Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29:1-27

He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,

will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

• ​"Stiffening of the neck."  You can picture it.  "How dare you correct (reprove) me!"  The neck and jaw stiffen, the brows furrow.  Pitiful when I do this.
• If we don't surround ourselves with brothers and sisters who have the green light to point out where we are straying from the path, how are we to progress forward toward Christlikeness?
• I have accountability partners who have this green light to "call me out".  How about you?  
• It may be a hit to your ego when it happens, but that's the point.  The alternative is spiraling down a hole where you'll be "broken beyond healing".

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,

but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

• ​Feel yourself groaning lately?  The only ones who aren't groaning are those who don't know truth.  They've bought into the lies.  Sad.
• When those in leadership are righteous and obeying and leading by God's way, there is joy.  The people are better for it.
• But when those with their own agendas and own ideas rule, ignoring God along the way, the people suffer.  The nation suffers. 

He who loves wisdom makes his father glad,

but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

• ​ Someone who loves wisdom, lives by wisdom.  He also hungers for more and more wisdom, continually improving.  This makes a father glad.  It also makes our Father glad.
• "Prostitutes" is just a metaphor.  However, it can be a metaphor for prostitutes, I suppose ;) .  However, it's referring to anything that tempts you and subsequently takes away your "wealth", whether that be financial or spiritual wealth, or your good reputation, or something else.  Think:  a companion of casinos, or a companion of thieves, or a companion of liars.  Hanging around with something that tempts you is a recipe to sin.  
• Lesson:  Stay away from that which may tempt you.

By justice a king builds up the land,

but he who exacts gifts tears it down.

• ​When leadership provides a foundation of justice, there is confidence in that leadership creating a firm foundation to create, improve, and excel.
• But a leader who is all about himself, or all about power and prestige shakes confidence.  And without confidence, the people are hesitant to put in effort to create, improve, or excel.  If they do, will it all be for nothing?  Will it all be taken away?  Might as well not even try.

A man who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his feet.

• ​We define the word "flatter" today in a different way than its original meaning.  Here is the definition:  to praise or compliment insincerely, effusively, or excessively.
• Flatter does not just mean to compliment.  It has an evil, ulterior motive attached to it.  
• Many people use flattery with those who they believe can "do something" for them.  I've known people like this.  And it's worked for a while, but they are ultimately discovered ... either by man or by God.  Either way, they will pay.
  

An evil man is ensnared in his transgression,

but a righteous man sings and rejoices.

• ​Someone who sins without repentance (without intent to stop) is a slave to that sin.  They are ensnared, caught, trapped, a prisoner.
• But a man who lives his life trying his utmost to obey God, although he does stumble and make mistakes periodically, lives without worry.  
• Those who place their lives in the hands of Jesus should not worry about anything.  They can sing and rejoice.  They need only obey what God says, and know that it's how to achieve the good life.

A righteous man knows the rights of the poor;

a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.

• ​Our Founding Fathers knew this and wrote it in our Constitution:  All men [rich or poor] are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.  That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
• Thomas Jefferson also said, "Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others.  I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual."
• The point is, it is not by the law that the poor have equal rights and must be treated well, and helped to improve their situation.  It is the knowledge that God - their and our Creator - have endowed us with certain rights.  These are not rights given be a government or a given leader, but by God and God alone.

Scoffers set a city aflame,

but the wise turn away wrath.

• ​Common English translation: Men of pride are the cause of violent acts in a town, but by wise men wrath is turned away.
• The Message paraphrase:  A gang of cynics can upset a whole city; a group of sages can calm everyone down.
• I think of Ferguson.  Justified or not (answer: not to that level of reaction), the scoffers and mockers did not improve matters.  They exacerbated the problem.  Those with righteousness and peace in their hearts said, "violence is not an answer to any problem".  The answer was acknowledgement of feelings, focus on fact, and addressing the core issues.  This is wisdom in action.

