Proverbs Study – Lesson 43 (Proverbs chapter 29:1-10 )
V. 1 If you have a stubborn spirit you are destine to ruin. What do you do with someone that will just not listen to reason or good council? It is a habit for them. They are doomed. Someone who once they have made up their mind before they have heard all the facts and will not listen any more to what anyone says has no hope. When someone is stuck in their faulty logic and refuses to even listen any more has no hope. He says here in v. 1 that someone going down this path will suddenly hit a solid wall that they cannot get past meeting destruction. He goes on to say that when this happens there will not be any remedy or help possible to now fix the situation even if they are willing at this point to do something. It is beyond help. The advice here would be to listen to good advice and if it is applicable do not be so stubborn as to not admit the need for help and apply it before it is too late.
V. 2 It’s a balancing act between good and bad rule concerning leaders and government, especially in our judicial system. The more good leaders that are in power the better the environment for the people. The more in power with a self serving perspective the more the people suffer. Good leaders are generally found to be servants of the people wanting to improve the environment providing better options for living for the people. Wicked rulers want to use the people to do and get what they want passing laws and decrees that ultimately benefit them in the end. Good rulers are generally willing to sacrifice their own personal comforts to better the environment for the people at large. It is good to remember that even good leaders need to be encouraged to stay true to their principles while in authority as it is not an easy area to navigate while serving. Praying for our leaders good or bad is essential for keeping the balance of power tilted in the right direction.
V. 3 There are many pitfalls and snares that can derail us in this life, but some are more dangerous than others. Of those that seem to do the most harm and cause the most damage are alcohol, drugs and sexual improprieties. Right from the beginning of the book of Proverbs Solomon makes a point of being careful not to fall into the wrong crowd adopting their ways. Much of his advice deals with staying clear of riotous living including substance abuse and sexual impurities. But, just determining to stay clear of these areas is not that easy. His advice here is to fill the space that could be occupied with bad living choices with wisdom instead, allowing it, wisdom, to be our guard at the door stopping these vises from even getting a start in our heart. Many have good intentions of not adopting such a lifestyle, but lack the wisdom necessary to stay the course. A father who sees their child hunger for wisdom seeking it out and applying it is assured that their child will not only survive, but will thrive. The approach of some parents is to shelter their child from vices such as these, but as important as this is Solomon says that that is not enough. It takes the instruction and application of wisdom to survive this life. Many lack this step and do not make it. He also makes the point that when you get caught up in one of these areas that you can kiss any hope of life and financial stability good-by. I do not care how much you have in the bank it will take everything you have to keep a vise like this going.
V. 4 A king is a man and is made up of the same stuff as any man. When in a place of authority you can be influenced to do almost anything if you are not careful. It is important to establish good principles and guidelines before you get to office if you are going to survive. One such guideline is the establishment of the principle that decisions will be made solely on the basis of right and wrong and not on favoritism or popularity and personal benefit. Making decisions on personal benefit may allow one in power to enjoy their tenure being able to lavish themselves with the perks of office, but will leave a wake of destruction for those to follow to deal with and clean up. A just king using truth and justice as their basis for decisions may sacrifice personal comfort, but will establish a government that will outlast their reign. It says that when a political official expects gifts or bribes in return for service that others will selfishly run the country through them and eventually will tear down the framework that the government is founded on destroying it.
V. 5 It is true that some people say or do things just because they are sweet or kind. But, beware of flattering words no matter where they come from. Flattering words are hard to resist. They make us feel good and they are easy to believe because we want to believe them. But, consider the source. Flattering words almost always have only one purpose, to get something or influence a decision to favor someone, usually the one flattering. Although he uses the term neighbor here it is likely that he is referring to any acquaintance that has any degree of familiarity to it and not just your next door neighbor. When your neighbor out of the blue shows up treating you extra special or flattering or praising you in some unusual way he says to be extra cautious, not letting it go to your head influencing your decision for you may regret it.
V. 6 Sin has a penalty and a trap built into it that is present but not always seen by the person who attempts it. It is not easily seen when the evil plan is formulated, but it is there none the less, waiting to materialize as the plan unfold. Solomon says that you can count on it. Don’t be fooled. To us it is a warning not to even go there for in doing so he warns that we will get caught. Billy Graham was frequently heard during his messages to say ‘be sure your sin will find you out’. Unexpected things will materialize turning on the evildoer like a flash flood overtaking them suddenly. He reminds us that it is not so for someone making good decisions living a righteous life. He says that living right brings merriment and joy, humming or singing the song that will be found in our heart finding true happiness in life.
V.7 The righteous cannot help but notice when someone is in need. It is who they are. Passing by those that need our help is like denying themselves thinking what it would be like if they were in their situation. However, he says that the selfish people can have those in need right next to them and not even see them. It is if they never existed. As long as it doesn’t affect them the lack or problem does not exist. As a matter of fact a selfish person, designated as a wicked person here in this verse, would even take the little that the poor might have needing it to sustain their life and take it for their own wanting it for pleasure or extra making no difference to their survival or existence at all. Ahab in the O.T. was a good example of this.
V. 8 Words sure are powerful. They can edify and lift up or they can stir up a heap of trouble. As Christians we must be careful what we say and the attitude with which we say things. In this verse it reminds us that with our words and actions we can either help or we can be part of the cause of trouble hurting many. It is good to be reminded that we can be influenced to fuel the flame of contention and because of our influence we can significantly help those who intend to do harm getting caught up in the moment, not thinking first, saying or repeating things that those causing trouble would want us to say. Repeating things that our present day media might propagate could be a good example of this. Our present day media is not always so ‘fair and balanced’ and is often found stirring up contention like mockers in Solomon’s day stating someone’s agenda or opinion, not always reporting the truth or the full story. Trouble makers know how to make trouble not caring who they hurt. In this verse it says that they can do enough damage to affect an entire city. It also says, however, that a wise person can put a stop to this trouble by speaking up at the appropriate time speaking the truth in the right way turning away the intended wrath and trouble saving a city, or a nation for that matter.
V. 9 If you take a foolish person to task or court be ready for a show that is unpredictable. You never know what their response might be. They might be given to fits of rage or may be foolish and take everything as a joke, not realizing the seriousness of the situation. Pity the judge. They have to try to make some sense out of it all. And, don’t expect a logical normal outcome or verdict putting an end to or resolving the issue completely. Be careful, it could get more complicated then you think possible, especially in a system that could cater to those with foolish ideas the judge possibly having some degree of foolish thinking himself.
V. 10. Bloodthirsty people are not happy unless violence is involved and for some reason they seem to get more pleasure out of perpetrating violence targeting those who do good. Bloodthirsty people seem to thrive on seeing others fear them and what they can do. It is like a sick form of praise or admiration to them, making them somebody. They seem to leave others who perpetrate violence alone. Maybe this is partly because they know the outcome of perpetrated violence knowing that it is only satisfied with senseless bloodshed which may end up to be their own. But, also, desiring to witness violence and bloodshed in someone else’s life, the upright normally give them no pleasure at all, at times seeking out the righteous hoping to mortally wound their good life with tragedy. Here he tells us to be wise, beware and be careful being prudent to not be caught off guard. He goes on to say that the righteous are sought out for many things naming here being sought out by others that love justice and do good also. As those who seek out the righteous for harm so are there those who seek out the righteous to assist, protect and support them in their time of need. It is good to remember that when we are in need even for our life to look around for the righteous that may be willing to come to our rescue.
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