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."

Proverbs 25:15-28

Proverbs 25:15-28

As I write this, it appears that the US is rushing headlong toward its own destruction. It seems that each of these proverbs could apply to both sides of our conflict. Perhaps none better than verse 28. The primary defense of a city was its walls. No matter how great the city, if its walls were ruined, the city’s situation was hopeless. We seem to be a nation without self-control. Certainly there are places or moments of self-control, but excited by our own desires and hurt feelings, we are prepared to protest, scream ugly things, and act in ways that are godless. With a lack of self-control we are susceptible to the manipulations of evil people driven by evil spirits. These evil spirits would tell us, and we are eager to believe them, that our just cause demands we voice our positions. We have become a nation of useful idiots, useful for both sides, for the elites, but worst of all, useful to the powers of darkness.

“God, help us to learn self-control. AMEN."

Proverbs 25:1-14

Proverbs 25:1-14

We have entered another subsection of the book. Chapters 25-29 are a collection of Solomon's proverbs collected and written down by “men of King Hezekiah”. Hezekiah was the 13th generation after Solomon and ruled about 200 years later. Hezekiah was one of the best kings of Judah, and as such, Israel had a spiritual and moral revival. There is an important but subtle lesson. There is little dynamic link between a heart that turns to God and minds that are full, fruitful, and creative. During Hezekiah's reign there was a revival of learning. These “men of Hezekiah” may be described as scribes, literary researchers, scholars, or men of learning.

In our own national history, the flowering of our intellect and intelligence has grown out of a God-focused worldview and has been highly productive. As our education system offers a focus on stupid things, our nation has spiraled toward riotousness and useless entertainment. To know the world, you must first know God.

Lord, help us to understand the link between knowing You and knowing about the world and life. AMEN”

Proverbs 24:23-34

Proverbs 24:23-34

Having come to the end of “The 30 Sayings”, what follows are the additional sayings of the wise in which two themes are developed. Of all the things Solomon could have talked about. It is worth noting that these two themes are brought up. Without these two societal commitments, no culture will last for long. As our nation seems to be rushing headlong toward ruin, we would be wise to pay attention. These two themes are so closely related that Solomon intermixes them. The first is Justice; the second is hard work. 

At an official level, justice must be a priority (verses 23-26). Where once our legal system was held in very high regard by the citizenry at large, it is now often held with disdain. While there are numerous reasons for this change, we must not forget that personal behavior and character are critical for any sense of justice (vs. 28-29). 

The ethic of hard work is expressed in verses 27 and 30-34. The value of hard work and thrift is lost on a society in decay.  It is worth noting, as evidence of how these are related, that often protests against injustice turn into riots, and the riots become occasions for looting.

When the citizenry loses its respect for justice and for the value of hard work, the society is in a downward spiral toward collapse.

“Lord, grant us a justice system that is worthy of respect, and may we work as a people who respect You. AMEN”

Proverbs 24:1-22

Proverbs 24:1-22

It is interesting that the grouping of these sayings has verses 10 to 12 as one saying. This passage links the strength of our character in a crisis with our part in the life-and-death struggle for the innocent. For example, Germany, for all her greatness, will never escape the ignominy of her failure to thwart the efforts of the Nazis. The rise of evil people and groups is always the result of pseudo-righteous people failing to stand up to evil. The ascension of evil in our generation is the result of the failure of the church to take on the burden of the conflict when the demonic ideas of free love, abortion, LGBTQ, etc. were in their infancy. The church as a whole lacked the strength to oppose them then. So now these are the dominant views in our nation. God's judgment will come on us, but do not doubt that it will come most directly on those who could have and should have opposed this gross immorality and did not. On the day of distress, they were found wanting and weak, and that weakness revealed their true character.

“Lord, develop in us the character to stand strong for the innocent. AMEN."

Proverbs 23:19-22

Proverbs 23:19-22

There is for us in this section, a fascinating contrast that would be well-heeded by those in leadership positions. It is a contrast that might actually surprise us. It is the contrast between self-indulgence and family life. We might expect a contrast between self-indulgence and self-discipline. Or  a contrast between family life and social or business life. But this contrast actually goes to the root of good governance or leadership.

In verses 19 to 21, those who would serve are warned against the life of self-indulgence in food and wine. Followed by an admonition to be faithful to one's parents. In verses 26 and following, there is the warning of self-indulgence again, but it is in this case the matter of sexual gratification. This chapter concludes with another warning about self-indulgence and the use of alcohol.

It is worth noting that a man who is self-indulgent with wine, women, and food is very likely going to be incompetent as a leader at home. But the man who is a quality leader at home will inevitably be a quality leader in any organization or nation.

“Lord, give us leaders who are truly focused on what is good for the family and not their own self-indulgence. AMEN."