Proverbs 29:13

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the poor:

Proverbs 29:13 (ESV)

The poor man and the oppressor meet together;

the LORD gives light to the eyes of both.

The contrast in Proverbs is between the poor and those who oppress the poor ... the wealthy.   You don't have to read far into the proverbs to observe that God watches and is aware of the oppressor and guards over the poor.   According to James, the greatest act of "religion" is to visit those who are poor (visiting the fatherless and the widow ... James 1:27).  The difference between the two in Scripture couldn't be more stressed or accentuated.  Yet, with these differences in the background, Solomon draws one major similarity:  The fact that they can see the other is given to them as a gift from God.   Solomon wants us to know that both owe their sight to God.   But, deeper than sight, he wants us to know that God not only gives them the ability to see but what they behold, as well.  He gives "light" to them both.   He stresses what comes into their sight as much as the fact that they see.   As they behold each other and observe the status of the other, that ability comes from God.   They might behold different circumstances, but the fact that “they behold,” they have in common.   God gives gifts to us.  Sometimes, even though we are miles apart on the status spectrum, we have in common God's common grace.   Wealth and poverty might come from decisions and mistakes we have made along the way.  However, the ability to see those mistakes and the outcomes of them comes from God, giving both the poor and the oppressor sight.   God gives good things to the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).  Notice what Solomon said earlier in Proverbs:

Proverbs 22:2 (ESV)

The rich and the poor meet together;

the LORD is the Maker of them all.

The point Solomon is making, whether it is the oppressor or the oppressed, God gives life to them both.  In Psalm 13:3 we see that the phrase “light of the eyes” is a metaphor for life and death.   Solomon wants us to know that God is the giver of life.   This proverb is a Divine warning that God is in control of those in society who are rich and those who are poor.

Proverbs 28:21

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about showing partiality:

Proverbs 28:21 (ESV)

To show partiality is not good,

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

How you interpret this proverb may depend on what type of parallelism you believe the writer is using.  This tends to be a synthetic parallelism proverb.   In synthetic parallelism the second line of the proverb continues the thought of the first line.   In the above proverb we see that the thought is that if you show partiality, it is not good (simple words to tell us how foolish and wrong it is for rulers or anyone to show partiality over one person compared to the other).   If you believe this is synthetic parallelism, in the second line Solomon goes on to say, however, even the partiality can be enticed by something as simple as a piece of bread to commit this wrong.    If, however, you believe this is synonymous parallelism (where the second line says the same thing as the first line but in different words) then the meaning of the proverb is to emphasize corrupt and unethical behavior between people: In the fist line the unethical behavior is partial judgement.  In the second line the unethical behavior is selling your soul for something trivial and not lasting and eternal.  This proverb teaches us that people will, in the midst of trouble, conflict and struggles, do things to create an advantage for themselves.  We are not to be involved in unethical behavior to gain personal advantages.  Godly wisdom does not live in this manner.   The fear of the Lord in our lives does not produce this type of behavior, no matter how you interpret the proverbs.

Proverbs 27:3

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about interacting with a fool:

Proverbs 27:3 (ESV)

A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,

but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

If you have thin skin you know how difficult it is to deal with a fool (someone who rejects God's truth and does not fear the Lord).   They bring a sense of "heaviness" to a conversation, an organization, a relationship.   Like a huge stone or a bag of sand they are not very movable, seldom flexible and often thick and impenetrable.    Solomon is telling us to beware of how a fool can provoke us and entice us to anger or frustration.   This proverb is not giving us a way to avoid it as much as it is to make us aware of it.   We are to make sure we know this fact and not be fooled by it when confronted and provoked by a fool.   Trying to change their ways or their minds is like moving a large rock or move sand.   Good luck with that.  Don't be caught trying as though you can.   Fools who reject God's truth can't be persuaded by human arguments.   That is like moving a rock with a spoon.   Stay on course with God's truth and allow God to move the rock.   He is good at moving rocks.  Through faith we can move mountains.  That means we are trusting Him to move the fool not our argument.

Proverbs 27:2

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight: 

Proverbs 27:2 (ESV)

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;

a stranger, and not your own lips.

Self promotion has a distinct and foul smell.  Soliciting promotion and praise for oneself has a very unusual and ugly oder.  In this proverb Solomon gives us a warning about such acts.   It is not hard to find someone who seeks praise.  It is even easier to find someone who promotes themselves in an arrogant manner.  Our society actually promotes this type of self praise.  Solomon wants us to know that it isn't praise that is wrong but "self" praise.  He has earlier told us that when someone deserves honor we are to give it to them (3:27).   But, we are not to give it to ourselves.   Solomon told us to not seek a seat at the head table but let others call you to sit there rather than sit there and be told to move.

