Proverbs Lesson 12

In this lesson, we will begin in Proverbs 10:1 "The proverbs of
Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son [is] the
heaviness of his mother."

     We see the joy or sorrow of parents. Most parents live the most
part of their lives for their children. The children actually
determine whether the parents are happy in their later years or not.
There is not a more unhappy parent in the world than one who knows his
or her child is caught up in sin and things of this world. There is no
happier parent than one who knows that his or her offspring are all
saved with their names written in the Lamb's book of life.  Children
who are living for Jesus are a joy to any parent.

    Proverbs 10:2 "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but
righteousness delivereth from death."

    You see, all the wealth we can accumulate here on this earth will
all be left behind when our heavenly Father says it is time for us to
die.  Be sure everyone will die. Treasures gotten through evil ways
will seal your doom for all of eternity if you do not repent and turn
from your wicked ways. You cannot buy your way into heaven. You
certainly cannot use this ill gotten wealth to purchase eternal life.
The only thing that brings life eternal with Jesus our Lord is to be
in right standing with Him. "Righteousness" is just that, being in
right standing with our Lord. We put on the robe of His righteousness:
white as snow, washed in His blood, when we accept Him as our Lord and
Saviour.

    Proverbs 10:3 "The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous
to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked."

    In Psalms chapter 37 verse 22 we read, Psalms 37:22 "For [such as
be] blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and [they that be] cursed
of him shall be cut off." Psalms 37:23 "The steps of a [good] man are
ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way." Psalms 37:24
"Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD
upholdeth [him with] his hand." Psalms 37:25 "I have been young, and
[now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed
begging bread." Psalms 37:26 "[He is] ever merciful, and lendeth; and
his seed [is] blessed." Psalms 37:27 "Depart from evil, and do good;
and dwell for evermore." How could I even add to all of this? God
takes care of His own.  You may have a few problems to strengthen you;
but you will not go hungry, and you will inherit eternal life.

    Proverbs 10:4 "He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand:
but the hand of the diligent maketh rich."

    Early to bed, and early to rise; maketh a man healthy, wealthy,
and wise. How many times in our life have we all been told this by our
parents, teachers, and friends?  This "slack hand" above is speaking
of a lazy person who will not work. You cannot have money unless you
are willing to work to get it. Get your priorities straight and work
hard, and God will bless you abundantly even in this life. Laziness
will get you nowhere but to the poorhouse.

    Proverbs 10:5 "He that gathereth in summer [is] a wise son: [but]
he that sleepeth in harvest [is] a son that causeth shame."

    Harvest time is a time when we work from sunup to sundown to get
the crop in. A person may lie in bed a little longer when it is very
cold and the ground is too hard to work, but come harvest we must
reap. We see here a two fold message. This is speaking of literal
crops, but it is also speaking of the harvest at the end of the world.
Everyone who knows anything about the Lord should be working from
sunup to sundown to get the harvest (wheat) of believers into the
kingdom of God. If you can minister in any capacity, now is not the
time to sit on the sideline. Get into the field and harvest the wheat
(believers).

    Proverbs 10:6 "Blessings [are] upon the head of the just: but
violence covereth the mouth of the wicked."

     We have just been reading how the blessings are on those who do
 justly. In James chapter 1 verse 17, we read that all good comes from
 God. James 1:17, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
 above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no
 variableness, neither shadow of turning."

    This "violence" that covers the mouth of the wicked could mean
that the people know that he is violent and will not listen to what he
says, and so his mouth is covered. It, also, could mean that nothing
but bad words come from this evil one's mouth. It, also, could mean
that their ugly messages have been discovered to be a lie and they are
silenced by that.

    Proverbs 10:7 "The memory of the just [is] blessed: but the name
of the wicked shall rot."

    Everytime you do something good for someone you feel good about
yourself. The blessings of the Lord are for those who live uprightly.
You never see monuments to the wicked. A good example of an evil one,
who no one celebrates his birthday, is Hitler. No one wants to
remember this evil one.

    Proverbs 10:8 "The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a
prating fool shall fall."

    This "wise in heart" would be an humble person easy to teach, not
a proud, highminded person. This "prating fool" is someone who is
always bragging. The little meaning of prating is lip. This is someone
who talks too much and lets his conversation trap him.

    Proverbs 10:9 "He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he
that perverteth his ways shall be known."

