Proverbs 26-27

Proverbs 26 deals primarily with three subjects: verses 1-12 - fools (and foolishness); verses 13-16 - sluggards (and laziness); and verses 17-28 - evil speakers (and gossips). In the New Testament we read that people who are these kinds of people cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10); but we we also find that people who do these things, the works of the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). The inference in Galatians is that if we do not have the Holy Spirit outworking His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22- 25), then even if we believe the fundamental doctrines of the faith, we are living in the flesh. 

Proverbs 26:1-12 mostly deals with fools, except for verse twelve which warns of something worse. These verses deal with the natural consequences of foolishness. The New Testament has a number of passages dealing with spiritual foolishness.

• Matthew 25:1-13 In this parable, the foolish virgins did not take oil with them, and missed the wedding banquet. In the context of Matthew 24, Jesus is talking about being ready for His return. Why did the groom say to the bride’s attendants who didn’t bring oil that He didn’t know them? Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit; the foolish virgins wanted to be part of the ceremony and the celebration banquet, but not participate in bringing light. 
• Luke 11:37-41 Jesus called the Pharisees foolish because they adhered to external cleanliness practices but their interior lives were filthy. They didn’t connect that while people only see external actions, God sees the heart. Jesus was rather hard on the Pharisees on several occasions, and called them things worse than fools.
• Like 12:16-21 In the parable of the rich fool, God calls the man a fool who built bigger barns to store his surplus, to then retire to a life of ease. God asked the man a simple question - when you die tonight, who will get your stuff? He didn’t say the fool died intestate, only that during his life he stored up for himself but was not rich towards God. (See also Matthew 6:19-21) He was a fool because he didn’t realize that he couldn’t take it with him.
• Luke 20:1-8 When Jesus  responded to the Pharisees’ question with a question, He probably had in mind the advice of Proverbs 26:4-5. He had earlier identified them as fools because they thought that God didn’t see or care about their interior life. Now He stumps them with a question that goes straight to their heart. They refused to repent when John the Baptist preached, so He wasn’t going to give them an answer now. Their folly prevented them from recognizing Him, whom the prophets they studied fulfilled.
• Romans 1:21-22 Paul, speaking of ancient idolators, referred to as fools those who knew God through His creation, including both His power and His nature and character, and turned to worship the creation instead. They did not thank God nor glorify Him even though they knew better. Paul goes on to say (in chapter 2) that anyone who passes judgment on someone else for doing the same things that they do is just as foolish and will reap God’s judgment.
• 1 Corinthians 1:20-27 & 3:18-19 In these passages, Paul contrasts the wisdom of man with the foolishness of God. His point is that man does not see the spiritual dimension, unless God reveals it, which He has in Christ. The creator dying to redeem His creation seems like foolishness on the human level, but it is God’s wisdom. Anyone who is wise by the world’s standards but rejects this is the true fool at the deepest level.
• Galatians 3:1-3 Paul asks who misled them into thinking that the Christian walk, which they began through faith in Christ crucified for our sins, can be completed and perfected by following rules pertaining to the flesh. Legalism, the same disease that ruined the Pharisees, was threatening the Galatian Christians. They were being foolish and in danger of becoming fools who judged solely on the basis of externals.

Proverbs 26:11 is quoted  in 2 Peter 2:22, about a dog, after a bath, returning to its filth. Peter’s point, based on verses 20-21, is that someone who actually experiences salvation through faith in Christ and then returns to the world’s lifestyle is worse off.  See also Hebrews 6:4-6.

Proverbs 26:12 Someone who thinks he knows everything is worse than a fool. Know-it-alls aren’t very popular either.  Paul took the opposite approach. (1 Corinthians 2:2)

 

Proverbs 26:13-16 deals with laziness. Although acedia (spiritual sloth) is one of the seven deadly sins, there is not much mention of it in the New Testament. It is a subtle sin, that of not taking the initiative to develop one’s spiritual life, just letting things slide. An insidious way the devil has of seducing believers into ineffectiveness. 