Proverbs 25:6-7 (ESV)

6 Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence

or stand in the place of the great,

7 for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”

than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen

Solomon is not down on praise.  He is just down on self praise.   Let's make sure we don't praise ourselves.  Let others do that if they are incline.   For yourself, seek humility and obscurity.    

Notice how Solomon said the same thing a little earlier:

Proverbs 25:27 (ESV)

27 It is not good to eat much honey,

nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.

Proverbs 26:12

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight personal wisdom:

Proverbs 26:12 (ESV)

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Today I met a 14 year old girl who denies Christ and the existence of God.  She is bold in her professed "atheism," but I doubt if she can even spell the word.   She has never read the Bible or investigated Theological truth, yet, "she was wise in her own eyes."  She believes, at her young, rebellious and Godless life, that she knows God doesn't exist.   Talking to her is like talking to a person as described by Solomon above. As he states in this proverb, "there is more hope for a fool than for her."   When we kick God out of our schools, our entertainment and our government, don't be surprised if Proverbs 26:12 shows up more and more in the halls of youth and student dormitories.  In the last times Paul tells us men will be "ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7).   When man tosses God out of his conscious he has nothing left but to bring into his mind his new god ... self.   Atheist have a god ... it is themselves.   They worship what they are and what they want.  They attribute blessing to their own devices and own, self-prescribed intellect.   God is at war with atheism.  It is hard to believe, but God and all believers are in a war: The war is against unbelief. Similarity so, too, is this 14 year old. She is in a war with her own self.  As she attempts to spew her unbelief, I attempted to proclaim the gospel.  That is a holy war.   As we read Proverbs it is obvious where we can find wisdom.   God makes it available.    But, those who reject the fear of the Lord and therefore the wisdom of God, are fools in their own eyes.  They do not possess wisdom.  It is not available for them or to them.

Proverbs 25:20

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about a cheerful heart vs a sad heart:

Proverbs 25:20 (ESV)

Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart

is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,

and like vinegar on soda.

Have you ever been in such a great mood that you just want to sing? But when you come across a person who is down in the dump, then what?  When this happens, you probably, like me, want to share your great day and feelings of joy with this down hearted individual. When we do that, as the above proverb indicates, to them it is like taking their warm coat taken away in winter or pouring vinegar on soda—useless. Being in a great mood is certainly something that should be shared. But even a great mood should come with some discernment. Solomon is certainly not telling us to avoid cheering others on when they are walking through the valley of the shadow of death (his father David told us that). But beware that when we cheer others on and they are in a dark spot of life, we should do so with discretion. Joy should be shared discriminately.   When we counsel others we need to be sensitive and empathetic to their needs.  Jesus didn't automatically start preaching hope and wonder and excitement to the women at the well. This lady had numerous men in her life and was shamed in her society.  Jesus started by meeting her needs - a proper relationship with a man who just talked to her.   We don't always want to led with a cheery message.

Proverbs 24:28

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about truth and lies:

Proverbs 24:28 (ESV)

Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,

and do not deceive with your lips.

Perhaps the worse thing we can do to someone is to lie for the purpose of hurting someone.   One of the large themes of Proverbs is that of truth.   God is truth and therefore we are to walk in truth.  In Ephesians 4:25 we are told to speak the truth, in love.  We are not only to speak the truth to each other, the later part of this proverb instructs us not to use our lips even to deceive.   We are not to be deceptive in our very nature.   You can't use your lips to lead others astray.  Remember, Satan in the garden never actually told a bold faced lie.   He simply used information to deceive.  When we use information to bring about deception we damage them and we damage ourselves.   In the below proverb we read that when we deceive others we are like a club, a sword and an arrow to them.    

Proverbs 25:18 (ESV Strong's)

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor

is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

When I read this proverb I think of the way politicians damage their constituents with "deceptive" lies.   They don't use bold face lies.  They use spin.  They use deception to promote themselves.   They use deceit to gain their power.   They use lies to get what they want and damn the rest.  That is not truth.  God is truth.

Proverbs 23:27

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about temptation:

Proverbs 23:27 (ESV)

For a prostitute is a deep pit;

an adulteress is a narrow well.

This whole chapter is about the dangers and the lies of the world system.  The products and the deception of the world is massive.  This chapter talks about the dangers and enticement of food, drink and sex.  In the above proverb we learn about the prostitute.  In Proverbs the prostitute is both a real woman and the picture of folly.   Here we have both a contrasting Hebrew poem and a complimentary poem.   Solomon is contrasting the "deep" and the "narrow" while at the same time complimenting the dangers of the prostitute and that of adultery.  Make no mistake, that Folly wants us to fall into her pit and get stuck in her well.   Make no mistake that the world will try to entice us with the smell and look of the harlot and the adulterous women but the dangers are real.  They suck you in to a place you can't get out.   The world's system are systems of extreme and systems of failure.   When we believe their lies we will find it tough to get out of the system.   The world wants to lock us in.   Only God can give us freedom.  Only Wisdom can give us safety.  God is Wisdom.   The World is folly.   Choose God.  Notice what sin wants to do: 

James 1:13-15 (ESV)

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

John Owen said it this way:

Our desires (epithumia) area always:

1) INCLINING to evil, 

2)HINDERING from that which is good, 

3)DISFRAMING the spirit from communion with God. 

