3   A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.  The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

A prudent, or wise man, has the ability to hear from God and forsee the danger before it is too late.  He then is able to take the necessary precautions to prevent the evil from coming upon him.  Sometimes it means to hid or run from the danger at hand.

• As believers in Christ Jesus, having the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have an ear for listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit within.  When He speaks, then we need to listen and obey, following His direction.

          John 10:27  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and
          they follow Me.

• The fool, or the simpleton, will go blindly on, not even being aware of any pending danger ahead of him.  As a result, he will suffer the consequenes of that blindless.

4  True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.

 Remembering that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, and knowledge is the beginning of wisdom - God's wisdom, we see that walking in true humility and the fear of the Lord brings us to places we could never attain in life - spirit, soul, and body. 

• In our spirits, as New Covenant believers in Jesus Christ, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit living within us.  We have been saved from hell to be with Jesus forever; and the indwelling Holy Spirit in us leads and guides us throughout life.
• In our souls, we've been given the ability to listen, follow and obey the Lord, renewing our minds to the will of God, and making Godly choices in life.
• In our body, we have health and healing  and protection, which all add up to a long life upon the earth.   For some, even material wealth may come to us.  No matter what, however, we are the rich - blessed of the Lord.

5  Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it.

Those who walk a corrupt path in life find that the road they travel on is a difficult one.  It is filled with the temptations of evil in which they continuously surcomb to, making life very difficult. 

• The wise, however, choose a different path - one that is filled with God's wisdom.  As such, they avoid much of life's dangers.

6  Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

As a parent, I had this verse memorized, but in the NKJV.  Prov 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

The Hebrew original meaning of the word "train" here is to dedicate or train up the child, directing the course of his or her life.  The responsibility of all Christian parents is to train their children in the ways of the Lord so they can grow up to become the best person God created them to be.  That, of course, means the parents are to model their faith in front of their the children in all walks of life in order for the children to learn those ways. 

Deut. 6:7  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Every child is different, having his or her own strengths and weaknesses.  Therefore, it is also the parent's responsibility to discover those strengths and weaknesses in each of their children so they can be nurtured and built up to become that person they were created to be.  As they get older, their natural tendencies will be to follow along that same path as the parents, using their strengths unless the child chooses to become rebellious.

• Some people considers this verse to say that when a child gets older and strays away, he or she will eventually return to the ways in which he or she was taught as a child because what they learned as a child was inbred in them.  That in itself gives hope to parents of children who have wandered away. While that does hold some truth, the true meaning of this verse is meant to say that a child will not choose to walk in the ways of the world because that child chose to stay on the path that was directed for his or her life continuously all throughout life.

I picked up this newspaper article a few months ago when down in Texas, and there was this poem called Jan's Words of Wisdom, and it was signed adapted...and it goes like this:

Children Live What They Learn

When children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.  When children live with hostility, they learn to fight.  
When children live with ridicule, they earn to be shy.
When children live with shame they learn to feel guilty.
When children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient.
When children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
When children live with security, they learn to have faith.
When children live with fairness, they learn justice.
When children live with praise,, they learn to appreciate.
When children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
When children with with acceptance and friendship, they learn to find love in the World.   Adapted.

7  Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.

This verse could possible refer to a old custom that very poor Israelites often did when they got so far into debt to where they could not get out.  They then sold themselves into slavery to pay off their debt (Exodus 21:2-7).  Some then lived out their life in slavery. 

Or, this verse could have more practical application for us today that hold great truths, telling us the importance of staying out of debt.  It is so much wiser not to borrow from a lender, because they then rule over you in this area as well as own what you thought was now yours UNTIL you pay off that debt.  Whatever their restrictions are, you have to abide by.  Therefore, we must regard indebtedness as a lasts resort, and when or if we do, then get out of that debt as fast as you can. 

• In today's society, most of us have or had to carry a mortgage debt, and added to that a car payment or two, credit card payments with high interest rates, and a whole lot more. 
• We need to keep reminding ourselves that everytime we take out a loan, we then become the servant of the lender.  They own what we think is ours until that loan is paid off.
• Therefore, it is so important that we work toward becoming debt free so that we don't have to become the servant to the lender. 

8  Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end.

God planted the sowing a reaping process in the earth from the beginning.  That also refers to people as well.  The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 6:7 that a man reaps what he sows.  A person's sins are like seeds that are sown in the ground.  Whatever you plant, will be your harvest.  In time, those seeds will sprout, rise up and bring forth a harvest.  For the one who plants injustice will harvest disaster.  Eventually, that person's reign of terror will come to an end.  The people affected will then rejoice.

