Proverbs Study – Lesson 26 (Proverbs chapter 21:6-19)
V. 6 Money gained by lies and or deceit is nothing but trouble. To keep wealth that is gained this way you have to keep one eye on the road ahead of you for what’s coming at you and one eye looking over your shoulder to be sure that no one is coming after you. Very few who get wealth or gain this way ever get past fear of something lurking around the corner waiting to content and possibly aggressively confront them for their ill gotten gain. It is hard to keep the story straight when lies are part of the deal, especially as time passes. Over time the fear of those seeking retribution catching up with them continues to heighten, the whole mess ending up to be a snare Solomon says tightening into a death grip consuming its victim.
V. 7 Young’s Literal Translation translates this verse this way ‘The spoil of the wicked catcheth them, Because they have refused to do judgment’ or do justice. Other translations translate the first part of this verse as acts of violence or violent ways. It is like grabbing a snake by the tail. The perpetrator of violence often gets some form of pleasure from doing it. It is like being the one that starts this great power or reaction, and then getting mesmerized by it watching it as it unfolds. But, violence is a substantial force that often has a kick to it, suddenly grabbing everything near it, even grabbing them, the perpetrator, as it goes by sweeping them away with it. One of the best examples of this is the old west gunfighter that is on top of the world using a gun with all the real and implicated power spreading their violence. It is not long before they are consumed by their ability to initiate such power that goes beyond their control always consummating in a tragic end. The same would apply to terrorism. However, power executed with justice does not have the same outcome. Some would debate, but, the same elements used to spread violence if able to be applied with justice can have an extremely beneficial outcome. The New Living Translation puts it this way, ‘The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just’.
V. 8 Our habits either affirm or betray what we say. Someone that is crooked if watched long enough will reveal himself. No one can hide personality traits forever. Someone who is plagued by an angry spirit will eventually slip and blow up at some point. It is inevitable. So it is with someone that is devious and deceptive. It is only a matter of time before they will do something to reveal their true nature. So it is with those who are pure of heart. Be around them long enough and their inner makeup will be revealed that they are true blue. What you see is what you get. It isn’t in them to do otherwise. Prov. 20:11 says that even a child is known by his actions, whether his actions are pure and right.
V. 9 There is nothing worse than a contentious person. They want to argue about everything. It is one thing to know someone like this. If you know of a contentious person at least you can most of the time choose to avoid them if you are lucky. But, it is a totally different thing to live with one, especially if that person is your spouse. If this is the case, there is no escape. Solomon, a king, was speaking from experience here. You had better look for a corner in the attic where you may find an occasional moment of peace, and hope they do not find your secret spot. The advice here is more than just an observation and may be two fold. First, Solomon would advise that you think twice before you procure a binding long term relationship like marriage with such a person. Any quality like beauty or possible security will quickly fade in the relationship and become dominated by constant contention, as Solomon put it, a miserable way to live. But, also, it is frequently observed that good relationships can often naturally drift into a contentious relationship if effort is not continually put into building and maintaining a good relationship. A marriage relationship can often begin on the right premise, but can often drift into the ‘what’s in it for me perspective’ initiating the beginning of a contentious relationship. If steps are not taken to ‘reestablish’ the proper perspective and boundaries of a good relationship the relationship continues to deteriorate, contention becoming the dominant in the relationship. This is no fun. I am sure that Solomon had made his mistakes in this area. He would advise from experience that if he had it to do all over again he would have paid more attention to the relationship and taken more time to insure its health and wellbeing. In doing so bliss not misery is the relational experience.
V. 10 Again we see that someone that evil will make choices in the direction of bad or evil. The best way to not be a victim of their wrong doing is to stay clear of them. This is a nice thought, however, it is difficult if you happen to live next to or near a person or persons like this. Someone who continually devises evil is looking around to see who they can do evil too. Neighbors often fall victim to such. My mind imagines an old west scene where there is some distance between neighbors, but your neighbor just happens to be such a fellow. Being in this spot you are always wondering what they will be up to next…infringement on the property line, steal your cattle, cut your trees or worse yet take your land. In our day the problem is still the same. This person is nothing but trouble. No matter what you propose, you cannot satisfy them and are always wondering what they are up to next.
V. 11 The simple are often easily influenced to do things that if they had only known the consequences and end result they never would have been a part of it. Scoffers or rabble-rousers have a way of influencing the simple to act in some way or pervert their thinking in a way that often is regrettably irreversible. A scoffer can incite a riot, deceive others to act for their own intended purpose or poison the thinking of simple but good people. The harm that can be done by a person like this is substantial. This is why it is important to contend for the truth, helping the simple not to get swept away with false doctrines or false truths. Different translations translate ‘simple’ in different ways using words like naive and innocent indicating undeveloped opinions about basic or common truths. These basic truths can include topics such as moral standards, social standards or principles, society and/or basic government beliefs and function. No action against a scoffer is to let the simple be swept away by the scoffers influence creating a society founded on one person’s opinion instead of truth. Proper retribution fitting the offence of the scoffer instructs the simple in what is right even though they have not yet thought through the topic at hand. The wise looking for the truth, however, is able to recognize true precepts when they see or hear them receiving the knowledge when it comes their way.
V. 12 It all looks so good. Some seem to get away with evil or murder so to speak and yet seem to have it all, living a painless life. However, v. 12 says that the righteous who are wise know better. They have seen it before…the end of the wicked is not so, it is filled with pain and disappointment. The righteous know that God is just and the wicked will be judged completely for their actions. They do not envy their present prosperity. It is temporary. Even in the zenith of their existence the righteous pity them because they know what is to come.
