Proverbs Study – Lesson 12
Teaching children the right path and how to stay on that path is at times exasperating. Sometimes you wonder if you are making any progress. Prov. 22:6 tells us to train up our children, but you often wonder if they are listening. It is important for children to know that it is to their benefit to listen to good instruction. They spend most of their early learning years with parents and if a child is not listening they will miss it. It was clear in Solomon’s days whose responsibility it was to train a child. Most parents in those days took their responsibility for training their child/children seriously. It was up to them. No one would do it for them. In our day it is important that we are not passive in this responsibility and let other institutions take on the job of teaching our children important values and responsibilities of life. But in v. 1 Solomon said that it was up to the child to listen. Children so often want to respond with words justifying current actions and behavior. Solomon is reminding children that they have a part in this too. Listening is all too often a lost art in this process. A wise child will listen first to instruction, and then ask questions.
V. 2 and 3 Again reminds us of the Power of words and the use and misuse of our tongue. Choice words can put food on the table, an abundance of food. Conversation is the medium for interpersonal relationships as well as almost all business transactions. Having the gift of good and pleasant conversation can be good for many things including the bottom line. Someone who has the gift of pleasant and respectful conversation naturally has an advantage in making all areas of life work as well as doing business. Others naturally want to do business with someone who is respectful and is good with words. It’s just a better experience. The Message has a interesting interpretation of the second part of v. 2. It says ‘bullies push and shove their way through life’. V2 reminds us that you can force our way through life, but it is a lot more work and much less pleasant. The use of good words can make life’s transactions a lot more enjoyable. It is interesting that right after Solomon makes the point of what words can do for you he follows it by a verse that reminds us not to speak too much. Really he is telling us to choose our words, being careful not to just ramble on with mindless chatter. The God’s Word translation renders the second part of v. 3 ‘Whoever has a big mouth comes to ruin’. Good conversation for business or pleasure truly is a gift that needs to be developed. It can benefit our life in many ways.
V. 4 A lazy person is always wanting something that they do not have. A diligent person figures out what it will take to get what they do not have and begins the process to get it. Diligent people are always working at making life better. It is just their habit. The sluggard being lazy takes no steps to obtain their desires.
V. 5-6 People naturally want to be associated with those who live right or righteous lives. They are more predictable. You know what to expect. Righteous people do not only have bad practices, but they also do not like to be associated with those who do. The KJV says that the wicked and their way is loathsome and a burden to all who cross their path. It is their bad habits that overcome them in life not only affecting them, but all they meet. Good habits enhance life. Bad habits drag life down, to the ground in most cases. Doing good benefits everyone.
V. 7 reminds us again that appearances are not everything. This verse is related to v. 9 in the previous chapter. All too often we judge others by how they appear instead of who they really are. It is not wrong to make a first analysis. This can be helpful navigating first encounters. But, the first analysis is never a good way to relate to someone over the long haul. There is no substitute for experience and dialog in a relationship to really know who a person is. Unfortunately, first impressions are the primary tool used in most relationships and because of the way that we do relationships in our day we so often never go any deeper. This says something about the value we as a society put on relationships. Getting to know someone takes time. Solomon advises us to beware of going on first impressions only. We think that we are a good choice of character on instant analysis, but so often we are mistaken and surprised when we find out differently. Added to this, we often treat others inappropriately because of our misjudging them. Treating those that we perceive to be poor different than those that we perceive to be rich is wrong. We can treat either group, rich or poor inappropriately going on our perception of them. We can never go wrong in our dealings if we are wise in our dealings, honest in our dealings and treat others how we would like to be treated.
V. 8 reminds us that riches and poverty are a double edged sword. Even though riches are what can bail you out when attacked, they are also a problem, making you a target for attack because one may have them. It says that people often leave the poor alone because there is nothing to get or take. Lottery winners are targets because of their winnings, not because of how poor they are. Often the poor are passed by just because they are poor, and the rich are often a target because of their riches. V. 7 might advise one to take on the humble appearance whether rich or poor. Life might be better living the simple life. The Message says a ‘simple life is a full life’.
V. 9 again reminds us that the light of a right and good life brings light to all who are around. One translation puts it this way ‘the lives of good people are lightly lit streets; the lives of the wicked are dark allies’. A righteous life is like the energizer bunny. It just keeps on going bright all the way. Wicked practices burn extra fuel and are abusive, running out of fuel, their light going out.
