers.

We should see this in two senses.

First, we should see this verse as referring to absolute honesty in our

dealings. To remove a boundary stone or change its position was to steal

land that belonged to one's neighbour. God expects us to be honest.

There is another aspect to the moving of a boundary stone. We are to

respect those things that have been passed on to us from generations past.

We are often too quick to change things that appear to be outdated.

Solomon reminds us that the principles and practices of our past generations

have reason and purpose. We are not to be quick to throw out the old in

favour of the new. Instead, we should learn from past generations and

respect the principles and practices they have handed down to us. This is

not to say that we should never change. We need to be careful, however, to

be sure that our changes are made carefully, taking into account the value of

what has been passed down to us from generations past.

Saying 5: A Skilled Man (22:29)

The fifth wise saying of Solomon speaks to the value of hard work and

faithful service. "Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve

kings rather than ordinary people." In other words, hard work and faithful

service will be rewarded. The person who simply does what is expected will

not be noticed like the person who goes beyond the call of duty. The king

will notice those who are willing to do more than is required. These are the

individuals who will be promoted. As believers we are to be willing to go

beyond the call of duty. We should not fear hard work. God will notice this

and reward us.

Saying 6: Moderation And Caution (23:1-3)

Solomon challenged his readers to moderation and caution in his sixth wise

saying. He used the example of a person dining with a ruler. Solomon

warned the person eating with a ruler to pay attention to what was put

before him and to remember two things.

First, if they were given to eating too much, they were to put a knife to their

throat. The idea is that they were not to permit themselves to eat too much

in the presence of this ruler.

Second, when eating in the presence of a ruler, they were not to desire all

his delicacies because deception might be involved in the meal. In other

words, they were to realize that this particular individual offering them all

these delicacies might be doing so to get something from them. This meal

with all its excess food and delicacies might be the ruler’s way of bribing

them to get something for himself.

They were to be cautious in their dealings with rulers who were always

looking for support. Not everything is as it appears. Behind the wonderful

meal might be a bribe or a means of gaining favour or support. Human

nature, being as it is, we often need to be careful and sometimes suspicious

of evil motives behind what appears to be acts of kindness and compassion.

Saying 7: Don't Weary Yourself About Riches

(23:4-5)

The seventh wise saying of Solomon challenges his readers in the area

seeking to get rich. "Don't weary yourself trying to get rich," Solomon said.

Riches disappear as though they had the wings of a bird. Riches can be lost

in an instant. We will not take our riches with us when we leave this earth.

At best, the riches we have only last for our lifetime which is seventy or

eighty years. To weary ourselves trying to get rich, according to Solomon in

verse 4, was a waste of time. There are far better things to do with our lives.

There are those whose life consists of working so hard to get money that

they do not have time for anything else. They sometimes turn their back on

all that is important in life to make their money. In the end, they have

money but nothing else. Some will even spend an eternity separated from

God. Others will give an account to Him for why they did not use their

money to invest in eternity. Better to be content with what we have and

spend it for eternity than to hoard it up and answer to God for its misuse.

Saying 8: Don't Eat With Stingy People (23:6-8)

Saying eight is closely related to saying seven. Solomon warned his readers

about eating with stingy people. The stingy person is always thinking about

how much everything costs. This person is very hesitant to offer what he or

she has to others. They hold tightly to their possessions and do not give

freely.

Solomon warns his readers that those who ate the food of a stingy person

would quickly vomit up that food. There was no blessing in receiving from

one who wants to keep for himself. While stingy people wanted to come

across as being generous and compassionate, their motivation was not right.

They gave grudgingly. This attitude stripped their actions of any value. God

looks at the heart.

Again we are to be careful not to let this kind of person influence us. We are

to give with a generous and compassionate heart. The apostle Paul,

speaking to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 9:7 said:

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give,

not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful

giver.

The other thing to note here is that the person who is not in the habit of

giving generously may have a motive behind his actions and why he wants

to be generous. We need to be careful that we are not falling into a trap.

God is interested in the attitude of our heart. When we give, we are to do so

with joy and a cheerful heart.

Saying 9: Don't Waste Your Breath On Fools

(23:9)

"Don't waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice,"

Solomon told his readers in verse 9. The fool will not listen to wisdom. The

fool is not concerned about what a wise person has to say. In their pride,

they only do what they want.

Maybe you have met individuals like this. These people refuse to listen to

anything anyone says. I have met individuals who have gotten stuck on

some questionable doctrine or practice. No matter what I said to them about

this, they refused to listen. Nothing was going to change their mind. There

are times when the only thing we can do is leave people in their ignorance.

Our persistence in trying to change these people will only drive them to

deeper resistance and bring us endless grief. We need wisdom from God

about when to drop a matter.

Saying 10: Don't Steal From Orphans (23:10-11)

In his tenth wise saying, Solomon focuses on orphans. God has a heart for

orphans. Solomon likely saw people take advantage of an orphan who had

no parents to defend them. Solomon warned his people not to move the

boundary markers of an orphan. This property was all these orphans had.

Those who took advantage of orphans in their need would suffer the wrath

of God. God was a defender of the orphan. He took any offense toward an

orphan seriously.

God's call is for the believer to be filled with compassion and kindness

toward those who are oppressed. Instead of taking advantage of the orphan,

God's people were to actively defend their cause.

Saying 11: Commit Yourself To Instruction

(23:12)

In saying eleven, Solomon encouraged his people to commit themselves to

instruction and knowledge. In particular, the instruction and knowledge he

refers to is instruction in God's ways. Believers are to be people of the

Word. The apostle Peter told his readers in 1 Peter 3:15 that they were to

always be ready to give a reason for the hope that was in them.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be

prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give

the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with

gentleness and respect."

The believer is to commit himself or herself to instruction with all humility,

realizing that they have not yet arrived at perfection. I met a man once who

told me that he knew all there was to know about the Bible and there was

nothing his pastor could teach him. This man would not likely grow very

much in his Christian life. The more I come to know, the more I realize how

much I don't know. As believers, we are called to grow more and more in

the Lord and our understanding of His ways. To do this, we are to commit

ourselves to instruction and knowledge. We are to open our hearts and

minds more and more for God to fill them with understanding and

knowledge of His person and His ways.

Saying 12: Don't Fail To Correct Your Children

(23:13-14)

Another way we are to learn and grow is through correction. In saying

twelve, Solomon called parents to correct their children. He was not against

spanking a child if necessary in order to get their attention and keep them

on the right path. Physical discipline may very well save our children from

death, he told his readers. In other words, it is far better to correct a child

with physical punishment than to let them follow a path that leads to their

destruction. Physical punishment may hurt for a moment but the benefits

will far outweigh any temporary pain they feel.

God will not hesitate to correct us when we need it. Someone once told me

that God would never allow physical harm to come to one of His children.

While God is concerned for our wellbeing, the reality is that He is far more

concerned about our future and our walk with Him. Sometimes God must

allow us to suffer physical pain in order to bring us back to Himself.

Saying 13: I Will Rejoice If You Become Wise

(23:15-16)

In verses 15-16 Solomon reminds his people that he would be delighted if

they became wise. This is the heart of any parent or teacher. My children

are all grown up and on their own. It gives me great joy when they are

walking with the Lord and making wise decisions.

I remember working with some leaders on the island of Reunion, in the

Indian Ocean. My responsibility was to train these leaders in the work of

the church. The last Sunday I was at the church, I watched these leaders

take on a particular problem that had come up in the church that week. They

took the matter in hand and challenged the members to follow the clear

teaching of Scripture. I just watched as they dealt responsibly with the

problem. What a blessing it was to me to see these leaders take this problem

on themselves. They showed wisdom and discernment. Solomon felt this

joy when his children took his advice and listened to wisdom.

Saying 14: Don't Envy Sinners (23:17-18)

We live in a world where dishonest people sometimes prosper. Sometimes

we wonder if an honest person can really prosper in this sinful society. In

saying fourteen, Solomon told his readers not to envy sinners. Instead, they

were to fear the Lord and do what was right. He assured them that only by

obeying the Lord and living in respect and reverence for Him could they

have a future. The hope of the honest would not be disappointed. God

promises blessing to those who fear Him but will demand an accounting

from the sinner.

The sinner should never be envied for they will be judged by God and

punished for their evil.

Saying 15: Do Not Carouse With Drunkards

(23:19-21)

In his fifteenth wise saying Solomon challenged his readers to keep their

heart on the right course. In particular, this meant not associating with

drunkards, gluttons and sluggards. Their lifestyle would only lead to

poverty. As believers, we are to be careful to associate with those who have

similar values. We should not take any special delight in associating with

those who do not live according to God's word.

For Consideration:

What do we learn about the heart of God for the poor and the

orphan?

What is God's expectation of us in regards to living according

to what He has given? Why is it important for us to be

content with what we have?

Why is it futile to make it our life goal to become rich in

worldly possessions?

Solomon challenges his readers to open their heart to

instruction and correction. What has God been teaching you

recently? Are you open to learning from Him?

Have you ever found yourself envying the sinner? Why?

Why is it not good to envy a sinner?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you a greater compassion for those in

need. Ask Him to open your eyes to the needs around you.

Ask the Lord to give you grace to learn more about Him and

His purposes for you personally.

Take a moment to pray for someone who has gotten caught

up in sin.

Thank the Lord that He loves you enough to discipline you

when it is necessary.

25 - THE THIRTY

SAYINGS: SAYINGS 16-30

Read Proverbs 23:22-24:22

e continue with the thirty wise sayings of Solomon. In this

chapter we will examine the last fifteen sayings.

Saying 16: Listen To Your Father And Mother

(23:22-25)

The challenge of saying sixteen is to children and their parents. We should

not underestimate the importance of this relationship in the society. When

children learn to respect and honour their parents they will likely also

honour and respect others who are in authority in the society. Solomon

called on children to listen to their father and mother. They were not to

despise or reject the advice of their mother in her old age. Instead, they

were to respect their experience in life and learn from them.

Parents were a source of great wisdom for the child. This is true not only

when the children are home but also when they leave the home to set up

their own families. The advice of parents should never be despised.

Solomon reminded his readers of the importance of wisdom, discipline and

discernment (verse 23). This was what all parents were to pass on to their

children. Solomon told his readers to buy wisdom and never sell it. In other

words, they were to seek wisdom with all their heart and hold onto that

wisdom.

Notice from verse 24 that not only would the child benefit from wisdom,

discipline and discernment but so would the parents. When a father or

mother saw wisdom, discipline and discernment in their children they had

cause for great joy. One of the greatest things a child could do for their

parents is to make them happy and joyful by being wise, disciplined and

discerning.

Saying 17: Delight In The Way Of Wisdom (23:26-

28)

In saying seventeen, Solomon reminded his readers that wisdom had a very

practical application in life. Wisdom would keep them from falling into the

trap of the enemy. In particular, Solomon reminded his readers that wisdom

would keep them from the way of the adulterous woman and the prostitute.

The prostitute was a deep pit. The idea here is that if they fell into this pit

they would not be able to get out again. The adulterous woman was like a

narrow well. Those who fell into that well would get stuck and not be able

to get out. Both of these women are compared to bandits lying in wait for

those who pass by. They actively seek to trap unwise men. Wisdom was a

protection from such sins.

Saying 18: Don't Let The Sparkle Of Smooth

Wine Deceive You (23:29-35)

Saying eighteen speaks to the abuse of alcohol. Solomon describes those

who have lingered too long over wine. Notice the result of excessive

drinking of alcohol. Excessive drinking will bring woe, sorrow, strife,

complaints, needless bruises and bloodshot eyes (verses 29-30).

"Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it

goes down smoothly!" Solomon said. Wine is deceiving. While it is smooth

and sparkling in the cup it will bite like a poisonous snake when it goes

down.

Notice in verses 33-35 how Solomon describes the man who has had too

much wine. His eyes see strange sights and his mind imagines confusing

things (verse 33). Everything around them seems to sway back and forth as

if they were on the top of the rigging of a ship (verse 34). The senses are

dull and the mind unclear. "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt!

They beat me, but I don't feel it!"

Solomon attempts to show the foolishness of excessive drinking. He paints

a picture here of a person who no longer has any sense of reality. He is no

longer in control of his thinking or his actions. The wise person will not be

fooled or controlled by alcohol.

Saying 19: Don't Envy Evil People (24:1-2)

There are people on this earth who seem to delight in and cultivate evil.

These people plan violence and make trouble by the things they say.

Solomon reminds his readers in his nineteenth saying that they were not to

envy these wicked people or even desire their company.

What we need to understand is that often these wicked and evil people seem

to be able to get what they want in life. They obtain riches by deceit and

dishonesty. They are found in positions of authority and sometimes

respected for their riches and power. While they may have what they want

in life, they will have to answer to God for their evil.

To envy these wicked people is to fail to understand where their lifestyle is

heading. Would you envy a person walking off the end of a cliff? Would

you envy a drowning man? Neither should we envy those whose lifestyle is

leading them to the judgement of God. We should not desire to join them or

seek their company lest they take us down the same path.

Saying 20: A House Is Built On Wisdom (24:3-4)

"By wisdom a house is built," said Solomon (verse 3). Solomon speaks

symbolically here of an individual or a family. He reminds his readers that

they need to build their lives by wisdom and understanding. Again we need

to mention that the wisdom he speaks of is not earthly wisdom. For

Solomon there was only one true wisdom and understanding. This was the

wisdom that came from the Lord God. Our lives need to be built on the

truth of God's Word. We need to fill our lives with His understanding and

knowledge. Through the knowledge of God and His ways our lives are

filled with beautiful treasures. Those who know the Lord and follow His

ways are not like anyone else. These individuals experience God and His

life in them.

Saying 21: Don't Go To War Without Wise

Guidance (24:5-6)

If we want to advance in life and succeed in our plans, we need to be

humble enough to accept advice. It is the wise man who has power,

Solomon told his readers in verse 5. It is through knowledge that strength is

increased. We need to be willing to learn if we want to grow. We need to be

a people who are willing to listen to what others have to say. "For waging

war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers."

It is only the fool who believes he or she knows everything. Only a proud

fool will refuse to listen to counsel. These people will never amount to

anything in life because they refuse to learn. God expects us to recognize

our need of others who can counsel and advise us. Seeking advice is not a

sign of weakness. It is evidence of humility and true wisdom.

Saying 22: Wisdom Is Too High For A Fool (24:7-

While the fool often speaks out his mind, when it comes to a time when

wisdom is required, the fool has nothing to say. In the assembly at the gate,

where decisions were made, the fool had nothing of value to contribute.

When wisdom and insight is required in important decisions, fools are of no

help. They have nothing to contribute in the discussion of important

matters.

It is important that those who are in positions of authority be men and

women of wisdom. In particular, these individuals need to be men and

women who have the wisdom of God.

Saying 23: A Reputation As A Schemer (24:8-9)

Saying twenty-three reminds us that we will be known for our actions. The

person who plots evil will be known as a schemer. People will recognize

that the ways of a schemer are foolish. They will detest a mocker. We don't

always think about what we do. It is easy to lie and not consider yourself to

be a liar. It is easy to be negative and not see ourselves as a critical person.

We often justify our actions. People see us for who we really are. Our

reputation is built not on how we see ourselves but on how others see us.

Saying 24: Failing Under Pressure (24:10)

The test of true strength is how we respond to times of trouble. Anyone can

be strong when things are going well. We may commend ourselves for how

we handle small problems in life but if we fall in times of trouble our

strength is too small. If our faith is not big enough to carry us through the

tough times in life it is not big enough. We should measure our strength not

in times of ease but in times of struggle.

