PROVERBS LESSON 46
We will begin this lesson in Proverbs 29:1 "He, that being often
reproved hardeneth [his] neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that
without remedy."
We see a man who has been corrected over and over. Every time he
was corrected just made him more and more stubborn. "Hardeneth his
neck" Just meant stiff necked. His destruction will come suddenly.
"Without remedy" indicates that he is doomed, because he never
changed. Stubborn self-will has destroyed him.
Proverbs 29:2 "When the righteous are in authority, the people
rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."
We see, here, that the welfare of the people is better served
under the righteous than the wicked. A righteous man will rule justly.
There will be no prejudice or bribing. The truth will be the rule when
the righteous are in control. It will be fair to everyone. the poor,
the widows, and the homeless will be cared for. On the other hand,
when the wicked rule, the order of the day would be to make the wicked
ruler richer. Every decision he made would have a selfish motive. He
would have no regard for others' welfare, just his own.
Proverbs 29:3 "Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he
that keepeth company with harlots spendeth [his] substance."
A man who keeps company with a harlot is an embarrassment to his
entire family. His family cannot be proud of who their son is dating
and certainly does not want a grandchild from this union. A harlot is
one for pay, so the man will spend all of his money on this and wind
up poor, as well as being looked down upon.
Proverbs 29:4 "The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he
that receiveth gifts overthroweth it."
We see, here, the king (just king) brings proper judgement in the
land. The whole country is healthy in the rule of a just king. this
second half of verse 4 has to do with bribery. The bribe given this
evil king determines how he judges. A government based on such
selfishness as this can be easily overthrown.
Proverbs 29:5 "A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a
net for his feet."
We see in this flattery, a cover up of the real intentions of the
one doing the flattering. There is a hidden motive behind the
flattery. A common way of saying this is "whitewashing" it.
Proverbs 29:6 "In the transgression of an evil man [there is] a
snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice."
Sin (transgression) brings sorrow. Repeated sin becomes a habit,
and bad habits destroy a man. the snare is the habit of sin we get
into and then cannot shake; snared by our own actions and thoughts.
The man free from sin is not caught in a snare. He is set free from
the clutches of death and knows he has eternal life. This knowledge
brings peace and joy unspeakable.
Proverbs 29:7 "The righteous considereth the cause of the poor:
[but] the wicked regardeth not to know [it]."
The righteous man is not a respecter of persons, and he realizes
the plight of the poor and helps them whenever he can. The wicked
cares for no one but himself. Everything the wicked does has a selfish
purpose behind it.
Proverbs 29:8 "Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise
[men] turn away wrath."
Scornful men are never pleased with anyone or anything. These
scornful create rebellion and riots and can cause a whole city to be
blamed for it. Wise men are peacemakers.
Proverbs 29:9 "[If] a wise man contendeth with a foolish man,
whether he rage or laugh, [there is] no rest."
"Contendeth" means judge or defend, or plead in this instance.
This seems to be (whether in play or a legal problem) there is no way
to ever get it settled completely. It is not possible to persuade this
evil man to do what is right. He either gets mad, or laughs but does
not accept the truth.
Proverbs 29:10 "The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just
seek his soul."
We see that the upright are hated by men who are murderers,
thieves, and adulterers. The upright tries to help the bloodthirsty
repent and be saved. The bloodthirsty feels terrible guilt when they
compare themselves with the right, and they hate the upright. The
bloodthirsty love no one but themselves, and they will stop at no
lengths to get what they want, The just are always seeking to save a
soul, even of this bloodthirsty one.
Proverbs 29:11 "A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise [man]
keepeth it in till afterwards."
A fool talks all the time. He never has time to listen to anyone
else and learn, because he never stops talking. He likes to hear
himself. The wise man listens and considers everything. He never
speaks until he has fully considered everything.
Proverbs 29:12 "If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants
[are] wicked."
Whatever rules the ruler sets are rules for all the people. A
wicked ruler who listens to lies can expect all of his people to lie,
also.
Proverbs 29:13 "The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the
LORD lighteneth both their eyes."
We see, here, that if the poor and the deceitful come together
and try to settle their differences, the Lord will open their eyes and
let them see.
Proverbs 29:14 "The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his
throne shall be established for ever."
We see, here, a king who is not led astray by riches, but is
fair to all of his subjects, Rich and poor alike. We see a king with
such a good reputation with all of his subjects that his throne will
pass on to the descendents. Hs people will be pleased with their
government and will not want to overthrow it.
Proverbs 29:15 "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left
[to himself] bringeth his mother to shame."
Sometimes a whipping with the correction makes a more lasting
lesson. If a child is left to have his own way, he will wind up
spoiled; and no one enjoys being around a child who knows no
discipline. It shames his mother.
Proverbs 29:16 "When the wicked are multiplied, transgression
increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall."