If a wise man has an argument with a fool,

the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

• ​It's not worth your breath to argue with a fool.  Plant the seeds of wisdom from God, then back away.  Debating will go nowhere and will not result in a changed mind.
• Imagine a conversation with Bill Maher.  Now stop imagining that before you get angry. ;)

Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless

and seek the life of the upright.

• ​They hated Jesus.  Let me be clear:  They did not just disagree with Jesus and leave it at that.  They HATED him.  So much so that they wanted him dead.
• And those who try to be blameless are also hated.  Paul, John, Peter ... Bonhoeffer, the Pope, Luther, Mother Theresa ...
• Instead of seeing them as a model and a light to this world, evil (bloodthirsty) men will disdain them.

A fool gives full vent to his spirit,

but a wise man quietly holds it back.

• ​Ever see someone completely lose it?  It's a ridiculous site.  Obviously no self-control, self-righteous, silly.  
• It's so easy to lose your temper.  In fact, it feels good, doesn't it?  It's a fundamental fleshly desire to let loose your wrath.  It's something we feel entitled to.
• But a man wise in God's kind of wisdom knows this is not right.  We must show self-control, restraint.  
• The wisdom comes in knowing that losing your crackers results in nothing good ... only in bad for you, for others, for the situation you're in.

If a ruler listens to falsehood,

all his officials will be wicked.

• ​If a given leader is known to listen to, and maybe even be fooled by lies and deceit, his entourage will start taking advantage of that.
• If he starts listening to evil gossip and taking it seriously, all the workers will become infected the same way.

The poor man and the oppressor meet together;

the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

• ​This is both a statement of truth and a promise, I believe.
• First, all men whether poor or oppressor, have in common the light (truth, knowledge, wisdom) available to them.  They can see, if only they'll open their eyes.
• Two, they were created equal, and they will see things the same way one day.  God will make sure of this.

If a king faithfully judges the poor,

his throne will be established forever.

• ​If the King treats and judges (and judges for) the poor honestly and fairly, he will be loved and will reign on the throne for as long as he wishes.

The rod and reproof give wisdom,

but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

• ​Spare the rod, spoil the child.  Discipline IS love.  A parent who does not discipline is sentencing their child to a horrible life.  There is nothing quite so unloving as to avoid disciplining a child.  
• Every criminal, every drug addict, every liar, every thief can trace something back to their childhood.  And more often than not, it has to do with discipline - or lack thereof.  

When the wicked increase, transgression increases,

but the righteous will look upon their downfall.

• ​God promises that, while the wicked types may "win" sometimes in the short term, they will not in the end.  
• We are living in a time where the wicked is increasing, but this isn't new.  Transgressions ARE increasing ... abortion, redefining marriage, sexual immorality, etc.

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;

he will give delight to your heart.

• ​Yep.  Just like we need God's direction and correction to become who we're created to be, our children do too.
• Discipline - as mentioned above - is love.

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,

but blessed is he who keeps the law.

• ​People stumble over the fact that they don't completely understand what God is up to.  They have to understand the why of everything, or they just give up, or use it as an excuse to throw out the baby with what seems to be bath water.
• But those who simply trust in Him, obey Him, knowing that His commands are for good ... that He is good ... they will be blessed.

By mere words a servant is not disciplined,

for though he understands, he will not respond.

• ​Words mean little if there is no follow up.  
• I'm thinking of our children and raising them up.  Similar to "Spare the rod, spoil the child", this is intended to tell us that words not followed by action will result in intellectual understanding, but not a changed heart.
• This also parallels James' "Faith - without works - is dead" commentary.  You can't just say you are a Christian.  Your statement will be contradicted by the fruit you produce.  Because if the branches are leafless and without fruit, we know that the roots are dead.

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

• ​Self-control.  That's what it comes down to.  James talks about the tongue, like a small spark, able to start a forest fire.  We can't seem to control it completely.  We need Jesus to control it for us.
• We must never be hasty - in words or in action.  Someone who can't do that is no better off than a fool - he IS a fool.

Whoever pampers his servant from childhood

will in the end find him his heir.