Proverbs 22:29

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about impacting leadership.  

Proverbs 22:29 (ESV)

Do you see a man skillful in his work?

He will stand before kings;

he will not stand before obscure men.

Solomon was a king.   He was not obscure.   He had many "skilled" men around him.  He had grown up in his father's court (King David) and undoubtably had a chance to see many "skilled" men.   Men who were skilled in fighting, warring.   David's mighty men would be an example of those he saw often.   When Solomon was born, his father's man advisor was Nathan the prophet.   There is no doubt that Solomon saw the skills of the prophet as he counseled his dad.   When David was preparing the temple materials to be built (eventually by Solomon) he surrounded himself with men who knew about building, sculpting, gardening, horsemanship, etc.  So, it is of little wonder that Solomon makes the above observation and admonition to his own son(s) and us, those who desire wisdom.  From the leader's position, he is telling us to surround ourselves with skilled people.  Don't be worried they can do something better than you.  Find people who CAN do things better than you.   From the skilled persons point-of-view, be patient.  You will eventually find yourself standing before kings and rulers and advising them.  Note what one commentator states about this proverb:

"Artisans were considered to be wise (see note on 8:30; see also Ex 35:30–36:2). serve before kings. Like Joseph, an administrator (Ge 41:46); David, a musician (1Sa 16:21–23); and Huram, a worker in bronze (1Ki 7:13–14)."

God places the skilled before rulers.   Seek the skills God wants you to seek and God will find a place for you to use them that is not with worthiness men.  Those who seek to use their skills for God (and recognize that God gives them skills) will find themselves before skilled kings.   In places of honor.   Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are all examples of skilled people who found a place of honor in the midst of leaders.   Using your skills to glorify God will eventually put you in these positions.

God rewards people who know how to do their jobs.   Solomon tells us that a person highly skilled in his/her occupation will have a prestigious position before those in authority.   Skill will always be rewarded by God.   Those in authority are trained to recognize skill around them.  The best rulers should surround themselves with skilled people.  Obscured people (those of low degree) won't recognize skilled people.  They see all people the same.   Those of low degree don't recognize skilled people when they see them.   If we have skill we will be sought out.   The gifts God gives to us, when developed, trained and perfected will and can be rewarded.   That reward comes, sometimes, through the recognition of and by men.   God uses men to reward us.  So, when we develop our skillsets and allow God to work through us to mature those skillsets, God will reward us by placing us in positions recognized by the world.  Skill gets recognition.

Proverbs 21:21

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about what we should pursue. 

Proverbs 21:21 (NASBStr)

He who pursues righteousness and loyalty

Finds life, righteousness and honor.

Proverbs 21:21 (NIV1984)

He who pursues righteousness and love

finds life, prosperity and honor.

Proverbs 21:21 (ESV)

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness

will find life, righteousness, and honor.

The theme of Proverbs is the Fear of The Lord.   When we fear the Lord, Solomon tells us we have certain expectations and they are all good.   Wisdom boast that her blessings rest on those who pursue her (Proverbs 8:18).   In the above proverb we see a truth that perhaps Micah was reading or thinking about when he wrote the popular verse in his prophetic book:

Micah 6:8 (NASBStr)

He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justice, to love kindness,

And to walk humbly with your God?

God honors those who pursue after His character.   He wants us to pursue who He is.  He is righteousness and merciful (loyalty and love in the above translations).   He is holy and He expresses that holiness in how He cares for those who believe in Him.  He loves them.   The reward for pursuing after God is that we are honored with life, righteousness and honor.   God clothes us with righteousness when we pursue Him.  He will grant us the victory through His mercy and grace.   He loves us and gives us life when we pursue Him.   That pursuit is through faith, not through our own strength.   We don't pursue Him with our skills.  We pursue Him via faith.   God rewards faith.   

Proverbs 21:3 (ESV)

To do righteousness and justice

is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Proverbs 20:22

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight: 

Proverbs 20:22 (ESV)

Do not say, “I will repay evil”;

wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

 

It is natural to want to fight back. But before Christ or Paul ever uttered words about not rendering evil for evil, Solomon had already given us quite powerful words. In this proverb Solomon gives us one line as a precept and another as a principle. We are not to pay back wrong for wrong. The reason for that is the principle that God will deliver us from the wrong. We are to wait on Him to deliver us. That must be one of the hardest things we ever do. We are to wait! We seldom can wait at the drive-up window at the fast food stop. But, God wants us to wait for Him to deliver us from the wrongs done to us! This is a great verse to commit to memory. Are you hanging onto anger for a wrong done to you and you want to get your vengeance? Wait … That is God’s job. We’re to let God take care of wrongs done to us.

