Bible Study:    May 9, 2006

Proverbs 22

1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Wouldn't it be nice if people thought of you as a good person, one that can be trusted, who deals with integrity.  It is so much better than just being a rich person.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
I would say that we should always look at one another as brother and sister rather than down, or up, at the social class scale.
3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. 
Keep an eye on evil that may come.  Hide from evil is an excellent word.  Don't let it find you!
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Repeated again for our understanding.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. 
Don't spend time in places that can cause temptation to follow.  Don't risk relationships with others that can lead you astray.  Train your children not to fall into peer pressure or into traps that are dangerous.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
This is my hope as a parent.  At some point, children will want to make their own decisions, often wrong, but they have that reminder that will again surface one day and lead them to understanding.  I trust God's word, otherwise one might go nuts.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 
If you want to serve another, then by all means, borrow money.  But the other side of the story is we shouldn't lend either, because that is a trap also.  Better to just give it away and if it comes back, then you got a gift.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
Vain things are of no value.  Spreading or doing evil has no value. 
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. 
There shouldn't be hungry people near a Christian.  There shouldn't be un-met needs that we are aware of and guess what, we should be aware of the needs.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. 
We should not feel the need to drag along those that want to always play the devil's advocate.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. 
Jesus is the friend of those that do the will of the Father.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
God will protect his word and the knowledge of it.
13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. 
We have to face the dangers in the world.  Living the life of a hermit is not the lifestyle that Christians are called to do.  Bummer!
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein. 
Prophetically speaking, in the end times we can read in the book of Revelations that many will be seduced by the great whore.  We will here wonderful things, but it of course leads to death.
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 
We are all foolish to some extent, but the rod of correction helps to keep the wise on track.  Unfortunately, not all are wise.  Endless speeches don't have the same affect as punishment.  Its God's way and He uses it on me frequently!  I'm a bad boy.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Lack of conscience is a bad thing.  Taking advantage of the down and out is despicable.  This is what drug dealers do.  Drugs are a way to oppress the poor, all the time making themselves rich.
17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 
Bow down thine ear.  We can grasp the meaning, but what does this mean?
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
Continuing…
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
Continuing…
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Continuing…
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? 
Continuing…
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
OK
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
Rich man and Lazarus again!
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Don't hang
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
I think this supports be ignorant of things that are not edifying or are obviously sinful.  Don't hang out with people who get furious and gossip about others.  Stay away.
26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
Handling money is a great way to get into problems.  Stear clear of money issues with others, because…
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
They might take your bed.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. 
Why?
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. 
Hard work pays.  Are you hard-working?  Am I?

KJV

Next time:     Chapter 22