Proverbs Study – Lesson 42 (Proverbs chapter 28:14-28)
V. 14 Although the bible talks a lot about not being afraid, there are some things that it encourages us to fear. However, the word and meaning of the healthy type of fear would have as part of its definition the word respect and reverence instead of stark boot shaking fear or being afraid. There are things in life that we should be at least cautious of, navigating carefully, being sure that we do not get injured or burned so to speak. Gravity is one of them. So are fire, weather, heights and speed. Frequently the Bible refers to this type of fear and tells us that we should have a healthy respect or fear for these things. But, here in this verse in the KJV it tells us that there is a type of fear that we should always have and if it is continually present then it will actually cause us to be happy. The fear that it is referring to here is the constant respect, reverence, worship and awe that we should have in our relationship for the Lord. Here he makes the point that the casual realization of the Greatness and Vastness of God will not produce this happiness. But, the child of God, that knows the Love of his God and who worships continually realizing the Power and Wisdom and Awesomeness of God finds this type of fear comforting and reassuring knowing that this same Power that provokes caution and respect is the same Power that is over them to protect and keep them and the things important to their life. On the contrary, those that harden their heart toward God must fend for themselves and find it difficult to make life work during the times when life overpowers them falling into troubles that can last a lifetime.
V. 15-6 Give a man a position with little or no accountability and you will see them as they really are. A good ruler in that position will be free to bestow good things on their subjects unencumbered. But, watch out, a wicked person in the same position can be ruthless. No accountability and see how bad it can get. He says here that unfortunately that first and greatest it is the poor that are exploited having no one to come to their rescue. He uses the terms roaring and ranging or hungry to describe the posture of the wicked ruler making nothing and no one safe. This indeed is a bad situation. V. 16 goes on to say that an inexperienced prince is not much better. An inexperienced prince does things that does not make sense often making rash verdicts and decrees that are flawed and basically self centered and selfish. Any action that he takes is to benefit him and is almost always at someone else’s expense. One translation interprets this verse as a young greedy prince that taxes his subjects heavily for his own gain instead of levying a fair tax. It goes on to say that a ruler, young or old, that is not covetous is a good ruler and will usually rule well and long.
V. 17 There are some things in life that if we do we will never forget. In this verse it makes the point that murder is one of them. If this happens the perpetrator will carry the scene and incident in their mind and heart till the day they die. It also makes the point that if this happens the perpetrator will try every means possible to numb or erase the event from their conscious. They will try rationalizing their motive, blame their state of mind or even blame the worthlessness of the victim telling themselves that this person deserved it. Solomon warns us that we should not help them or support them in their quest for justification of their action. In doing so we neither help them or those associated to the deceased. Covering over or unjustly justifying the situation will only make matters worse. God is the only One that can heal a situation like this and denial is not the answer.
V. 18 There is something to be said for living right. First of all, living right has its own immediate rewards. But, it also has benefits that continue to pay off over time. People remember how you treated them in the past when your hour of need comes. God also remembers and rewards the faithful especially when things are troublesome. But, a selfish person who lives only for them self gets little or no help when things begin to fall apart, destruction coming almost immediately.
V. 19 Time spent is time invested. The return depends upon what it is invested in. This verse highlights the wasting of time on worthless endeavors here focusing on worthless relationships, relationships that take you nowhere but down. As a young person in particular it is easy to get caught in the habit of wasting time hanging around with others doing the same thing…just wasting time. The only payoff to this type of lifestyle is poverty. Instead he advises that we invest our time when there is work to be done. There is a season for everything, a time to play and a time to work. In the season of work he tells us that if we waste our opportunity we will lack. But, if we work and invest our labor in the season at hand we will have plenty, having enough left over for a down time when it is time to play.
V. 20 Blessings…what a beautiful word. It has the definition of something extra, something above and beyond what is expected as a normal return for what was invested. He notes in this verse the abundance of extras that comes with and in addition to the works of a faithful person. This is the person that God seems to lavish upon extras visibly seen by those around them. It appears that even though they are full of good works and one may see the payoff for these good works that there are visibly extras that seem to appear out of nowhere in their life that cannot be denied. Contrasted with this is the one that is in a hurry to get rich, cutting corners in honesty and fairness because of their desire to get rich quick.