Saying 25: Don't Avoid Responsibility (24:11-12)

Wise saying twenty-five has to do with not being afraid to take on

responsibility. Solomon challenged his readers not to sit idly by when they

could do something to help. If they saw someone being led away to death

they were to rescue them. If they saw people staggering toward slaughter,

they were to hold them back. It is too easy to ignore the problems and pain

around us. Sometimes we are too lazy to do anything about it. Sometimes

we are not sure what others would think if we got involved.

The reality of the matter is that the Lord will put people on our path who

have real need. He does this so that we can do something about that need.

We will have to answer to the Lord for the opportunities missed. The

believer needs to have open eyes and an open heart. We need to be willing

to take a risk and reach out to those God puts on our path. There are no

excuses for not reaching out when we have the ability to help. God will

repay each of us according to what we have done (verse 12).

Saying 26: Find Wisdom And Find A Bright

Future (24:13-14)

In verses 13-14 Solomon compares wisdom to honey. Here he told his

readers to eat honey for it was both good for them and sweet to the taste. He

told them that wisdom was like this. Wisdom was good for them and it too

was sweet to their souls. Those who tasted wisdom would find it would

assure them a bright future. Wisdom would keep them and give them bright

hope.

Wisdom profits us in the present and in the future. By wisdom we are able

to avoid many pitfalls in life. By wisdom we avoid many sorrows and hurts.

Those who live in God's wisdom will assure their eternal reward and keep

themselves in a right relationship with God.

Saying 27: Don't Lie In Wait Against A Righteous

Man (24:15-16)

God expects us to be respectful of those who belong to Him. God loves

those who belong to Him. Solomon warns his readers about lying in wait

for a righteous man. In other words, they were to be careful not to mistreat

one of God's children. God takes this matter very seriously. Jesus told his

listeners in Matthew 25:40 that whatever they did to one of His children

they did to Him:

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for

one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'"

Jesus went on to say in Matthew 25:45:

“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for

one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”

To speak against one of God's children is to speak against God. To harm

one whom God loves is to hurt God.

Notice in verse 16 that God promises to bless the righteous and give them

strength to rise up when they fall. God is with His people. Nothing the

enemy does to us will stand. Those who love the Lord will overcome. They

may be often cast down but they will not be defeated for God is their

strength. Those who harm His children will answer to God for their actions.

Saying 28: Don't Gloat When Your Enemies Fall

(24:17-18)

As believers we are not to delight in the fall of our enemy. The challenge of

the Word of God is to love our enemies (see Matthew 5:43-44). We should

not find any particular comfort when our enemy is being judged by God or

suffers under His discipline. The love of God in our heart should stir up our

compassion for the hurt our enemy feels. Solomon warns us that God

disapproves of those who gloat over their enemies when they fall. He tells

us that God may turn His wrath from our enemy and put in on us to teach us

the evil of our thoughts and attitudes.

Saying 29: Don't Fret Because Of Evildoers

(24:19-20)

While our hearts should be filled with love for our enemies we are told in

saying twenty-nine that we are not to fret because of evil people or be

envious of what they have obtained by evil means. We are not to concern

ourselves overly with the prosperity of those who are wicked. Their wealth

will not last. They have no future. Their lamp will be snuffed out and they

will be judged. There is no cause to envy those who will be judged by God

for wickedness. It is better to have nothing in life and know we will stand

blameless before a holy God, than to have everything this world offers and

be guilty for all eternity.

Saying 30: Fear The Lord (24:21-22)

Solomon's final wise saying in this section, challenges his readers to fear

both the Lord and the king. They were to live lives of respect and reverence

for God and refuse to join any who were living in rebellion against Him and

His ways. Those who refused to live under the fear of the Lord would come

to sudden destruction and ruin.

For Consideration:

What lessons have you learned from your parents? How have

they influenced you in your life?

Why is it important that we keep ourselves from the influence

of those who do not live a godly lifestyle?

What is the true measure of our strength according to

Solomon in verse 10?

What does Solomon teach us about taking responsibility for

the needs around us? Why does God bring needs to us? Have

you been faithful to God in the needs He has brought your

way?

What challenge does Solomon bring to us about loving our

enemies? Are there people you have problem loving today?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to thank the Lord for the influence your

parents and leaders have had on your life.

Do you have friends and loved ones who are wandering away

from the Lord on the path of evil? Take a moment to pray that

God would minister to them and bring them to Himself.

Thank the Lord for His protection on your life. Thank Him

for the strength He has given you to face your trials. Ask Him

to increase your strength.

Ask God to give you a greater heart of compassion. Ask Him

to help you see the needs around you and give you the

willingness to do something about them.

If you have someone you have trouble loving, take a moment

now and pray that God would give you grace to love them

more.

26 - MORE SAYINGS OF

THE WISE

Read Proverbs 24:23-34

n the last section of Proverbs, Solomon shared thirty wise sayings.

Proverbs 24:23-34 appears to be another section. It is sandwiched

between Solomon's thirty sayings and a new section of sayings written

down by Hezekiah's men from chapters 25-29.

Partiality In Judging (Verses 23-25)

Notice how this new section is introduced in verse 23. The verses that

follow are distinguished from the thirty sayings of chapters 23 and 24.

"These also are sayings of the wise," the author tells us. We are not clearly

told that these are Solomon's words. They are simply words of the wise.

The first of these further sayings of the wise has to do with judging without

partiality. In other words, all judgement is to be on the basis of the crime

committed and not on the basis of who committed the crime. All people

were to be judged fairly without regard for their status or financial situation

in society. The poor were to receive the same treatment as the rich and

influential.

God is not blind to partiality in judging. Those who show favouritism in

judging by declaring the guilty innocent will be cursed by their people and

whole nations would denounce them. God would judge those who showed

partiality in judging. He would expose their actions. Their own people

would turn against them. There was no blessing for those who perverted

judgment.

On the other hand, the Lord would pour out His blessing on all who

exercised true justice without partiality. Those who convicted the guilty

would receive favor from the Lord.

The heart of the Lord God is for justice. He stands behind those who

exercise His righteous judgement on the earth. God will punish sin and evil.

He will not let the guilty go. They will stand before Him to give an account

of their actions.

An Honest Answer (Verse 26)

"An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips." That is to say, it is pleasant

and refreshing. It should be mentioned here that not all honesty is easy to

hear. Sometimes, honesty exposes hurts and injuries. Sometimes it reveals

things that we need to deal with in our lives. What we need to understand,

however, is that honesty, when spoken in love, has as its goal to build us up

and move us onto the path of righteousness. Lies and deceit will only

destroy us in the end. The Lord blesses honesty spoken in love. Growth in

relationships can only take place when we are honest with each other.

Honesty is the soil in which true relationships are built. It is the soil in

which growth in righteousness can take place. It is also the soil in which

God plants His seeds of blessing.

Wise Priorities (Verse 27)

Notice in verse 27 that readers are challenged to finish their outdoor work

first and after that to build their house. The field, for the Jews, was a source

of income. When the fields were cared for and producing crops, they had

food for their family and money to spend on their homes. If the farmer

ignored his fields and started to build his house, he would soon run out of

money.

What the wise man is telling his readers is that they were to plan wisely. In

life, it is important that we get our priorities correct. We are to weigh the

cost of our projects before we undertake them. The wise man challenges his

readers to be sure they have the money for the projects they undertake. We

should not take on things we do not have the means to complete. God

expects us to be wise stewards of His resources.

Neighbours (Verses 28-29)

As believers we should maintain good relationships with our neighbors.

The wise man has two things to tell his readers in verses 28-29 about their

relationships with their neighbors.

First, we are to be honest in our dealings with our neighbours. "Do not

testify against your neighbour without cause," the wise man told his readers

in verse 28. The picture is of a man who testifies falsely about his

neighbour in order to get ahead of him. We are encouraged to respect our

neighbours and to speak honestly about them.

Not only are we to be honest in what we speak about our neighbor but the

wise man tells us in verse 28 that we are not to use our lips to deceive our

neighbours. We are to be honest in what we say about our neighbours to

others and we are also to be honest in our dealings with our neighbours. Our

neighbour should be able to trust us in all things.

Not all neighbours are good neighbors. Sometimes we have bad neighbours

who cause us problems. The wise man, however, challenged his readers to

refuse to render evil for evil. They were never to say: "I'll do to him as he

has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did." As believers, we are

to return good for evil. This is the clear teaching of the Lord Jesus in the

Matthew 5:43-44:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate

your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for

those who persecute you."

Laziness (Verses 30-34)

The final word of wisdom from the wise in this section is found in verses

30-34. Here the author speaks about laziness.

He begins his challenge by sharing an illustration. The wise man told his

readers how on one occasion he went past the field of a lazy person and the

vineyard of a person who lacked judgment. As he looked over the fields he

saw that thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with

weeds and his stone wall was in ruins.

This picture remained on his mind and he began to think about what this

illustration taught him. He came to the conclusion that a little sleep and a

little folding of the hands in rest will quickly bring poverty. Those who are

lazy will find that poverty and scarcity will come on them like a bandit

stripping them of everything they have.

We cannot sit back and expect God to provide all we need. God calls us to

work hard and be responsible. God often provides for us through hard work.

For Consideration:

What does this passage teach us about God's desire for

justice? Do you see this justice in your society?

God expects us to be honest in our words with our friends

and neighbours. Does being honest mean that we need to tell

our neighbours and friends everything? Is it possible to tell

our friends and neighbours too much truth? When is it best

not to say anything?

What does the wise man tell us about being wise with our

money and possessions? Have you been wise with your

money and possessions?

Are you a good neighbour? Is there anything more that you

can do to encourage and bless your neighbours?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is a God of justice.

Take a moment to pray for your neighbours. Ask God to help

you to be a blessing and encouragement to them.

Ask the Lord to help you to be a hard and honest worker.

Thank Him that He never ceases to minister to us.

27 - SAYINGS COPIED BY

HEZEKIAH'S MEN: PART 1

Read Proverbs 25:1-28

nder the reign of King Ahaz, the temple of God in Jerusalem was

closed. Ahaz was an evil king. He offered sacrifices to the gods

of the nations and even burned his own sons on the altar to these

strange deities (2 Chronicles 28:2-4). His son Hezekiah brought great

revival to the land. Under Hezekiah's reign, the temple was re-opened and

purified. Hezekiah restored the worship of the Lord God of Israel. We read

in 2 Chronicles 29:30:

"King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise

the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So

they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and

worshiped."

What we have recorded for us in Proverbs 25-29 are saying that Hezekiah's

men copied during this period of revival in Jerusalem. They were designed

to help the people of the day return to the Lord and His ways.

Concealing And Searching Out (Verses 2-3)

One of the things we all understand about God is that His ways are so much

higher than ours that we cannot possibly understand His purposes. He is

much bigger than any of us. The glory of God is seen in how big He is and

how His ways cannot be fathomed. God conceals His wisdom from us.

Indeed, we could never grasp the depth of His wisdom and purposes. This

is, in part, what makes God so glorious. His ways are beyond us and His

purposes too great to understand.

It is the glory of a king to search out matters. In other words, a king who

governs well will take the time to learn what is happening in his kingdom.

A wise king will take the time to get to know his people and the issues they

struggle with in their daily lives. He will seek to gain understanding of his

kingdom so that he can rule it well.

The task of governing a nation is a complicated task requiring a person of

tremendous skill and wisdom. These verses describe the heart of the king as

being unsearchable for the common person. As wise and discerning as the

king needs to be, his wisdom cannot be compared to that of God whose

ways are beyond the wisest king.

Removing The Dross (Verses 4-5)

If the king wants to rule his kingdom well, he needs to remove wickedness.

The author compared this to removing the impurities from silver so that the

result will be pure silver ready to be fashioned into jewelry (verse 4). As

long as there are impurities in the silver it cannot be used for anything of

value. "Remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be

established through righteousness," the wise man said. Evil and wickedness

only hinder the progress of a nation. The wise king will search out evil and

wickedness and remove it from his land. The blessing of God will only be

hindered by evil. This same principle is true in our personal lives as well.

As long as there is evil and wickedness in us, the blessing of God will only

be hindered.

Humility (Verses 6-7)

Verses 6-7 challenge the reader to humility. In verse 6 the author told them

that they were not to exalt themselves in the king's presence or claim a

place with great men. This is very easy for us to do. All too many people try

to achieve greatness in the eyes of this world. They spend their time and

energy trying to have people think well of them. Solomon told his readers in

verse 6 that they were not to do this.

Instead of seeking greatness, the readers were to wait for the king to lift

them up. If they elevated themselves, they risked being demoted and put in

their place. This would be humiliating for them. If they were promoted by

the king, they would be honoured before all and nothing could strip them of

this honour.

As believers, it is not our role to lift up ourselves or to seek a place of

honour in the eyes of those around us. Our responsibility is to be faithful.

God will honour us in His time. Our focus should be on Him and His

kingdom and not on ourselves.

Being Hasty In Court (Verses 7-10)

Verses 7-10 challenge readers not to be hasty in drawing conclusions.

"What you have seen with your eyes, do not bring hastily to court," he told

them. There may be several reasons for this.

First, we might be wrong in our interpretation of what we have seen.

Sometimes we don't have all the information we need. Some time ago I

noticed a man spending a lot of time with a younger woman who was not

his wife. I would see him in coffee shops with her. Sometimes, driving past

her house I would see his car in the yard. I began to wonder why he was

seeing another woman. One day, I saw them together in a coffee shop. As

they were leaving, they walked past a mutual friend of theirs who said: "I

see you are spending a lot of time with your daughter." When I heard this I

realized how easy it would be to draw a wrong conclusion. This man was

not being unfaithful to his wife. He was being a good father. Solomon is

telling us not to be hasty to make judgments. We might be wrong.

Second, we should not be hasty in making judgements against our

neighbour lest he put us to shame (verse 8). Can you say that you are

without sin? Could it be that our neighbour knows things about us? What

would happen if when we brought our accusation about our neighbour, he

began to expose our sins? We need to realize that we also need correction.

Verses 9-10 tell the readers that if they argued their neighbours case, they

were not to betray his confidence. In other words, they should not use this

opportunity to gossip and spread stories about their neighbour. Maybe you

have been in a prayer meeting where prayer requests were being given.

Sometimes we can use this as an opportunity to share all kinds of things

about our neighbour's personal life. Under the pretence of praying for our

neighbour, we can in reality be gossiping. The call here is to respect our

neighbours and their privacy. If we betray our neighbour’s confidence we

may never gain that confidence back.

Words Aptly Spoken (Verses 11-15)

Words have a powerful impact. They can bless and encourage or they can

break down and destroy. Words that are spoken at the correct time and in

the correct way can be a real blessing. The author compared them to apples

of gold in settings of silver. The picture is a beautiful basket or platter made

of silver filled with delicious golden apples. Notice two things about this

picture. First, notice the apples. They are beautiful apples, delicious to the

taste and refreshing. Second, notice that the apples are served on a silver

setting. There has been great care taken in presenting these apples to the

visitor. These apples are carefully placed on a beautiful plate or basket

before they were served. Our words need to be wise and wholesome but

they also need to be presented in the right way. Good words spoken in the

wrong way or with the wrong attitude will only bring a curse.

In verses 12-15 we are reminded of the kind of words we can speak and

how they will impact those who hear them. Verse 12 speaks of words that

correct. The rebuke of a wise man is compared to earrings of gold. As

earrings are designed to enhance beauty, these words of correction will

improve us and build our character. We can profit greatly from the

corrective words of a wise man. These rebukes are valuable because they

instruct and teach us the way we should go.

The trustworthy words of a messenger are compared to the coolness of

snow at harvest time. That is to say, they brought refreshing. Imagine the

worker labouring hard in the heat of the summer to bring in his harvest. He

is being burnt by the hot sun as he works with all his might to bring in his

harvest. The cooler weather is a real delight to him, especially when he has

the assurance that his harvest is in. This is what the words of a trustworthy

messenger are like. They bring refreshing to the weary.

