Proverbs 28-29

Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28:2,3,12,15,16&28 all deal with evil rulers

• Proverbs 28:2 Perhaps the best example of this contrast between a rebellious country and a discerning ruler is Northern Israel’s rebellion against Rehoboam (1 Kings 13:33-34), and Israel’s blessedness in the reigns of David (1 Chronicles 17) and Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:29-31).
• Proverbs 28:12&28 An example of the righteous hiding during the reign of the wicked is Ahab and Elijah (1 Kings 17:2-4)

Proverbs 28:6,8,11,20,&22 talk about the rich and the poor

• Proverbs 28:6 How blessed are the poor in spirit, because they are blameless in God’s kingdom. (Matthew 5:3)
• Proverbs 28:11 The poor in spirit are blessed by seeing earthly riches (indeed all things) from the perspective of God’s kingdom. (Matthew 5:3)
• Proverbs 28:20 Good and faithful servants will be put in charge of many things, and share in their Master’s happiness. The punishment of those eager to get rich is is the vacuity of earthly wealth. (Matthew 25:21&23)

Proverbs 28:1 Why do the wicked flee when not being pursued? Is is fear of man? Or is it guilt before God?

Proverbs 28:5 Hungering and thirsting for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) leads to the breastplate that we need to protect our heart from being misled or attacked by lies, temptations, etc (Ephesians 6:14). Evildoers lack this basic piece of armor.

Proverbs 28:13 If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us. (1 John 1:9)

Proverbs 28:14 An example of heart-hardening is the Pharisees whom Jesus confronted, who led the people astray. (John 12:40) 

Proverbs 28:18 God has shown us what is good, to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. (Micah 6:8)

Proverbs 28:19 People obsessed with the fantasies in electronic games will have the fruit of poverty.

Proverbs 28:24 Robbing one’s parents definitely violates the fifth commandment.  (Exodus 20:12)

Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29:1 Jesus lamented over Jerusalem’s refusal to repent despite the prophets sent to her and mourned over her judgment. (Matthew 23:37-38) This happened about 40 years later in 70 AD when the Romans burned and tore down the temple and destroyed the city.

Proverbs 29:2 shows a slight variation to 28:12&28. Groaning if they can’t hide like Elijah.

Proverbs 29:3 was illustrated by the parable of the prodigal son. (Matthew 15:11-32) However, in that parable, the older son, although he obeyed his father in all things, did not bring joy to his father’s heart because he did not love his younger brother and rejoice at his redemption.

Proverbs 29:4 presents the contrast between justice and bribes. It is more of a cultural reflection, and more specifically that a culture in which bribes are normal and expected and acceptable will be unstable. The King will bring stability if the culture will respect justice and reject bribery. This is part of a prescription for good government. God established government for a purpose (Romans 13:1-7). Their reason for existence is for the good of their subjects, to bring punishment on wrongdoers. Those who use the power of government to obtain bribes are not doing this, and tear it down, and implicitly will ultimately face judgment.

Proverbs 29:9&11 In court, a fool will be put in his place, but he will be enraged. If the Judge gives a verdict, the wise will calm the waters. 29:9 is reflected in 1 John 3:12. Abel did not take Cain to court, but God’s giving Abel approval and not Cain sent him off the deep end.

Proverbs 29:13 The Lord does not play favorites - everyone has eyes. This is reflected in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:45). God is no respecter of persons. Equal treatment before the law makes sense. Jesus held the rich and poor to the same moral standard, but told the rich young ruler to give all his possessions to the poor and follow Him. (Matthew 19:21) Proverbs also sets out God’s perspective on worldly vs. spiritual wealth. (28:6&11) 

Proverbs 29:14 Based on this proverb, we can expect that in the final judgment, the King of kings will judge fairly. (Revelation 20:4, 11-13)

Proverbs 29:18 The importance of giving and receiving wise instruction. The Bible is a fount of wisdom. One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is wisdom. Not only are believers expected to let it bubble over, they are expected to seek out the Holy Spirit to receive it. What a blessing awaits us if we heed the words of Jesus! (John 13:17)

Proverbs 29:23 echoes 16:18. Matthew 5:3 has Jesus revealing the same concept.

Proverbs 29:26 Justice ultimately comes from the Lord. Human rulers may try to dispense justice, but no one is perfect except Jesus. How does God reconcile mercy and justice? Does mercy to the wrongdoer deny justice to the injured party? Does justice for the injured party deny mercy to the offender? In human courts we try to get restitution where that is possible, but what about bodily harm? Saul of Tarsus did not throw stones at Stephen, but he implicitly approved his stoning. (Acts 7:52) Yet Paul went on to preach the gospel to a large part of the Roman Empire. Where was justice for Stephen? It was God’s mercy that transformed Saul’s life, but He also said that Paul would suffer greatly in His service. (Acts 9:16) Stephen’s life was a seed sown that sprouted into a worldwide evangelism ministry, perhaps because of his final words. (Acts 7:60)

Proverbs 29:27 The righteous and the wicked are in a mutual dysadmiration pact.