• ​This basically means that when someone treats someone working for him like a son, eventually that person will love and respect him as a son might love his father.  He then works for him, not from mechanical obedience because he "must", but in a true desire to please him.  
• God does the same with us.  We are heirs - co-heirs with Jesus - sons and daughters of God.  We are no longer just servants (although we are), but also His friends.

A man of wrath stirs up strife,

and one given to anger causes much transgression.

• ​Pretty straightforward - a man who can not control his anger, or uses his anger to gain his own way, causes nothing but trouble.  God is NOT pleased.
• And with anger comes sin.  The sin of wrath/anger begets (leads to) more sin.  Nothing good will come from it, that's for certain.

One's pride will bring him low,

but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

• ​The meek shall inherit the earth.  
• Pride comes before a fall.
• He became sin who knew no sin.
• Humility is key to Christlikeness.  If we are to move toward him, we must drop our pride, humble ourselves, and trust Him.
• He must become greater.  We must become less.

The partner of a thief hates his own life;

he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.

• ​If you befriend an outlaw, you become an enemy to yourself.  It's as though you don't care about your life, your soul.
• You hear the victims crying out, but you won't testify?  Horrible.

The fear of man lays a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

• ​I have struggled with this ever since I've become a Christian.  Fear of man that is sometimes greater than fear of God.  Fear = caring what they think.
• How often do you worry about what others think of you more than what God thinks?  For me, less and less, but still far too often.

Many seek the face of a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.

• ​We shouldn't be seeking justice from our rulers - they are fallible.
• Where we should seek it is from God.  
• Why do we spend so much effort asking our leaders to do what is just, and so little time asking God to make it so?

An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,

but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.

• ​We can't stand an unjust man.  They stick out like a soar thumb to those who know the difference, and they make our blood boil.
• But those who are righteous, following God's ways not man's, annoy and irritate the worldly.
• We see this clearly in politics.  I've seen it, for instance, on Facebook with the announcement by Ted Cruz that he's running for President.  All of my Progressive friends have nothing but ridicule for him, mostly because he is Christian, conservative, and believes in an objective moral compass (God).  
• This is a crazy upside down world we live in.

God bless,

Greg

Proverbs 28

​Proverbs 28:1-18

The wicked flee when no one pursues,

but the righteous are bold as a lion.

• Generally speaking, the wicked stand for nothing.  Those who are righteous are only so because they are in Christ, so their boldness stands even under the greatest of pressure.  
• There is something about wickedness that leads to fear.  And there is something about righteousness that leads to boldness.
• The word “bold” here can be translated from Hebrew into “reckless, careless”, so even fools can do things that are “bold” by this definition.  
• The difference is, the righteous can be bold, reckless, and careless (in a manner of speaking) because they are on the side of a just cause, knowing in confidence that God is with them.
• And what makes the wicked flee?  A bad conscience.  

When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,

but with a man of understanding and knowledge,

its stability will long continue.

• Another way of saying the above:  “Because of the sin of the land (the Nation), trouble will increase.  But a man of wisdom and knowledge will set it right, putting out the fires.”
• And here is the Message paraphrase:  “When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it - But it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out.”  So appropriate and timely.

A poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

• Interestingly, “poor man” in this verse is translated both as “poor man” as you see above, but also as Rich King and other names that seem opposite.  
• So, “poor man” must mean “poor in character”.  With this, I can see what God intends for this verse to convey.
• A beating rain is relentless, heartless and cruel.  It does not care what effect it is having.  It just rains down hard, washing away crops and stored food, etc.
• Like the beating rain, a leader who beats down on his people, or a rich man who takes advantage of the poor is heartless, uncaring, selfish.

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.

• Those who ignore the law (God’s instructions on life) are saying, in essence, that they know better or that they believe this world over what God says.  They follow the creation instead of the Creator.
• Those who know, trust and follow the law are aware of the evil in their lives and are actively working to remove it, making it a thing of the past.

Evil men do not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

• “Why would you be just when you can get away with being unjust?” they think.  If you can cut some corners, cheat, lie, steal … why wouldn’t you?  This is what evil men think.  They are running away from the Lord and toward themselves and their evil desires.
• Those who know God’s perspectives, study His word, understand justice and a whole lot more.  Wisdom comes from the Lord, not this world and not from our flawed selves.