V. 10 Some go looking for a fight. This is the way that it is for the proud. A proud approach is a contentious approach forcibly pushing and bumping into others as they travel through life. Pride stirs up strife and puts everyone on the defensive. Not so for the well advised. They listen to others advice, knowing they can learn something also.
V. 11 Again we see Solomon advising not only the acquisition of material things properly, but also advising to be patient and steady in the process. Often that which is acquired quickly has a greater possibility of being acquired inappropriately and seems to not last and is harder to hang on to. Steady and slow wins the race they say. This is true for so many things. Building the foundation sure is essential as life unfolds and builds on itself. Again we are reminded that good honest labor is the way to go.
V. 12 Repeated disappointment is very difficult and often painful and can lead to a sick discouraged heart. It seems so often we are pushed right to the end of our ability to hold on before things take a turn and things work out. This says something for holding onto a good thing and not giving up if the Lord is in it. It is good to let go of something that is really not meant to be. But, many things in life never come because we give up too soon. Disappointment is difficult and holding on when all looks impossible is often painful, but for those who hold on and patiently wait for the payoff, the prize is sweet and the flavor lasts a long time.
V. 13 The Word of God is Life and it can not only save our soul, but as we have seen in Proverbs, it can save our life. The Word of God is profitable for spiritual edification as well as the practical things in life like putting food on the table and a roof over our head. The one(s) that turn their backs on this instruction end in destruction not gaining the benefit of God’s practical and Life giving message. The fear of the commandment mentioned in the last part of v. 13 refers to the understanding the consequences of not applying it. A wise person will fear the consequences of not applying God’s commandments. Fear of outcome often prompts action and application…I better do this…it is necessary. Despising God’s commandments is an attitude of being adamant, determined to go our way and not God’s. If we take this approach we surely suffer the consequences of our actions. If we follow God’s way we get His reward!
V. 14-6 You can never spend too much time learning and working at applying wise practices. Getting better at this should be our lifelong ambition. Come drink. The precepts and principles of the law of the wise is life giving water to all who will drink delivering from death. One translation put it this way, ‘The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells’. V. 15 goes on to say that the way of the transgressor is hard, rejecting the law of God, not applying the principles of truth. Lying is a common trait of one who transgresses the way of God leading to cover-up and back tracking ending in a hard place often sealing their doom. The way of righteousness is somewhat harder at first, but the life of transgression is much harder, often ending in pain that can never be undone often ending in pain that has to be carried anywhere and everywhere they go. So often the sad part is that (v. 16) the fool making bad decisions has no idea what is causing their pain and often boasts of their lifestyle as the way to live. The prudent man deals with knowledge and learns where and how to use it.
V. 17 This verse could be applied to us as Christ followers asking the question ‘Are we a poor messenger, or, are we a faithful ambassador?’. A poor messenger or ambassador gets sidetracked easily often giving into selfish pleasures, not fully committed to the task. A poor messenger does not take their duty seriously. It does not take much to get them to let go of the task at hand. A faithful messenger is not easily detoured. The King not knowing where they may be because they have temporarily lost communication knows that they are still at the task and can be counted on to complete their designated duties. It is as if the King were doing the intended task them self. The person or persons acting as ambassadors bring healing to a bad situation completing their assigned duties. They will not rest or abandon their assigned task until it is fully completed. They are committed and will see it through.
V. 18 Again reminds us to have a teachable spirit. It is to our benefit. Having a teachable spirit we just get better. Refusing instruction brings poverty and often embarrassment.
V. 19 Completing a task gives a good feeling. If you are one that has a hard time completing tasks you need to resolve to make a change. Each task completed builds inner strength and confidence. There is no satisfaction like it. Make fewer commitments. Resolve to follow through before accepting more commitments no matter what. Even small tasks completed need not be overlooked. Life will take on new dimensions. The last part of this verse says that it is a fool’s makeup to be foolish, doing foolish things. It is only fitting for them to act this way.
V. 20 Who you chum with does make a difference. If you want to be challenged and be stretched hang around with people who challenge you in a good way. But if you do this be sure to keep your eyes and ears and heart open or you will miss the benefit of having them as friends. However, it matters not according to Solomon how many fools join together. More fools only multiply the foolishness and danger. Solomon says a companion of fools will be destroyed. They are all heading in the same direction, toward destruction.