When the morals of most of the people are bad, sin increases
rapidly. Leave them alone, and they will destroy each other. The
righteous receive the blessings of God and watch the failures of the
transgressors.
Proverbs 29:17 "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest;
yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."
When you train a son correctly, you have nothing to fear from his
behavior. A good son brings pleasure and good memories to his parents.
Proverbs 29:18 "Where [there is] no vision, the people perish:
but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he."
There are several ways to look at this. This could mean, if you
are not looking ahead and planning on accomplishing a goal in your
life. you have no life. A vision from God can be the will of God being
revealed to you in a supernatural way. To lose sight of the will of
God would certainly cause us to perish. The person who knows the will
of God and is living in that will is very happy and contented, knowing
they are pleasing God.
Proverbs 29:19 "A servant will not be corrected by words: for
though he understand he will not answer."
This is speaking of a servant who is disobedient. He can easily
hear what you are saying, but words will not move him. He understands
only rough treatment.
Proverbs 29:20 "Seest thou a man [that is] hasty in his words?
[there is] more hope of a fool than of him."
This is speaking of a man that speaks before he thinks. He is
always in trouble, because he speaks before he thinks. In James, we
are told to be swift to hear and slow to speak. If you talk all the
time, you cannot and will not take instruction, so you never improve.
The fool perhaps will listen and finally understand.
Proverbs 29:21 "He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a
child shall have him become [his] son at the length."
If the servant comes to you as a child and lives with you, he
becomes like a member of the family. You become fond of him, and it is
hard to think of him as a servant. He becomes a member of the family.
Proverbs 29:22 " An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious
man aboundeth in transgression."
This is describing the angry, furious man we have discussed
before. His fits of temper cause problems, not only for himself, but
for all those around him. His anger causes him to sin because anger,
hate, Jealousy, and murder are all related and all are sin.
Proverbs 29:23 "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour
shall uphold the humble in spirit."
God loves the humble. In fact, everyone loves the humble person,
and others build the humble up. A man with pride is so self-centered
that others are not fond of him; and, actually, his arrogance is what
brings him low in the sight of others.
Proverbs 29:24 "Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own
soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth [it] not."
To be partner with a thief makes you a thief, also. Even if you
did not steal, you would be guilty by association. We see, here, in
the last part of this, it is speaking of knowing of a sin and not
speaking out to reveal the sin. If you hide the sin, even if you did
not commit the crime, you would be an accomplice and punished along
with the criminal.
Proverbs 29:25 "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso
putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe."
Fear is lack of faith. If we have faith in the Lord, we have
nothing to fear. To fear man and what he can do to you is sin. Trust
in the Lord with all your heart, and He shall give you peace and rest.
Proverbs 29:26 "Many seek the ruler's favour; but [every] man's
judgment [cometh] from the LORD."
We see by this that the only true and lasting Judge is the Lord
Jesus Christ. He is the Judge of all the world and will Judge the
ruler and the ruled alike. Many seek to get special treatment on the
earth from a ruler by doing special things for him, but the Judge who
decides our fate for all of eternity is the Lord.
Proverbs 29:27 "An unjust man [is] an abomination to the just:
and [he that is] upright in the way [is] abomination to the wicked."
Christians, who are living upright before the Lord, are really
disappointed with those who will not accept the ways of the Lord. The
unjust's ways are not desirable at all to those who walk uprightly
before the Lord. The unjust look at the upright and actually feel
guilt for their own lives. I believe they hate the ways of the
upright, because their ways make them feel guilty of their sins.
Proverbs Lesson 46
1. One who is often reproved does what?
2. What will eventually happen to this person?
3. What does "without remedy" indicate?
4. When the righteous are in authority, the people________.
5. When the wicked rule, the people _________.
6. How will a righteous man rule?
7. What happens to those who spend their time with harlots?
8. The king of judgement establishes the __________.
9. A man who flatters his neighbor is really doing what?
10. Sin or transgression brings what?
11. What is meant by a snare?
12. Scornful men bring a city into a ________.
13. What does "contendeth" mean in verse 9?
14. If a wise and a foolish man contend with each other, what is the
outcome?
15. Who do the bloodthirsty hate?
16. What does "uttereth all his mind" mean?
17. What happens to the servants of a ruler who listens to lies?
18. What type of king establishes his rule forever?
19. What happens to the mother of a child who is never corrected?
20. Correct thy son, and he shall give thee___________.
21. Where there is no vision the people_________.
22. What can a vision of God reveal to you?
23. What type of servant is verse 19 talking about?
24. There is more hope for a fool than a man of _________ words.
25. A servant raised from a child in a home becomes a _________.
26. An angry and a furious man abound in __________.
27. Pride shall bring a man low. God loves the ________.
28. Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own ___________.
29. If you hide a crime, what does that make you?
30. Fear is what?
31. Trust in the Lord and He will bring you what?
32. Who is the Judge of all the world?
33. Why do the unjust hate the just?
Home