There is another type of word in verse 14. Dishonest words were like clouds

and wind without rain. The author paints a picture of a man who makes

promises but never keeps those promises. These words are useless. They are

like clouds without rain. They promise great things but their promises

amount to nothing.

Gentle words, when spoken with patience, will persuade a ruler. A gentle

tongue is a powerful tool. When words are spoken harshly, people tend to

pull back or get defensive. When words are spoken with kindness and

compassion, they break down many barriers.

Words are very powerful tools. They need to be spoken at the right time and

in the right way. It is important that we learn how to speak so that our words

will bless and encourage.

Moderation (Verse 16-17)

Too much of a good thing can be bad. “If you find honey, eat just enough—

too much of it, and you will vomit" (verse 16). We need to learn to be

moderate in all we do. What is true of what we eat is also true in

relationships. The author told his readers that they were not to spend too

much time at their neighbour's home lest their neighbour begin to dread

their visits. Balance is important in our lives. Good things can become bad

if we take them to extreme. We need discernment in knowing how to find

this balance.

Falsehood, Unfaithfulness And Discernment

(Verses 18-20)

Verses 18-20 speak about relationships. In verse 18 we are told that the man

who gave a false testimony against his neighbour was like a club, sword or

sharp arrow. The idea is that this person caused his neighbour great pain

and suffering. Speaking false words against one's neighbor was like hitting

him or her with a club or striking them with a sword or sharp arrow.

In verse 19 the reader is told that relying on an unfaithful person was like a

bad tooth or a lame foot. If you have a bad tooth, every time you eat that

tooth sends terrible pain though your entire face. The same is true of a lame

leg. When you want to walk on it, it gives out on you. You can't depend on

a sore tooth or a lame leg. Neither can you depend on an unfaithful person.

Just when you need them they will fail you.

There is a time for singing and there is a time for mourning. The author

compares those who sing songs to a heavy heart to someone who takes

away a person's garment on a cold day. Their song will not accomplish what

they want it to accomplish. Their song shows disrespect to the mourner. If

anything, it will leave the mourner angry and frustrated because the person

singing does not understand their pain.

The person who sings songs to the heavy heart is also like one who pours

vinegar on soda. When vinegar is poured on soda a chemical reaction takes

place. The soda explodes and boils over. A song sung to a person with a

heavy heart is likely to cause the mourner to become angry or frustrated

with the singer. The challenge is to be sensitive to others. There is a time to

sing and rejoice and there is also a time for us to be sensitive and mourn.

Respect For Enemies (Verses 21-22)

Verses 21-22 speak about the relationship a believer should have with his

enemies. Even the Lord Jesus had enemies. We should not be surprised to

find that we too have people in our lives who will not like us or what we

stand for.

The author teaches us what Jesus taught His disciples in the gospels. If our

enemy is in need, we are to do our best to provide what he needs. If he is

hungry we are to feed him. If he is thirsty we are to give him something to

drink. In doing this we heap burning coals on his head and the Lord will

reward us.

In ancient times fires were kept going for cooking and heat. When the fire

went out, it was not always easy to get it started again. In our day it is

relatively easy to start a fire. We simply strike a match and get it started

again. This was not the case in Bible times before matches were invented.

Imagine that your fire went out at night as you were getting ready to go to

bed. What do you do? You would have to go your neighbour to get some

hot coals from him to get your fire started again. Imagine that you went to

your neighbour for help. When your neighbour saw your need he filled a

container with hot coals and helped you lift it onto your head so you can

carry it home.

What this verse is telling us is that when our neighbour is in need we are to

do all we can to reach out to them. We are to fill his container with coals of

blessing so that he will not be cold. We are to send him home with an

abundant supply of coals so that he will not be in need. We are to do this,

even if our neighbour is an enemy. God will see our efforts and bless us.

More About Words (Verse 23-25)

Verses 23-25 have more to say about words. In verse 23 we begin by

comparing the sly tongue to a bitter north wind that brings rain. This north

wind was a cold wind. When that cold wind came with rain it was very

miserable. Those who were trapped in it were both cold and wet.

The word "sly" is translated by "backbiting" in the King James Version of

the Bible. The idea is that this tongue is deceptive and deceitful. This kind

of tongue is as unpleasant as being caught in a downpour spurred on by a

bitter and cold north wind. Those who speak with such a tongue will not

receive a warm welcome. They will be greeted with angry looks as bitter as

this north wind.

Verse 24 speaks about a quarrelsome wife. What is true about a quarrelsome

wife applies equally to a quarrelsome husband or any other person for that

matter. The author tells us that it is better for us to live in the corner of a

roof than in a house with a quarrelsome wife. The quarrelsome person is

one who cannot seem to see anything positive. This type of person always

seems to be angry and critical about something and does not hesitate to let

their views be known. It is very difficult to live with this type of person. We

are called to be encouragers. Instead of being negative and critical we need

to cultivate the art of seeing things from a positive perspective. We are to

accept differences between brothers and sisters and respect each other for

those differences.

Those who have lived any time away from home understand the blessing of

receiving good news from a distant land. Good news is like cold refreshing

water to a weary soul (verse 25). It is a delight to be bearers of good news.

Taking A Stand (Verse 26)

In verse 26 the author challenged his readers to take a stand for

righteousness. He compared the person who let the wicked person have his

way to the one who muddied a spring or polluted a well. Everyone suffers

when the wicked have their way. Wickedness pollutes our land and strips it

of its blessing from God. When we allow wicked people to have their own

way, we allow the pollution of their wickedness to fill our lands. We are to

fight for righteousness and stand up for its principles lest wickedness defile

our land.

Seeking One's Own Honour (Verse 27)

Verse 27 is really a repeat of verses 6-7. Here the wise man told his readers

that they were not to be obsessed with seeking their own glory. It is nice to

have people think well of us. If we are working for a living, we want to

please our boss. This is as it should be. Children ought to seek to please

their parents. Believers ought to seek to please their God. What we need to

understand, however, is that when we become obsessed with having people

think well of us, we wander from the path of righteousness. Too much

honey is not good, the wise man says. Neither is the excessive desire to

seek one's own honour. We ought to be known to be an honourable people.

We should maintain a good reputation in our community. It is possible,

however, to become so caught up in seeking our own honour that our focus

is no longer on God and serving Him from a pure heart. The focus shifts

from God to ourselves. Our focus should be on living for our Lord and

serving Him. He will honour us. We do not need to seek this honour for

ourselves.

Self-Control (Verse 28)

We conclude this chapter with a word about a person with no self-control.

This person is like a city whose walls are broken down. A city whose walls

are broken down is unprotected. Without the protection of the walls, this

city is open to the attack of the enemy. When a person does not have self-

control they can quickly fall into all kinds of evil. They speak words they

will one day regret.

For Consideration:

Why is it important that we take a stand for righteousness?

What happens when we give way to the wicked?

Have you ever found yourself trying to get people to think

highly of you? How does this distract us from our true calling

in life?

Why is it good not to make quick judgments? Have you ever

judged someone only to find out later that you had

misunderstood the situation?

Why is how we use words important? Is it possible that we

use the right words but present them in a way that is wrong?

What is the result of right words presented in the wrong way?

What is the place of moderation in the Christian life? Can we

have too much of a good thing? Explain.

How does self-control protect us?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to search your heart to remove any impurities

that keep you from experiencing the fullness of His blessings.

Ask God to set you free from a desire to make a name for

yourself. Ask Him instead to set your desire on Him.

Ask the Lord to teach you how to use your words so that you

are able to present them like apples on a silver platter to those

around you.

Do you have trouble loving someone? Ask the Lord to help

you to love them and to reach out to them in ways that would

honour them as people.

Ask God to give you more self-control in your words and

actions so that you do not fall into sin.

28 - SAYINGS COPIED BY

HEZEKIAH'S MEN: PART 2

Read Proverbs 26:1-28

roverbs 26 speaks about different types of people; the fool, the

sluggard, and the gossip. We will look at each of these individuals

separately in this meditation.

Chapter 26 begins with two statements. The first relates to the fool. Here

the author reminds his readers that honour was not fitting for a fool. He

compares a fool receiving honour to snow in summer or rain at harvest

time. There is nothing honourable about being a fool or having foolish

ways. No one wants it to rain when they are trying to bring in the harvest.

Neither do people want to see a fool honoured.

We need to understand how the word "fool" in used in this passage.

Wisdom, according to Solomon, has its roots in the fear of the Lord. The

wise person is one who has learned the art of living a life that respects and

reverences God and His purposes. The fool is just the opposite. The fool has

no desire for God nor does he care about his eternity. The fool lives for the

moment. The fool does not submit to God. There can be no honour in

disobedience to God and His ways.

The second statement made in the opening section of this chapter has to do

with an undeserved curse. The author speaks in this chapter about fools,

gossips and deceivers. These individuals have one thing in common. They

are not in control of their words. They speak without thinking. Solomon

told his readers that they did not need to fear these undeserved curses from

the lips of careless people. Like a bird fluttering about, these curses would

not find a place to rest. They would cause confusion for a time but would

move on and be forgotten.

Having made these introductory statements the author moves on now to

speak of the fool, the lazy person and the gossip.

THE FOOL (Verses 3-12)

The first person described in chapter 26 is the fool. The author has several

things to say about the fool.

A Rod For The Back Of The Fool (Verse 3)

The author does not have too much respect for the fool. As we have said,

the fool is one who has decided to turn his or her back on God. He has

rejected God and His ways.

It is important to note that we are not speaking here about punishing

someone for lack of understanding. The author is calling for the punishment

of those who refuse the wisdom of God. He is calling for the judgement of

those who refuse to listen to God or follow His ways. Just like the whip is

used to correct the horse or the halter is put on the donkey to show them the

direction they need to go, so the rod of correction should be used on the

back of a rebellious fool to bring him back to the way he should go.

Don't Answer A Fool In His Folly (Verse 4-5)

Have you ever tried to reason with a person who refused to listen to reason?

It is impossible to reason with this type of person. Trying to reason with

such a person will only cause conflict and anger. The only way to deal with

such a person is to treat them as fools. There is no use debating with them

because they will not listen to reason. They need to be corrected and

admonished for their foolishness. If we don't admonish them and challenge

their foolishness, they will think they are wise. They will not see the error

of their ways.

Don't Send A Message Through A Fool (Verse 6)

In verse 6 the wise man warns his readers about sending a message through

a fool. He compares it to cutting off one’s feet or drinking violence. The

fool will likely misrepresent the person who sends him and this will reflect

badly on the person who sent him. The person receiving the message will

get a wrong impression. The receiver may even be insulted by the

comments of the fool and this will become a problem for the sender of the

message.

A Proverb In The Mouth Of A Fool (Verses 7, 9)

A proverb or wise saying in the mouth of a fool was like a man's leg that

hung limp. What use is a lame leg? A person cannot walk with it. It serves

no purpose. This is what a wise saying is like to a fool. It is useless to them.

They don't know how to use it and it is of no benefit to them practically

because they don’t accept it.

A wise saying is like a thorn bush in the hands of a drunkard. What will

happen to the drunkard with a thorn bush? Very likely he will only hurt

himself. This thorn bush will scratch him and everyone he comes in contact

with. This is what a wise saying is like for the fool. He will not benefit from

it. He will misinterpret it and this will result in his hurting himself and those

around him.

Honouring A Fool (Verse 8)

Honouring a fool is like tying a stone in a sling. This is actually quite

humorous. Imagine taking a stone and tying it with cord to a slingshot.

What is the result? You can swing that slingshot all you want but the stone

will never leave its pouch because it is tied firmly to it. A stone must be free

to leave the sling if it is to be of any use to the person using it. Honouring a

fool is like tying a stone to a sling shot. It is foolish. It will accomplish

nothing. In fact it may be very dangerous. Imagine facing the enemy with

slingshot that would not work.

Hiring A Fool (Verse 10)

The reader is challenged not to hire a foolish person. He compares this to an

archer who wounds people at random. There is not discernment here. The

fool has no purpose or guidelines. He does what he feels and doesn't think

about what he does.

When we hire someone we want to be sure that the person is wise and

discerning. We want to know that the one we hire will advance the cause for

which we serve. The fool will not do this because he is not guided by

principles and is unwilling to learn.

This principle has implications in our service for the Lord. We want to be

sure that those who serve and work with us are men and women who live

according to the principles of God's word. We want them to be people of

purpose.

Fool And His Folly (Verse 11)

The fool by his or her very nature is attracted to foolishness. Unless they are

radically changed in nature they will continue to act in foolish ways.

Unbelievers do not understand the ways of righteousness. These principles

do not make sense to them. It is the nature of humankind to sin and wander

from God and His ways. Until the Lord God changes our heart this is where

we will remain. Solomon compares this to a dog returning to eat its own

vomit. Until we are changed by the Spirit of God we will continue to return

to our foolish ways.

One Who Is Wise In His Own Eyes (Verse 12)

In verse 12 the wise man told his readers that there was more hope for a

fool than for the person who was wise in his own eyes. Pride is worse than

foolishness. A humble fool can change if he or she is willing to learn and

change. The proud person, however, refuses to change. These people are

wise in their own eyes and will not listen to anyone because they believe

they alone are right. A fool may repent of his or her ways and come to the

knowledge of the truth. It is much more difficult for a proud person to

repent and be restored.

THE SLUGGARD (Verse 13-16)

We now move on in verses 13-16 to speak about the sluggard or lazy

person. These verses have several things to say about the sluggard.

The Sluggard's Excuses (Verse 13)

The lazy person is a master of excuses. Lazy people will invent all kinds of

excuses so they do not have to work. We have some examples of this in

verse 13. "The sluggard says, 'There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion

roaming the streets!'" As a parent I have often seen my children make up

excuses to get out of something they did not want to do. Sometimes the lazy

ones actually believe the excuses they make up. They are even able to

deceive themselves into thinking these excuses are valid.

The Sluggard Turns On His Bed (Verse 14)

The sluggard is compared to a door turning on its hinges. The picture here

is of the lazy person turning from side to side in his bed. They do not get

anything accomplished in life; they simply sleep and turn from side to side

on their bed.

Too Lazy To Eat (Verse 15)

Sometimes the lazy person is too lazy to take care of themselves. In verse

15, Solomon told his readers that the sluggard buried his hand in his dish

but was too lazy to bring it to his mouth. The lazy person does not care for

his fields. He does not care for his or her personal appearance or his family.

He doesn't even care for himself.

Wise In His Own Eyes (Verse 16)

The sluggard is a master of excuses. Sometimes these people deceive

themselves. They are not worried about the future. "Everything will work

out," they say. The sluggard may have wise and discerning people

challenging him to work but he will not listen. He does not see the need to

listen. He doesn't believe their concerns are justified. He figures he has

everything under control. He sees himself as wiser than those who try to

counsel him. Laziness is dangerous not only because of what it does to us

and our families but also because it closes our mind to the counsel and

advice of other people.

THE GOSSIP, THE QUARRELSOME PERSON

AND THE DECEIVER (Verses 17-28)

Verses 17-28 speaks about a variety of people who misuse their words. All

of these people use words as weapons to hurt their fellow citizen.

Quarrels (Verse 17)

Verse 17 compares a person who gets involved in someone else’s quarrel to

a person who grabs a dog by the ears. Who in their right mind would grab

an angry dog by the ears? Such a person risks getting bit. This is what will

happen to those who get involved in a quarrel that is not theirs. They will

surely get hurt.

Joking (Verse 18-19)

The way we use words is very important. In the culture in which I live,

people are always joking with each other. One common way of joking with

people is to insult or belittle them. Verses 18-19 speak to this practice. He

compares it to a madman shooting fiery arrows. The words we use are like

fiery arrows. They hurt those they hit. It really doesn't matter that you may

have been joking when you said what you did. The fact is that those words

hurt and you will be held accountable to God for what you have said.

