PROVERBS LESSON 35

    We will begin this lesson in Proverbs 22:1 "A [good] name [is]
rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favor rather than
silver and gold."

    Riches such as gold and silver are not permanent.  They are nice
to have, but are not nearly as valuable as more permanent things.  The
good name of a family will help their children and grandchildren for a
very long time.  This certainly has to do with God's loving favor, as
well, which no earthly treasures can compare with.

    Proverbs 22:2 "The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the
maker of them all."

    We are all (rich and poor) of the family of God.  I like what one
commentator said about this Scripture.  He said God made the poor to
work to make the wealth of the rich, and that He made the rich to
provide jobs for the poor so they could make a living.  The poor
should not envy the rich because great responsibility goes with
wealth.  The rich should not oppress the poor, because they have a
master over them that is watching their behavior.  The rich and poor
should live in harmony as brothers and sisters in Christ.

    Proverbs 22:3 "A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth
himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished."

    We see in this "prudent man" a person who is careful and plans
ahead.  If they see danger ahead, they withdraw until the danger
passes.  The simple who are more abundant in number, move without
thinking ahead.  They move with the crowd and many times right into
destruction.  The punishment can be inflicted by others or by
themselves in their headlong pursuit into danger.

    Proverbs 22:4 "By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are]
riches, and honour, and life."

    In Matthew 5:3, we read of the humble and their reward.  Matthew
5:3 "Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven." We read in Matthew 18:3 "And said, Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not
enter into the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 18:4 "Whosoever therefore
shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the
kingdom of heaven." You see, being humble will get you eternal life in
heaven.  God's riches will be yours, also.  You will be joint-heirs
with Jesus.  (Romans 8:17)

    Proverbs 22:5 "Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the
froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them."

    We see, again, here a comparison of someone who is snared in the
trappings of earthly things and a person who is walking in the Light
of Jesus on the straight path which leads to everlasting life.  This
evil person, here, not only sets traps for others, but has thorns and
snares in his own way because he is disobedient to God.  Those who
have no regard for others find themselves on a path of problems.  The
person who keeps his soul, walks in the path that the Lord has
provided for him.  It is well lit and is a straight path.

    Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when
he is old, he will not depart from it."

    Children who are trained to go to church when they are young, will
generally be church goers all of their lives.  Many  who survived
being captured in recent wars tell that many times the thing that kept
them from losing their mind was remembering Scriptures they had
learned as children in Sunday school.  Many parents have seen a child
that was raised in church wander away from God for a period of time.
I personally know of none who have not come back as they grew older
and had families of their own.  We have a Christian school here at
Wildwood, and our children are memorizing Scriptures along with their
lessons.  These Scriptures can never be taken away from them.  When
they memorize them, they are theirs to draw on forever.

    Proverbs 22:7 "The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower
[is] servant to the lender."

    We know that for every rich man there are numbers of poor.  Jesus
said, "the poor you will have with you always".  In an earlier lesson,
we learned that the rich provide jobs for the poor.  The person who
employs people also rules over them.  In this case, the rich is the
boss.  In the second half of verse 7, we see not a contrast but a
condition of the rich and poor.  If you owe someone money, you are
subject unto their wishes until you pay them.  Your work you do,
during the time you owe them, is used to pay them rather than to cover
your own needs.  In that sense, the borrower is servant to the lender.

    Proverbs 22:8 "He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the
rod of his anger shall fail."

    Whatever you sow, you will reap.  We see, here, that if you sow
iniquity, you will not gain anything.  We see in the second half of
this that angry attacks will not prosper, in fact, they are sure to
bring failure.

    Proverbs 22:9 "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for
he giveth of his bread to the poor."

    We see in this someone who sees the needs of those around and
gives food to the hungry.  This person not only sees his own needs,
but the needs of others.  He gives to the poor, and God blesses him
for his generosity.  Give and it shall be given unto you.  The Lord
said, "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these you have
done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40).  You see, the rewards for those who
see others' needs and gives to them are for this world and heaven, as
well.

    V-10, "Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea,
strife and reproach shall cease."


    People who stir up problems are of no advantage to keep around.
The sooner you get rid of them, the sooner your problems will go away.
Those who constantly criticize are tearing down, not building up.
Cast them out and get on with the job at hand.


    V-11, "He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips
the king shall be his friend."


    In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:8 Jesus says, "Blessed are
the pure in heart: for they shall see God."  We have discussed in
previous lessons that the words that come from the mouth originate in
the heart.  We would see in this verse above that these words would be
pure, because they come from the pure heart.  Everyone loves a good
report.  This king is the friend of this person, because he is guided
by the Lord.  The king wants to hear the Lord's word.

    V-12, "The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he
overthroweth the words of the transgressor."

    We see the eyes of the Lord watching over and protecting those who
are following in His ways.  This person, as we have said, is
knowledgeable unto salvation.  In the second half of this, we see that
the Lord does not help the sinner further his sins.

    V-13, "The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be
slain in the streets."

    This lazy (slothful) man has really reached into the ridiculous
for this excuse not to work.  First of all, lions don't hang around
town.  They would be in the jungle, not in a city.  As I said, this is
the most feeble excuse he could give for not working.

    V-14, "The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is
abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein."

    We see all through these lessons that the strange woman is an
adulteress.  She says things with her mouth that flatters and causes
men to follow her into her sin.  Those who follow an adulteress will
surely fall in the pit.  Not only is adultery a very bad sin and might
cause you to miss heaven, but now there are terrible diseases you
might catch.  There is punishment right here on the earth for this sin
and if not repented of, an eternity in hell, as well.







                         Proverbs 35 Questions


1.  What is a good name to be chosen over?
2.  The ------ and ------ meet together, God is maker of both.
3.  How do the poor help the rich?
4.  How do the rich help the poor?
5.  How should we live, both rich and poor?
6.  A prudent man does what when he seeth the evil?
7.  What happens to the simple who rush on without thought?
8.  In verse 4, we find 3 things that come from humility and fear of
    the Lord.  What are they?
9.  In Matthew 5:3, we read the poor in spirit inherit what?
10. Who are we to be humble like?
11. In the way of the froward, there are what 2 things?
12. Finish this statement: "Train up a child in the way he should go
    ---------------.
13. Why is it so important to memorize Scripture?
14. Who rules over the poor ?
15. Who is the borrower servant to?
16. If you sow iniquity, you will reap what?
17. What is meant by having a bountiful eye?
18. If you cast out the scorner, what shall go away?
19. Why do pure words come from the righteous?
20. In the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the pure -------
    ----------".
21. Who shall the pure in heart see?
22. What is meant by the eyes of the Lord preserving knowledge?
23. What is the ridiculous excuse for not working, that the lazy man
    gives in verse 13?
24.  What is meant by the "strange woman"?
25. What comes out of the strange woman's mouth?