Bible Study:  Proverbs 18, 19    March 28, 2006

Proverbs 18

1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
What is good about the KJV is the need to stop and consider the words and meaning of the phrase.  The key word is "meddling" with wisdom, not embracing it.  Strong's concordance actually says "to be obstinate with" or "meddling."   How do we meddle with widom? 

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
A fool is only interested in himself and his heart.  Selfishness is always at the heart of a fool.

3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
….and with disgrace, then comes shame is how that sentence ends.  Do we have shame regarding our past actions?

4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
 Notice the contrast…  Deep waters actually means something bad, but a flowing brook is something good.  This is a great example of feeling the meaning of scripture versus just reading the words.

5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
Jesus told us to accept the poor and not show partiality towards the rich.  That is not the fruit of the spirit. Reach out to all.

6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 
Foolish and wicked people constantly want strife and for others to be beaten.  Look at what happened to Jesus.   Why would he die for people that would call for his death?

7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Gossip is evil – period.  We must be careful.  Even passing along information can cause others to stumble.  We can even trick ourselves.  Imagine the following. "Sister needs prayers because she got in a fight with her husband and blah, blah, blah."  Looks nice because we said prayer, but really we are just passing along gossip.

9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
 I believe that honest hard work is beginning to be another lost art in America.

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Praise God for his salvation.  This is similar to Psalm 91.  We must run to the Lord.  We should not wait for him to come to us.

11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Riches are a great danger to salvation.  Being rich is like playing with fire.  Only a few can adequately handle it.  I am sure glad I don't have to worry about having too much money.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
 We've read this before.  It is so true, but we should pray privately for those that are proud.

13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
 Listen before your mouth starts uttering answers.  Please.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
WE can be happy in our afflictions or demoralized.  If we are down, then we are in danger.

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. 
Yes – gain knowledge, because that is prudent and wise.

16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
This is a bad thing…  It is called a bribe.

17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
 Acting or answering first may seem right, but balance in judgement is needed and sometimes that comes after the fact.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. 
This isn't gambling, this is finding a way to resolve conflict when two parties just can't seem to agree.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Lets take care not to offend our brothers, and sisters…

20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
We have heard of this often.

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
We should appreciate our wives.  Let us pray for them often and thank God for his provision.

23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. 
Again, there is a  prideful connotation associated with the rich.

24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 
The understanding here is that we must overly ingratiate ourselves to some friends, but some are closer (or better) than others. Commentaries on this last verse seem to disagree somewhat.  I think it is interesting that friends, plural, are differentiated from, friend" singular.

Proverbs 19

1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
 I like the obvious ones

2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.  
"Hasteth with his feet" means to be rash.

3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
I may not do much right, but at least I know that I am going to loose in a battle of wills with the Lord.

4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
Do you see the contrast here?  We love the wrong things when we are friends with the rich; and our love is weak when we cannot love the poor.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
Bribes.  Bribes are a bad thing

7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
The poor are often ridiculed and avoided.

8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
 The meaning is that it just doesn't fit.  Joyous delight does not fit with foolishness, in the same way that servants rule over princes

11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Ignore the little things, and mostly, they are all little things.

12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
No worky, no eaty,

16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
As you have done unto the least of these…..

18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Punish/Instruct/teach and don't give in because they cry.  God punishes us for our good so that we may have eternal rewards.  If we love our children, we will punish them with a switch in the hopes that they won't later be punished with the flames of death.

19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. 
Avoid evil by reverence of God and his commandments.

24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.  
Laziness is not a good thing.

25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.  Correction will yield different results.  But it certainly lets you know where the individual is at.

26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.  

27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.  
Let us not be foolish and let us be diligent in our walk with God.

KJV

Next time:
  Finish chapter 19 and start 20 & maybe chapter 21