Gossip (Verses 20-22)

Verses 20-22 compare gossip to a fire that is fuelled by words. Without

wood a fire will go out. So it is with gossip and a quarrel. If we simply stop

fueling the gossip with our words it will soon stop. This is not always an

easy thing to do. The author reminded his readers in verse 22 that the words

of the gossip were like choice morsels. They are delicious and difficult to

resist. We all know how tempting it is to listen to the latest gossip. It is also

difficult to keep from sharing that gossip. The wise person will exercise

discipline. He will resist the delicious morsels of gossip that come his way

and stop the gossiping in its tracks.

The Deceiver (Verses 23-28)

In verse 23 the author compared the deceiver to a clay vessel coated with

glaze. It looks beautiful on the outside but it really is a cheap vessel that

will not last. This is what the words of the deceiver are like. They are

coated with wonderful and delightful promises but they are not what they

appear to be on the outside. There is malicious intent behind the words of

the deceiver. He harbours deceit in his heart (verse 24). His speech is

charming but it cannot be trusted for his heart is filled with seven

abominations (verse 25). Some see the seven abominations mentioned here

refer to Proverbs 6:16-19 where Solomon told his readers that there were

seven things the Lord hated:

1) Haughty eyes

2) Lies

3) Shedding of innocent blood

4) Scheming

5) Feet rushing to evil

6) False witnesses

7) Dissension between brothers

This is what is behind the charming words of the deceiver. He conceals his

true intent by deception.

The author promised that the day was coming when the deceiver would be

exposed to the assembly (verse 26). "If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it;

if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him," he told his readers in verse

27. Deceivers will fall into their own pit. They will be judged for their

actions. God would reveal their actions and they will answer to Him for

their deceit.

Deceivers hate those they hurt (verse 28). They deliberately set out to hurt

their fellow citizens by deceiving them. They flattered people with the

purpose of ruining them. There are no noble intentions here. Deceivers do

not care about the hurt they cause. Deception is never innocent. Deceivers

will have to answer for their actions. As believers we must remove all

forms of deception from our lives and relationships.

For Consideration:

What is Solomon's definition of a fool? Why is foolishness

such a serious matter in his eyes?

Why is it dangerous to work with a fool? Why is it important

that we keep our distance from a fool?

Solomon tells us that a fool always returns to his foolishness.

This is true unless his foolish nature is changed. How did the

Lord God change your foolish nature?

Why is there more hope for a fool than for a proud person?

Have you ever found yourself making excuses not to do what

you should do? Explain.

How does laziness keep us from listening to the counsel of

others?

How is gossip like a fire? How do you put out that fire?

How can it be said that a deceiver hates those he deceives?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He has changed your foolish nature and

given you a heart that seeks Him.

Ask the Lord to strip any pride from you.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for times you have fuelled the

fires of gossip and quarrelling.

Ask the Lord to help you to use your words carefully to be a

blessing to all who hear them.

29 - SAYINGS COPIED BY

HEZEKIAH'S MEN:PART 3

Read Proverbs 27:1-27

Boasting (Verses 1-2)

hapter 27 begins with a word about boasting. Notice first, in verse

1, that the author of the proverb warns his readers not to boast

about tomorrow because they did not know what tomorrow would

bring. How many times have we made plans for the future? We all have

plans. It is good to have a plan. In fact, Scripture encourages us to make

plans for the future (see Proverbs 6:6-8). We are challenged to be like the

ant that works hard to gather in her harvest for the winter. The issue being

addressed in Proverbs 27:1-2 is not planning for the future but boasting

about our plans for the future. Planning for the future is one thing, boasting

of all the great things we are going to do is another. We do not know if we

will be alive or well tomorrow. We cannot assume that we have control of

our destiny. The Lord God alone is in control of our future. All our plans

must be held in submission to Him and His purposes. Only if God wills are

we able to accomplish our plans. We must recognize God in all our plans.

We must take His purposes and will into account when we look ahead into

the future. To boast about tomorrow and all the things we are going to do is

to take God's place. It is to assume that we are in control of our future.

The second thing these verses tell us is that we are not to praise ourselves.

We are to leave this to others. There are two principles we need to keep in

mind here. First, it is proper and acceptable to receive praise from other

people. Some of us have a hard time accepting praise. In reality these

people are trying to encourage and bless us by their words. They want us to

know that we have blessed them. To refuse their praise is to strip them of

the ability to bless, encourage and thank us for the way God has used us in

their lives. I have personally been guilty of downplaying the praise and

compliments of others. Sometimes I have actually believed that by

receiving these compliments I was being proud. The opposite is actually

true. By refusing the compliments and praise of others I am showing my

pride. In reality, I am saying that I don't need their affirmation and blessing.

It takes greater humility to graciously accept a compliment than it does to

push it away.

The second principle we need to see in verse 2 is that we are not to live our

lives seeking to please others. While we are often blessed by the praise and

thankfulness of others, we do not serve or live our lives seeking that praise.

Some people spend their time trying to lift themselves up in the eyes of

those around them. They do everything so that people will think well of

them. Sometimes they are so insecure that they have to draw attention to

themselves so people will notice them. Our security does not come from

people. We serve, not to be noticed by others, but because it is right and

godly. We serve to honour the Lord for what He has done and for who He

is. The person who is always looking for praise takes the glory from the

Lord. We should learn to accept with thanksgiving the praise of our brothers

and sisters but we should not live our lives seeking that praise.

Anger And Jealousy (Verses 3-4)

Imagine a person carrying a great load of stones or sand in his arms. This

burden is heavy and very difficult to bear for any length of time. As he

walks with this load his steps are slow and awkward. His muscles are tight

and his heart beats under the strain. He can only walk a certain distance

before he has to put this load down and rest. Imagine having to do this all

day. This would be a difficult job and one most people would not look

forward to doing.

While this load of stones or sand is difficult to bear, there is something

worse than this. Provoking a fool to anger was more difficult to bear than

this armful of heavy stones. Who can stand in the presence of an angry

fool? Who can tell what the fool will do in his anger? It is far better to be

weighted down with stones than to bear the anger of a fool in uncontrollable

anger.

While the anger of a fool can be cruel and his fury overwhelming, there is

something even greater than anger. Jealousy, according to verse 4, is worse

than anger and fury. Jealousy is the fuel for all kinds of evil. Jealousy will

provoke anger. Jealousy has been the source of terrible crimes in our day.

Murder, theft, deceit and slander have all sprung from the soil of jealousy.

Uncontrolled jealousy is very dangerous. Unchecked, there is no telling

where it will lead.

The Wounds Of A Friend (Verses 5-6)

There are times when friends have to be harsh with each other. Sometimes

even those who love each other clash. This may be because one person is

going in the wrong direction and needs to be corrected.

A true friend will not hesitate to correct when it is needed. This is because a

true friend cares. There are all kinds of people who say they love us but

wouldn't cross the street to minister to us in our time of need. Love by its

nature is practical. You can't say you love someone if you are not willing to

do something about it. I would much rather have a friend who corrected me

when I needed it, than a friend who just let me wander into error.

The reader is reminded that the wounds of a true friend could be trusted

more than an enemy's kisses. The true friend has our best interest at heart.

This is not the case for our enemy. The true friend will do all he can to care

for us in our need. Though they may have to hurt us, they will do so

because it is for our benefit. While we may not always enjoy the rebukes of

a true friend, we will benefit from them if we listen.

Hunger (Verse 7)

Those who have all they need do not always appreciate what they have.

Those who have nothing will appreciate anything they have. "He who is full

loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet" (verse 7).

This shows us the importance of moderation in our lives. If we hoard things

for ourselves we will find that we really do not enjoy them in the end. It is

better to live a simple life and enjoy what we have than to have so much we

get bored with it all. Better to give the excess we have to others so that both

we and they can enjoy what God has given.

Responsibility (Verse 8)

Verse 8 speaks of a man who strayed from his home. In the Old Testament

context, the man was the provider for his family. When a man wandered

from his home, he left his family behind without provision. Not only was

his family without provision but his own life was in danger because he did

not have the security of a home. Maybe the man needed a change. Maybe

he was not comfortable at home and wanted to do bigger and better things.

Leaving his home and ignoring his responsibilities was dangerous and

irresponsible. The writer of the proverb challenged the men of his day to

take their responsibilities seriously. He compared this man to a bird that

strayed from its nest, leaving its eggs or young ones vulnerable to the attack

of an enemy. God expects us as providers for our home to be responsible

and faithful. We are to do all we can to assure the safety and security of the

family God has given us.

Friends (Verses 9-10)

One of the best things about good friends is the fact that we can sit down

and talk to them knowing they will listen to us and give us good advice

when we need it. This, according to verse 9, was like perfume and incense

that brought great joy to the heart. Who among us has not been wonderfully

blessed by such friends? The pleasantness of a friend sprung from his or her

wise counsel.

Verse 10 challenges us to respect such friends. They were rare jewels to be

treasured. They can be trusted even above family members. A friend cares

sometimes more than our blood relatives. When disaster strikes sometimes

even a brother will refuse to stand with us. This is not the case for a friend.

A true friend will always be there.

Answering Those Who Treat Us With Contempt

(Verse 11)

While our children may choose to be disobedient and rebellious, generally

when we raise our children in the way of the Lord they will be governed by

the principles we taught them. Verse 11 tells us that when a son was wise he

would not only bring joy to the heart of the father but give the father

something to answer to those who treated him with contempt. In other

words, when the father’s enemies saw his wise children they would back off

in their harsh and critical comments. The way he raised his children would

speak loudly to his enemies about the character of the father. True character

is seen first at home.

The Prudent (Verse 12-13)

Some people seem to fall into danger or find themselves in difficult

situations. They don't seem to have wisdom or discernment. The wise

person will see danger and avoid it. God calls us to be wise in our decisions.

When we are not careful in our decisions we risk losing what God has

given. God calls us to take the necessary precautions in life. This may mean

seeking to provide for our future or not making unwise decisions in

business. It is true that God will sometimes lead us into situations that do

not make sense to us from our human perspective. In those cases, we need

to be obedient to the Lord and willing to risk everything. Unless the Lord

leads us otherwise, as good stewards of God's resources, it is good to avoid

dangerous or risky situations.

We have an example of this principle in verse 13. Here we are challenged to

take the garment of the person who put up security for a stranger or a

wayward woman. The stranger or the wayward women could not be trusted.

The person who trusted them was taking a big chance. Very likely these

individuals would not pay back their debt. The wayward woman was a

dishonest woman. She was unfaithful to her husband. The stranger was

someone who had not proven his character. If you deal with these people

you will need to demand a security from them in the event they were not

faithful to their promises. It would be foolish to risk everything by putting

confidence in people who have not proven they are worthy of trust. Asking

for a garment as a guarantee of payment assured that there would be some

kind of return on a loan or a promise.

The author challenges us to be wise in our dealings with others. We should

certainly be willing to give to those in need. We are challenged in the

Scripture to do all we can to minister to those in need. If we are not wise,

however, it would be all too easy to lose everything we have. When this

happens we will ourselves be in need and unable to minister to the needs of

even our own family.

Loud Blessings (Verse 14)

Too much of a good thing is not good. This is true with regards to our

possessions and our relationships. Solomon referred to this in Proverbs

25:16-17 when he said:

If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will

vomit. Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house— too much of

you, and he will hate you.

The principle of moderation also applies in verse 14 where the author said:

"If a man loudly blesses his neighbour early in the morning, it will be taken

as a curse." Imagine that you are resting in bed in the early morning and

your neighbour, in his eager excitement, comes to your door expressing

loudly how wonderful a day it is. How are you likely to respond to your

neighbour at that time? Will you not tell him to leave you alone? While

excitement and happiness are good, if not controlled, they can become an

annoyance to those around us. We need to learn the art of knowing how and

when to express our emotions.

A Quarrelsome Wife (Verse 15-16)

The quarrelsome person is one who seems to always find fault. Verses 15-

16 compare living with a quarrelsome wife to a constant dripping on a rainy

day. This constant dripping can become annoying. We just want it to stop.

This is what it is like living with a quarrelsome person who seems bent on

proving their point. You just want them to leave you alone and give you

some peace and quiet.

Getting a quarrelsome person to stop their quarrelling is like trying to

restrain the wind or picking up oil with one's hands. It is impossible. Who

can stop the wind or trap it in a box? Oil cannot be picked up with the

hands. Neither can a quarrelsome person be restrained. They are not happy

people. They are unreasonable and find fault with everything we say.

Iron Sharpening Iron (Verse 17)

We need each other if we are going to grow in maturity and wisdom. Those

who live in isolation from other people will not reach their full potential.

God has designed us in such a way that we need each other. He has not

given all His gifts to one person. He has not imparted all His wisdom to one

person. We all have had different experiences in life. We need to draw from

each other's gifts, experiences and wisdom if we are going to mature in our

walk with the Lord and become everything we need to become.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another," verse 17 says. My

interaction with other people will sharpen me. I will benefit from others and

learn from them. The wise person will recognize his or her need of other

people. Wise people will surround themselves with the gifts, resources and

wisdom of many people because they know that if they are to succeed, they

will need to learn how to work with others and learn from them. As

believers, we are to be humble enough to recognize our need of other

people in our lives. We would do well to have people we can talk to and

seek advice from in our time of need.

Looking After One’s Master (Verse 18)

If you tend a fig tree you will usually be able to eat its fruit. The person

who plants a garden expects to enjoy the harvest at the end of the season.

Verse 18 tells us that this same principle applies to relationships with those

in authority over us. The servant who looks after his or her master will be

honoured. If we serve well and respect those in authority over us they will

see our efforts and be pleased.

The servant can look after his or her master in many different ways. First,

they can serve them well. This will advance the cause of the master.

Second, they can respect their master by being honest and diligent in all

their dealings with him. Third, they can look after their master and his cause

by watching how they speak about him. In doing so, they honour his

reputation and do nothing to slander his name. The servant looks after his or

her master by being a good ambassador for his cause and his name.

As believers we are to be good servants of our God. We are to honour Him

and His character in all we do. If we honour our Master we will be

honoured ourselves. God is not blind to our efforts for the kingdom.

The Heart (Verse 19)

In 1 Samuel 16:7 we read:

"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his

appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD

does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the

outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.""

God is not fooled by outward appearance. He looks at the attitude of our

heart. The measure of a person is not in what they have on the outside but

what they have in their heart. While the outward actions and appearance is

not how we ought to judge a person, that person's heart will be reflected in

their actions and attitudes. Just as water or a mirror reflects a face, so a

person's heart will be reflected in their actions and attitudes.

We can see the true character of a person by what they do and how they

live. A person with a generous and compassionate heart will reach out in

selfless acts of compassion and kindness. A person with a greedy heart will

turn his back on those in need.

Greed And Lust (Verse 20)

"Death and Destruction are never satisfied" (verse 20). Death claims its

victims every minute. There has hardly ever been a time on this earth, since

the fall in the Garden of Eden, when destruction has not been taking place

somewhere on the earth. Death and destruction have an appetite that never

seems to be quenched.

In verse 20 we read that our eyes are like this. Humankind never seems to

stop lusting and craving for more. We see something and we lust after it.

Wars start by greed and lust for what the eyes have seen. Marriages have

been broken because the heart lusted for what the eyes saw. There is a

natural tendency in us to want what our eyes see. Our lust and greed seem

to be as hungry as death and destruction and equally as dangerous.

Man Tested By Praise (Verse 21)

Silver is melted in a crucible or melting pot to be refined. Gold is put in a

furnace to be melted and purified. The test of the purity of our heart is in the

praise we receive. Let’s consider this for a moment.