V. 21 Your lifestyle often makes what you get out of life. Our actions most often prompt specific responses or outcomes. Save and you have enough for the future. Spend and you have nothing. Do good and others generally are good to you. Take advantage of others and others will look for an opportunity to take advantage of you. But, Solomon also observed that those who practiced wrong seemed to be hunted down by the same things that they practiced. Those doing wrong would set up shop using wrong practices and for a season seemed to be getting away with it. But, eventually things would begin to go south and trouble would track them down and overcome them. It was like a bounty hunter tracking down his man, eventually catching up with the wrong doer. He also noticed that those that practiced good seem to always get back for what they gave. It may not have been an instant reward or return, but the good that they gave never went unnoticed. They always made out in the end.
Solomon reminds us in v. 22 that we need to have a bigger picture of the potential influence of a good life. He reminds us that a good life has the potential of influencing lives over several generations, not just our current family. It is unfortunate that many of us get caught up and stuck in ‘our’ life and do not realize the potential impact we could have on our children and what they in turn carry to the generation after them. Familial things do get passed down to a number of successive generations. Dietary preferences and habits, recipes , tendencies, habits and preferences all get carried on often tagging you to generations of the past, identifying you with that family. Good and bad gets passed down. It is possible to make a conscious decision to end a negative familial habit beginning with our life with hopes of that change in our lifestyle being carried on from here to future generations. Solomon reminds us that it is a good man that makes plans to leave a good reputation as well as financial stability to those that come after them. A good man looks ahead, far far ahead, planning on success and return long after they are gone. This return will follow them if they have placed their investment in the bank of heaven. The sinner, having only the belief that money is the only important thing to pass down to their offspring will even loose that, often being given to the just instead.
V. 23 is an interesting verse that may have more meaning and application than first thought. This verse when taken at face value says that all the unplowed and unplanted ground owed by the poor could produce much food, but lays barren because the poor are treated unjust and remain too poor to do anything with it. It could be said that much talent and ability is found in the poor, but because of injustice they can never do anything with it. This really could apply to any group of people that are oppressed robbing them of the opportunity to get ahead or provide for themselves. Because of this these people groups not only cannot provide for themselves, but actually become a burden to those that are able to produce. Solomon did not offer a solution for this problem, but his observation could mean that he understood the importance of opportunity instead of oppression poor or not. Oppression whether a people group or a socioeconomic segment of society does just that, it oppresses us all. Fair and equal opportunity for all helps us all. However, Solomon noticed that it was the poor in particular that lacked opportunity more than other groups and were more often treated unjustly.
V. 24 There are different philosophies of how to train up a child preparing them for adult life. There are variations, but most approaches fall into one of two categories. The first is the actively training method involving a planned approach for the different stages of development and the second a more hands off approach letting a child pretty much chart their own course. The two different philosophies have their origins differing in their core beliefs. The active training approach believes that a child does not have the ability at a young age to make the decisions necessary to make the best choices and needs to be trained and taught how to respond to the challenges of life needing guidance while they are young. The hands off approach most often have the core belief that early intervention often harms a child’s creativity, not giving them the opportunity to develop their full potential.
One’s first impression of v. 25 might give the appearance that Solomon advocated a hard core strict approach to training of children. However, I do not believe that that is what he is saying here. Both approaches may have their merit at different stages of development and in different situations. It appears that Solomon would advocate the hands on so to speak or involved approach early in a situation and early in life, believing that children needed more training and guidance especially early in life. It is clear from this verse that he believed that a child needs to learn some things about life that are not an option and they will have to learn them even if they at first refused to do so. There are rules that we all must abide by even if law enforcement is needed to help us get it.
There are different creative ways that often work to help us learn things that are non-negotiable in life. But, when we refuse to get it, and the point of interest is important enough, a more pointed and direct means may be necessary. Solomon found his approach in that rare instance effective. Solomon would not say that a forceful approach should be a consistent method of training. But, he would make the point, and does here, that if you do not help your child to learn the important parts of life that you actually do not really love them. The young need direct guidance and some points of life they really must get, even if they have to be made to understand it using an acceptable method. This is a hard verse for many, and so often misused for personal preference and/or a lack of patience by a parent. However, Solomon would argue that the use of his method was an act of love, helping a child avoid much more painful experiences ahead of them in life if conduct or actions went unchanged.
He ends this chapter in verse 26 making the point the a good life, living according to God’s laws and precepts, provides for the necessities of life. If we learn and apply these proverbs based on the principles of God and His words we will find the life that He, God, provides is more than enough.
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