Proverbs 29:1-14

Proverbs 29:1-14

There is a tendency to look at our elected officials, especially past presidents, with one eye closed. With one eye we see the good, and with the other we see the evil, depending on our party loyalties.  How we view our leaders depends on which eye we have open and which eye we have closed. John F. Kennedy was a cool-headed leader during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but we say little about his runaway sexual misconduct. We celebrate Abraham Lincoln as one who by force of will and arms kept the union together, but we dare not talk about his invitation to demons, by occultic practices, to come into the White House. Both parties and every generation face the challenge of what to do when we find a few good deeds done by wicked men.

In contrast, this passage gives us an example of integrity that goes to the core of a person's being. No leader is perfect, but there is a difference between the one for whom evil is an isolated aberration and the one who makes it the habit of his life. Reread this passage and keep in mind the inner character of our leaders. And not just our leader but our own inner character. Sooner or later what's on the inside will become evident. Apparently character does matter. Stormy Daniels and Monica Lewinsky will stay hidden only so long. 

“Lord, help me to develop the inner character that You desire. AMEN."

Proverbs 28:15-28

Proverbs 28:15-28

There are several places in the section that address the sad state of people who have to deal with the greedy rich. There is a collection of three proverbs that specifically address this issue in verses 20 - 22.

In verse 20 the contrast is between the man who is faithful or is a man of integrity and the person who has an agenda of wealth. His agenda or eagerness to gain leads to punishment. "Why?" Because of his lack of faithfulness or integrity.

The next verse builds on that fact. Even though partiality is wrong, it still happens, and sometimes the price of a compromise is amazingly small. There is a story of a businessman who asks a young lady to sleep with him for $50,000. She agrees and then he offers her $20. Offended, she asked, “What kind of girl do you think I am?” The businessman replies, “We've established what you are; now we are negotiating the price." 

In verse 22 most modern translations failed to translate the phrase “evil eye” accurately. The man who is passionate about wealth has a distorted sense of vision. It is both incorrect and morally wrong. Everything is seen in terms of gain and advantage. He is unaware that wont or poverty is coming. What he most hates will become his justice.

“Help me, Lord, to be a person of deep integrity. AMEN."

Proverbs 28:1-14

Proverbs 28:1-14

There are a couple of proverbs in this passage that seem odd to us. Verse 3, which is poorly translated in many modern translations, should begin, “The poor man who oppresses the poor…” What is described here is the practice of securing a possession by a person who by clever means in order to enrich himself. Think of how tax collector posts were purchased in the Roman Empire. A poor man buys the position by means of a high-interest loan. They could secure their payoff and profit by oppressing those least able to resist. We see today ‘poor’ people in leadership who are anything but public servants.

The first line of vs. 14 seems odd when we read the NASB or the KJV. The NIV gets the message across, but it is not a precise translation of the original text. The NIV inserts the word "God," but that is not in the original text. “Blessed is the man who is constantly in fear…” The word "fear" implies being startled. The event is sudden fear in the most intense way. We can become casual about the "Fear of the Lord." What this proverb advocates is the high level of fear "of God" as the constant of life.

“Lord, help me to live constantly in an awesome awareness of You. AMEN."

Proverbs 27:15-27

Proverbs 27:15-27

There are a couple of proverbs in this passage, that are especially enigmatic. In verses 19 and 21 we have those kinds of proverbs that are worthy of lengthy imagination; the meaning may not be clear. In verse 19 note Solomon refers to a reflection in the water, not a mirror. Reflections in the water are possible; but they are far from perfect. The smallest disturbance can distort the image. That sets us up for two possible understandings of the second line of the proverb. The first possibility is that we can never have a clear image of another person's heart or motivation. We can be misled. Second, our own expression of who we are may at times be distorted. Is Solomon referring to himself or someone else in this statement?

In verse 21, the second line also has two possible meanings. One is that what a man praises reflects the true character of his heart. “Tell me who you love and admire, and I will tell you who you really are”. The other possibility is that when a person is praised, they will either become proud, be ruined, and reflect their weak character.  Orr they will remain strong and humble again reflecting their heart’s true character.

"Lord, help me to have a clear understanding of myself. AMEN."

Proverbs 27:1-14

Proverbs 27:1-14

One has to wonder if Solomon was a lonely soul. He would certainly have been surrounded almost all the time by court officials, but was there a true friend in the house? versus 5-6 may have been written from a man who didn't have many friends.

The greatest danger to real friendship is flattery. The friend that will not tell you the truth about your life and choices isn't a real friend. When we cover our love with a facade of polite support, we are neither helping our friend nor telling the truth. In verse 6 is a parallelism. The open rebuke can feel like a wound. I would much rather bust a knuckle than face the truthful correction of someone who loves me. Ego does that to us. But the alternative is to surround ourselves with those who will tell us what we want to hear. When we do that, we open the door to those whose influence would destroy us. The great challenge is to have the humble heart and the thick skin that can learn rather than be offended.

"Lord, give me a tender heart and thick skin, but never a hard heart and thin skin. AMEN."

Proverbs 26:17-28

Proverbs 26:17-28

This chapter might be entitled "The Three Kinds of People." First is the fool, then comes the slugger, but the most contemptible may be the provoker. This character is introduced and summed up in verse 17; the rest of the chapter is best read as an evaluation of this miscreant. The key word is the word "meddle" (NASB) or "argument." (NIV). It means to get excited and to take sides in a fight. In our time, we see this with people who get offended on behalf of another person. These folks are sometimes called social justice warriors. These are not people who actually serve someone else but merely agitate and excite conflict to signal their virtue. Their methods of protest, riots, and agitation of emotions accomplish nothing real or worthwhile but make matters worse while giving them a sense of moral superiority. Verses 18-28 describe their various actions, deception, gossip, whisper campaigns, and the ruin they bring with them.  If we are wise, we will reject these meddlers, not take up their protestations, and recognize them as sinful in the extreme.

“Help me, Lord, to stay in my lane and do good. "AMEN" 

Proverbs 26:1-16

Proverbs 26:1-16

Two groups of people fall under Solomon's verbal assault. In verses 1-11, Solomon levels his verbal attacks on ‘fools’. Most of the parables are fairly straightforward, but a couple have unique challenges. Verses 4-5 seem to be contradicting if we take them separately, but together they teach us it is useless to try to teach a fool. Verse 8 shows us that honor has a great use, but with the fool it is useless. Verse 9 shows us that fools actually hurt those to whom they would give advice. What is wrong with the fool? It is not a lack of knowing but rather a resistance to learning to do what is right. No one is so stupid as the person who knows it all. Add to this attitude of moral compromise, and you have a fool, as seen in verse 12.

One rung down from a fool is the slugger. versus 13 to 16. Rest is good and holy, but the slugger is not pursuing rest; there is a self-satisfied presumption of having arrived at the apex of life. It is that the world will not cooperate. Self-satisfaction is a grave moral failure.

"Lord, keep me from being a fool or a sluggard. AMEN."