What happens when we are praised? Sometimes that praise can go to our

head and make us proud. Sometimes we can desire that praise so much that

we become motivated only by the praise we receive from others and not by

true and pure motives. Sometimes we push off the praise of others in a false

humility and refuse to let them minister to us or bless us. Sometimes we are

influenced by the flattering remarks of those who want to manipulate us

into doing what they want us to do. How we handle praise can reveal much

about us. If we are controlled and manipulated by the praises of others we

likely have insecurities within us that need to be dealt with. If we push off

praise and refuse to accept it we likely have to deal with issues of pride.

While the praises people offer us are not bad, what we do with it is very

important. The praises people give can control our actions or dominate us.

Like strong alcohol the praise we receive can quickly overcome us and

control our every action. It is important that we learn how to handle praise.

We must be able to receive the praise that others give. God often blesses us

through the encouragement and praise of others. It is important however,

that we not let the praises of others control us and our thoughts.

The Fool (Verse 22)

The author shows his frustration with foolishness in verse 22 by showing

his readers how it affects every part of an individual. Remember that

foolishness, in this context, has to do with a rejection of the truth of God. It

has to do with sin and rebellion against God and His wise ways.

If they were to grind the fools in a mortar with a pestle it would not remove

folly from them. The mortar and pestle are used for grinding spices or other

such foods. They do so by crushing the spices. Even if the fools were

ground up like spices, the foolishness would not leave them. Foolishness

was ingrained into every cell of their body and mind. It could not be

separated from them and who they were. This is how sin has affected us.

Sin has affected every cell of our bodies and cannot be separated from us

and who we are. How thankful we need to be that the Lord Jesus comes to

give us new life.

Give Careful Attention To Your Herd (Verse 23-

27)

Responsibility is a characteristic that we all need. In verse 23-27 we are

challenged to be wise stewards of the resources God has given.

"Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to

your herds," the reader is told in verse 24. The herd needed to be tended. If

the shepherd did not care for his flock and provide for it, he would likely

lose his source of income. They were his guarantee of meat and milk. In

verse 24, we are reminded that riches do not last forever. For this reason it

was important for God's people to take care of what He had given them.

In verse 25 we have a picture of a farmer who cut his hay and brought it

into the barns to feed his lambs. Those lambs, when well fed and cared for,

would provide wool for clothing to keep the farmer warm. His goats would

provide milk to feed the farmer's family and servants and money to pay for

his fields. By being responsible for his herds, the farmer was caring for his

own family. His family depended on the health of the herds for their well-

being. The challenge here is to care for what we have. In doing so, we will

be blessed.

For Consideration:

Why is boasting wrong? How does the one who boasts try to

take the place of God?

Why is jealousy dangerous? What sins flourish in the soil of

jealousy? Is it ever acceptable to be jealous?

Why are the wounds of a friend to be received with

thanksgiving? How are the wounds of a friend the test of true

friendship?

Moderation enables us to enjoy what we have. Too much of a

good thing strips away our desire for it. Do you agree with

these statements? Explain and give some examples.

What does this chapter teach you about your need for other

people? How have other people helped you to grow in your

spiritual walk?

How do you handle praise? How does praise test your

character?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to thank the Lord for how He has used other

people to sharpen and correct you.

Ask the Lord to help you to be responsible with what He has

given you. Thank Him for the way He has provided for you.

Ask Him to help you to be content with His provision and not

to be constantly lusting for something else.

Ask God to give you a pure heart. Ask Him to let the purity

of that heart be seen in your actions and attitudes. Ask Him to

show you any area of your heart that might need to be

changed.

This chapter shows us how foolishness is ingrained into every

part of our lives. Take a moment to thank the Lord that He

has given us a solution to this foolishness in the person of the

Lord Jesus and His Word.

30 - SAYINGS COPIED BY

HEZEKIAH'S MEN: PART 4

Read Proverbs 28:1-28

Boldness Of The Righteous (Verse 1)

here are many things that disturb the conscience of the wicked

person. Often those who have secretly hurt others live in fear that

one day these people will discover what they have done. The evil

person has many fears. The wicked man flees even though no one pursues

him. His fears get the best of him. Because he has many enemies, he is

always fearful. This is not the case for the righteous. They have a clear

conscience. They can walk with their head held high. They have nothing to

be ashamed about. They have been a blessing to many. They know that they

are in a right relationship with their God and their enemies. Solomon

describes them as being as bold as a lion. This boldness comes not only

because their conscience is clear, but because they have a good relationship

with their God. They know His strength and enabling. They walk with Him

and have nothing to fear. Even death does not cause them fear for they are

assured of their place at God's side.

Maintaining Order (Verse 2)

When a nation is governed by wisdom and understanding, order is

maintained and there is stability. The wisdom that is spoken of here refers

to the wisdom of God. When a nation is run on the basis of Biblical

principles it will prosper. This is not the case when the nation turns from

God and His ways. When a nation and its leaders live in rebellion against

God, it will be filled with discord and discontent. Because of this discontent

in the nation, rulers will be quickly replaced by other rulers. When a nation

turns its back on God and gives way to greed and immorality, its leaders

will suffer. Because the leaders are not leading the nation in righteousness

they will not be respected or honoured. Rulers will be overthrown and

replaced. There will be no stability or order in the nation that is not

governed by principles of wisdom and righteousness.

An Oppressive Ruler (Verse 3)

There is some confusion in verse 3 about the person being addressed. The

King James Version as well as the New Living Translation speaks of a poor

person oppressing others who were poor. The New International Version

speaks of a ruler who oppresses the poor but includes a footnote indicating

that the proper translation may be "a poor man."

If the reference is to a ruler who oppressed the poor, the interpretation is

quite clear. A ruler who oppressed the poor destroys his nation. Like a hard

rain uproots the crops so a ruler who oppressed his own people cannot

prosper. God would stand in defense of the poor against this ruler.

If the reference here is to a poor person oppressing one like him, the sin

seems to be even worse. The ruler, though without excuse, really does not

understand the condition of the poor. A poor person who oppresses one like

him does so understanding what he or she is doing. God often spoke to His

children about oppressing the foreigners in the land. He reminded them in

Deuteronomy 24:17-18 that they were to respect and offer justice to the

foreigner in their midst because they were themselves strangers and slaves

in Egypt:

Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the

cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves

in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there.

That is why I command you to do this.

It is one thing to do something out of ignorance and quite another to do so

with full understanding. God would certainly remove His blessing from

those who showed no compassion to the poor in their midst. By oppressing

the poor, God's people were placing their whole nation under the curse of

God.

Forsaking The Law (Verse 4)

By forsaking the law of God, we praise the wicked. In other words, we

encourage wickedness and the evildoer. By turning from the law of God the

believer was saying that he or she would prefer the ways of the wicked to

the ways of God. They were commending the wicked and rejecting God's

way. By keeping the law of God the believer resisted the wicked. They

chose God's way rather than the way of wickedness and evil. Someone once

said that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." In other words, when

we choose to do imitate someone's ways, we are showing them how much

we want to be like them. Imagine your child saying to you one day: "Dad,

when I grow up I want to be just like you." How would that make you feel

as a father? Would this not be a great compliment? In a similar way, when

we imitate evil people we praise them and their lifestyle.

Justice And The Evil (Verse 5)

"Evil men do not understand justice" (verse 5). Part of the reason for this is

that evil people have rejected the law of God. They have set up their own

standards which are very different from God and His ways. Maybe you

have spoken to individuals who have rejected the Word of God. These

individuals have no moral standard on which to base their lives. They don't

understand sin. Some of them don't understand what is wrong with pre-

marital sex, extra-marital sex or homosexuality. They don't see what is

wrong with a certain amount of dishonesty in business. They have no

authoritative guide for what is right or wrong. They don't see that they have

even sinned and offended a holy God. They don't understand why they

should be punished.

This is not the case for those who seek the Lord. These individuals follow

the Lord and His law. They look to God as their standard of morality and

right behavior. They understand the seriousness of grieving God.

Blamelessness (Verse 6)

Verse 6 tells us that it is better to live a blameless life than to have all this

world has to offer and live in disobedience to God. In saying this, the writer

shows us that he understood the seriousness of sin. He is telling his readers

that he would rather give up all his wealth and prosperity than live in sin

against a holy God.

This is a powerful testimony for us today. There is nothing that can be

compared to walking in fellowship with God. You can have all this world

has to offer but if you do not have fellowship with God, your life will be

empty. You may be the poorest person on the earth but if you have

fellowship with God you can know satisfaction and fulfillment.

Gluttony (Verse 7)

The word used for glutton here can refer to someone who lives a careless

and wasteful life. The glutton uses far more than is needed and wastes more

than he should. The reader is challenged not to be companions with these

careless and wasteful individuals. These individuals have no regard for the

Law of God or respect for what He had given.

The son who kept the Law of God and walked in His ways was wise and

brought honour to his parents. The wasteful and careless son, on the other

hand, brought shame not only to himself but to his whole family.

Exorbitant Interest (Verse 8)

God expects us to be compassionate and kind to those in need. He is also

concerned by how we run our businesses. Verse 8 warns us about seeking to

get rich off others by charging interest that was too high. While a modest

profit from our services is acceptable, the writer warns about charging too

much. As believers we are to be fair in our dealings with others. To seek to

get rich off the backs of others by unfairly charging them for services is not

only ungodly but those who do so will have to answer to God for their

actions.

Those who increased wealth by excessive interest would amass it for

someone who would be compassionate to the poor. In other words, God

would strip away the wealth of such a person and give it to someone who

would use it as He intended. Those who oppress others for their own

purposes should not expect the blessing of God.

Turning A Deaf Ear To The Law (Verse 9)

In verse 8 we saw how God would take away the blessing of those who

oppressed others to get rich. Here in verse 9, we read that those who turned

their back on God's law should not expect to have their prayers answered. If

we want to experience God's blessing, we need to live in a right relationship

with Him. We cannot live in rebellion against God and His ways and expect

His blessing.

Leading God's Children Astray (Verse 10)

In Matthew 18:6 the Lord Jesus told His disciples:

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me

to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung

around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

The Lord Jesus is a good shepherd who cares deeply for His sheep. His love

for them is very real. In Matthew 18 He condemns anyone who would

mislead any of His children. Their judgement would be severe if they

turned even one of His children from the path of righteousness.

Verse 10 says: “He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his

own trap.” The Lord God would judge the person who tried to tempt one of

His children to follow the path of evil. The false prophets of the day were

doing just that. Even in our day there are pastors and Christian leaders who

are doing the same. These individuals will have to answer to God for their

ways. It is not only leaders who are guilty of misleading God's people. It is

possible to mislead weaker brothers or sisters by our bad example or

counsel. How careful we need to be that we live lives that are examples of

godliness for all who see us. To mislead one of God's children is a serious

matter. God's judgement will fall on those who are guilty of such sin. Those

who live a blameless life, however, will know the blessing and approval of

God. Blameless, here, does not mean perfect. The person who lives a

blameless life is one who has come for forgiveness and cleansing.

Discernment (Verse 11)

Discernment and wisdom are not something money can buy. The poor man

can have wisdom as well as the rich. The rich may be able to afford a great

education but still not be wise. The wisdom spoken of here is a wisdom that

comes from God. A rich man may think he is wise but even a poor man

who is wise and discerning can see his foolishness. God's gifts do not

belong to the rich alone. God extends His blessing to all people regardless

of their position in society.

The Triumph Of The Righteous (Verse 12)

A nation governed by righteous principles is a nation that will be blessed.

God knows what is best and when we follow His ways we experience His

blessing on our society and personal lives. It is a happy day when

righteousness triumphs. On the other hand, when wicked people come to

power, there can only be darkness and corruption ahead for the nation. It is

a sad day when wicked people who care nothing for God, rise to power.

Concealing A Sin (Verse 13)

Sin in any form will weigh us down and keep us from experiencing the

blessing of God. If we want to prosper in our lives, we need to deal with the

one thing that keeps us from God and His blessing. We must see sin as the

number one enemy to blessing and spiritual wholeness in our lives. As long

as we are unwilling to deal with our sin and rebellion against God, we will

not experience God’s blessing in our lives. Only by confessing and

renouncing sin can that blessing and fellowship be restored.

Notice here that both confession and renouncing is necessary. There are

people who are willing to admit that they have sinned but these same people

are not always willing to renounce their sin. Not only do we have to confess

what we have done but we also have to turn from that sin. Confession is not

enough. Confession must be accompanied by renouncing and turning away

from our sin. Those who are willing to both confess and renounce their sin

will find that God is a God of mercy who will forgive their sin and restore

them to fellowship.

The Fear Of The Lord (Verse 14)

In verse 14, we are told that there was a blessing for all who feared the

Lord. To fear the Lord is to live a life that respects and honours His name.

This means that the person who feared the Lord turned from sin and

rebellion and sought to live in obedience and respect for God. This person

will know the wonderful blessing of God. The person, who hardened his

heart to God and His ways, however, would fall into trouble. They may not

see this immediately but they would not prosper. Their day of judgement

was coming.

A Wicked Ruler (Verses 15-16)

Leaders should have compassion on their people. They should do all they

can to help those in need. This is not the case for evil leaders. These leaders

think only of themselves and their own interests. They are not concerned

about those under them. In fact, they will take advantage of the defenseless.

Verse 15 compares them to a roaring lion or a charging bear. They devour

those who cannot defend themselves and profit from their fall.

These evil leaders lack judgment (verse 16). That is to say, they do not take

into account that the Lord God will call them to give an account of their

actions. They obtain their wealth by evil means. They oppressed and hurt

the helpless. The Lord will bring them to judgement. They will not profit

for long from ill-gotten gain. God will strip them in His time and they will

suffer His wrath. Those who understand that they will be judged will live

their lives accordingly.

Notice the promise of God in verse 16. The person who hates ill-gotten gain

will enjoy a long life. This is because the blessing of the Lord will be on his

or her life. God will bless and honour those who live in obedience to Him.

A Tormented Man (Verses 17-18)

Those who live in sin can never have peace. We have here the example of a

man who commits murder. This man would be tormented by the guilt of

what he did. He would be a fugitive until he died. This is especially true if

he was never discovered or accused of the crime. Our own hearts condemn

us when we sin. This shows us that we were created in the image of God.

We feel the guilt of sinful actions. In verse 17 the reader is told that they

were not to stand behind this kind of man. They were to have no part of his

deed. These individuals would suddenly fall (verse 17). They would be

judged even if they were never discovered and accused by a human court of

law. God knew their actions and would punish them.

Those whose walk was blameless would be kept safe. They could live in

peace and security knowing that they were in a right relationship with both

their brothers and sisters and their God. True peace and contentment can

only be found in obedience to the Lord God.

Hard Work (Verses 19-20)

We read here that the person who worked hard would have an abundance of

food but the person who chased after fantasies could only look forward to

poverty. The one who works hard with what they have will produce greater

benefits than he who chased after big ideas. There are many people who

have big ideas of what they want to accomplish in life. Sometimes they

waste their lives chasing those big ideas. The author calls his readers here to

be content with what they had. They were to work hard with what God had

given them and they would know His blessing.

These verses speak particularly to the person who is eager to get rich. The

author warned his readers in verse 20 that the person who was eager to get

rich would not go unpunished. Those who are eager to get rich are not

content with what they have. They want more and more. In their haste to

obtain more, they are willing to cheat, steal or resort to violence. God sees

what they are doing and will punish them for their evil.

What has God given you? He expects that we will be faithful with what He

has given. He can do great things through what He gives us. It may not

seem like we have much but if we work hard with what God has given, we

will be surprised to see what He can do. We don't need bigger or greater

gifts; we just need to learn how to wisely use what we already have.