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

• What you’ve accumulated on this earth is worth approximately squat in the end game.  
• A man with absolutely nothing earthly but has integrity, is FAR superior to a man who’s gained earthly stuff and has no integrity.
• Says who?  Says God.  Infinity!

The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,

but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

• We all know people who have a son or daughter that they’re just embarrassed to talk about.  Why?  Because they are not keeping the law in some way.  
• We always want to blame the crowd our sons or daughters are “hanging with” for their embarrassing ways.  But I bet the parents of that crowd are thinking the same thing.  
• A glutton for their own desires is just shameful and awkward to watch.  How embarrassing for a Father and Mother to see their kid ignoring the law and acting like a fool.  
• It’s a reflection on the parent who blames themselves for not doing a better job of instilling the law in their minds and hearts of their children.  They feel as though they’ve failed.

Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit

gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

• If you get rich by charging interest and taking advantage of people, your wealth will go to someone who is kind to the poor.  That’s a promise.  

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

• A prayer from someone who ignores God’s laws is like the kid that back-talks, steals money from his Dad’s wallet, and bullies kids at school, then asks his parents for help buying a car.  It’s insulting.  Almost MORE insulting than the bad things he’s done.  It makes a father rightfully angry to even hear the request for help.

Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit,

but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.

• Leading those who are good and obedient to God into acts that displease God is just as bad, if not worse, as the acts themselves.  They will fall … God will ensure it.
• But those who are in Christ and do all they can to follow His guidance, turning away from evil desires, will win in the end.  They’ll have eternal joy in Heaven with God.

A rich man is wise in his own eyes,

but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.

• Reminds me of myself before I saw the light.  Arrogantly ignorant.  Or is it ignorantly arrogant?
• A rich man (rich in a worldly sense) thinks he's somehow wise because he's rich.  As though he's fully responsible for getting himself there.  The poor man who understands that all things come from God just looks at the rich man and shakes his head.  

When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,

but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.

• ​Notice it says "WHEN the wicked rise".  Because they will on occasion.  When this happens, we have a natural tendency to hide instead of standing up against wickedness.  
• All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to remain silent.  We can't let it continue, as good men and women.  
• When the righteous win, though, all is well.  The definition of "peace" is not that there is no fighting.  It's that "all is right and as it should be".  Sometimes this takes confrontation of evil.    

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

• ​We are called to confess our sins and repent of (turn away from) them.  
• Concealing a dead rat in the wall will only make it stink in the house eventually.  Plus it will draw insects, etc.  No matter how much paint you put on the walls, you are hiding something rotten inside.
• So confess to your brothers and sisters and - more importantly - to God (who already knows, but you must confess anyway).  Mercy triumphs over judgement for those who confess and repent.

Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always,

but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

• ​Fear of the Lord.  Always thought that was a strange phrase.  How can we fear "love"?  
• Fearing the Lord is revering Him and acknowledging his greatness, his awesomeness, His infinite wisdom and power and glory.   Take a minute and think about what He really is.  Jaw dropping.  This is FEAR of the Lord.  
• Now, those who will not acknowledge this, hardening their heart against this reality, will fall into trouble - here on earth, certainly, but more importantly in the hereafter.

Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

• ​Another way of putting it...  
• Poor people are helpless against a wicked ruler; he is as dangerous as a growling lion or a prowling bear.

A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

• ​Understanding of God's word and wisdom is what is needed.  This results in hate for injustice.  
• Without it, leaning on his own understanding and ego, a ruler will become a cruel oppressor. 
  

If one is burdened with the blood of another,

he will be a fugitive until death;

let no one help him.

• ​​If someone has killed, they will go into hiding.  We are not to help him or her.  

 

Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,

but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

• ​This is the Christian version of Kharma.  In fact, it came from God, so we had it first ;)
• Walk according to God's commands (instructions) and all will be as it should be.  
• Walk outside of God's commands and don't be surprised when things blow up in your face.
• Lean NOT on your own understanding ... lean on His.

