PROVERBS LESSON 33

     We will begin this lesson in Proverbs 21:1 "The king's heart [is]
in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it
whithersoever he will."

     The Lord is the one, in the final analysis, who will be King.
Just as the Lord through Moses ruled over the Pharaoh in Egypt and
finally caused Pharaoh to let the people go. No one is so great (not
even a King) that he is not under the rule of the Lord. Sometimes, God
just places a thought in their head and rules them that way. For sure,
kings and rulers are ruled over by; the Lord themselves. The Lord
Jesus is King of all kings and Lord of all Lords.  The rivers flow
because God ordained it. In Colossians 1:16 we read, "For by him were
all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible
and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for
him:" Colossians 1:17 "And he is before all things, and by him all
things consist."

     Proverbs 21:2 "Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but
the LORD pondereth the hearts."

     This is speaking of a false security that man has. The evil the
Israelites were guilty of over and over was doing what was right in
their own sight. This, as we have said before, tends toward pleasing
the flesh which is sin. God judges the intents of the heart. The heart
is the center of our being, and actually controls what we are. It is
either desperately wicked, or it is pure. There is no in between. God
looks on the heart. The source of what we are.

     Proverbs 21:3 "To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to
the LORD than sacrifice."

     God wants us to love Him so much that we will do justly and judge
righteously: not from being compelled to do so, but because we love
Him. It was very important to keep the sacrifices until Jesus became
the perfect Lamb sacrifice and did away with all sin, for all time, to
those who would accept Him.

     Proverbs 21:4 "An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the plowing
of the wicked, [is] sin."

     This is speaking of a conceited person so filled up with self
that their heart is even stayed on themselves. Pride is a very bad
sin. This plowing of the wicked, to me, means cultivating a friendship
with wicked people. We have mentioned this before, but this is what
Lucifer was tossed out of heaven for. His pride had gotten so great
that he wanted to be God.

     Proverbs 21:5 "The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to
plenteousness; but of every one [that is] hasty only to want."

     This is speaking of a diligent worker who thinks constantly of
working toward having plenty. People who do not consistently work and
try to have something wind up with nothing but want.

     Proverbs 21:6 "The getting of treasures by a lying tongue [is] a
vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death."

     We have been talking all through Proverbs about how bad a lying
tongue is. When a lying tongue is coupled with cheating, we see a
terrible sin. Whether they are seeking death or not, that is what they
will get by living treacherous lives. All of this is caused by
thinking too highly of self and feeling that the world owes you
something. The Lord will save the humble.

     Proverbs 21:7 "The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them;
because they refuse to do judgment."

     Here, again, we see the robber wanting something that does not
belong to him. Little does he know that the one he is destroying is
himself.  They have no intention of doing what is right (just). they
are only thinking of self.

     Proverbs 21:8 "The way of man [is] froward and strange: but [as
for] the pure, his work [is] right."

     We see that the evil man is crooked and perverse. He does not
walk upright. He is pushy (froward). Strange has a meaning of being
alien. In this instance, a stranger to God. The pure in heart does
what he believes would be right in God's sight. "The way of man" means
the way of the worldly man.

     Proverbs 21:9 "[It is] better to dwell in a corner of the
housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house."

     We discussed in an earlier lesson how our homes need to be a
place of rest and a refuge from the problems of the world. If our only
place of rest is a battleground, then we are constantly in a turmoil.
It really doesn't matter how small the house is, if there is love
there; but you cannot get a house big enough to be happy in, if there
is continual fighting.

     Proverbs 21:10 "The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his
neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes."

     We see that the wicked have no mercy for anyone, not even their
neighbor. they will destroy anyone or anything to get what they want.
We see, here, that this evil one is evil through and through.  His
desires are all for self.

     Proverbs 21:11 "When the scorner is punished, the simple is made
wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge."

     We talked in an earlier lesson how the scorner has gone so far
that even punishment does not change his evil ways. His punishment is
in payment of his evil doings. The only one helped by the scorner's
punishment is the simple one here.  He sees what could happen to him
if he doesn't change, and he changes and becomes wise.  The wise are
eager to learn and receive more and more knowledge. You remember from
an earlier lesson that knowledge is accumulated learning.

     Proverbs 21:12 "The righteous [man] wisely considereth the house
of the wicked: [but God] overthroweth the wicked for [their]
wickedness."

     We see the righteous man considers what the wicked is doing. The
wise man has no desire to get involved in the wicked's life style.
The wise man knows where the final place of the wicked will be. He
knows that in the end, the wicked will be overthrown and sent to hell.

     Proverbs 21:13 "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor,
he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."

     This is the reverse of "give and it shall be given unto you". If
you do not have mercy, no mercy; will be shown you. In Luke 6:38 we
read, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed
down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your
bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be
measured to you again."

     Proverbs 21:14 "A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in
the bosom strong wrath."

     When you give anything, it should not be broadcast so that you
can get a reward. This "reward in the bosom" means, to me, given from
the heart. When you give a gift from the heart, it certainly will stop
anger and hurt and wrath.

     Proverbs 21:15 "[It is] joy to the just to do judgment: but
destruction [shall be] to the workers of iniquity."

     The person that does fairly by others (just) find pleasure in
doing what is right. We see that the just (right doers) find real
peace and satisfaction in knowing that they are pleasing God. Terror
and torment face those who work iniquity. They are afraid someone will
find out how evil they really are. They are headed for destruction. No
reward awaits them, only destruction.

     Proverbs 21:16 "The man that wandereth out of the way of
understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead."

     I see, here, a man who has been upright and walking in the path
of righteousness. He has suddenly gotten off the straight and narrow
path and is wandering. He understood, but now he is doubting. Faith
keeps us on the path to heaven. Doubt brings eternal condemnation. It
would have been better for him if he had never known God's ways, than
to have known God's ways and turned from them.



                         Proverbs 33 Questions

1.  The king's heart is in the hands of Whom?
2.  The Lord (through Moses) ruled over what Egyptian?
3.  Why and where do the rivers flow?
4.  In Colossians 1:16, we find that all things were made by whom?
5.  Every way of man is right where?
6.  The Lord pondereth what?
7.  What was the evil the Israelites were guilty of over and over?
8.  What does God judge?
9.  What is the source of what we are in our body?
10. What is more acceptable to God than sacrifice?
11. What other 2 things, besides a high look, are sin in verse 4?
12. What does plowing of the wicked mean?
13. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to ________.
14. Getting treasures by a lying tongue leads to what?
15. What shall the wicked do to destroy themselves in verse 7?
16. In verse 8, two words describe the way of fleshly man, what are
    they?
17. It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than with whom in
    a wide house?
18. What is our home supposed to be?
19. The soul of the wicked desireth_______.
20. When the scorner is punished, who is made wise?
21. What is knowledge?
22. If you stop your ears to the poor, what will happen to you?
23. A gift in secret does what?
24. What is meant by reward in the bosom?
25. What shall be to the workers of iniquity?
26. What is meant by wandering out of the way of understanding?