Partiality (Verse 21)

God does not judge our value based on our personal income or the type of

house we live in. He does not look are our status in society. God treats us all

fairly. The rich and the poor are the same in His eyes. He expects us to look

at people in the same way. All are created equal in His eyes and should be

treated in this way. It is not good to judge people based on their status,

colour, background or riches.

Prejudice and partiality is a seedbed for all kinds of evil. Those who show

prejudice and partiality do wrong "for a piece of bread" (verse 21). In other

words, the person who does not value people of a certain race, culture or

status is easily influenced to sin against them. For "a piece of bread" this

person will speak evil of a certain race or person of low status in society. In

the history of the human race, all kinds of terrible deeds have been done by

those who have harboured prejudice in their hearts. For this reason, it is

important that we see partiality and prejudice as a sin against God. We must

deal with this sin immediately before it leads to further sin.

A Stingy Man (Verse 22)

Stingy people do not want to share what they have. They want to keep

everything for themselves. Verse 22 tells us that they are eager to get rich.

He warned the stingy person that poverty awaited them. Jesus told His

disciples in Luke 17:33: "Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and

whoever loses his life will preserve it." Later in John 12:24-25 He would

say:

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground

and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces

many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the

man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

The principle is quite simple. If you want a seed to grow in your garden you

have to surrender it to the ground. If you want to have riches in heaven you

will have to sacrifice them to the Lord here on this earth. Only by planting

can we experience a harvest. The stingy person is like the person who never

plants his seed. He keeps it on the shelf, afraid of losing it. He thinks that

because he has all these unplanted seeds he is rich. The problem is that you

can't eat the unplanted seeds. Only what we sacrifice here on this earth will

produce fruit both here and in heaven. The stingy man will perish but the

generous man will see a great harvest from what he has planted in the lives

of those around him.

The Flattering Tongue (Verse 23)

The flattering tongue is a tongue that carelessly spills out compliments and

praise. It does so, often with a hidden motive. It delights in being well-

received and respected. These people lavish praise on everyone around

them not because they really mean what they say but because they want

people to think highly of them. They also manipulate people by their

flattery. Their praise and complements are insincere.

Verse 23 tells us that it is better to receive a rebuke than insincere praise.

Even the rebuke of an enemy can bring correction and make us a better

person. The insincere praise of a flatterer may make us feel good for a

moment but accomplishes nothing of value in our lives.

Respect For Parents (Verse 24)

Verse 24 speaks about a person who robbed his father or mother. The

context of the verse is unclear. What is clear, however, is at times it is quite

possible for us to disrespect those who are closest to us. We say things to

people who are closest to us that we would never say to strangers. It is

easier to show disrespect to those closest to us. The author challenged his

readers to show respect to their parents. Maybe he is thinking of a child

taking advantage of his or her parent’s generosity. Maybe he is thinking of a

child who does not honour his parents by caring for them in their time of

need. While the context is not clear, the principle is clear. If a child is

willing to take advantage of his or her parents and shows no compassion,

that child is like a person who destroys. That is to say, they are like those

who destroy the property of another without any signs of regret. If they

cannot be trusted to deal respectfully with their parents, they cannot be

trusted in other areas of life. If they take advantage of their parents, they

will do this in life in general. Their attitude is dishonest and ungodly. These

people break down the moral fabric of society. They are cheaters, swindlers

and liars who have no compassion or respect.

A Greedy Man (Verse 25)

A greedy man is one who wants all he can get for himself. He will do

anything he can to accumulate what he does not need. His lust for

possessions is such that he will step on people to get what he wants. In his

pursuit of more, he leaves behind a trail of dissension, bitterness and hurt.

On the other hand, there is a person who accepts the purposes of the Lord

and trusts in Him. This person will prosper because the Lord will bless what

He gives them. Greedy people do not trust the Lord’s provision. They take

matters into their own hands. They take what God does not want them to

have. They cannot expect blessing in this. Instead of pursuing more, we

need to learn to appreciate what the Lord has already given. What God has

chosen to give will be blessed if we learn to use and appreciate it.

Trusting In Oneself (Verse 26)

The person who trusts in himself is a fool. We have already seen an

example of this in verse 25 where the author spoke about greedy people.

These people do not trust in God and His provision but choose to take

matters into their own hands. God would not bless what He did not give.

They who took what was not theirs were fools.

There are other ways we can trust in ourselves. We can do this by not

walking in the wisdom of God. Those who do not walk in God's wisdom

believe they know better than God. They do not wait for His leading or

walk in obedience to His Word. Instead, they take matters into their own

hands. Solomon calls these people fools. They do not see what God sees.

They turn their backs on the infinite wisdom of God and chose to trust in

the limited understanding of human beings.

Those who rejected human wisdom and strength would be kept safe. There

is no security in human wisdom and understanding. People have all kinds of

ideas but God alone knows the truth. I have spoken to people who felt they

knew what life was all about. They rejected the teaching of the Word of

God for their own personal ideas. They felt that because they lived a good

life they would go to heaven. Some didn't even believe in God. They trusted

their future into the hands of some human philosophy or religion. How

foolish this is. God alone knows the truth. He is the source of truth. It is not

what we think that counts but what God determines.

Giving To The Poor (Verse 27)

There is a blessing promised for those who open their hearts to the poor and

needy. We cannot expect a harvest unless we plant our seed. God is telling

us that if we will give to the needy we will reap a harvest. God will care for

those who use what He gives as He intended. Someone once said that "God

will get His resources to us if he can get them through us to others." In

other words, if you are willing to be a channel of God's blessings to others,

God will channel His blessing through you to them. This is the heart of

God. He wants to minister to those in need. He has chosen to use you and

me for this purpose. If we are faithful, He will use us. Those, on the other

hand, who keep what God has given for themselves will find that their

blessings will quickly become a curse.

The Wicked (Verse 28)

We conclude this section with a repetition of verse 12. Wickedness will

only be a curse to a nation. A nation cannot prosper when wicked people,

who reject God's wisdom, are in power. That nation will be under the curse

of God for disobedience. Its citizens will suffer when wicked people are in

power. They will go into hiding because they fear the terror of their wicked

leaders who are not concerned for them and their needs. These wicked

leaders will strip those under them of everything they have to profit

themselves. They hate the righteous because they remind them of their sin

and evil. When the wicked perish, however, the righteous thrive. While

God's blessing is removed from a nation filled with wicked people, it falls

powerfully on those who honour Him and live in His wisdom.

For Consideration:

Can the wicked truly have peace? How is righteousness a

guarantee of true peace and contentment in life?

How does God's wisdom create order in a society? What

happens when we reject this wisdom? What is the result in

our communities?

How does following the way of wicked men praise them and

their evil (see verse 4)?

What is the effect of righteousness on a nation?

What happens when we conceal a sin? What is the difference

between confessing a sin and renouncing a sin?

We don't really need bigger and better gifts; we need to learn

to use the gifts we already have. Do you agree with this

statement? What gifts do you have already? How can you

better use them for God’s glory?

What is the connection between sacrifice and an abundant

harvest? What lesson is there in this for us?

What does Solomon teach us about partiality and prejudice?

Why is this a seed bed for sin? Do you have any particular

prejudices?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He has given us His Word to be our

guide into truth and practice in life. Ask God to help you to

live more faithfully.

Ask God to search your heart for any hidden sin. Take a

moment to confess and renounce that sin.

Ask God to help you to be a positive example for those

around you so that no one is led astray by your example.

Ask God to help you to learn to be content with what He has

given you. Ask Him to help you to use what He has given

you to the maximum.

Ask the Lord to search your heart for any prejudice or

partiality.

Ask the Lord to show you how you can sacrifice more to

Him. Ask Him to use what you have sacrificed to Him to

produce abundant fruit in the lives of those around you.

31 - SAYINGS COPIED BY

HEZEKIAH'S MEN:PART 5

Read Proverbs 29:1-27

The Stiff-Necked Man (Verse 1)

epeatedly in the book of Proverbs we see an emphasis on the

importance of listening to correction and rebuke. Here in verse 1

the man who would not listen to rebuke is compared to a person

with a stiff neck. A person with a stiff neck cannot look to the left or the

right. Their face points in one direction and it will not move. In other

words, their mind is made up. They will not change direction or listen to

what anyone says to them.

Verse 1 tells us that those who refuse to listen to rebuke will be suddenly

destroyed without remedy. Rebukes are never easy to take. Sometimes these

rebukes come from our enemies. The believer will learn to listen to n the

rebuke of his enemy so that through those rebukes he or she can grow.

When The Righteous Thrive (Verse 2)

Righteousness is the soil in which a nation will prosper. The God who

created us knows best how we are to live. The teachings of the Bible are

proven methods by which any nation can prosper. The blessing of God is on

the nation that honours Him. When God's Word and the principles of

righteousness are ignored in a nation the people groan. Ignore righteousness

and everyone around you will suffer. Wickedness will destroy a nation.

The Companion Of Prostitutes (Verse 3)

Wisdom follows the way of righteousness. The wise person is one who

fears the Lord and walks in His ways. This person will bring joy to his or

her father. There is no greater delight for a father or mother than to see their

children walk in the way of truth.

Those who walk in the way of true wisdom bring joy to those around them.

Solomon contrasts the son who walks in wisdom with the son who delights

in the companionship of prostitutes. This person ignores the path of

righteousness. He demonstrates that he has turned from the path of godly

wisdom. He wastes his wealth on worldly pleasures. This person will have

nothing in the end. Though for a moment he satisfies his fleshly desires, all

this will come to an end and he will see how he has wasted his life.

Justice (Verse 4)

Imagine a country where there is no justice. Imagine that all the judges

could be bribed. What would be the result? Would this not create terrible

instability in the nation? The guilty would be free to roam the streets.

People would be afraid to go out of their house. The poor would be falsely

accused and the rich could buy the favour of judges. Discontent and

frustration would fill the land. How different it would be, however, if on the

other hand, each citizen was assured of justice. The guilty would be

punished for their crimes and the innocent could live in peace and security.

Solomon told his readers that justice created stability for a nation.

Flattery (Verse 5)

In verse 5 the person who flattered his neighbour is compared to a hunter

who spread out a net. The flatterer is quick to compliment and praise. He

does not do this because he means what he says but to gain a following or

to get something from the person he flatters. It is for this reason that he is

compared to a hunter looking for prey. Like the hunter, the flatterer seeks to

attract his prey by telling them what they want to hear. When he has gained

their confidence, he pulls his net over them.

Flattery is not from God. Flattery is insincere praise offered with deceptive

intent. As believers, we need to encourage and build up each other. We

should not be afraid to praise or complement each other but we must be

sure that what we say comes from the heart without selfish intent.

The Righteous Man (Verses 6-7)

In verses 6-7 the righteous person is compared with evil people. In verse 6,

the righteous person could sing and be glad. Righteous people have a clear

conscience. They live each day knowing that they are right with God and

their brothers and sisters. This is not the case for the evil person. This

person is snared by their own sin. Their sin is a heavy burden about their

neck. It weighs them down. They are not free like the righteous person. The

fruit of righteous living is freedom and joy.

The righteous person is driven by compassion and justice. This is the heart

of God and the righteous person shares God's heart of compassion and

justice. The righteousness of the righteous causes them to reach out to the

poor and needy. They willingly sacrifice themselves for those in need. This

is not the heart of the wicked. The wicked do not think of others. Their

concern is for their own interests. They do not have concern for the poor

and needy.

Mockers (Verse 8)

A mocker stirs up a city, we are told in verse 8. The mocker is one who

resists or disrespects authority. In this case, he may resist or disrespect the

authority of the leaders of his community. Mockers do not feel they need to

be submissive to the wisdom of God. They are rebels by nature. They speak

evil of those in authority and do not feel compelled to follow the laws of the

land. These individuals stir up a city. Their voice of protest can be heard.

They seek to gain a following of people who will stand with them against

the authorities of the land. These are angry and discontented people.

The wise person will not fall into the trap of the mocker. Wise people turn

from the anger of the mocker. Instead, they respect the authority that God

has placed over them. In doing so, they honour God and bring greater

harmony to their community.

Going To Court With A Fool (Verse 9)

In verse 9 the author tells us that it is a waste of time to go to court with a

fool. The fool would only rage and scoff, there would not be any peaceful

settlement of their dispute. The fool, because he resists the wisdom of God,

is not governed by God's values. Fools justify their actions whether they are

right or wrong. They mock those who are guided by righteousness. They

will not easily recognize the error of their ways. Instead, they get angry and

scoff at any decision that does not please them. Going to court to settle a

dispute with a fool almost never produces a peaceful settlement, for the fool

will not be happy unless he got what he wanted.

Bloodthirsty Men (Verse 10)

Bloodthirsty men are those who will not hesitate to take the life of anyone

who stands in the way of their plans. These people have no respect for the

life of their brother or sister. Bloodthirsty men hate people of integrity and

righteousness. This is because the righteous stand against them and their

ways. Motivated by Satan, these individuals lash out against those who

stand for righteousness and integrity.

Self- Control (Verse 11)

Self-control is a fruit of God's Spirit. There are two elements to self-control.

The first is discernment. The person who has self-control is one who has the

ability to discern when and where to use his or her gifts. The discerning

person knows when to speak and when to be silent. Self-control requires

discernment. Discernment in itself is not enough. Self-control also requires

discipline. We can be discerning enough to know whether or not we should

speak or act, but if we do not have discipline, our discernment is of no use.

Discipline is the ability to control our words or actions. The disciplined

person is able to hold his or her tongue when discernment tells them it is

required. The self-controlled person is both discerning and disciplined. This

person acts or speaks only when it is right.

This is not the case for a fool. The fool is not in control of his words and

actions. The fool gives full vent to his anger (verse 11). Fools lack the

discernment to know when to speak or not to speak. They express what they

feel with no restraint or concern for the result.

The Ruler Who Listens To The Wicked (Verse 12)

Leaders have a very powerful influence on those who are under them. We

are told in verse 12 that “if a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become

wicked." Leaders have a tremendous responsibility on their shoulders. I

have seen churches rise and fall because of leaders. Leaders can influence

their followers for good or for evil. Sometimes all that stands between evil

and God's people is a strong leader. A leader is like a shepherd protecting

his sheep from the wolves. Leaders need to be men and women of integrity.

They need to stand firm against the sinful ways of the world. If the leader is

weak, his or her people will also be weak. If God has called you to be a

leader, you need to be a godly example of integrity and righteousness.

The Poor Man And The Oppressor (Verse 13)

Both the poor and those who oppress them have one thing in common. God

has given them both the sight of their eyes. In other words, God created

both the poor and those who oppress them. They are made, as it were, from

the same cloth. The One, who gives sight to all, sees everything that

happens. He is aware of the oppression of the poor. The day is coming

when God will judge the oppressor for his actions.

Fair Judgment (Verse 14)

We saw in verse 4 that justice gives a nation stability. Justice also assures

the reign of a king. The king whose reign is based on injustice cannot

expect to stay on his throne. Those who have been unfairly treated will rise

up against him and overthrow him. The blessing of God will also be

stripped from him. God will not bless the throne that is built on injustice. In

the history of Israel, God overthrew kings who refused to rule justly in the

nation.

The Rod Of Correction (Verse 15)

The Bible teaches that we are sinners by nature. If left to ourselves, we will

lean toward sin. Personally, I ask myself from time to time, where I would

be if I allowed my sinful flesh free reign? If I did not exercise self-control

and discipline, what would I find myself doing? Children naturally know

how to lie, steal and hit. We need to teach them how to do good. If we are to

steer a child toward the right path we will need to correct them. We do this

to help the child. We do this so that they will not continue on the path that

comes naturally to their sinful flesh. We know that if the child is to become

all that God intends him or her to become, they will need to learn how to

die to the flesh and its desires. Children left to themselves will quickly fall

into sin and evil. These children will bring dishonour to their parents.