    Romans chapter 6 verse 4, "Therefore we are buried with him by
baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life." The upright walk is the walk we Christians walk following
Jesus. We will not stumble and fall, because we have the light of
Jesus at our feet to light our way. Those who walk in the dark are
evil. Evil will be exposed. These are people who practice doing evil.
Be sure your sins will find you out.

    Proverbs 10:10 "He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a
prating fool shall fall."

    When we see winking eyes, the two involved are scheming to do you
evil.  This is ordinarily plotting to do evil.

    Proverbs 10:11 "The mouth of a righteous [man is] a well of life:
but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked."

    Bitter and sweet water does not come from the same well. Jesus (at
the well) told the woman, if she drank of the water He provided, she
would never thirst again.  Life everlasting comes with the mouth.
Romans chapter 10 verse 9, "That if thou shalt confess with the mouth
the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." The wicked is in direct
contrast. Their way leads unto death.

    Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all
sins."

    In I Peter chapter 4 verse 8, we read that love covereth a
multitude of sins, I Peter 4:8 "And above all things have fervent
charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of
sins." Hatred and murder are next of kin.  Feuds throughout the ages
have been caused by hatred.  Sometimes a few generations after the
original incident most of the haters do not even know why they hate.
Forgiveness is a by-product of love.  That is the way to stop all the
hate, forgive them and love them.

    Proverbs 10:13 "In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom
is found: but a rod [is] for the back of him that is void of
understanding."

    The wise man speaks good things. This is the same rod as the rod
of correction we will read about later on in Proverbs.  Children are
sometimes difficult to train until the rod of correction is applied.
They soon become wiser than they were before the rod was applied.

    Proverbs 10:14 "Wise [men] lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the
foolish [is] near destruction."

    The foolish always seem to want to talk about something they know
nothing about. A wise man is quiet and listens and soaks up
information.

    Proverbs 10:15 "The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city: the
destruction of the poor [is] their poverty."

    Money can buy many things and acquire many creature comforts that
the poor cannot possibly have. It seems the rich get richer and the
poor get poorer.  There really is nothing wrong with having money. It
is how you feel about your wealth and what you do with it that might
become sin. Whatever state you find yourself in, be content. If you
are poor, work hard and try to work yourself up. In America, if you
really try, you need not stay poor.

    Proverbs 10:16 "The labour of the righteous [tendeth] to life: the
fruit of the wicked to sin."

    Men, who do not labor in this life, generally have too much time
on their hands. They have plenty of time to get into trouble. People
who like to take shortcuts at making a living and do not labor to earn
their living, wind up scheming against their neighbor to get what does
not belong to them and wind up in sin. On the other hand, people who
work hard and earn their living usually are honest. Law abiding
citizens a great many times have deep spiritual convictions which
bring eternal life.

    Proverbs 10:17 "He [is in] the way of life that keepeth
instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth."

    Instruction is something we should be eager to receive. It keeps
us on the right path and keeps us from making mistakes. Only a fool
refuses correction. You have completely stopped growing when you will
not accept correction.

























                         Proverbs 12 Questions


1.  What kind of son maketh a glad father?
2.  A foolish son is the heaviness of whom?
3.  What generally determines whether a parent is happy in old age or
    not?
4.  What kind of treasure profiteth nothing?
5.  What is righteousness?
6.  Verse 3 tells us God will not allow the righteous to -----------
7.  The steps of a good man are -----------  -----------  -----------.
8.  What happens to the man who deals with a slack hand?
9.  What does "slack hand" mean?
10. Where will laziness get you?
11. A son that sleepeth in harvest --------   ------------.
12. What does "harvest time" mean spiritually?
13. Blessings are on the -------------of the just .
14. Who was an evil person that people do not care to remember?
15. Who are the wise in heart?
16. Who is a prating fool?
17. In Romans 6:4, we find that Christians should walk in ------------
    --------- ------------.
18. Why will Christians not stumble and fall?
19. What are winking eyes usually a sign of?
20. The mouth of a righteous man is a ------------------------------.
21. Quote Romans 10:9.
22. In I Peter 4:8, we read that love covereth ---- ----------------
    ------.
23. What is a by-product of love?
24. Who is the rod for?
25. What is a rich man's strong city?
26. If you find yourself with too much time, you might get into ----
    --------.
27. What will a person who is wise be eager to receive?
28. What is a person called who refuses instruction?