Paul did say to the Thessalonians that anyone who would not work should not be allowed to eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). This laziness seems to have been in the context of a communal arrangement for living, working, and sharing. This is the challenge for all communities that have all things in common. Most communes, start with the best intentions and commitment, but usually last at most a generation or two. Both social welfare programs and communist governments have the same built-in weakness. This is human nature, apart from the higher challenge of spiritual sloth.

Proverbs 26:17-28 Evil speech and gossip are intermixed in this passage. Paul mentions gossip six times in his epistles, without explanation, and with the implicit understanding that everyone disapproves of it. The problem is that it is so easy to gossip without realizing it. So are many other sins.  Jesus spoke to the quarrelsome aspect of life in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:9, 21-26), and dealing with enemies (Matthew 5:38-48). He also addressed speaking oaths (Matthew 5:33-37) although this was not in the context of evil speech, but of lying and making an oath to try to convince people of your sincerity. In all of these cases, His point was that life in God’s kingdom is a fundamentally different nature than natural human behavior; it is a Holy Spirit-empowered embodiment of God.

Proverbs 26:27 is a metaphor for gossip and evil speech. It returns with vengeance on the perpetrator.

Proverbs 27

Proverbs 27:1-2 Our plans for tomorrow will possibly collide with God’s plans, and or the devil’s opposition. But the central injunction is to not boast, but allow others to provide praise of our actions, rather than boasting ourselves. This underlies a spiritual concern, that of applying God’s standards to our lives, rather than our own ideas of good and bad. 

Proverbs 27:5-6 correction and affection are interwoven in our lives. A rebuke from a friend may wound our spirit, but beware of the person who is excessively flattering and always complimenting us. A true friend does not want to let you go in the wrong direction (metaphorically). Someone who always tells you how wonderful everything you do is, likely has ulterior motives, and may be a secret enemy.

Proverbs 27:8&10 Running away from home does not solve interior problems of the heart, nor does it enable us to escape from God. (Luke 15:11-32)

Proverbs 27:17 Encourage men’s friendships. (See 27:5-6)

Proverbs 27:18 The statement that whoever protects their master will be honored seems a bit inconsistent with John 18:10-11. Peter tried to defend Jesus and was rebuked. But of course, he later was honored. (Acts 2:16-41) Honor does not always come immediately.

Proverbs 27:19 The mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Matthew 12:34) Beyond our words, everything we do flows from the heart. (Proverbs 4:23)

Proverbs 27:21 The test is to see if we understand God’s role in everything that happens, or take credit for it ourselves, instead of glorifying God.

Proverbs 27:22 A fool and folly are linked more closely than grain and chaff.

Proverbs 27:23-27 Both spiritually and physically, attention to details is important.

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.

Proverbs 24-25

Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24:5-6 War on earth and spiritual wars are won through wise advice. With wise advisors come many ideas - how can we decide which are best? Pray! Paul described the armor of God for spiritual warfare as including the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17) Paul does not mention advisors in this passage, because earlier in the epistle he explained that they are as the church one body. Implicit in this is that the local church body is a unit in God’s army fighting the forces of evil together. 

Proverbs 24:7 Fools should know enough to keep their mouths shut. They have built their lives on sinking sand - maybe someone will rescue them. (Matthew 7:24-27) That someone is Jesus if they will call on Him. The reason they are fools is that they do not.

Proverbs 24:10-12 speaks to times of great peril, for example during the Holocaust. Some helped the Jews being taken off to concentration camps, but relatively few. The nation of Germany ultimately paid the price. It took time and a war that claimed millions of lives, but there was eventually a tribunal at Nuremberg of the surviving leaders. 

