Proverbs 24

 Proverbs 24:1-2 "Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them." "For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief."

Proverbs 24:3-4 "Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established:" "And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches."

Proverbs 24:5-6 "A wise man [is] strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength." "For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors [there is] safety."

We see that we are not to want the way or the rewards of the evil man.  A family or home is built upon faith in God. A family with God as its center is established and is not easily shaken.   Wisdom and wise counsel are associated with strength.

   Proverbs 24:15-16 "Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:" "For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." 

This is just saying that men of God fall into problems many times, as well as the sinner. It rains on the just and the unjust.

  Proverbs 24:23-24 "These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment."  "He that saith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:"

Proverbs 24:25-26 "But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them."      "[Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer."

Proverbs 24:27-28 "Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house."   "Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips."

There is nothing worse than an unjust judge. The people can tell when someone is playing favorites, and they don't like it.   The people want the guilty punished and the innocent to go free. The judge that does just that, without playing favorites, is respected and loved by the people and by the Lord, as well.  This is saying that a just and righteous response is as desirable as this most intimate expression of friendship.   This is just saying for a man to build up whatever he is doing for a living, before he takes on a family, and before he builds a house to live in. It is saying, get your living established first and then go and build a house.  Deceiving with the lips, perhaps, means stretching the truth to harm someone.

Proverbs 23

 

Proverbs 23:1  "When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what [is] before thee:"

Proverbs 23:2 "And put a knife to thy throat, if thou [be] a man given to appetite."

Proverbs 23:3 "Be not desirous of his dainties: for they [are] deceitful meat.

Here is a warning to exercise restraint when confronted with the luxuries of a wealthy ruler who seeks to lure you into his schemes and intrigues.

Proverbs 23:4 "Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom."

Proverbs 23:5 "Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?  for [riches] certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven."

 Usually a person who gains great riches and has never been rich before cannot hang on to it, and it is soon gone.   Rather than wearing one’s self out pursuing wealth, pursue the wisdom of God and what glorifies Him, and He will bless with prosperity as He chooses.

Proverbs 23:11 "For their redeemer [is] mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee."

Proverbs 23:12 "Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge."

Proverbs 23:13 "Withhold not correction from the child: for [if] thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die."

Proverbs 23:14 "Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell."

Proverbs 23:15 "My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine."

 Let the desires of your heart be to learn, and in learning, accumulate knowledge. Listen to words of knowledge, turn on your understanding, and keep it in your heart.   Punishment should not be overlooked in training a child. If he cries, it is not because you are killing him. The child will survive the punishment and thus avoid an untimely or premature death due to sinful conduct.  The instructor rejoices more than the student when the student learns well. It is a good reflection on both. The instructor, because he has taught well, and the student, because he has learned well.

Proverbs 23:17  "Let not thine heart envy sinners: but [be thou] in the fear of the LORD all the day long."

Proverbs 23:18 "For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off."

Proverbs 23:19 "Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way."

Proverbs 23:20 "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:"

Proverbs 23:21 "For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe [a man] with rags."

We see, here, that sometimes sinners seem to be prospering in this world. We are not to envy them or their evil ways. Never look longingly at what they are doing.     Anyone who might envy sinners needs to know that their prosperity is brief. They will die (“be cut off”); then there will be a time when all iniquities will be dealt with and divine justice will prevail.   The way of wisdom is the only right way.  Winebibbers are drunkards and riotous eaters of flesh are gluttons. Both are sinners and both are avoided by the wise man.  

Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22:1 "A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favor rather than silver and gold."

Proverbs 22:2 "The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all."

Proverbs 22:3 "A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished."

Proverbs 22:4 "By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honour, and life."

A good reputation is more important than wealth.    Everybody is equal before God, rich and poor alike.   We see in this "prudent man" a person who is careful and plans ahead.  We read in Matthew 18:3-4 "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  being humble will get you eternal life in heaven.  God's riches will be yours, also.  You will be joint-heirs with Jesus. 

Being   joint-heirs with Jesus reminds me of this song we sang when I was growing up!!

