PROVERBS LESSON 27

     We will begin this lesson in Proverbs 17:15 "He that justifieth
the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are]
abomination to the LORD."

     We see, here, that judgement should be righteous.  We should not
overlook sin because we love the sinner, neither should we punish
someone just because we do not like them. God wants us to deal fairly
with everyone.  He is displeased when we are prejudiced.

     Proverbs 17:16 "Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a
fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?"

     We see here a person who is trying to buy himself an education.
This is really a good example of our society today. Many people cost
their parents an awful lot of money trying to get them a degree from
college. These same people will not put out any effort to learn and
have no business going to college. It is a waste of time and money
because they have no desire to learn, only to get the degree.

     Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is
born for adversity."

     In Proverbs 18:24, we will read there is a friend who sticketh
closer than a brother. A true friend will not leave you when you are
in trouble but will stand beside you through it all. in Job, we read
of Job's friends who give him all sort of bad news on top of the
heartaches he has already endured. This type of friend. no one needs.
In the end, Job has to pray and ask God to forgivbe them so that God
will not punish them. Brothers may fight in the good times; but when a
great tragedy occurs they are by your side to comfort you and help
you.  A truly good friend is like a brother in the fact that tragedy
makes them love you even more.

     Proverbs 17:18 "A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and]
becometh surety in the presence of his friend."

     We see, here, a man going on someone else's note and putting
 himself in danger.  This is not a wise thing to do.  You are actually
 obligating yourself to pay t he full amount of the note when you sign
 someone else's note.  If they don't pay, you have to.  You see, it is
 very serious business to go on another's note.

     Proverbs 17:19 "He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and]
he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction."

     We see that a sinner enjoys causing heartache for others.  Sin
 and strife walk hand in hand.  We see, also, in this someone who
 builds a house that is real fancy from the outside so the neighbors
 will be envious of him. This can only bring destruction. Pride goeth
 before a fall.

     Proverbs 17:20 "He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and
he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief."

     A sinful heart brings forth sinful words.  Ugly speaking, dirty
jokes, and cursing bring even more sin.  It is a never ending cycle
that feeds upon itself and gets worse and worse.  This person is not
honest, and those who are trading with him cannot believe anything
that he says.  His deceit shows, and no one wants to trade with him.
God will not bless him and destruction is what he is headed for.

     Proverbs 17:21 "He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his
sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy."

     When a son or daughter does some terrible sin, it breaks the
heart of the parent.  There is nothing sadder than for a parent to
realize that their child has done some terrible crime.  We struggle
trying to raise our children the best we can and it looks bad on us,
as well as the children, when they go bad.

     Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a
broken spirit drieth the bones."

     It is a medical fact that depression brings on many diseases such
 as arthritis. It is also a fact that being happy inside tends to
 bring good health.  The spirit of man is the spark that keeps him
 alive. The breath of life that God breathed into man in Genesis, in
 my opinion, is the Spirit. We were just a glob of clay until God
 breathed life into us. A non-Christian is just a chunk of clay {very
 earthly} today, until God breathes His Spirit into us and gives us
 new life.  We are dead bones in trespasses and sins until God gives
 us new life.

     Proverbs 17:23 "A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to
pervert the ways of judgment."

     This is not a gift at all , it is a bribe.  He waits until no one
is looking and sneaks a bribe so that he can sway your judgement
toward him.

     Proverbs 17:24 "Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding;
but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth."

     This fool is never satisfied.  He is always looking somewhere
else to move to solve his problems.  He needs to realize that the
problem lies within himself.  The wise person is aware that moving
will not make problems go away.  He looks straightforward and faces
each problem as it comes.  He never wavers.  He stays on the path that
leads to righteousness.

     Proverbs 17:25 "A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and
 bitterness to her that bare him."

     We see, here, something similar to verse 21.  This grief he
brings his father is in the fact that he did not take his father's
instruction.  Most people commonly think "like father, like son".  You
can see how this would be a grief to his father.  This bitterness of
the mother, I think, just speaks of her disappointment.  Parents want
their children to be even better than they were themselves.

     Proverbs 17:26 "Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to
 strike princes for equity."

     The injustice of punishing those who have done no wrong is easily
seen by everyone, and God will not tolerate it.  This prince, here, is
not speaking of title, but of someone who is honorable and fair.  Only
someone who was evil would strike out and punish the just or those
with a princely nature.  Many saints have been martyred for the Word
of God, but God will judge harshly those who punish the just.

     Proverbs 17:27 "He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a
man of understanding is of an excellent spirit."

     Talking too much shows lack of knowledge; especially talking too
much about things you know nothing about.  If you listen, instead of
talk, you can learn a lot more.  This man of understanding, as we have
said before, considers all the facts before he speaks.  Have you ever
noticed, that a man of few words, really has something special to say
when he opens his mouth.

     Proverbs 17:28 "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is
counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of
understanding."

     It is a natural thing to like to hear your own voice, and people
without understanding talk too much.  People associate quietness with
intelligence.  If a man is quiet, then he is thought to be
intelligent.  If you are not real smart, just keep quiet and no one
will know but you.





















                         Proverbs 27 Questions

1.  If you justify the wicked and condemn the just, how does God feel
    about you?
2.  We see by this that judgement should be -------.
3.  What is meant by a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom?
4.  What injustice to parents have many children of our day done?
5.  When does a true friend love?
6.  When will a brother come to your rescue?
7.  Who in the Bible had to pray for his friends for God to forgive
    them?
8.  Who striketh hands and goes on others' notes?
9.  What could happen to you if you go on a friend's note?
10. What 2 things go hand in hand that is not of God?
11. What is meant by exalting your gate?
12. Where do sinful words originate?
13. The mother who has a fool for a child has what in her life?
14. What doeth good like a medicine?
15. It is a medical fact that depression does what?
16. What does the author believe the breath of life that God breathed
    in man in Genesis is?
17. What does taketh a gift out of his bosom mean?
18. This gift in verse 23 is really what?
19. What is meant by the eyes of the fool being in the ends of the
    earth?
20. Who is a grief to his father?
21. What is bitterness of the mother?
22. Who has been martyred for the Word?
23. What will God do to those who came out against them?
24. If a fool doesn't talk too much, who is he thought to be?