CHAPTER 22

1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

Of all the possessions we have, a "good name" is the most valuable.
A good name can be handed down to a child.
But even if a bad name is handed down to a child, he has the opportunity to make it "good."

And, after all, we are ALL going to stand before God and account for our lives.
If we are Christians, God has given us the BEST Name!
And we will account for how we have lived according to the name.

3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

The mind of the "prudent" man isn't suspicious, it is discerning.
He will look forward before he leaps forward.
And that keeps him out of a lot of trouble.

The "prudent" man will also see that reverence for God is much more important
than anything else.
REAL worth (in value) is the "riches" of God's love, the "honour" of God's Name,
and the ETERNAL life that is given through Christ.
And those things we receive when we surrender to Christ.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Elsewhere (Proverbs 22:15), we are told that "Foolishness is bound in the heart of the child;
but the rod of correction will drive it far from him."
((MORE on that later.))

Children and youth have thoughts and desires toward those things which hold "thorns and snares."
The reason they think that way is because they haven't learned that there are boundaries
which when crossed present problems.
They need "TRAINING!"

The parent that "trains" the child, will include corporal punishment at times when it is necessary.
Foolish thoughts are often driven from the mind when the "board of education" is applied to the bottom.

A child remembers the boundaries when he is older, and abides by them knowing
that to overstep those boundaries is foolish.

7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

It is a fact in this life that the rich have power.
Even though, eventually, "the rich and the poor meet together" (verse 2).

Today we see this truth more than ever in America.
The affluent can purchase more advertising than the poor, and thus can be elected to office regardless of his character.

The second part of the verse is also true.
If we borrow, we must have respect toward the lender.
God's statement to Israel in Deuteronomy 15:6 told them they would have power over nations by lending to them.

Indebtedness requires servitude.

8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

When sin is the motive for gain, there is "0" gain!
For God is watching not only our actions, but also our motives. ((See also verse 16))

Also, when the "rod" is used in anger rather than for corrective measure, it FAILS!
It will not produce results. (See Proverbs 22:15)

Those who give out of their abundance bring the blessing of joy to their souls.

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

The "scorner" is a mocker.
He opposes God, truth, and all authority.
His pessimistic view of all things creates "strife and reproach."

A peaceful society, whether it be nation or church or family, cannot abide a scorner.

11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

When Philip brought Nathaniel to Jesus, our Lord said, "Behold an Israelite indeed,
in whom is no guile" (John 1:47).
The King of Glory was "friend" to the man who had pureness in his heart.

Pureness of heart is demonstrated in gracious conversation.
When the heart is kind, the lips will speak no "guile" (1Peter 3:10).

12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

God has a way of "overthrowing" evil-doers.
The "slothful" will make excuses for not working.
But he will find himself BROKE! (See Proverbs 24:30-34).

The "strange woman" will entice a man to adultery.
But her mouth is a trap ("deep pit") and only those who do not listen to God's direction will fall into it.

Millions of people have fallen into the trap of sensual sins.
Until the 1960's there were only two venereal diseases; now there are over 26.
Of those 26, 14 are INcurable!

The "if it feels good do it" crowd are suffering the results of the trap!

15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Let's first look at some of the Hebrew words used here.
Foolishness -- Heb. 'ivveleth (iv vel' eth) sometimes means folly, but
certainly in this verse does not refer to silliness are funny actions.
No one would chastise a child for that.
Children need to have fun.

However, this word also refers to sin, iniquity as in
(See Ps. 38:5),
and to ignoring instructions as in (See Prov. 5:23).

Bound - Heb. qashar (kaw shar) means to be knit together.
This implies that sin is bound in the heart of any child.
It is an inherent part of every child's being (as well as adults,
I might add).

Correction - muwcar (moo sawr') means reproof, correction,
discipline.

Today's educational thought is that children are not naturally bad
and that they should be guided toward self-expression; and they
should not have corporal punishment.

That thought has NO support in Proverbs!!

Corporal punishment should not be administered in anger,
nor should it be given too harshly.
However, it MUST be utilized.

If it is not, then the child is allowed to have no respect for
authority, for laws or for other people.
And the child is allowed to travel down a path of self-pleasure
without restraint.
Then, they will grow into adulthood with the same pattern.

Reproof, rebuke and corporal punishment should be used to guide
children into adulthood respecting authority and laws and for
other people.

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

Those who oppress the poor and keep back that which may help
them may certainly increase their riches.

And those who give to the rich (bribery in any form: including
entertainment for their own benefit) are guilty of promoting self.

BOTH shall come to WANT!
That shall be GREAT want at our Lord's judgment day!
They will find they have sinned against humanity and broken
God's Golden Rule!
(See Lev. 19:18)

17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

The "words of the wise" are found in those who trust God.
Words of wisdom are found in the Bible, which is authored by God Himself.

Listening to God's Word will bring "pleasant" things. Speaking God's Word is speaking truth.

God has shown immaculately why we should "trust in the Lord," and not in man.

God has "written" to all who will read "excellent things in counsels and knowledge."
There is virtually no subject known to man that is not addressed in the Bible.

In God's Word is the "certainty" of truth.
And virtually every question of life can be answered from the Bible.

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

Here is a "word" from God - DO NOT ROB THE POOR!
God is on "guard" for them!
He has stated that His desire is for man to CARE for the poor and afflicted, and to NOT oppress them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Here is another "word" from God.
Do not make friends with a man who doesn't control his anger.
That road leads downward and not upward.

26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

Yet another "word" from God.
Don't be hasty to make debts, or to be co-signer for debtors.
It's a sure way to "lose your bed!"

28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

Removing a landmark is in effect stealing.
Changing the boundaries of a man's property reduces his possession.

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

A man who is "diligent" about his business will receive the reward of recognition for his dutiful labor.

A man who is "diligent" about God's business will receive recognition from King Jesus.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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