[Linux4christians] Sunday - Proverbs 20 – 22:16

[dcolburn at bibleseven.com]

    Sunday


      Proverbs 20 – 22:16



20:1 Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever goes astray 
by them is not wise.

20:2 The king’s terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever 
provokes him sins against himself.

20:3 It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool 
quarrels.

20:4 The sluggard will not plow during the planting season, so at 
harvest time he looks for the crop but has nothing.

20:5 Counsel in a person’s heart is like deep water, but an 
understanding person draws it out.

20:6 Many people profess their loyalty, but a faithful person – who can 
find?

20:7 The righteous person behaves in integrity; blessed are his children 
after him.

20:8 A king sitting on the throne to judge separates out all evil with 
his eyes.

20:9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am pure from my sin”?

20:10 Diverse weights and diverse measures – the Lord abhors both of them.

20:11 Even a young man is known by his actions, whether his activity is 
pure and whether it is right.

20:12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees – the Lord has made them 
both.

20:13 Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished; open your eyes so 
that you might be satisfied with food.

20:14 “It’s worthless! It’s worthless!” says the buyer, but when he goes 
on his way, he boasts.

20:15 There is gold, and an abundance of rubies, but words of knowledge 
are like a precious jewel.

20:16 Take a man’s garment when he has given security for a stranger, 
and when he gives surety for strangers, hold him in pledge.

20:17 Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet to a person, but afterward his 
mouth will be filled with gravel.

20:18 Plans are established by counsel, so make war with guidance.

20:19 The one who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not 
associate with someone who is always opening his mouth.

20:20 The one who curses his father and his mother, his lamp will be 
extinguished in the blackest darkness.

20:21 An inheritance gained easily in the beginning will not be blessed 
in the end.

20:22 Do not say, “I will pay back evil!” Wait for the Lord, so that he 
may vindicate you.

20:23 The Lord abhors differing weights, and dishonest scales are wicked.

20:24 The steps of a person are ordained by the Lord – so how can anyone 
understand his own way?

20:25 It is a snare for a person to rashly cry, “Holy!” and only 
afterward to consider what he has vowed.

20:26 A wise king separates out the wicked; he turns the threshing wheel 
over them.

20:27 The human spirit is like the lamp of the Lord, searching all his 
innermost parts.

20:28 Loyal love and truth preserve a king, and his throne is upheld by 
loyal love.

20:29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old 
men is gray hair.

20:30 Beatings and wounds cleanse away evil, and floggings cleanse the 
innermost being.



21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water; 
he turns it wherever he wants.

21:2 All of a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the Lord 
evaluates the motives.

21:3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than 
sacrifice.

21:4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart – the agricultural product of the 
wicked is sin.

21:5 The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty, but everyone who is 
hasty comes only to poverty.

21:6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and 
forth; they seek death.

21:7 The violence done by the wicked will drag them away because they 
refuse to do what is right.

21:8 The way of the guilty person is devious, but as for the pure, his 
way is upright.

21:9 It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in 
company with a quarrelsome wife.

21:10 The appetite of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor is shown no 
favor in his eyes.

21:11 When a scorner is punished, the naive becomes wise; when a wise 
person is instructed, he gains knowledge.

21:12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; he overthrows 
the wicked to their ruin.

21:13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry 
out and will not be answered.

21:14 A gift given in secret subdues anger, and a bribe given secretly 
subdues strong wrath.

21:15 Doing justice brings joy to the righteous and terror to those who 
do evil.

21:16 The one who wanders from the way of wisdom will end up in the 
company of the departed.

21:17 The one who loves pleasure will be a poor person; whoever loves 
wine and anointing oil will not be rich.

21:18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless 
are taken in the place of the upright.

21:19 It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and 
easily-provoked woman.

21:20 There is desirable treasure and olive oil in the dwelling of the 
wise, but a foolish person devours all he has.

21:21 The one who pursues righteousness and love finds life, bounty, and 
honor.

21:22 The wise person can scale the city of the mighty and bring down 
the stronghold in which they trust.

21:23 The one who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his life from 
troubles.

21:24 A proud and arrogant person, whose name is “Scoffer,” acts with 
overbearing pride.

21:25 What the sluggard desires will kill him, for his hands refuse to work.

21:26 All day long he craves greedily, but the righteous gives and does 
not hold back.

21:27 The wicked person’s sacrifice is an abomination; how much more 
when he brings it with evil intent!

21:28 A lying witness will perish, but the one who reports accurately 
speaks forever.

21:29 A wicked person shows boldness with his face, but as for the 
upright, he discerns his ways.

21:30 There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no 
counsel against the Lord.

21:31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory is from 
the Lord.



22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth, good favor 
more than silver or gold.

22:2 The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the creator of 
them both.

22:3 A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself, but the naive keep 
right on going and suffer for it.

22:4 The reward for humility and fearing the Lord is riches and honor 
and life.

22:5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse, but the one who 
guards himself keeps far from them.

22:6 Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he 
will not turn from it.