• As a footnote here, one who plants good seed in good soil will end up with a good harvest, and everyone will be blessed.  You DO reap what you sow!

9  Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.

• The Book of Proverbs has continuous told us that God shows His favor on the righteous.  When we, as God's people share what we have to give to the poor, we become even more blessed - for God knows what will bless us and then he pours out His favor upon us. 

10  Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too.  Quarrels and insults will disappear.

The mocker of scoffer loves to cause contention among those around them, causing division among the people.  When they leave, however, the division stops because they were the instigators of the strife among the people.  Instead of quarrels and insults being yelled at through the mouths of the mockers and scoffers, they will leave because the root of the problem were the mockers or scoffers.  The atmosphere will completely change.

• We must never forget, however, that even though the action is coming through people, it is the spirit behind these people that is causing all the strife.  The devil comes to rob, kill, and destroy (John 10:10) and he roams around like a lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet 5:8-9).  Therefore, the Apostle Peter tells us to stand strong against such strife, stand strong in your faith, and resist against such forces.

11  Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.

Luke 6:45 tells us that out of the heart, the mouth speaks.  The heart continuously exposes itself through the words spoken out of the mouth.  For a righteous person, their inner beauty will then show itself through gracious speech.  King Solomon was saying that this kind of person will draw his attention, and he or she will have his favor.

12  The Lord preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.

We continuously come back to the importance of gaining God's knowledge - because first comes knowledge, then understanding, followed by wisdom - God's wisdom.  As such, when we have God's knowledge - knowledge of His Word, the Lord watches over us.  Through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, He helps us to understand that knowledge, for when we understand and apply that knowledge, we will walk in the wisdom of God.  Remember, He favors the righteous, and watches out for them.

• Those who, on the other hand, are wicked, planning treacherous things are wicked in the eyes of God and He either turns His back on them, allowing them to fall on their own, or intervenes on their plans to stop any unjustice from occuring.  These kinds of people do not have the favor of God.  

Lazy slothful people either use their imagination or use preposterous excuses so they do not have to get up and work.   They can even use such preposterous statements like "there is a lion out there, and if I go out, I might be killed."  While his excuses are exaggerations of danger, the sluggard will say anything to get out of having to work.

14  The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the Lord angry will fall into it. 

The immoral woman often uses seductive words to lure a man into her bed.  Therefore, her mouth is a dangerous trap by the tone and the words that come from her mouth.  God is very specific when he say to stay away from ALL sex outside of marriage (1 Thess 4:3).  These kinds of women are sexual predators, and they are digging a trap for themselves, of which they will eventually fall into because they have provoked the anger of the Lord.

• Is it possible that if a prostitute humbly repents before the Lord that the Lord will forgive her?  Yes, absolutely - of course!  There is no sin so deep that God won't forgive.  Changing one's lifestyle, however, only come with the help of the Lord.

15  A youngster's heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.  

The NKJV states:  Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

The young have a lot of maturing to do, and is often looked upon as foolish.  Because we live in a sinful world, children will naturally sin unless they are taught differently.  It is naturally inherited by Adam and Eve. Therefore, it is critically important that parents teach their children while they are young.  

We are living in a society that frowns upon physically taking a rod to children for fear of physically abusing them as taught in this verse.  

As parents, we must realize that there is a difference between childishness and foolishness.

• In childishness, children often do things that only a child can do.  The intent was not to be foolish, but they were simply acting as a child.
• Foolishness, on the other hand, is where the child intentionally chooses to sin, thus they were acting in sin.  Proverbs 13:24 tells us that if we spare the rod, we spoil the child. 

A loving parent knows the difference between physical discipline and physical abuse.  Disciplining the child by a rod, done in a loving manner is biblical as we can see in this scripture.  I was raised under the fear of my father's belt, but it was only spoken when I intentionally chose to sin and my parents knew it.  That kept me from doing a lot of wrong things.

16  A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.

There are people out there who prey upon the innocent to get rich.  Often the elderly are picked upon as easy prey.  Another are employers who give minimum wage to their employees, keeping them on a poverty level only to increase their wealth.  They would also fall in this category as well.  This kind of person has no compassion on those in need, and they lose the favor of God.  God considers them wicked and will often intervene, bringing this kind of person to their own kind of poverty.  

• We are commanded by God to give to the poor and needy.  Share what we have, have compassion on those in need. 
• Those who oppress the poor will find their end because God will eventually intervene, and they will have to face the judgment of God for what they have done.

