¹⁹ A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright is an open highway.

• A lazy person is one who doesn't have the gumption to get up and do the tasks at hand.  Now, we are not talking about those who are ill or have disabilities that prevent them from getting to do their chores.  In today's society, you might a lazy person sleeping when things need to get done, watching TV excessively or other things that would stop them from completing the daily tasks that need to be done in life.  It is almost like they have a brier patch of thorns surrounding them and they are blindly trapped in the comfort of their laziness.  Thus, life becomes a constant stream of trouble of which he is too lazy to correct.  If the work has to get done, then someone else will have to do it.  God considers laziness a sin.
  
  

Charles Spurgeon once preached a sermon on "The Hedge of Thorns and the Plain Way," using this scripture verse as his text.  He centered on spiritual laziness.  He stated that a spiritual lazy person was too lethargic to argue against the truth that condemns him, even though he may nod in assent, but that nod is a nod of sleep.  He then stated:

• His spiritual life is lived as if he were asleep.
• He once gave an effort to forsake sin but did not follow through.
• His spiritual life is a hard way, full of thorns.
• Spiritual things seem long and dreary.
• The Christian life is full of thorny perplexities, problems, and misery.
• He may find that his way to heaven is blocked.

Life for the righteous wise person runs much smoother and more efficient.  They are hard workers, like that of the ant as we have studied in Proverbs 6.

²⁰ Sensible children bring joy to their father; foolish children despise their mother.

• Sensible or wise children who have been taught godly wisdom by godly parents will become wise themselves unless they choose to become rebellious toward the correction of their parents.  A wise or sensible child brings joy to the father because many blessings come from raising a godly child.  As such, the father takes pleasure in how his child grew into a wise adult. 
• A foolish child who rebels against their parents brings disgrace to both parents, but it will bring grief to the mother because she is the one who spent most of the time with the child nurturing him or her in all aspects of life, while the father taught them the wisdom that they needed.  

²¹ Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path.

• A good word for foolishness here is folly, which means lack of good sense and discernment.  The fool in his folly finds joy in his own lack of good sense.  Sadly, they will continue to experience bitter consequences because of the choices they make - yet, they will still continue in their folly.
• A sensible man, or one of understanding walks in wisdom - the godly wisdom that we have learned about througout Proverbs.

²² Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.

• There is wisdom in the counsel of many.  This is especially true when someone is overwhelmed and confused.  For fear of making a rash, unwise decision, it is wise to go to others who are wise or wiser to help you sort out if what you are planning on doing is the right thing to do.  Even when you have made the decision to move forward, it is still wise to get validation from other wise people before you make that first move.  As such, you stand a much better chance of success.

²³ Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!

• A word needed at the right time has the potential to bring joy to the receiver who needed it at just that particular time.  In other words, not only are the words spoken important, but the timing of when the words are spoken is a powerful force in ministering life to someone.

²⁴ The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind.

• As one gains more and more wisdom, life keeps improving because of the accummulations of right decisions made along the way.  In the spiritual sense, the more we learn and walk in godly wisdom, the closer we draw to the Lord while we live from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18).  Heaven and the things of the Lord become more real and hell becomes more and more distant behind us. 

²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he protects the property of widows.

• Those who choose pride as a way of life sets themselves up by living a life against God (Jms 4:6 and 1 Pet 5:5).  Remember, God calls those who walk in pride  as an abomination.  That was the same sin that tripped Satan up, and will be the one that will send him into the Eternal Lake of Fire for all eternity.  God will not permit these kinds of people to live in their pride for so long before He steps to tear down.  
• The opposite of the proud are the needy.  In that, widows are probably the most needy.  If young enough, these widows are still raising children, plus running a household.  As an older widow, she has no one to take care of her, and her dependence is completely upon God.  Here God tells us the He protects and watches over the widows. 

²⁶ The Lord detests evil plans, but he delights in pure words.

• Wickedness begins by the thoughts and intents of our hearts.  Out of that comes action.  If we devise evil in our heart, God judges us by our heart as well as our actions.  As Proverbs says:  Out of the heart the mouth speaks.  Therefore, our hearts need to be thinking good thoughts in order for good thoughts to come out of our mouths.

²⁷ Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live.

• Here is where you see the integrity of a person.  Greed for money or power has brought many people down.  Sadly, many people can be bought, such as accepting a bribe for gain for themselves.  This kind of greed not only hurts the person, but eventually tears the whole family down. 
• The integritous person hates bribes and sets up a standard for himself in that he will not be bribed for any reason.  God blesses those who live by the wisdom of their integrity. 

²⁸ The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.

• Wisdom says:  Think before you speak!  Don't be impulsive to react by speaking before you give thought to what you are going to say.  
• The wicked could be either one who impulsively speaks whatever comes out of the mouth without thinking, which is how a fool would talk, or the wicked could also be one who speaks forth evil that is devised by the  evil in their heart - again out of the heart, the mouth speaks. 

²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.

• Keeping this verse in the context of prayer, James 4:8 tells us that God draws near to those who draw near to Him.  Then in the next chapter (Jms 5:6) it says that the prayers of a righteous person availeth much.  God honors the prayers of the righteous who purposes to draw near to the Lord.  On the other hand, those  who pray contrary to the will of God, which we know God considers wicked or evil, that God will not listen to those prayers. In that way, God is far from those who think contrary to the will of God or wickedly.

³⁰ A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.

• Have you ever been worried or concerned about something to where you have actually become sick?  If you were ill and then you go to the doctor to only find out that everything is fine?  Suddenly, you feel better.  You find yourself smiling again to where you have a cheerful heart.  So what I am saying is that good news makes the heart so much lighter.  It is amazing how good or bad news can actually affects you physically. 
  
  That is why we need to continuously encourage ourselves with the Word of God.  The Word of God brings life and whatever we need in life.  We take a promise in the Word and we meditate on it day and night as Joshua 1:8 tells us. 
  
  
  • The meaning of mediate means far more than just thinking.  It means to mutter repeatedly. 
  • So if we take a promise in the Word of God that is meant to encourage us, we mutter the promises over and over all day long until we are encourage in our heart.  Then the joy of the Lord becomes our strength.

³¹ If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.  ³² If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.

• When someone comes to you in an honest way to give you constructive criticism, do you rebuke it, dismiss it, listen to it, and then pray and ask God to see if there is any truth to the criticism?  To the one who listens humbly and graciously and then goes to prayer to ask the Lord if there is any truth to that criticism is wise.  Then if God tells us that the criticism was correct, what are you going to do about it?  If you are wise and willing to make the needed change or changes, God is right there to help you.   As such, you and probably others will be blessed for your obedience. 
• If you reject the corrective criticism; however, the testing of your character will be exposed, and you will stay in whatever situation you have put yourself in.  This is not wise and you could have dire consequences for yourself and maybe others as well.  

³³ Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.

• We have learned over and over that those who have an awesome, reverent, and respect for God is part of walking in the wisdom of God.  Knowing how much God hates pride, and the importance of its opposite is humility, we know that an important part of the fear of the Lord is walking in humility.  God looks for the humble at heart.

God bless!

Pastor Joyce Erickson
Believersbibleschool.com