V. 13 There is always what may seem to be a good reason why not to get involved with the poor. It is true that good judgment and discernment is needed in effectively caring for someone else’s needs. Many of us get into bad spots or situations because of the in-application of the wisdom of Proverbs. However, none of us are perfect and even so, with diligent efforts life has a way of turning for the worse rendering us in a place of need or needing support from others. Compassion and generosity have their own blessings attached to them, but this proverb has attached to it a get what you have given component with it. For some reason those who turn a deaf ear to those in need in turn are not heard when they cry for help. Lk. 6:38 tells us to give and it shall be given to you. With the measure that you give it will be returned to you.
V. 14 What a great and useful verse if we know what it means and how to apply it. Wrath and anger in someone generally tends to escalate and become more forceful with time until its wrath is executed. However, there is one way to be welcomed into the camp of an enemy or one that is about to do you harm. It says here to give them a gift. It says that a gift has the ability to cool the fire way down from a burning fire to embers that may, if dealt with properly, go out. The end of this verse says that even strong wrath can be dealt with this way with substantial results. Countries of old would often use this approach to appease a nation poised to use military force against them. Jacob used this approach with Esau. So did Abigail with David and his men when they were coming to destroy Nabal. V. 14 however, makes an interesting point. It says that often the gift given is better given in secret. A public gift may possible have some components of leverage due to public opinion attached to it. However, that concept is risky. The one that receives the gift may not agree in the fashion that it was given and may turn their anger into hostility moving their anger up a notch. A gift given in secret gives the one receiving the gift the chance to truly cool down and consider the now possible new relationship truly cooling a hot situation.
V. 15 The execution of justice does not please everyone. When justice is the law of the land good people rejoice. There is nothing better, at least for the righteous. However, it is not that way for those that plan for profit using evil ways. There is always opposition to what is right by those who see opportunity in getting ahead by doing wrong. When justice is the law of the land those practicing evil are quite frankly terrified knowing that it is only a matter of time before they will be judged by that standard of justice ending in their destruction.
V. 16 What a sad thing it is for someone that has known the truth and then drifts away like a boat that is not tied to a mooring. Truth is the anchor that keeps us from going adrift putting our life in peril. One who knowingly or inadvertently strays from the truth is headed only in one direction…the dead zone. All who turn their back on God and church and all the benefits of righteous living will eventually end up in one place, what the bible terms as a place of death. God gives life. The absence of God is death.
17. There is nothing wrong with enjoying some of the pleasures of this life from time to time. Doing something that is just plain enjoyable can act as a relief valve releasing some of the pressures of this life. It also, if used properly, can allow for a time to deepen relationships with others we love or want to get to know better. However, v. 17 says that those who love pleasure will probably never get ahead in this life. In our current and recent culture we have a very real example of this lifestyle in a group of people that were tagged with the nickname of ‘Yuppies’. The yuppie lifestyle typified this verse. They were high income producers that would spend virtually everything they made on trips and other exotic pleasures having saved or invested nothing for the future. In this verse Solomon names two pleasures specifically, wine and oil, which were in that day quite exotic and expensive indulgences. These indulgences cost big time when hard times came around presenting the need for resources which should have been saved up from a prudent lifestyle. This verse also however need not apply only to expensive exotic indulgences. It may also apply to simple indulgences of pleasure that may be done out of habit to excess eating up resources that God supplies today that should be stored up for future needs, pleasures and/or emergencies. Occasional indulgences in the blessings of this life are necessary for balance, but the love of pleasure will put nothing in the bank.
V. 18 Gill’s exposition of the Bible makes the following comments about v. 18:
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,.... Not to make satisfaction for them, as Christ is a ransom for his people; but as a ransom is in the room of another, so the wicked cometh in the stead of the righteous, and into the trouble he is delivered from; as Haman for Mordecai, which instance Jarchi mentions; see Proverbs 11:8; or when a body of people are threatened with divine vengeance; and this falls upon the wicked, whose sins caused it, and the righteous are delivered from it; as in the case of Achan, and the seven sons of Saul, Joshua 7:26. And sometimes God turns the wrath of the princes of the earth from his own people, and causes it to fall upon the wicked, and so they are a ransom for them; as Sennacherib intended the destruction of the Jews, but was called off in providence to fall upon the Egyptians, Ethiopians, and Sabeans, and therefore they are said to be a ransom for them; see Isaiah 43:3; and sometimes wicked men are the means of a ransom or deliverance of the righteous, as Cyrus was of the Jews: and it may be considered, as the word used signifies a "cover" (d), whether it will not bear this sense, that the wicked are a cover for the righteous, and oftentimes protect and defend them; so the earth helped the woman, Revelation 12:16;
V. 19 If anyone knew the pain of living with contention it was Solomon. It says in I Kings 11:1-3 that he had 700 wives and 300 concubines, what a heap of contention. He knew what he was talking about. Even a king with all his power and authority could not deal with it, having to take a walk, often a long one, in the woods to escape contention. Most in this situation only have to deal with one. They will tell you that one is enough, more than enough. This is something to remember when considering a long term relationship with this type of person. The KJV uses the word angry to describe this person. Other translations use words like ill tempered. Living in the woods is no way to live.
No comments:
Post a Comment