For the past twelve chapters we have been in section 2 of the collection of proverbs by King Solomon.  His proverbs were short and often consisted of only one verse.  Beginning now -  here in Proverbs 22:17, we enter into the next section of proverbs which will consist often of a number of verses laid out in themes.  That will continue for the next two chapters, ending at Proverbs 24:22.  According to Enduring Word Bible Commentary, "it is likely that Solomon patterned this section of Scripture after the Egyptian wisdom writing Amenemope, finding 30 wisdom saying in this section."   I will point out when the 30 wisdom saying are complete.

From this point on, we will go back to using the New King James Version like we did the first nine chapters instead of the New Living Translation which we used in the last section. 

The Words of the Wise

17  Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge;  18  For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;  Let them all be fixed upon your lips, so that your trust may be in the LORD;  19  I have instructed you today, even you.  20  Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, that I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, 21  That you may answer words of truth to those who send to you?

King Solomon makes here a point of telling his audience that what he is about to say is important - so listen up!  It was almost like a command.  "Apply your heart to the instruction that I am about to give you.  This is something you always will want to remember and speak them out to others.  These are my instructions to you!" 

• His words paraphrased were:  "Here everyone is where you will need to trust in the Lord.  You know that I have given you wise counsel, and you know that the pursuit of wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and learning about His ways.  I have written down thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge (as the NLT and other versions tell us).
• This way you will have God's truth with you wherever you go.

How to Treat the Poor

22  Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;  23  For the LORD will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

Jesus told us in Matt 26:11 that there will always be the poor among us.  While we realize many are in that situation because of their own making, we cannot take advantage of them to steal or treat them with disrespect. 

• The Lord has told us that he will defend the poor, but He will also take away from the person who steels from the poor.  As such, we need to have compassion on them and protect them when possible. 

Nothing has changed!  We still have the poor among us today.  Just as Jesus told us, people are people.  There will always be the poor and the rich, and everyone in between as a part of society. 

• The blessings that we have, God expects us to give out to others as they have need.  I said need!  It doesn't matter whether their lot in life is because of their choosing, we are still to have compassion on them. 
• I think this is a reminder for all of us.

The Angry Man

24  Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, 25  lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul.

An angry person usually does not know how to control his temper.  At any opportunity, the anger can fly toward anyone who comes against him or her in any way.  It can become a violatile situation.  Sadly, this shows their character and one whom the Lord is telling us not to be friends with such a person because that kind of anger can rub off on you, causing you to become like him.

Let's go further with that!

• Today, we are seeing all kinds of protest groups out there displaying their anger.  Their purpose is to get us to join them in their cause, and become angry like them.  The sad part is, once they get you on their side, then there will be another cause.  And anger and force is always their mode of operation.  Control over you is their goal!
• We have to guard against joining forces with anyone like that so we don't become like them.

We do become like the company we keep

Surety of Someone Else's Debt

26  Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, one of those who is surety for debts; 27  if you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

This is the third time that King Solomon has brought out the dangers of become a surety for someone else's debt.  That means, this is very important to know!  We could say today, guard against being a co-signer for someone else's loan.   

• If the debtor does not fulfill the obligation of that loan, you are then responsible for the balance of money's due.  Then if you don't have the money, the loaner can take away some of your property to pay off that loan.  This is a dangerous place to be in, so don't enter into this kind of contract in the first place.  In other words, do not take on the debt of other people. 

Ancient Landmarks

28  Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set.

Landmarks are markings for the borders of property.  Originally landmarks were marked off by stones to show the division of property.  It goes way back to the time of Joshua when dividing up the territories in which set up the boundaries of their territory.  Stone landmarks were meant to be passed on down from generation to generation and meant as sacred! 

• What King Solomon was saying here that to move any of these stones (borders) you are cheating your neighbor out of part of their property.  It was considered a crime.  Do not do it - for that is stealing from your neighbor.  

The Excellence of Hard Work

29  Do you see a man who excels in his work?  He will stand before kings;  He will not stand before unknown men.

God has been telling us throughout the Book of Proverbs through King Solomon that work is good.  Acquiring God's wisdom brings a person to excel in whatever he or she does.  In Colossians 3:23, the Apostle Paul tells us that when we do our work unto men, it is as if we are doing it unto God.  

• Operating in God's wisdom brings one to do excellent work to where others take notice - including leaders of society, which King Solomon used kings as an example.  In time, that will bring that person to become a leader in society because of his or her diligence to completing tasks with excellence. 

That completes chapter 22 of the Book of Proverbs

God bless!

Pastor Joyce Erickson
Believersbibleschool.com

There we have it for today.

God bless!

Pastor Joyce Erickson
Believersbibleschool.com