Proverbs 24:17-18 Do not gloat over your enemies’ misfortunes. Pray for their redemption. (Matthew 5:38-47)

Proverbs 24:21-22 Honor and respect both the Lord and the King of kings - there will not only be a final judgment day, but in this life He can bring sudden calamity. In the context of the proverbs, one should also honor and respect earthly political authority, even when they rebel against God and His standards. The Lord will hold them accountable. (For example, Acts  12:21-23) We should pray for them. Daniel respected and prayed for Nebuchadnezzar and God got his attention. (Daniel 4)

Proverbs 24:23-25 Judges and juries hold court for the sole purpose of determining guilt and innocence, and sifting truth from lies. Not only do they lose any reason for existence if they do not, but they are accountable to the One who sits on the throne of Heaven, in addition to being cursed in this world. 

Proverbs 24:28-29 Don’t invent a reason for a fight with those near you. Even if they have gossiped about or slandered you, follow Jesus’ advice. (Matthew 5:38-48)

Proverbs 24:30-34 Time is precious and pays dividends on investments. Spiritual investment or spiritual poverty result in fruit or weeds in our lives, respectively. Prioritize important things in your daily schedule. Focus on what is important, and act accordingly. How much insight the Lord gave Solomon to write this about social media three thousand years ago!

Proverbs 25

The tongue can never be tamed, only harnessed: 25:12,14,15,20,23,28.

Proverbs 25:2-3 How do wisdom, responsibility, and grace interact in finding deep truth (root causes) and making things right? How do justice and redemption interact? The heart of Jesus for us, and for others, reconciles all these seemingly incompatible values. We understand, as Solomon did not, that it was through His blood. But the heart of the King of kings can never be fully fathomed by us.

Proverbs 25:4-5 Wicked leaders purporting to be part of God’s kingdom will ultimately be removed, so that His reign will be rightly established in our lives.

Proverbs 25:6-7 Jesus illustrated the concept of self-chosen humility preceding promotion in His parable of seating at a banquet. (Matthew 14:7-11) Being humbled by the King of kings would be worse.

Proverbs 25:11-12 Contrast the rebuke of a wise judge in a listening ear to a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. (11:22) Context and appropriateness are very important for our statements.

Proverbs 25:14 was alluded to by Jude in verse 12 of his epistle. It is a jump to go from people boasting about gifts never given to slandering and destroying things they do not understand, but they are going the same direction on the same road - away from Truth and Life.

Proverbs 25:18 Respect the ninth commandment. (Exodus 20:16) Lying is like attacking a person with a weapon. You may injure them, but you will start a fight that you might lose.

Proverbs 25:20 is a puzzlement. Most likely it means that when people are grieving deeply, it is best to say nothing other than “I’m sorry for your loss” and sit with them quietly. Job’s friends did this at first (Job 2:12-13). Sadly, that didn’t last.

Proverbs 25:21-22 Jesus cited this in the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5:38-48) He didn’t include the part about heaping burning coals on the enemy’s head. 

Proverbs 25:24 Solomon’s contentious wives must have been widely known (21:9&19) since Hezekiah’s team recorded this over 200 years later.

Proverbs 25:26 A righteous person who yields to the wicked is a life that has promise to refresh others but doesn’t because their goodness is cancelled by evil they have yielded to. This might seem contrary to what Jesus did in accepting crucifixion rather than confronting and destroying Satan and his evil henchmen, but Jesus had a unique mission in bringing redemption through His blood. This also might seem contrary to Jesus’ advice in the sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5:38-48), but Jesus was there focusing on loving the unlovable. We should love our enemies in a way that does not compromise our own integrity and ability to refresh others.

Proverbs 25:28 Lack of self-control in alcohol, money, sex, hobbies, etc. indicates a broken life, a character damaged by inner weakness, valuing appetites over values, and/or unmet emotional needs.

Proverbs 22-23

Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22:1 To have a good name written in the Lamb’s book of life far transcends mere earthly riches. (Revelation 20:19)

Proverbs 22:6 seems like a promise that is often unfulfilled. Many children of godly parents choose as adults to walk away from Jesus. They have free will. Having a godly upbringing increases the environmental factors encouraging faith, but ultimately each person must exercise their own free will to choose to follow Jesus. 