If we are to become everything God wants us to become, we need His

discipline and correction in our lives. God will discipline those He loves.

Consider what the writer to the Hebrews says in Hebrews 12:5-6:

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that

addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's

discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because

the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone

He accepts as a son."

Believers must learn to appreciate the discipline of the Lord because they

know that God is working in them to produce maturity and righteousness.

The pull of sin and evil in our fleshly nature is so strong that sometimes

only strong discipline will keep us from falling prey to its temptations.

The Downfall Of The Wicked (Verse 16)

If we do not discipline our children when they are young, they will fall prey

to sin and wickedness. This in turn will have a great impact our society. We

read in verse 16 that when wicked people thrive so does sin. Wicked people

feed on sin. Sin is their motivation and pleasure. The thing about sin,

however, is that it will also destroy those who love it. Satan offered Eve

great possessions and pleasure if she would eat from the forbidden tree in

the Garden. The fruit of that tree, however, brought death. The fruit of sin is

death. No society can prosper when the wicked thrive.

Discipline (Verse 17)

Because sin is so deadly and destructive, we need to do all we can to steer

our children away from it. This will require discipline and strong

consequences for sinful actions. Discipline, however, will bring rich

blessing. The child who learns wisdom through discipline will be a blessing

to his or her parents.

Godliness does not come naturally. We need to be corrected. The Spirit of

God will correct and convict. He will discipline when it is necessary to steer

us onto the right path. The wise person will allow God to refine him

through discipline.

Revelation (Verse 18)

One of the most important tools for correction is the Word of God. The

Word of God is our guide and authority in truth and behavior. We read in

verse 18 that where there was no revelation people "cast off restraint." In

other words, when there is no guideline or authority, people do what they

want. This is the reason for the laws of our land. Imagine what things would

be like in your society if there was no law against stealing or murder. Would

there not be chaos in that society?

The revelation that the writer speaks about here is the revelation that the

prophets received from God. It was the revelation that Moses received on

Mount Sinai that gave Israel God’s laws. This is clear from the context of

the verse when the writer told his people that those who kept the law

(revelation of God) were blessed.

The law of God was not meant to limit or restrict. It was meant to be a

guideline for living the best possible life. Without this law, sin and evil

reigned. Without the law of God, there was no concept of what was right or

wrong. God knew what was best for His people. His law was intended to

guide them into truth, righteousness and blessing. Where the law of God is

cast aside, there is chaos, confusion and wickedness.

Correcting A Servant (Verse 19)

There are times when mere words are not enough. Our tendency to sin is so

strong at times that unless we have a compelling reason not to sin, we will

quickly fall prey to its temptation. A servant who is merely corrected by

words will not likely change his behaviour. If the punishment for

disobedience is not greater than the pleasure disobedience brings, the

servant will chose to disobey every time. This is the nature of the sinful

flesh.

When it comes to sin, there are times when we need to be very harsh. Satan

knows the temptation of sin for the flesh. He will dress up sin and make it

look very attractive. He will offer us pleasures and riches if we will

surrender to its temptations. Without the Word of God to guide us we would

quickly fall prey to these temptations. We would all do well to consider the

serious consequences of sin when we are tempted by the flesh and the devil.

Sin will strip us of fellowship and blessing. An understanding of the

consequences of sin ought to help us to turn from it.

Speaking In Haste (Verse 20)

How many of us have been guilty of speaking whatever comes to our mind

without first thinking about the consequences of those words? Verse 20

reminds us that we are to be slow to speak. The person who speaks without

thinking will cause many problems. Words have tremendous power for

good and evil. Careless words cause great harm. A discouraging word

spoken to a young child can go with him throughout his or her life. Maybe

you have counseled an adult who never got over the insults spoken when

they were a child. There are people who have never reached their potential

because they were discouraged by someone who was not careful with

words.

Careless words cause arguments. Careless words start wars. Careless words

destroy potential. Only a fool will speak words without thinking. When we

understand the power of words, we will be careful to use them wisely.

Pampering A Servant (Verse 21)

Is it possible to be too nice to someone? Even our acts of compassion and

kindness need to be tempered and balanced. Verse 21 gives us an example

of this: "If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief in the

end." Imagine a master who never disciplined his servant. Instead of

requiring that he worked, he let him live a life of ease. What would be the

result? The result would be a lazy servant who lived an undisciplined and

unproductive life. The master's work would suffer in the end. We need

wisdom in showing compassion and kindness. Too much of a good thing

can be bad.

An Angry Man (Verse 22)

An angry or hot-tempered person is one who stirs up dissension. In other

words, a person who gets angry easily will cause many problems. My anger

fuels anger and bitterness in other people.

There is something else about anger. Anger seeks release. Angry people,

who act on their anger, commit many sins. Their anger will cause them to

say hurtful things. Their anger will cause them to lash out physically in

violent acts. Anger, when it is conceived, will give birth to sin. For this

reason, it is important that we deal with anger immediately.

Pride (Verse 23)

In Proverbs 16:18 the writer tells his readers that "pride goes before

destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." In other words, people who think

too highly of themselves are setting themselves up for a fall. God will

humble them or expose them for who they really are. The proud do not see

their need of God. They turn their back on God and on others. This will

only lead to defeat. On the other hand, the humble person seeks God and

His strength. These people are not afraid to listen to others and take advice.

They will prosper. God honours those who seek Him and His face. While

God resists those who are proud and arrogant, He will bless those who

humbly come to Him and surrender to His purpose.

The Accomplice Of A Thief (Verse 24)

Partnering with someone in their crime is a serious matter. Those who

partner with someone in crime are also guilty of that crime. By agreeing to

protect a guilty person or by refusing to testify against them we become a

partner in crime. Sometimes a person fears the consequences of speaking

out against the criminal. Maybe they fear for their lives if they were to

testify against the criminal. By partnering with a criminal or by protecting

that criminal we become his accomplice and make ourselves guilty before

God.

Fear Of Man (Verse 25)

The fear of man will prove to be a snare. What a burden it is to live one’s

life always afraid of what others think. Every action and deed is weighed by

what others will think. We can never please people. What pleases one

person will not please another. Those who live their lives always trying to

please others will find that this becomes a burden too heavy for them to

bear. They will be greatly hindered in life.

Instead of living life to please people, we need to learn how to live in the

fear of God. Only when we live our lives in accordance with God's

principles can we find true freedom. God will keep those who trust Him. He

will honour those who cast off their fear of people to live in obedience to

His word. The Pharisees of the New Testament were governed by what

others thought about them. Often they were hindered in their decisions

because they were afraid of people (Matthew 21:26, 46; Luke 20:19). The

apostles, on the other hand, were freed from this fear. They served the Lord

unconcerned about the reactions of those around them.

Justice Is From The Lord (Verse 26)

Human leaders will not always give us the justice we need. We have seen

countless instances of injustice in our land. The innocent are condemned.

The guilty are set free. Judges can be bribed and deceived. What a comfort

it is to know that the Lord God is not deceived or bribed. He is a God of

absolute justice and integrity.

The Righteous And The Wicked (Verse 27)

Righteous people hate dishonesty. They love the truth and live in truth.

Their words can be trusted and they will not stoop to deceit. Verse 27

reminds readers that if they were righteous and honest, they would not

always be appreciated. The wicked person depends on dishonesty and

deceit to cover his evil ways. Satan is a liar. He holds his followers by his

lies. He deceives and tricks them. God, on the other hand, is a God of

absolute truth. His truth can set Satan's followers free. Satan will do his

utmost to keep his followers from accepting or hearing the truth. He hates

the truth. It should not surprise us that that those who preach the truth will

sometimes be despised in this world.

For Consideration:

How deeply rooted are the desires of the flesh? Why is strong

correction sometimes the only way to keep us on the path of

truth?

How is righteousness good for a nation? What would change

in your society if it were governed by principles of

righteousness?

How does justice create stability for a society?

How do discernment and discipline work together to produce

self-control in our lives?

Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? What is the

result of too much kindness or compassion? Why is it

important to find a balance?

What is the fruit of anger? What is the result if it is released

in an unhindered way?

For Prayer:

Ask God to help you to accept His correction and the

correction of your fellow human being.

Are there any areas of your life when you need more self-

control? Ask God to give you this self-control in that area of

your life.

Thank the Lord that He has given us a guide in His Word to

what is right.

Ask God to set you free from the fear of what people think.

Ask Him to give you a heart to follow His Word no matter

what people think.

32 - THE SAYINGS OF

AGUR

Read Proverbs 30:1-33

e have here in this section of the book of Proverbs the sayings

of a man by the name of Agur. This is the only reference to

this particular man in Scripture. He is the son of Jakeh of

whom we know nothing. Verse 1 tells us that Agur spoke these wise sayings

to two men in particular, Ithiel and Ucal. Again, we know nothing about

these men and, apart from this verse, they are never mentioned again in the

Bible. Though this man is unknown, it is important that we notice that his

sayings are described as being an oracle (verse 1). This is significant. An

oracle was a revelation from God. What the author is saying is that the

words we have here from Agur are revelations from God. They were as

important as the sayings of Solomon because they were God-inspired.

Notice what Agur felt about himself. In verse 2 he describes himself as an

ignorant man. He did not consider himself to be a man of great

understanding. Notice also in verse 3 that he did not claim to have great

wisdom or have the knowledge of the Holy One. When Agur said that he

was an ignorant man and he had not learned wisdom nor have knowledge of

the Holy One, he is telling his readers that he was never educated in the

ways of the Lord God. He was a very simple man. He had not gone to

school to learn wisdom or prophecy. He was not always clear in his

understanding of God. What he shares, however, was a clear revelation

from God. What he spoke carried all the weight and authority of those who

had learned wisdom and theology. God will use whomever He desires. He

can use the simple as well as the educated. What is important is that we be

open and ready to be used.

While Agur described himself as an ignorant and simple man, he also

realized that even the best educated were unable to understand the ways of

the Lord God. "Who has gone up to heaven and come down?" he asked in

verse 4. In other words, who among human beings has firsthand knowledge

of God and His purpose? Who among us has sat down with God and

discussed His plans and purposes for the universe?

The God Agur served was a God who was beyond human understanding.

He was a God who gathered the wind in the hollow of His hands. He

wrapped the waters of the earth in His cloak. He established the limits of

the earth. This was an awesome God whose ways could not be grasped.

Notice in verse 4 that Agur challenges his people to tell him the name of

God and His son. Israel had various names for God. Agur is not asking for a

name because he wanted to know what Israel called their God. If we really

know a person we will know something about their family and the names of

their children. What Agur is saying is something like this: Who knows God

on a first name basis? Who among us is familiar enough with God to know

about His son? For Agur, no one on earth really knew God in this way. God

was an awesome God whose ways and purposes were far greater than

anything we could ever grasp with our frail human minds.

One thing Agur did understand about God was that He was perfect and that

every word He spoke was flawless. He was a God who could not lie. As

human beings we can place our full confidence in God and His plans. What

He says will come to pass. Those who rely on Him and His words will

never be disappointed. He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. His

purposes will stand against every attack of the enemy. In His word and

promise we can be secure and confident.

In verse 6 Agur challenged his readers not to add to God's words lest they

be rebuked and proven to be liars. There are several ways we can add to the

word of God. We can add to the word of God by misinterpreting it. Some

people use Scripture to prove a particular theology or practice. Sometimes

they twist the Scriptures to prove their point. Cults and sects of our day are

guilty of this. By misinterpreting the Scripture they are saying that God said

something He never said.

We can also add to the word of God by adding requirements that God did

not add. The Pharisees were guilty of this in the New Testament. In order

not to break the Law of God they added laws of their own. They would, for

example stipulate how far a person could travel on a Sabbath so that they

would not be guilty of breaking the law of the Sabbath. In Colossians 2:20-

23 the apostle Paul spoke to this issue when he said:

"Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world,

why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its

rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are

all destined to perish with use, because they are based on

human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have

an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship,

their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but

they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence"

(emphasis mine).

The Colossians added their human commands and teachings to the

requirements of God. Paul told them that while these rules had an

appearance of wisdom they lacked any value. The word of God is perfect.

We cannot add anything to it. Agur warns those who add to the word of

God that they would be exposed as being liars.

Two Things I Ask (Verses 7-9)

In verses 7-9 Agur has two things to ask of God before he died. The first

was that God would keep falsehood and lies from him. Obviously, this

follows along with his teaching in verses 5 and 6 regarding those who

added to the Word of God. Agur is asking God that for the ability to live

and teach the truth of the Word of God. He wants both his life and his

teaching to reflect this truth in every way.

The second thing Agur asked was that God would neither give him poverty

or riches but only what he needed each day. He explained his reason for this

in verse 9. Here he told his readers that if he had too much he would be

tempted to disown God. In other words, his confidence and trust would no

longer be in God but in his wealth and possessions. Wealth can take our

attention from God. Those who have money and possessions can easily be

tempted to forget their need. Agur did not want this to happen.

On the other hand, Agur did not want to be poor. The reason for this was

because, in his poverty, he might be tempted to steal to provide for his

needs. If he did this, he would dishonour the name of the Lord God.

Agur prayed that God would give him his daily bread. He did not want so

much that he would be tempted to trust in his wealth. He didn't want too

little lest he be tempted to dishonour God by stealing. Instead, he wanted

just enough to provide for his needs. He wanted to live a life of trust and

confidence in God each day. This is an important balance for each of us to

find.

Slander (Verse 10)

In verse 10 Agur warned against slandering a servant to his master. While

servants did not have a high position in society, they were still to be

respected. Slander, by nature, is accusing and critical. The slanderer's desire

is to make someone look bad. Sometimes slanderers bend the truth to get

their point across. The Lord God, however, loves His children. He sees

injustice. He hates dishonesty. The Lord watched out for the servant who

was being slandered. The slanderer would answer to God for his words.

Evil People (Verses 11-14)

As Agur looked around him, he saw those who cursed their fathers and did

not bless their mothers (verse 11). This was a serious offense in the eyes of

God. There were also proud and arrogant people who were pure and

innocent in their own eyes but were a filthy people filled with sin (verse

12). They refused to accept their guilt. These proud individuals looked

down on others and their practices but did not see their own evil (verse 13).

They oppressed the poor and needy. Their teeth are compared to swords and

their jaws like sets of knives. Like a wild animal they devoured the lowly.

Four Things That Are Never Satisfied (Verses 15-

16)

As a child I remember swimming in a river one summer. When I came out

of the river I noticed a leech on my leg. The leech had attached itself to my

leg and began to fill itself with blood. These little creatures are very hard to

remove once they attach themselves.

Sometimes people can be like this. They can become so selfish and greedy

that nothing will distract them from getting what they want. The leech,

according to Agur had two daughters. They cried out: "Give! Give!" and yet

never seem to be satisfied.

Agur told his readers that there were four things that never said "enough."

The first was the grave. From the time sin entered the world until now the

grave continues to swallow up victims. The second was the barren womb of

a woman that longed to have a child. The third was land that soaked up all

the water it could get. The fourth was fire that ate everything in its sight

without ever getting full. Greed and discontentment are like these four

things that are never satisfied. They will ultimately devour all who are

consumed by them.

Mocking Parents (Verse 17)

Agur has some strong things to say in verse 17 about those who mock their

father or who disobey their mother by acting deceitfully. These individuals

were under a curse. Their eyes would be pecked out by the ravens of the

valley and they would be eaten by vultures. What he is saying is that those

who mock their parents will be held accountable to God. They will be

judged severely and know the full force of His wrath. It is quite clear from

this how important it is to honour one’s parents.

