PROVERBS LESSON 45
We will begin this lesson in Proverbs 28:13 "He that covereth his
sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them]
shall have mercy."
In I John 1:8 we read, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us." I John 1:9 "If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness." If we cover our sins, God will not
forgive them. God has mercy on whom He will. He loves us and forgives
us if we confess and ask forgiveness.
Proverbs 28:14 "Happy [is] the man that feareth alway: but he
that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief."
This is speaking of godly fear unto salvation. The only fear
permissible is fear of the Lord. This is actually reverence, as we
have said many times before. Just as Pharaoh of Egypt hardened his
heart and had terrible consequences, hardening the heart causes us not
to accept God; and that is disastrous. If we harden our heart to God,
it opens the door to Satan and all of his evil.
Proverbs 28:15 "[As] a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; [so is]
a wicked ruler over the poor people."
A roaring lion goes seeking whom he may devour. the poor have
nothing to protect them and fall prey to this evil ruler. A ranging
bear and a lion will destroy the helpless. You may be sure the evil
king will do no less to the poor.
Proverbs 28:16 "The prince that wanteth understanding [is] also a
great oppressor: [but] he that hateth covetousness shall prolong [his]
days."
This first prince does not understand the needs of his people and
would be an evil oppressor of his own people. The people would desire
to overthrow this evil prince. His opposite would be a prince who
realizes there is a God over him, and he would be seeking to help and
not harm his people. They will shout, "Long live the prince".
Proverbs 28:17 "A man that doeth violence to the blood of [any]
person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him."
We see in this verse, a cold blooded murderer. He has no peace at
all: not of conscience or from the avenger. His guilt and guilty
feelings shall follow him to his grave (pit). We are told here not to
comfort or help him. He is a first degree murderer. He must pay for
this terrible sin.
Proverbs 28:18 "Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but [he
that is] perverse [in his] ways shall fall at once."
We have spoken many times in these lessons of how perverse sin is
a sick sin. It generally has to do with unnatural sex. The walk of the
upright is in the light, following in the path Jesus set before us.
Perverse sin is so out of tune with God, that there is great
punishment in this life, as well as in the next, for this sin. In one
instance, when they would not turn from their perversion, God said
turn them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28).
Proverbs 28:19 "He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of
bread: but he that followeth after vain [persons] shall have poverty
enough."
This reminds you again of the prodigal son who had plenty on his
father's farm, but he tired of the farm life and went to town. He
spent all the money of his inheritance and wound up hungry. Persons
who are not afraid to work and grow a garden will always have plenty
to eat, but vain living brings poverty.
Proverbs 28:20 "A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but
he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent."
Just as Abraham was rich in gold, silver, and cattle because he
was blessed of God, God will bless you abundantly if you have the
faith of Abraham. Abraham was saved and blessed by faith. We are
blessed and saved by; faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Someone in a
hurry to get rich is taking short cuts. His ways are not pleasing to
God, because they are not honest. God will hold him responsible for
the way he made his money. Wealth in itself is not evil. Our attitude
toward the wealth can be very evil.
Proverbs 28:21 "To have respect of persons [is] not good: for for
a piece of bread [that] man will transgress."
We see bribery associated with this. Some judges accept bribes
and release someone just because of favors or because of who they are.
God expects us to treat all men fairly.
Proverbs 28:22 "He that hasteth to be rich [hath] an evil eye,
and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him."
We see in this man with the evil eye, a man who wants what
belongs to others. He has no regard for how he gets what someone else
has just as long as he gets it soon. Money or wealth gotten from evil
ways and in a hurry has a way of leaving just as fast. Poverty is
inevitable for this man, because God will not bless him.
Proverbs 28:23 "He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more
favour than he that flattereth with the tongue."
We see in this a spiritual rebuke of a person who is slipping
away from God. A backslider who is helped back to God will thank you
for it later. Someone who flatters with the tongue and says everything
is okay can do you great harm. Truth is the best rule.
Proverbs 28:24 "Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and
saith, [It is] no transgression; the same [is] the companion of a
destroyer."
This man is not only a robber, but is a robber of his own flesh
and blood. Thieves can think of good excuses, but there is no reason
to rob. This person not only destroys his parents' living by taking
their material goods, but breaks their hearts. as well. He is not a
builder, he is a destroyer.
Proverbs 28:25 "He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife:
but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat."
A proud heart has to do with being puffed up with self. He stirs
up strife because he feels no one has an opinion worth hearing but his
own. Trust goes farther than faith. It is when we rest in the Lord.
knowing that all is well. When I say "rest", here, I do not mean we
stop working. I mean we have complete confidence in the Lord.
Proverbs 28:26 "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but
whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."
"Walketh" means continues to walk. We must trust in the living
God. We cannot trust in ourselves. The wise in heart seek God. Our own
thoughts must be under subjection to God's will in our life before we
can trust in our heart. God's laws must be written on our heart for us
to have a trustworthy heart.
Proverbs 28:27 "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but
he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse."
God counts everything you give to the poor as if you were giving
to Him. Everything you give to Him is multiplied and given right back
to you. You cannot out give God. He that has to give and does not is
cursed of God. God loves a cheerful giver.
Proverbs 28:28 "When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but
when they perish, the righteous increase."
Wicked rulers cause great trouble to their people when they are
in power. We spoke earlier how the ungodly rulers will be overthrown
by their people. The righteous shall rise and take their place.
Proverbs 45 Questions
1. What should we do with our sins?
2. Why is it important to forsake them?
3. When we confess, what is the Lord faithful to do?
4. Those who harden their heart fall into what?
5. Who in Egypt was a good example of hardening his heart?
6. In verse 14, what kind of fear is spoken of?
7. What 2 things is a wicked ruler over the poor compared to?
8. The prince that wanteth understanding is an __________.
9. What happens to the prince that hates coveting?
10. what is meant by fleeing to the pit?
11. A man that doeth violence to the blood is a ____________.
12. In verse 18, who shall be saved?
13. What is perversion?
14. What do we read in Romans 1:28 about perversion?
15. Who shall have plenty of bread to eat?
16. What New Testament story does verse 19 bring to mind?
17. For a piece of _______man will transgress?
18. What kind of an eye does a man who hastens to be rich have?
19. In verse 23, what kind of rebuke is meant?
20. If you rob your father and mother and make excuses for it, you are
a what?
21. In verse 25, a proud heart stirs up __________.
22. A man who trusts in his own heart is a _____________.
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