PROVERBS LESSON 38
We will begin this lesson in Proverbs 24:1 " Be not thou envious
against evil men, neither desire to be with them." Proverbs 24:2 "For
their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief."
We see, that we are not to want the way or the rewards of the
evil man. We discussed before that fellowship with evil brings us
guilt of their sin by association. Their ways are wicked ways. Their
desires are to destroy someone else and build themselves up by the
hurt of others. They speak slanders and lies. Stay away from them
before you learn their evil ways.
Proverbs 24:3 "Through wisdom is an house builded; and by
understanding it is established:" Proverbs 24:4 "And by knowledge
shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches."
A family or home is built upom faith in God. A family with God as
its center is estblished and is not easy shaken. Pleasant and
precious riches and are not necessarily money, but are the wealth of
love, happiness, joy, and peace. The family that centers their lives
on God has spiritual blessings in abundance. They may not have gold
and silver in this world, but they are indeed rich.
Proverbs 24:5 "A wise man [is] strong; yea, a man of knowledge
increaseth strength." Proverbs 24:6 "For by wise counsel thou shalt
make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors [there is] safety."
Wisdom from God helps us in all circumstances. Wisdom (advise
from God) would be especially useful in war. When the Israelites
fought their wars, they won when the Lord led them in battle; but when
they fought the battles in their own strength without his help, they
failed and lost many lives. God must guide us in everything or we,
too, will fail.
Proverbs 24:7 "Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not
his mouth in the gate."
Wisdom is a gift from God. Wisdom and Godliness go hand in hand.
A fool is so busy being foolish that he does not even pray and seek
wisdom. The wise could even counsel the fool, and the fool would not
realize that it was good counsel. The wise follow after God and his
teaching, and the fool goes the way of the flesh.
Proverbs 24:8 "He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a
mischievous person."
A person who deviseth to do evil is a person who is planning some
evil scheme to beat someone else. This evil person never tries to work
and get ahead, he just figures up evil ways to trick others out of
what they have worked for. In this, evil thoughts become evil deeds
and show the mischievous ways of the evil one.
Proverbs 24:9 "The thought of foolishness [is] sin: and the
scorner [is] an abomination to men."
Jesus said to desire to sin in your heart is a sin just as if you
had already comitted the sin. The heart will be judged even more than
the deeds of man. The rejecters of good Christian principles are
themselves rejected of the righteous. Those who turn their backs on
God are a terrible reproach (abomination} to the righteous.
Proverbs 24:10 "[If] thou faint in the day of adversity, thy
strength [is] small."
It is easy to talk about strength when all is well. Perhaps, if
we were tested as Peter was when Jesus was crucified, we might be
afraid and run away. When troubles and trials come, we need to be as
Stephen and stand up for what is right. If our faith is not strong
enough to stand through a few trials, I would ask, where is our faith?
withstand the devil, and he will flee from you. Greater is He that is
within me, than he that is in the world.
Proverbs 24:11 "If thou forbear to deliver [them that are] drawn
unto death, and [those that are] ready to be slain;" Proverbs 24:12
"If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth
the heart consider [it]? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth [not] he
know [it]? and shall [not] he render to [every] man according to his
works?"
We see, here, someone who is in grave danger, and it is in your
power to save them. You cannot say, "I don't know about it." You see,
it is no good to tell a lie to God. God looks into your heart and
knows that you have the opportunity to help. If it is in your power to
help and you don't help someone in desperate need, God will not hold
you blameless. God knows the intents of your heart. You will receive
the same type of treatment from God that you have given your
fellowman.
Proverbs 24:13 "My son, eat thou honey, because [it is] good; and
the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:"
We see in this "honey", one of the foods promised the children of
Israel as a blessing. They were to be given a land of milk and honey.
We see above, that honey seems to be good for you, in that he tells us
to eat honey. It tastes good, is a health food, and is a promised
blessing of God to man.
Proverbs 24:14 "So [shall] the knowledge of wisdom [be] unto thy
soul: when thou hast found [it], then there shall be a reward, and thy
expectation shall not be cut off."
Wisdom from God and knowledge (accumulated learning) go hand in
hand. A wise person seeks knowledge; and having found it, lives a
better life. The reward is a fuller life here, making better
decisions. A person who is wise and has accumulated knowledge can set
goals for himself and carry them through. They are prepared with God's
help to do mighty deeds. Their expectations are not cut off, because
they have worked hard to achieve those goals.
Proverbs 24:15 "Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the
dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:"
We see, here, a plotting to destroy the dwelling place of the
righteous and plotting this for evil gain. God warns against this type
of endeavor. A man's home is his castle. A man fights harder to
protect his home than anything else he has besides his God and his
family. To attact a man at home is a dangerous thing to try.
Proverbs 24:16 "For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth
up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief."
This is just saying that men of God fall into propblems many
times, as well as the sinner. It rains on the just and the unjust. The
difference in the just man is that when troubles and hardships come,
he rises above them and just keeps trusting in God. The wicked gives
up and starts trying to start shortcuts to get out of whatever mess he
is in.
Proverbs 24:17 "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not
thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:" Proverbs 24:18 "Lest the LORD
see [it], and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him."
We are told over and over by Jesus to love our enemies and be
good to those who despitefully use you. We should have love and
compassion for anyone and everyone who are having problems, even if
they proclaim to be our enemies. We are told also, to feed our enemies
when they are hungry. We are not to get even when someone does us
wrong. Vengeance is mine saith the Lord.
Proverbs Questions 38
1. Who in particular are we not to be envious of?
2. Evil men's hearts study destruction and their lips speak what?
3. Why sould we not fellowship with evil men?
4. A family is built upon________ _________ _________.
5. What are pleasant and precious riches?
6. How can you be rich without money?
7. By what shalt thou make war?
8. Where is there safety in decision?
9. When did the Isrealites win in battle?
10. What is too high for a fool?
11. The wise follow after God, and a fool follows after what?
12. Who shall be called a mischievous person?
13. The thought of foolishness is what?
14. Who is the scorner an abomination to, in verse 9?
15. If you faint in the day of adversity thy strength is ______.
16. What martyr would it be nice to be like in the time of trouble?
17. Who will know if you have an opportunity to save someone and do
not?
18. What will the Lord render to us?
19. What food stuff is called good?
20. What three benefits do we get from this food?
21. Why can a wise person be more successful in carrying out their
expectations?
22. In verse 15, the wicked is warned not to do what?
23. What is meant by "a just man falleth seven times and riseth up
again"?
24. Compare the wicked and just in troublesome times?
25. How are we to feel when our enemy falls?
26. Who does vengeance belong to?
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