Proverbs Study – Lesson 5 –October 10, 2010 – Seacoast Community Church

Proverbs Study – Lesson 5

(READ) Proverbs 6:1-10 (New International Version)

Warnings Against Folly

 ¹ My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another, ² if you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth, ³ then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:

Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor! ⁴ Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. ⁵ Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

Have you ever been in this situation? Not a fun place to be. How did you get there? How could you have avoided this situation? How could you have been helpful without becoming entangled in their mess, making matters worse? Helping someone is one thing, but agreeing to do something in the moment that is not going to make their problem better, that is another story.  Now that you are in this situation, now what do you do? Relationships are at times difficult. Sometimes all too often, we find ourselves in difficult situations that could have been avoided if we only had thought about the situation a little bit more or taken a little more time to let things become clear before we commit to something that we smart for later. Requests are made to us during emotional times. Their situation in their mind needs immediate attention, and therefore immediate commitment from you to fix their problem. And, sometimes this is true. But, more often than not, we do not give enough time to think through the ramifications to come up with the best solution.  

This passage applies to all types of commitments and agreements that we might make with our neighbors. From temporarily loaning your neighbor money, temporary, yea right, to making promises to your neighbor that in the end you find out that you cannot fulfill. Intentions were right.  Things are said on a whim. Just not enough thought as to what this commitment will really cost. Time, attention, money. And, is what you propose is really the right answer?

Solomon is not saying that we should not help others. He makes that plain in Prov. 3:27-8 to not withhold good from them to whom it is due.  But, what he is saying is think about your commitment before you jump in with help. Can you fulfill it? Will you be good with the outcome because things do not always turn out as expected. It takes more time than you thought. You don’t get paid back. These are all aspects of dealings with those we come in contact with. Solomon uses the words’ trapped’  and  ‘ensnared’ with the words of our mouth as descriptive terms of this encounter. Ever been there?

This passage deals with the full gumut of agreements that occur between people. From posting bail and cosigning a car loan to giving a recommendation for someone that you do not know well enough. We get involved in other people’s lives and often only get half the story, if that. The first thing that Solomon is telling to do us is to be sure and get the facts before making a commitment.

We learn from our mistakes. But, some mistakes regarding agreements are very complicated and it is not always easy to fix the damage. Sometimes we even find ourselves trapped in what we had agreed to do. We hadn’t figured on this. Solomon tells us to go humble ourselves with the party involved and explain to them the situation. Often, when we find ourselves in this situation we are embarrassed that we cannot fulfill our agreement. We often put off going to the party because of this. Solomon tells us to get things straightened out before they get worse. Someone is counting on your support. Ignoring dealing with the situation will hurt them in the end. He advises to go to them and free yourself by asking them to let you out of the deal. You will both feel better for it.

Prov. 6:6-8 We can learn a lot of things from things that seem to be doing it better than we are. Some things are small in size, but can teach us a lot. The ant is one of those small things. In observing the ant Solomon watched their ways and was very impressed with their organization, their strength and their determination. Nothing lazy about these dudes.  Work all the way and happy to do it. Service with a smile. Our country was founded and established with traits like these. Somehow we have lost our work ethic that was founded on these principles. When you watch an ant it is happy to do its job and then some. When I have watched ants while they are at work it was common to see an ant headed in a direction on a mission, only to be diverted momentarily to pick up a load and carry it only because he was going that way. You don’t have to give an ant a reason to work. They are born to work. They need no overseer to get the job done, they wouldn’t think about cheating the time clock. An honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work is his motto. The ant plans ahead. It knows that now is the time for work while it is yet pleasant, because it knows that harsher weather will be here soon enough.

Unlike the person in the following verses 6:9-11 who does not see the destruction at the door.  The person described in this passage is just plain lazy. He sleeps all the time. Never plans ahead or accomplishes anything. He is concerned with personal comfort. Interested in only what benefits him. Unlike the ant who is willing to pitch in at any time, this guy says you do it, come and get me only if you need me, but be prepared to peel me out of bed first. He lets you know that he will probably not be much help, and he is right. Their motto is don’t do today what you can put off till tomorrow. And, if you put it off long enough it will go past the point of repair so it won’t need fixing then either.

Solomon tells us that this type of lifestyle has its consequences. Things may look ok for now, but trouble is at the door. Travail in v. 11 refers to sudden onset. The pain associated with this problem is often on par with extended hard labor. The reality of life is that you really cannot plan too much or work too hard. Life is just that way. Solomon is saying ‘get use to it. Work is here to stay. And, it will be here tomorrow also’. He is not advocating becoming a workaholic. He would also advocate respites of recreation. Solomon would advocate balance. But, there is no substitute for hard work.