Proverbs 22:9 God’s blessing of those who are generous to the poor is repeated in Proverbs several times (e.g., 21:13,22:22-23) and by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:4). Does this extend to nations? Does God’s blessing fall on nations that tax all residents and then provide welfare in various forms for the poor? It seems that taxpayers have no choice, and would not qualify for the blessing, since Gods looks at the heart. Voters and politicians who advocate for these programs and enact them might claim the blessing, except that they are using other peoples’ money, even though they would (presumably) pay their fair share of taxes. It seems that this promise applies more to private charities and the individuals who donate to them, and those who do the legwork of working directly with the poor. Giving to the panhandler on the street would seem to qualify, with the disclaimer that one doesn’t know if they will spend money thus received on drugs or alcohol rather than food and shelter. There is not a simple answer.

Proverbs 22:11 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:9) The King of kings is their friend.

Proverbs 22:14 This verse implies that when the Lord is angry with a man, He will allow them to be ensnared by the words of an adulterous woman, leading to further sin. Most likely this implies that man will be trapped by her sinful lifestyle, buying into it or at the very least unable to muster the resources to escape it, leading to consequences, perhaps destruction. This seems inconsistent with redemption, implying there is a point where God is so angry that He decides someone is beyond redemption. I have a hard time with this, other than maybe God confronts this man through the complete bankruptcy of his life, in which all he cares about (his marriage, relationships with children and friends, his career) is destroyed, and then he might turn back to God. 

Proverbs 22:17-19 Thirty sayings that might summarize all of the preceding content are introduced with this admonition: Trust in the Lord. (3:5-6)

Proverbs 22:21 Do not bear false witness. (Exodus 20:16; Matthew 5:35-37) Even if not under oath, tell the truth and (as Jesus says) say yes or no simply, without terms and conditions. But tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. 

Proverbs 22:22-23 This is more direct than not giving to the poor. Exploiting them, taking advantage of them legally, means directly confronting the Lord, and He will inflict poetic justice as both prosecuting attorney and judge.  (Leviticus 24:17-21) Don’t get in that kind of dispute with the Lord.

 

Proverbs 22:24-25 We tend to let our friends lifestyles rub off onto us, and the temptation to be easily angered and hot-tempered runs directly counter to God’s grace and gentleness. The blessing of meekly inheriting the earth would thereby be missed. (Matthew 5:5)

Proverbs 22:26-27 Don’t co-sign promissory notes for others. In effect, you are taking out the loan yourself.

Proverbs 22:28 Do not steal property by moving boundary markers. Another form of theft, but the invocation of ancestors indicates stealing another person’s inheritance. Don’t!

Proverbs 22:29 A skilled workman is honored by the King. Implicit in his skill is hard work to follow the trade to which they are called. (for example Exodus 31:1-11) God will not waste their talent and devotion working for people who don’t appreciate it.

Proverbs 23

Rules of decorum  also show respect and humility, and warn us against overreach. (23:1-3,5,6-,22) Rulers and the rich put on a show of hospitality, but it is manipulative. Respect their position, but don’t covet their stuff. We must show respect in our hearts for the Lord’s table. He invites us openly and without hidden motives to partake of His supper. Participating with the right heart attitude is essential. (1 Corinthians 10:14-22; 11:23-34) 

Proverbs 23:4-6 The riches of faith will result in being carried off in the rapture, to be with the Lord, unlike earthly riches. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Proverbs 23:10-11further reinforces injunctions against theft of inheritance (22:28), especially of orphans, because Jesus is their defender.

Proverbs 23:13-14 Discipline with the rod will save children from death. (See also 22:6&15; Hebrews 12:4-11.)

Proverbs 23:20 likens drunkards and gluttons in only one aspect, that laziness and drowsiness will result in poverty. By contrast, 23:29-35 warns about consumption of wine and mixed drinks with detailed descriptions of the outcome: bodily woes, being poisoned (mind, body, and soul), hallucinations, nausea, numbness to pain, and obliviousness to the process.

Proverbs 23:22-25 Bodily ills and disappointments of old age (by contrast to alcohol abuse) can be offset by the joy of interaction with attentive younger generations.