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

The verse stresses the simple principle that education in the home forms the man throughout his lifetime.  There is only one right way, God’s way, the way of life.   Children who are trained to go to church when they are young, will generally be church goers all of their lives.    Many parents have seen a child that was raised in church wander away from God for a period of time.  

We see in this someone who sees the needs of those around and gives food to the hungry.  This person not only sees his own needs, but the needs of others.  He gives to the poor, and God blesses him for his generosity.

Proverbs 22:10, "Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease."

People who stir up problems are of no advantage to keep around. The sooner you get rid of them, the sooner your problems will go away. Those who constantly criticize are tearing down, not building up.

Proverbs 21

      

         

Proverbs 21:1 "The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."

Proverbs 21:2 "Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts."

Proverbs 21:3 "To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice."

Proverbs 21:4 "An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the plowing of the wicked, [is] sin."

Proverbs 21:5 "The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one [that is] hasty only to want."

 While man can be self-deceived, God determines his true motives.  God wants us to love Him so much that we will do justly and judge righteously: not from being compelled to do so, but because we love Him.   This is speaking of a conceited person so filled up with self that their heart is even stayed on themselves. Pride is a very bad sin.   A diligent worker who thinks constantly of working toward having plenty. People who do not consistently work and try to have something wind up with nothing but want.

                                                             

Proverbs 21:17 "He that loveth pleasure [shall be] a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."

Proverbs 21:18 "The wicked [shall be] a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright."

Proverbs 21:19 "[It is] better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman."

Proverbs 21:20 "[There is] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up."

Proverbs 21:23 "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles."

Proverbs 21:24 "Proud [and] haughty scorner [is] his name, who dealeth in proud wrath."

Proverbs 21:25 "The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour."

Proverbs 21:30 "[There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD."

Proverbs 21:31 "The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD."

Your judgment is not as good after you have drunk wine and you would be a spendthrift with money needed for other things.    God has always had a sharp separation between the wicked and the righteous.   This is all saying that solitude with little is better than much with a contentious wife.    A wise man is careful in what he uses his money for. He saves for a rainy day and so his needs are taken care of.   But a foolish man spends everything he gets as soon as he gets it and many times even before he gets it.  Talking too much can get you into a great deal of trouble. Words spoken in haste are many times regretted at leisure.   Someone who thinks he knows everything is headed for trouble.   We see in verse 25 someone who will not work but wants everything he sees.   We cannot depend on military power to save us. The Lord is the Savior. He also is our very present help. Whether saving us from the wrath of God by transporting us to heaven, or protecting us while we are here on the earth, the Lord is our only true protection.

Proverbs 20

Proverbs 20:1 "Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."

Proverbs 20:2 "The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul."

Proverbs 20:3 "[It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling."

Proverbs 20:4 "The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing."

Proverbs 20:5 "Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out."

This verse gives an example of what is and what is not the Lord’s will. Believers are not allowed to be intoxicated with alcoholic beverages; the reason for this prohibition is wherein excess; that is is, drunkenness leads to moral intemperance.   The Bible teaches to be good to your enemies. Bless them that curse you. A fool keeps a strife going.   I see in this sluggard (lazy person) someone who looks for just any excuse not to work.   I believe, and that it is so important to study your Bible every day. If some day we were not allowed to have a Bible we could hold in our hand, we that have studied regularly would still have the Bible hidden away in our heart. No one could take that Bible away from us. 

Proverbs 20:7 "The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him."

Proverbs 20:8 "A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes."

Proverbs 20:9 "Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?"

Proverbs 20:10 "Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD."

We see by this that a just man lives his Christianity. He walks in his salvation every day. He walks uprightly before the Lord.  Even his children are highly thought of by the community because of their father's walk before God.  We know that the King of kings (Jesus Christ) can see directly through those who would stand before Him and lie.  The answer is no one can make him self sinless. Only Jesus can cleanse our heart from sin.  God hates dishonesty.   This sin does not just bring harm to the sinner, but to the person he has cheated by false weights and measurements, as well.

