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.