Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28

1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. 2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue. 3 A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food. 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them. 5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely. 6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. 7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father. 8 Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor. 9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. 10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance. 11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out. 12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves. 13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 14 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. 15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. 16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. 17 If one is burdened with the blood of another, he will be a fugitive until death; let no one help him. 18 Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall. 19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. 20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. 21 To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong. 22 A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him. 23 Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue. 24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “That is no transgression,” is a companion to a man who destroys. 25 A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched. 26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. 27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse. 28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Devotional

Introduction

I really, really hope that you have not walked away from any of these devotionals saying "Where is God?" But just in case, I wanted us to be very mindful today of where God sits in all this talk about wisdom. In fact, we may not even talk about the topic of wisdom much at all. It is more what happens when we fear God. Indeed, one of the results of fearing the Lord is the continual transformation to become more wise. However, other things do occur, things that we should definitely focus on as we study proverbs

Study

1) We have a relationship with God (vs.9,25)

"If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination." (vs.9)

"A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched." (vs.25)

When we follow the law, we can actually go to him in prayer - when we don't, we may be able to do it, but it is an "abomination" to him. And we can honestly see why. It's like trying to have a loving relationship with your parents with proper communication, and you are disobeying them. What is the point if you are not going to love and respect them as they deserve.

In his great grace, God allows us to have a relationship with him. "In Jesus' name" is often what we pray, because through Jesus we can actually come to God. Through Jesus we can have a right relationship with him. We do mess up, but in our repentance - led by the spirit - and God;s gracious forgiveness, we can have an open line of communication.

Perhaps I am taking verse 25 out of context, but when we talk about enrichment from God, it doesn't always mean physical riches. I think God can bless us, give us a greater inheritance as his children. In our relationship with God, he gives us himself, he gives us eternal life, he blesses us with hope and security in the life to come. Our relationship is so amazing, that even when we did not earn or deserve it, God allowed us to be his children and even get and inheritance. Praise the Lord!

2) We are delivered from evil (vs.14,18,26)

"Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity." (vs.14)

"Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall." (vs.18)

"Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered." (vs.26)

In verse 14, we are blessed if we fear the Lord - and we will not "fall into calamity" as the stubborn do. I think we can infer then, from verse 18, that this blessing comes in the way of deliverance. We are delivered from evil.

For a more literal representation of this, you might consider the Israelites slavery in Egypt. In light of God's covenants with generations before, delivering the people from Egypt was apart of his blessing to the Israelites. It would lead to a greater blessing of the Promised Land. But ultimately, such a rescue is representing the greater rescue we faced from sin through the blood of our Passover Lamb. The Egyptians fell because of their sin, but we, like the Israelites, are being delivered, if only we would put our faith in God. In this deliverance, we are truly blessed, because we are no longer enslaved to sin.

Using our normal terminology from Proverbs, those who turn to evil and trust in it are "fools" (vs.26). They believe in their own hearts, which to the core are rotten and sinful. Remember, that one of the benefits to knowing God, is also being delivered from the folly of following evil.

3) We become more like God/given characteristics of God (vs.4-5)

"Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely." (vs.4-5)

In verse 4 to 5, we are given one of the attributes of our God - justice. Those who fear the Lord will understand true justice. Justice to God would be provided the wicked with consequences. It would mean standing up for the disadvantaged - particularly those disadvantaged by the actions of the wicked.

As well as providing consequences, we do not praise the wicked people for their actions. Romans 1:32 says this:

"Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." (Romans 1:32)

When we approve what they do, we are wicked ourselves. It is as if we are committing them ourselves. We must watch what we allow to happen, because we are sinning just like the sinner. Ephesians 5:11 offers the alternate course of action:

"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." (Ephesians 5:11)

We are to expose the evil in our world. It is not something we should justify in any way. Remember, the foolish hearts in our world are darkened, they are blind to their own sin. We must show people how evil they truly are.

Justice is one of the very attributes of God that we receive in fearing the Lord. We know what is right and wrong and we act accordingly, including dealing punishment where it must take place. It is blessing to become more like God, so thank him for whatever attributes he has blessed you with and thank him for his continual transformation of your heart and mind.

Conclusion

I hope that throughout this study, you have realised the extensive blessings the Lord bestows upon us as we fear him. In proverbs, you might easily become blinded, seeing only the delight of wisdom, but the Lord has granted us adoption, deliverance and even attributes of his very own nature.

The Bible tells us to "taste and see that the Lord is good" and if you read Proverbs 28 in this way, you might see how richly and greatly he has blessed all of us who believe in his son. Praise the Lord!