PROVERBS LESSON 25


    We will begin this lesson in Proverbs 16:17 "The highway of the
upright [is] to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth
his soul."

    We read in the words of Jesus about the way that leads to life.
Matthew 7:13 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate,
and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be
which go in thereat:" Matthew 7:14  "Because strait [is] the gate, and
narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
find it."

    Proverbs 16:18 "Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty
spirit before a fall."

    Malachi 4:1 "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an
oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be
stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of
hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." Haughtiness
leads to hell.  A haughty person thinks too highly of himself.

    Proverbs 16:19 "Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the
lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."

    We must throw in our lot either with God or Satan. The humble have
thrown in their lot with God. The proud have chosen the ways of Satan.
All of the wealth in the world would not even be a temptation to go
the way of Satan and reject God.

    Proverbs 16:20 "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good:
and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy [is] he."

    A person who trusts in God has nothing to fear. He has no reason
to be unhappy. An honest business person will not fail, because his
customers can trust in him. An honest business and trust in God goes
hand in hand. Those who love and fear the Lord will be honest in
business. Trust in the Lord brings peace that passes understanding.
Trust is one step beyond faith or faith to the utmost?

    Proverbs 16:21 "The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the
sweetness of the lips increaseth learning."

    True wisdom (godly wisdom) is the subject above.  Godly wisdom is
recognized by others around you and they have respect for you because
of the decisions you make.  We see in the rest of verse twenty-one
that people who speak nice things are listened to more readily.  A
person will listen and learn more from someone who speaks softly and
kindly.

    Proverbs 16:22 "Understanding [is] a wellspring of life unto him
that hath it: but the instruction of fools [is] folly."

    We are told often to hide the Scriptures away in our heart.  This
understanding that we have stored away will come forth as we need it.
It will be like a well that we can draw from over and over.  We are
told that when we need it, the Holy Spirit will quicken Scriptures to
our memory. I believe that is what is meant by the wellspring here.  A
fool has no stored knowledge.  He has no well to draw from.

    Proverbs 16:23 "The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and
addeth learning to his lips."

    In Matthew 12:35, we see in Jesus' own words that the lips speak
what is in the heart.  Matthew 12:35 "A good man out of the good
treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out
of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." The heart is the
source of the words that the lips speak.

    Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words [are as] an honeycomb, sweet to the
soul, and health to the bones."

    We know that pleasant words bring happiness to the listener.
Happiness makes anyone feel better.

    Proverbs 16:25 "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but
the end thereof [are] the ways of death."

    One of the most dangerous things a man can do is try to do
whatever feels good to him. This is the call of the flesh.  The flesh
life is a life of sin and destruction.

    Proverbs 16:26 "He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his
mouth craveth it of him."

    Most people work to buy food for their table. If a person gets
hungry enough, some of the people who do not like to work will go to
work just to eat.

    Proverbs 16:27 "An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips
[there is] as a burning fire."

    This, if done by a woman, would be called malicious gossip. The
evil this man is telling burns and destroys those he is talking about.
He is a false witness, stirring up strife with just an evil tongue.

    Proverbs 16:28 "A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer
separateth chief friends."

    This wicked man twists the truth so that he can cause trouble.  He
whispers in a neighbor's ear falsehoods about his friends and is not
satisfied until he turns them against each other.

    Proverbs 16:29 "A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth
him into the way [that is] not good."

    Haven't you known someone just like this.  He is probably a
drunkard and looking for someone to get drunk with so he will not feel
quite so guilty himself.  He may even be an adulterer and encouraging
his neighbor to commit adultery, too.  Sometimes it is no more than
talking you into getting into a quick scheme to swindle someone out of
their money.  The best thing to do is to stay away from this type of
person.  We learned earlier that when we fellowship with someone, we
become like them.

    Proverbs 16:30 "He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things:
moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass."

    We are still talking of this evil man of verse twenty-nine. This
is saying: keep your eyes wide open, don't fall for his sales pitch.
Moving his lips means he talks you into bringing the evil thing to
pass.

    Proverbs 16:31 "The hoary head [is] a crown of glory, [if] it be
found in the way of righteousness."

    We see the man with gray hair has lived this life and getting
ready for his reward in heaven. Getting old is a blessing and a reward
of a clean wholesome life. To me the hoary head is saying "you have
run the race well, and you are on the last lap now".

    Proverbs 16:32 "[He that is] slow to anger [is] better than the
mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

    Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and
clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"
You see, not only are we to be slow to anger, but we are to put anger
away from us. The spirit must rule over the body. The spirit ruled by
the Lord has eternal life to look forward to. Taking a city is just
for this earth.

    Proverbs 16:33 "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole
disposing thereof [is] of the LORD."

    This is just saying they could cast lots to settle a matter if
they want to, but really God is the one who decides who does what.















                         Proverbs 25 Questions

1.  What is the highway of the upright?
2.  What gate leads to eternal life?
3.  What goeth before destruction in verse 18?
4.  In chapter 4 of Malachi, what happens to the proud?
5.  It is better to be an humble spirit with the lowly than what?
6.  The proud have chosen whose way?
7.  Compare trust to faith.
8.  The wise in heart shall be called what?
9.  In verse 22, what is the wellspring?
10. What does Matthew 12:35 teach us?
11. In verse 24, what are pleasant words compared to?
12. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end is
    --------.
13. What is one of the most dangerous things a man could do?
14. Why do most men labour?
15. The evil man who speaks evil is compared to what in the mouth?
16. A froward man soweth ---------.
17. Whispers can do what to a friendship?
18. A violent man --------- his neighbor.
19. This violent man probably has what sins active in his life?
20. In verse 30, what does moving his lips mean?
21. What do we see in the man with the hoary head?
22. What is the hoary head saying to the author?
23. Someone slow to anger is better than whom?
24. What is meant by lot is cast in the lap?