READ 6:12-15 This individual is not to be trusted. His intentions are not good. He puts on a good front, but what he wants you to think about him is not who he really is. He uses gestures and mannerisms to hide what is really in his heart. I don’t know how you are with body language, but I typically am not good at reading it. I like to take people at face value…believe what they say. Solomon here is telling us to wisen up. To realize that people often have agenda’s. Hidden agendas. Sometimes evil agendas.

He is telling us to here beware of people that use traits of expression and communication that attempt to steal your attention by using dominate body language or communication techniques. He tells us to be cautious and beware of people that use unusually loud and often dominant speech,  or that talk with their hands in a crafty way, or, that wink with their eye acting like they’ve known you from before you were born, or that move their feet using fancy footwork to distract you from their real intentions. The hand is quicker than the eye. Beware to not watch the hand only. Solomon is telling us to be wise, looking elsewhere in the encounter to find out their real intentions. Attention getting gestures are usually a diversion from something else that is going on, and you are probably their target.

This problem is taken to another level since the advent of modern technology. In our present day we are inundated with these encounters as we watch many of these individuals attempting to sell us concepts or products that do not enrich our lives in the least. The outcome in this encounter just enriches their life. They use these gestures, the footwork, the hand motions, the winking of the eye, oh, and yes, we cannot forget their bigger than life smile to get us to buy what they are selling. Solomon tells us to look past the technique and focus on what they are really trying to do. V. 14 tells us that perversity is in his heart and that his purpose is to sow discord. He has the makeup that only devises mischief.

Prov. 6:16-24 gives us 7 things that the Lord HATES.  I like it when things like this are black and white.  Quite often the rules are not real clear and it is hard to know exactly where the line is. Here Solomon gives us a list to be aware of. He tells us that the Lord hates these things. Hate is a pretty strong word. Yet that is the word that Solomon chose. If the Lord hates these things, then they bother him a lot.

As parents we know that expression. There are things that our children do that get our attention in the negative direction. Many of these actions are more of an annoyance and although they need attention, they are not life threatening. But, if we were to stop and think about it, there is probably only a short list of a few of their actions or habits that fall into the more serious arena eliciting a much stronger response from you. In these verses we get the Lords short list of the things that He dislikes the most.   They are as follows:

·         A proud look

·         a lying tongue

·         hands that shed innocent blood

·         a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations

·         feet that are swift in running in running to mischief

·         a false witness that speaks lies

·         he that sows discord between the brethren.

This is the Lord’s short list according to Solomon. These things not only get the Lord’s attention in the wrong direction, but they elicit a response from Him. A response that is not pretty. These are traits that one should definitely consider weeding out of their makeup if they are found there. Solomon here simply lists them assuming that we should take it from there heeding his warning.  He follows in the next few verses with the admonition not to forsake the instruction of his father and mother reminding him of their benefits if he will work hard and apply them. Solomon here by writing this passage is asking us a question. His question is this, “Does it bother us that the Lord hates the actions in the list that he gave us?” To many in our culture it really does not seem to make any difference what so ever.

However, to those of us who do love the Lord, Solomon makes a list for us to commit to memory to remind us guard against letting these things become part of our actions and out live. It is a good idea to write them down as a list and post it to read to commit them to memory. Reading them daily and attempting to commit them to memory over a 30 day period can be helpful.

V. 24-9 Solomon tells us that application of good instruction that was given to you by your father and mother will make you wise, giving you the ability to avoid the snare of the evil woman. This woman has some pretty serious weapons. A fool having not having received instruction will pass this way not changing his course because of the danger and having no knowledge of how to protect himself. She uses flattery, her beauty and her eyelids to begin to ensnare her victim. Solomon uses some interesting terms to describe the outcome. He says that by the means of an unchaste woman a man is brought to a ‘piece of bread’. Unchaste gives the impression of an environment where anything goes, she exhibits no control over her actions.  She does what she pleases, using any method she devises to accomplish her goal, ensnaring the victim. For a brief time/moment while the trap is set …pleasure is promised.

But, Solomon reminds the one who is instructed that you cannot take hot coals to your chest and not get burned or walk on hot coals and not get burned. If you embrace fire you will get burned.

V. 29 reminds us not to flirt with a dangerous direction. Temptations pass by all of us. Be wise and turn in another direction. Temptations present innocent enough. They can knock on our door, but we do not need to open it.

V. 30-31  Reminds us that a hungry thief is easier to forgive than one who robs for wealth. He goes on to remind us of the payback required by the Law when caught. He warns those who even steal because they are hungry that if it is a habit that soon they will have nothing left in their house.

In vs. 32-5 He reminds of the further consequences of adultery. In v. 33 he reminds that the incident will become public and will not be forgotten by those in the community. He also warns of the danger of such a situation triggering the jealousy of a husband or boyfriend. All they will see is blood, your blood and often the rage is so strong that nothing will stop him.