Four Things Too Amazing (Verses 18-19)

There were four things too amazing for Agur to understand in life. The first

was the way of the eagle in the sky. How did this eagle glide so gracefully

in the sky and how did it see its prey from such lofty heights? The second

was the way of a snake on a rock. The snake suddenly appeared and

vanished just as quickly. There was a certain mystery about the snake and

its ways as it slithered silently from one place to another seeking its prey.

The third thing too amazing to understand was the way of the ship on the

high seas. This ship was battered and tossed by the winds and the waves but

continued its course. The sailors of Agur's day took great risks to seek out

their treasure. They endured great hardships to bring back their ship loaded

with goods. They risked their lives for the treasures they sought. The fourth

thing too difficult for Agur to understand was the way of a man with a

maiden. What would a man not do for the love of a woman?

Agur reflects on some of life's basic mysteries. He began this chapter by

asking his readers if they knew God and His ways. He develops this theme

in these verses. Do we understand what makes the eagle soar in the air,

defying gravity? Do we understand the mind of the serpent slithering across

the rock? Can we understand what motivates men and women to endure

great hardships and put their lives at risk to obtain a treasure they can only

enjoy for a time? Can we understand the natural attraction of a man and

woman for each other? If these things are too big for us to understand, how

can we possibly understand the mind of God?

The Way Of The Adulteress (Verse 20)

Agur reminded his readers in verse 20 of the way of an adulteress. “She eats

and wipes her mouth and says, 'I've done nothing wrong.” She refuses to

admit her guilt. All sense of guilt over sin is destroyed. She is no longer

guided by the principles of the Word of God. She lifts herself above God

and sets up her own standards. She is rebellious and proud. Agur warns his

readers about the adulteress so that they will avoid her and her evil ways.

Four Things the Earth Cannot Bear (verses 21-23)

Agur describes four things in verse 21-23 that the earth cannot bear. The

first is a servant who becomes a king. This is not so say that there are not

servants who become good kings. Agur speaks here about a servant who

does not have experience. He speaks about the servant who has not proven

to have the character of a king. What happens when a person is put into a

position they are not ready to handle? They will only cause confusion and

chaos for all who are under their authority.

The second thing the earth cannot endure is a fool who is full of food. The

fool who is full of food is one who has become rich. It takes great wisdom

to handle wealth. The fool does not have this wisdom. As a result, he wastes

his resources and does not put them to the use for which they were

intended. When fools are governing the resources of this world there will be

great chaos and waste. People will suffer because the resources are being

misused.

The third thing that this earth cannot support is an unloved woman who is

married. This is a tremendous burden to bear. A married woman is one

whose desire is to be faithful to her husband. She has bound herself to this

husband for life. Her desire is to please and honour him but if he does not

love her, her pain is very great. She lives side by side with someone who

does not love her. She shares her daily experience with someone who makes

her life miserable. This according to Agur is something the earth cannot

support.

The fourth thing this earth cannot support is a maidservant who displaces

her mistress. This may be for various reasons. There may be a connection

here between what Agur says about an unloved wife. Could it be that the

husband, in this case, has shifted his love and attention to the maidservant,

rejecting his wife? In this case the maidservant displaces her mistress and

takes her place in her husband's heart. The wife, no longer loved, is now

cast aside. This according to Agur made the earth tremble.

Four Things That Are Small But Wise (Verses 24-

28)

In verse 24-28 Agur describes four things that are small but very wise. The

first is the ant who works hard to store up food for the winter. The ant is an

example, of how, through hard work and perseverance, a person can

accomplish great things.

The second small thing with wisdom was the coney or badger that made its

home in the rocky crags. These animals were able to make their homes in

places where other creatures could not live. They are an example of how we

need to learn to be content with what God has given us.

The third small creature that demonstrated wisdom was the locust that had

no king to lead but was able to work with others like a well-organized army.

These small creatures did what human armies had to train for years to do.

They are an example of unity and harmony of purpose.

The fourth creature demonstrating wisdom was the lizard. The lizard was a

common creature that one could pick up in the hand but this common

creature could be found in the richest palaces on the earth. They lived

where no human could live. They were not governed by riches or affected

by wealth. They lived contentedly wherever they could find a place to live.

Four Things Stately In Stride (Verses 29-31)

There were according to Agur four things stately in stride. The first was a

lion who moved majestically like a king among the wild beasts and stood

up to any enemy that came against him. The second creature with a stately

stride was a strutting rooster proudly lifting his head. The third was a he-

goat confident in his strength and position. The fourth creature that had a

stately stride was a king with his army around him. He had no fear of his

enemy for he was well protected. He walked proudly as one whose word

could instantly send all these soldiers to defend his cause to the death.

Plotting Evil (Verses 32-33)

The sayings of Agur are concluded in verse 32-33 with a word to those who

foolishly plot evil. Agur told these individuals to clap their hand over their

mouth. In other words, they were to immediately stop themselves from

planning this evil. They were to cease their plotting. He gives them a clear

reason for this in verse 33. Just as churning milk produces butter and

violently twisting someone’s nose causes it to bleed, so those who plotted

evil and stirred people to anger would cause strife. Their evil would not

produce good.

For Consideration:

Agur described himself as an uneducated man yet what he

said still carried the authority of God. Can God use simple

people? How easy it is for us to refuse to listen to simple

people?

Is it possible to fully understand God and His ways? What are

some things you don’t understand about God and His ways?

How can we be guilty of adding to the Word of God? Why is

this dangerous?

What is the danger of wealth? What is the danger of poverty?

Why is it important that we learn to be content with what we

have?

How important is one relationship with one's parents? What

is Agur's warning to his readers in this chapter?

What lessons can we learn from the creatures around us (see

verses 24-28)?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is bigger than our minds could ever

understand.

Thank the Lord that He is able to use even the simplest of

people for His glory.

Ask the Lord to help you to learn to be content with what He

has given.

Thank the Lord for His perfect and flawless word. Thank

Him that we can trust this word completely.

Agur tells us that the earth cannot bear to see an unloved

wife. This applies equally to a husband. Ask the Lord to

increase your love for your husband or wife. Ask Him to

teach you how to demonstrate that love in a greater way.

33 - THE SAYINGS OF

KING LEMUEL

Read Proverbs 31:1-31

hapter 31 contains the sayings of King Lemuel. His name literally

means "for God." He is mentioned only two times in the Bible.

Both of the references to his name are here in this chapter of

Proverbs. He is described as a king but we know nothing about the man or

his kingdom.

It is significant to notice the source of King Lemuel's wisdom. The wisdom

he shared with his readers came from his mother. We could entitle this

chapter, "The Sayings of King Lemuel's Mother." It is also important to

mention here that these sayings are described as an oracle (verse 1). An

oracle was a divine revelation. What we have here is a revelation from God

passed on from Lemuel's mother to her son. These sayings of Lemuel relate

to women, alcohol and justice.

Women (Verses 2-3)

Lemuel's mother speaks in verses 2-3 to her son. Notice that Lemuel was

the son of her womb and the son of her vows. Being the son of her womb,

Lemuel was her naturally born child. Notice also, however, that Lemuel

was also the son of her vows. This may be a reference to the vows she had

made to Lemuel’s father when she was married. In other words, Lemuel

was her legitimate son, the fruit of her faithful love to her husband.

In verse 3 Lemuel's mother warns him about spending his strength on

women. She speaks in this context about women of questionable character

who "ruin kings" (verses 3). Solomon understood what Lemuel's mother

spoke about here. 1 Kings 11:4 shows us how Solomon fell prey to the

influences of his pagan wives:

"As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods,

and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the

heart of David his father had been."

Lemuel's mother understood the influence a woman could have on a king.

She wanted her son to be aware of this influence so that he would not fall

morally or spiritually and be ruined as a king. Her challenge to Lemuel was

that he not waste his strength on this type of woman. His character and rule

as king could be destroyed by a woman of questionable morals.

Alcohol (Verses 4-7)

Another great temptation for the king was to drink wine and beer. Lemuel's

mother told him in verse 4 that it was not for kings and rulers to drink wine

and crave beer. The intoxicating effect of these drinks was such that the

king might do things he would regret. Under the influence of alcohol the

king might forget the law of God (verse 5). Wine and beer might also blur

the judgement of the king so that he issued orders that led to the poor being

oppressed and their rights trampled. As a king, Lemuel needed to be wise

and discerning. He needed to seek justice for all his citizens. He needed to

be an example of righteous behavior to his subjects. By the excessive use of

alcohol Lemuel risked falling short of his responsibilities as king.

For Lemuel's mother those in leadership should never compromise their

judgment or risk sacrificing their testimony because of the unwise and

excessive use of alcohol. "Give beer to those who are perishing and wine to

those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and

remember their misery no more," she told him. Lemuel's mother is not

encouraging drunkenness among the poor. She is telling her son that while

wine or beer would at least help a poor person to forget their misery, it

served no purpose for a king or ruler who needed to be constantly alert and

ready to make godly decisions.

Speaking Out (Verses 8-9)

The third concern of King Lemuel's mother was that her son seek justice for

the poor and needy. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute," she told him. As a king and ruler,

Lemuel was to serve the poor. He was to do all he could to ease their

suffering. Many kings in the history of this world have oppressed the poor.

Lemuel's mother told him that he was to use his position to defend the

rights of the poor. He was to use his influence to speak on their behalf. He

was to be a defender of the poor. He was to judge fairly and not

discriminate against the needy because of their position. Lemuel's mother

wanted her son to know that it was not only in his power to act on behalf of

the poor and needy, but it was also his obligation before God.

A WIFE OF NOBLE CHARACTER (Verses 10-

33)

Verses 10-31 are written in the Hebrew language as an acrostic poem. That

is to say, each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. For our

purposes we will break the poem down into four main headings and

examine the wife of noble character in regards to her value (verse 10), her

relationships (verses 11-12), her work (verses 13-27) and her reward (verses

28-31).

Her Value (Verse 10)

Earlier in this chapter, Lemuel's mother warned her son about wasting his

strength on women of questionable moral character (see verse 3). Here in

verse 10 she speaks to him about a woman of noble character. It is

important that we take a moment to examine the word "noble" here. The

word in the Hebrew can be translated by the words: "valour, strength,

riches, power, ability or efficiency." These words are significant. They

speak about a woman of strength and ability. There are those who feel that

the Old Testament seems to depreciate the value of women. This is not the

case here. The woman of noble character is one who is strong, skilled and

energetic. This woman is enterprising and busy.

Lemuel's mother told her son that a noble wife was of great value. Her

value was worth far more than rubies. She was to be treasured and

respected more than all his wealth.

Her Relationship With Her Husband (Verses 11-

12)

Notice, however, how Lemuel's mother describes the relationship this

strong, skilled and energetic woman had with her husband. Verse 11 tells us

that her husband had full confidence in her. He lacked nothing of value in

his life. She brought him good all her days. Her hard work and strength was

a blessing to him. Her husband delighted in her strength and efficiency.

Her Work (Verses 13-27)

Verses 13-27 tell us about the hard work of this woman of noble character.

Notice that she is a very skilled worker, provider, caregiver and

administrator.

In verse 13 Lemuel's mother described this woman's attitude. She "works

with eager hands," Lemuel's mother told him. The word "eager" indicates

that she serves with a willing heart. It was her delight to serve. She took

pleasure in her work. She had a good attitude. She did not serve grudgingly

but with a cheerful and willing heart.

The woman of noble character is compared to a merchant ship bringing her

food from afar in verse 14. She is a provider for her family. She got up

while it was still dark and prepared food for her family. Notice in verse 15

that she prepared food even for her servant girls. She had a servant heart.

Her work was not limited to the home. In verse 16 she considers buying a

field. Out of her own earnings she plants a vineyard. This woman is a

capable administrator making wise and profitable business decisions for her

household (verse 18).

Her work is described in verse 17 as being vigorous. The word vigorous

could be translated by the words, bold, strong or powerful. This is not a

weak woman. Her arms are "strong for her tasks." Those strong arms and

hands are used to spin thread (verse 19). She was not afraid of hard work.

Notice also in verse 20 that her arms were not only strong arms but they

were also compassionate. She opened up her arms to the poor and needy.

She gave out of her abundance to those who were in need. Her hard work

and skill not only provided for her family, but it also for those outside the

family who were needy.

Her hard work spinning yarn and thread provided the clothes her family

needed. When it snowed and the cold weather set in, she had no need to fear

for her family. Her family would be warm and comfortable in the clothes

she had made them. Notice that her family was clothed in scarlet (verse 21).

This would indicate that they were clothed in the highest quality of clothes.

Their beds were covered with linen and purple, again an indication of the

rich blessing she had provided for them.

Because of her hard work, her husband was respected in the city gate. His

family was well provided for by his noble wife. She dressed them in scarlet

and purple cloth. Her fields and vineyards produced an abundance of crops.

The poor and needy were blessed at her hands. Because of her, her family

was well respected. Her husband sat proudly as a leader of the community.

He was respected and honoured because of his wife.

This noble woman made linen garments and sold them in the community.

She supplied the merchants in her city with sashes she had made (verse 24).

She was a capable and gifted business woman.

She was clothed with strength and dignity. Verse 25 tells us that she laughed

at the days to come because she knew that by her hard work her family

would have no worries.

This wife of noble character spoke with wisdom and gave faithful

instruction (verse 26). She was a capable teacher and instructor. Others

could learn from her. This was a woman of exceptional testimony. She was

a hard worker who watched over the needs of her family (verse 27).

Her Reward (Verses 28-31)

Her exceptional character would not go unnoticed. In verse 28 her children

rose up to call her blessed. They honoured her and respected her for her

character and hard work. Her husband praised her and recognized her

valuable contribution. The reward of this faithful and noble wife was that

her children honoured her and her husband praised her. As husbands we

need to take this as a challenge. We need to notice the work our wives do

and then offer sincere praise for their efforts on behalf of the entire family.

Lemuel's mother reminded her son in verses 29-30 that charm could be

deceptive and beauty would quickly fade away but that woman of noble

character who feared the Lord was to be praised. Notice that this is not an

option. This is a command. Women who fear the Lord and serve like the

woman described here are to be praised. Lemuel's mother told her readers to

give this kind of woman the reward she earned. That reward was the honour

of her children and the praise of her husband and those who had benefitted

from her efforts and hard work.

For Consideration:

What influence can a woman of questionable character and

morals have?

Why is it good for leaders not to drink? How does alcohol

compromise judgement and personal testimony?

How does Proverbs 31 recognize women and their

contribution to society?

What do we learn about the importance of praise in our

relationships? Why is praising people seen sometimes in a

negative light?

Take a moment to consider the strengths and qualities of your

wife or husband. Make a mental list of those good qualities.

Find some time this week to praise your partner for their

strengths and contribution.

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord for strength to resist immorality and the abuse

of alcohol.

Take a moment to thank the Lord for your marriage partner.

Thank the Lord for specific qualities you see in him or her.

Ask the Lord to help you to be more willing to offer praise

when it is due.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Light To My Path Book Distribution

Light To My Path Book Distribution (LTMP) is a

book writing and distribution ministry reaching

out to needy Christian workers in Asia, Latin

America, and Africa. Many Christian workers in

developing countries do not have the resources

necessary to obtain Bible training or purchase

Bible study materials for their ministries and

personal encouragement.

F. Wayne Mac Leod is a member of Action

International Ministries and has been writing

these books with a goal to distribute them freely or at cost price to needy

pastors and Christian workers around the world. To date tens of thousands

of books are being used in preaching, teaching, evangelism and

encouragement of local believers in over sixty countries. Books are now

been translated into a number of languages. The goal is to make them

available to as many believers as possible.

The ministry of LTMP is a faith based ministry and we trust the Lord for

the resources necessary to distribute the books for the encouragement and

strengthening of believers around the world. Would you pray that the Lord

would open doors for the translation and further distribution of these books?

For more information about Light To My Path visit our website at