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

• ​Use what you've been given.  We are blessed with certain talents, gifts and opportunities - not by happenstance, but by design.
• Take what He gives you and run with it.  Don't try to do other things that aren't in line with what God's obviously blessed you with.

A faithful man will abound with blessings,

but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

• ​From where does your "fire" come?  What are you sprinting toward?  Wealth and comfort?  Or God and eternal glory?
• Be blessed by focusing on the correct target - God.  He knows what's best for us.  The world promises - on the contrary - do not.

To show partiality is not good,

but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

• ​We're studying this in James right now.  I am guilty of this at times ... judging a book by it's cover and treating someone accordingly.  Ouch.
• We are NOT to show partiality ... favoritism, preference for one person over another for external reasons (e.g. treating a rich man who we believe may be able to do something for us differently than a poor man) ... ever.
• "Everyone has a price" they say.   I hope and believe I don't.  For a piece of bread (think: your price), we will do things that are displeasing to God.  Pitiful creatures we are.  Thank God for grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  And with prayer, we can overcome our worldly desires and our weakness.

A stingy man hastens after wealth

and does not know that poverty will come upon him.

• ​A man so worried about his wealth that it surpasses his "worry" about pleasing God, and he will lose it.  
• You can not serve two gods.  You must serve God or money - not both.

Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

than he who flatters with his tongue.

• ​People value those who tell it like it is.  I know I've been saved many times by a godly friend or family member who has told me what I needed to hear without sugar coating.  And to this day, I remember the risk they took and am forever thankful for it.
• Telling people what they want to hear is - if you think about it - quite cruel.  "I'm going to jump off that cliff!", they say.  And you respond with, "Great idea!  You're such an adventurer!"  How is that loving?

Whoever robs his father or his mother

and says, “That is no transgression,”

is a companion to a man who destroys.

• ​Honor your father and mother.  It's number 5 on the top 10.  It is IMPORTANT.
• Steer clear of the guy who really believes that stealing from his own parents is no big deal.  He's capable of anything and everything evil.  

A greedy man stirs up strife,

but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

• ​The person who is always striving for more and more is dangerous.  He will cause problems for those in his path and for himself in the end.
• But for the person who just trusts in the Lord ... has a sense of well-being.  A peace that transcends. 

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

• ​Said this already, but "Lean not on your own understanding."  I was at the Perot museum yesterday, and there was a wall of scientific discoveries showing what people were ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN of at different points in history.  Science is a work in progress, but it's amazing how many who don't want to believe in God as the Creator of all things think that NOW ... in this point in history ... that we all of a sudden know for sure this time.  Evolution?  Yep, that's for sure.  Go ahead and remove that "Theory of".  The Universe created from negative energy?  You betcha - that makes sense in a Star Trek episode, so it must make sense in real life.  
• But if we continue to conduct science - and we should - knowing that it's leading us to a more detailed understanding of what God has already told us ... if we walk in God's wisdom instead of our own arrogance ... science and God will collide, teaching us that He knows best and that He is the reason.

Whoever gives to the poor will not want,

but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

• ​I've learned this lesson personally.  Give and you shall receive.  I made the most money in my entire career (by a LONG shot) once I trusted in God and started fully tithing plus giving when the opportunity arose when I had enough to give.  To be clear - I did not do it for that reason.  I am only aware of it in retrospect and see it as evidence of God's faithfulness.  
• Will it always be financial blessings that result - probably not.  But blessings nonetheless.
• Equally, those who walk on by when they see someone in need, someone hurting, someone in despair ... God sees this and will measure his mercy based on the mercy you have given.

When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,

but when they perish, the righteous increase.

• ​Isn't this the truth.  As the "Progressives" (the artist formerly known as the Liberals) have come into power under the Obama era, many good men have gone silent.  All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to say nothing.
• But if we stand up, speak out and fight back, those weaker individuals who currently afraid to speak up (and haven't as a result of their fear), will come out of the woodworks to stand with us to say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done.  

God bless.