Proverbs 19:24

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the sluggard:

Proverbs 19:24 (ESV)

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish

and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

This proverb is the same as:

Proverbs 26:15 (ESV)

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

In both of these proverbs we see Solomon giving us an observation about what he sees in the sluggard.   As he watches and observes he notices that even though opportunity is right in front of them (the dish full of food) they won't take the effort to bring it to their mouth.   By using food as a metaphor here we can assume he means the sluggard, even for his own sustenance, will not do the work.   The sluggard character in Proverbs is often illuminated to us.  It is a simple outcome of a life that is absent the fear of The Lord.    When you think of those who have talent and don't use it, this proverb would apply.   When you think of those  who have time and waste it, this proverb would apply.  When you think of those who have faith and don't express it to God, this proverb would apply.   The "dish" is a great metaphor but we narrow our thinking when we think it is just food.   The sluggard buries his hand in his resources, no matter what they are, and he won't bother to utilize them.   A person who has many friends, but won't show his/her friendship is a sluggard.  They are too lazy to do the work to be social to receive the blessings of being social.   So this proverb has a wide variety of applications.  Believers today have countless ways to study God's Word but although their hand is on the dish (the Bible) they won't so much as bring it to their mouth (digest and enjoy the nutrition of the Word).   The proverb has many applications.

Proverbs 18:4

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about deep thoughts:

Proverbs 18:4 (ESV)

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;

the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Have you ever listened to someone talk and not understood a thing they said? If you tell them you don’t understand they start all over and you are twice confused. It is even more complicated when you realize people may tell lies, stretch the truth and, or hide their real meaning. So that is why Solomon says the words of man’s mouth are deep waters. But, the second line of this proverb gives us great hope. True Biblical and Godly wisdom is as understandable and is as available as a bubbling brook. When men speak philosophical they like to make it confusing and complicated (and if they don't "like to" it still often is). They like others to listen to their refined speech and their hundred dollar words. But, when God speaks wisdom He puts the “cookies on the bottom shelf” for anyone to reach. Man’s words are high and lofty and say nothing. God’s wisdom is humble and unassuming and says everything. Hear wisdom and speak true wisdom.

The above proverb is a great comparison of Hebrew poetry.   In this proverb the first and second line do a poetic dance for us as we seek to understand Solomon's meaning.  The first line is talking about the mind of man and the second line is about the mind of God.   In the first line we understand that the mind of man might flow from the mouth of man but come out as deep waters - a metaphor for deep thinking.    Man likes to think deep ... at least he likes to think he thinks deep.   Man likes to disguise his lack of knowledge by pontification through grand words.   The converse of man, seen in the second line, is the Mind of God.   God's word is described as a fountain and a bubbling brook.   It is, of course, deep, or has depth, since it is the very wisdom of God.   However, despite the fact that it is the depth of the riches of God, it flows like a bubbling brook to all and springs fourth like a fountain.   If you are thirsty traveler, which would you like to come across on your journey, water in the deep or a fountain and/or bubbling brook?   In this proverb Solomon is once again telling us what he stated in Proverbs 8 and 9: God makes wisdom available to all who thirst.   Christ offered the women at the well water that would allow her to never thirst again.   Solomon is telling us that God is making himself available to all.

Proverbs 17:24

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about having our eyes on wisdom:

Proverbs 17:24 (NASBStr)

Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding,

But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

Proverbs 17:24 (AMP)

A man of understanding sets skillful and godly Wisdom before his face, but the eyes of a [self- confident] fool are on the ends of the earth.

Proverbs 17:24 (ESV)

The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,

but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

Do most people see what is right in front of them or do they simply miss it?   When we read the Gospels we might be amused by how much the religious leaders missed in regard to Jesus' teaching, as well as the disciples.   Perhaps the above proverb gives us some insight as to why this is so.   Solomon is telling us that wisdom is right in the front of us and those who have understanding (meaning they fear The Lord and have faith in Christ), but those who reject Christ and the fear of The Lord will miss Wisdom.   She is available to all, but the eyes of the flesh miss her.   Instead, the foolish person only sees what is far off and unattainable.  Because they trust in themselves, the fool can only see what he/she can find, or obtain ... on the ends of the earth.  Foolish people don't want to look right in front of them at God's Word.  They see Wisdom as foolish.  They see the Gospel message as too simple (1 Corinthians 1).  When we see God's Word, right in front of us, and we, by faith, believe in it, we can have understanding right in our face.   But, when people reject God's Word they will miss the truth and find themselves looking far into the future and never actually obtain what they see or envision.