V. 21 So often in our relations with others we can show partiality to someone else hoping to get a good turn back sometime in the future. However, this verse reminds us that a return is not always a sure thing. This verse focuses on human nature stating that there are many that will not only not remember your good favor toward them, but may actually be found to turn on you for a better offer. He makes that point that human nature is so fickle that some would actually turn on you for surprisingly not much at all. Here he names a piece of bread as the reward. How interesting, but true. When buying friends it is a good thing to remember that friends really cannot be bought.
V. 22 Greed does something to you. If greed is the driving force behind your direction it will not be long before you make a mistake…a big mistake, usually resulting in poverty. Even smart and gifted unique people are destined and guaranteed to fall and loose it all because of taking chances that contain excessive e risk dreaming about the possibilities if this venture comes true. It is called gambling no matter what form it takes. Some would say that ‘life is a gamble’ so what is the difference. But, when given to greed the odds turn dramatically against you and it won’t be long before all of your hard work flies away as you watch it disappearing out of sight leaving you marooned in life. It is true that there is a certain amount of risk in any venture to get ahead in life, but if greed is an ingredient in the proposition you will never be satisfied with the return wanting more and ending up losing it all.
V. 23 A person knows down inside if you are telling them the truth about them even though they may not like it at first. At first they may get angry at you, avoid you or even lash out at you with words that hurt. But, in the end someone needing to hear the truth will come to their senses and thank you for the rebuke. Being told flattering words that may be untrue will never play out in life finding out in time that the advice given was unproductive and in actuality caused more distress in the situation. But, in time truth plays out, and someone looking for real answers will eventually have to come to it that what you said was what they needed or else continue to live with the pain in denial. When they are ready to face the truth they will realize that you had their best interest I mind appreciating your faithful council counting you as a true friend.
V. 24 Good parents do a lot for their children. In raising them they would do almost anything for them. But, there comes a time when children grow up and realize that there is a difference between being cared for and taking on the responsibilities of life for themselves. It is not always realized while growing up that your needs and wants are taken care of by what your parents have earned and is rightfully theirs. When a child comes of age there should be a realization that the things that you had been use to using are borrowed and do not necessarily need to be paid back but are not necessarily yours to take either. Taking something that you have been allowed to use that has not been given to you here is called robbery. Here he says that saying that it is just my parents and therefore I am entitled to it is the same as a thief seeing something that they want and then take it thinking that they have a right to have it just because it is there. This verse in essence deals with the fifth commandment ‘Honor your father and your mother’.
V. 25 A greedy person wants what they want at all costs. They are willing to bend the truth, cheat, cause trouble or even overpower another person to get what they want. It’s all about them and what they want. Here in this verse he compares this to the outcome of someone that is not so dominant and aggressive but instead trusts in the Lord’s leading. He says that the end of the first approach is a fight which has no guarantee of a satisfactory or desirous outcome. But, he says that the second approach, putting his trust in the Lord has a more sure outcome making the outcome full, rich and fat! We either get what we think that we want and end up with strife added to it or we can trust God for our way and end up with peace and exactly what we needed.
V. 26 The heart can be deceptive. It can mislead and lie. Under our guidance it can tell us what we want to hear instead of what we need to know. Knowing this it is foolish to blindly follow our heart without asking it honest and wise questions about where it is taking us. If the answers come back on sound principles our heart may be trusted. But, if our heart does not conform to wisdom then we must be cautious and ask more questions. In this verse he says that wisdom wins out every time as the right thing to do.
V. 27 Giving to the poor has more benefit than just that good feeling. The promise given here is that by giving we get. We do not give to get, but in giving we do not have less than we began with. But, adding it up and tallying the score when it is all said and done we end up with more than we had in the beginning when we first started. He makes the point of those who have a stingy or hard heart when they see a true need that God takes note. He notes that the response for looking the other way and passing by the poor is many curses instead of blessings. Exactly what is meant by this is not fully understood, but it for sure is not good. All good things come with some degree of God’s blessing. To receive a curse is to receive not good but trouble. It also goes on to say that in seeing we do not see a need only, but an opportunity, an opportunity to give and to be given too in return.
V. 28 When wickedness prevails things are bad. So, bad that you want to hide. But, things often do change. It says repeatedly in Proverbs that the wicked shall not prosper and that their time is but a moment allowing the pendulum swing back to the side of good and good government or righteous rule. It says that when the wicked parish that often the righteous fill in the gap making things mush better.
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