22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

22:8 The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble, and the rod of his 
fury will end.

22:9 A generous person will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to 
the poor.

22:10 Drive out the scorner and contention will leave; strife and 
insults will cease.

22:11 The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious – the 
king will be his friend.

22:12 The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge, but he overthrows the words 
of the faithless person.

22:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in 
the middle of the streets!”

22:14 The mouth of an adulteress is like a deep pit; the one against 
whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of 
discipline will drive it far from him.

22:16 The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain and the 
one who gives to the rich – both end up only in poverty.



      Prayer


Lord, You remind us over and over that we have choices and are rewarded 
according to our choices. May I choose the path of Your wisdom.



      Commentary


Solomon cautioned against drunkenness, not against all alcohol 
consumption “Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever 
goes astray by them is not wise.”

He observed that it is very difficult to discern the motives in a 
person's heart “Counsel in a person’s heart is like deep water, but an 
understanding person draws it out … but that such discernment is 
necessary when seeking trusted advisers and confidants “Many people 
profess their loyalty, but a faithful person – who can find?”

He warned again against gossip “The one who goes about gossiping reveals 
secrets; therefore do not associate with someone who is always opening 
his mouth.”

He returned to his prior warning to children “The one who curses his 
father and his mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the blackest 
darkness.”

Solomon warned that receiving 'easy money' at a young age may have a 
troublesome impact on the perspectives and priorities of a person “An 
inheritance gained easily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.”

He rephrased “Vengeance is Mine says the Lord” as “Do not say, “I will 
pay back evil!” Wait for the Lord, so that he may vindicate you.”

Solomon observed that for those who belong to the Lord – He is actively 
involved in their lives and it is not always apparent what is His 
long-term goal or path – we must be faithful in the moment and not 
imagine we know it all “The steps of a person are ordained by the Lord – 
so how can anyone understand his own way? All of a person’s ways seem 
right in his own opinion, but the Lord evaluates the motives.”

He warned against an emotional rush to “swear commitment” to a course of 
action “It is a snare for a person to rashly cry, “Holy!” and only 
afterward to consider what he has vowed.”

Speaking to wise people and not fools, Solomon encourages them to view 
difficulties – even physical trauma – as opportunities to learn and to 
grow “Beatings and wounds cleanse away evil, and floggings cleanse the 
innermost being.”

Solomon returned again to the choices (both of action and of attitude) 
and consequences teaching “To do righteousness and justice is more 
acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice ... Doing justice brings joy to 
the righteous and terror to those who do evil ... Haughty eyes and a 
proud heart – the agricultural product of the wicked is sin … There is 
desirable treasure and olive oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a 
foolish person devours all he has … The one who pursues righteousness 
and love finds life, bounty, and honor … The one who guards his mouth 
and his tongue keeps his life from troubles … A shrewd person sees 
danger and hides himself, but the naive keep right on going and suffer 
for it.”

He warned again that one should be very care in choosing a spouse “It is 
better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company 
with a quarrelsome wife … It is better to live in a desert land than 
with a quarrelsome and easily-provoked woman.”

Solomon reminded that selfishness in the face of obvious need – that one 
can meet with a little sacrifice – is seen by the Lord “The one who 
shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and will not 
be answered … The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain 
and the one who gives to the rich – both end up only in poverty … A 
generous person will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.”

Solomon counseled that ones integrity-earned reputation is a major 
priority “A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth, good 
favor more than silver or gold.”

He noted that it is not wealth that determines true value, but rather 
ones relationship with the Lord “The rich and the poor meet together; 
the Lord is the creator of them both.”

Solomon returned to his wisdom about raising children “Train a child in 
the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it … 
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline 
will drive it far from him.”

He warned that those who belong to the Lord God must set boundaries in 
their fellowships, and that will include sometimes 'dis-inviting' those 
who oppose Him “Drive out the scorner and contention will leave; strife 
and insults will cease.”

Solomon warned that one who has made the Lord God angry, likely due to 
chronic and unrepentant sin, rebellion, and a “haughty”/unteachable 
spirit will be give the world-without-God that they have demanded and 
earned “The mouth of an adulteress is like a deep pit; the one against 
whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.”



      Interaction


        Consider

There are no places of significance in our lives to which the Word of 
God does not speak.


        Discuss

Why would Solomon emphasize the importance of extra care in choosing a 
spouse?



        Reflect

Blessings come to those who are faithful, be it to the Lord God's call 
to care for the truly poor, or to His call that we be people of 
integrity, or in the raising of children, and always in the pursuit of 
righteousness.


        Share

When have you observed someone, perhaps a celebrity or politician, whose 
birth into great wealth has caused them to lack wisdom?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to assist someone 
who is genuinely poor, perhaps only briefly-poor, and perhaps 
chronically poor.



        Action:

Today I will sacrificially assist the one whom the Lord has revealed, 
and it will be both in physical assistance and in prayer.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Monday's text will be:


      Proverbs 22:17 - 24



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! Startpage.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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