A worldly man just gropes around trying one thing and another until he finds the Way, which is Jesus.  Since a man cannot comprehend the unfolding purposes of God’s providence in his life, he has to walk in faith.

Proverbs 20:27 "The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly."

Proverbs 20:28 "Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy."

Proverbs 20:29 "The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the grey head."

Proverbs 20:30 "The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly."

"God's Light shining within us separates us from the darkness of the world. The light that is within us is the Light of Jesus.  We see in this that if a king wants to continue to be a king he must not be cruel, he must be merciful.   A king that rules with mercy and truth will be king for a long time.  Young men will pump iron or exercise to make them even stronger. Paul warns about putting too much emphasis on the bodily exercise.  The beautiful grey hair of an old man shows wisdom and experience. For a man to live long enough to have grey hair, God would have to have blessed him.  These stripes in the belly indicate punishment that is felt with our inner most being. We are supposed to see in the bruises and in the stripes that correction has come for the sins in our lives.

Proverbs 19

Proverbs 19:1 "Better [is] the poor that walketh in his integrity, than [he that is] perverse in his lips, and is a fool."

Proverbs 19:2 "Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth."

Proverbs 19:3 "The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD."

Proverbs 19:4 "Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour."

Proverbs 19:5 "A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall not escape."

Integrity is better than wealth.   a foolish man who doesn't understand what he is doing and begins anyway.  It is man and his own foolish lust that causes sin in his life.  This literally means that wealth adds new friends while poverty alienates existing friends who grow weary of the demands of the poor.  Even if a liar gets away with it here on earth, God knows if you have lied and He will punish the guilty.

Proverbs 19:16 "He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; [but] he that despiseth his ways shall die."

Proverbs 19:17 "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again."

Proverbs 19:18 "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying."

Proverbs 19:20 "Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end."

Proverbs 19:21 "[There are] many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand."

 Throughout the Bible, God's blessings are on those who keep His commandments, and His curse is upon those of disobedience.   When you do good for anyone (especially the poor), you are doing that good deed to God. He will not forget and He will bless you for giving.   We have pity on our own children and grandchildren; but if we want them to become responsible adults, we must teach them when they are very young to respect authority and obey.   We are to teach them at a very early age, before they get too big to spank.  Christianity is a daily walk.  We should be getting closer each day to being more like Jesus.  Man cannot always trust his own heart, but you can always trust the counsel of the Lord.

Proverbs 18

Proverbs 18:1 "Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom."

Proverbs 18:2 "A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself."

Proverbs 18:3 "When the wicked cometh, [then] cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach."

Proverbs 18:4 "The words of a man's mouth [are as] deep waters, [and] the wellspring of wisdom [as] a flowing brook.

A man must desire to have wisdom before it comes to him. The Bible says if you want wisdom to pray and God will give you wisdom.  A fool is not interested in learning. He just is interested in his own thoughts.  A person of wisdom has beautiful words springing forth and continuing as a beautiful brook.

Proverbs 18:8 "The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly."

Proverbs 18:9 "He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster."

Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

The words of a talebearer are whisperings that they would not dare say in front of the person they are talking about.  Neither the lazy nor the waster will have anything. One is too lazy to work and make anything, and the other throws away everything he makes.  Christians depend upon the name of Jesus Christ.    without the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would not even exist.

Proverbs 18:15 "The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge."

Proverbs 18:16 "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men."

Proverbs 18:19 "A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city: and [their] contentions [are] like the bars of a castle."

Proverbs 18:20 "A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; [and] with the increase of his lips shall he be filled."

Someone eager to learn by doing and by listening.  Little gestures of friendship make everyone feel good.  We see that hurt feelings between physical brothers and between close friends are much harder to overcome than to go to war and take a city. They won't forget it.  The consequences of one’s words should produce satisfaction and fulfillment.

Proverbs 18:22 "[Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD."

God's plan is for one woman and one man to be married and become one flesh. They are to live together in peace and harmony and build a home for them and their children.