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A Study of Proverbs 20
October 14, 2007
One of our members requested a study of Proverbs. The twentieth chapter repeats some points already made and introduces new ones. Laziness leads to poverty and ruin. Don't curse your parents. You cannot cleanse yourself. Obey civil authority. A good reputation is valuable.
Bernie Parsons
Proverbs Chapter 20
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to the Load church of Christ 10-14-2007
Proverbs 20:1: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
Too much alcohol causes one to do things shameful or dangerous.
Proverbs 20:2: “The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.”
Provoking the king (or other leader) to anger invites trouble, perhaps destruction.
Proverbs 20:3: “It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.”
1 Peter 4:15: “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.”
Blessed are the peacemakers! Meddlers are fools.
Proverbs 20:4: “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.”
A lazy man makes excuses like “It’s too cold to plow!”, and the result is that he has nothing to harvest, since he planted nothing.
Proverbs 20:5: “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.”
Wise decisions lie deeply buried. A smart man will figure out how to bring them out.
Proverbs 20:6: “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?”
A truly good man does not trumpet his own goodness.
Proverbs 20:7: “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”
A man’s good reputation and influence live on into the next generation.
Proverbs 20:8: “A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.”
Kings (leaders) who search for the truth when reviewing cases bring justice, rewarding the innocent and punishing the evil.
Proverbs 20:9: “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?”
Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
John 8:7: “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
We cannot purify ourselves, and none of us are pure.
Proverbs 20:10: “Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.”
False weights and measures are hated by the Lord. We must be honest in business.
Proverbs 20:11: “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”
Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Our works, even those of children, show whether we are pure and righteous.
Proverbs 20:12: “The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.”
Romans 6:13: “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
Matthew 13:16: “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.”
God has made our eyes and ears. We should use them righteously.
Proverbs 20:13: “Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.”
1 Timothy 5:8: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
Laziness will keep you poor. Instead, work and provide for yourself and your family.
Proverbs 20:14: “It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.”
Sellers beware: Buyers claim that the poduct is inferior, when they know better.
Proverbs 20:15: “There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.”
Gold and jewels are precious, but so is informed advice.
Proverbs 20:16: “Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.”
Make sure that you have a deposit when contracting with strangers and foreigners.
Proverbs 20:17: “Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.”
Don’t glory in deceit, you will pay the price later.
Proverbs 20:18: “Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.”
Seek wise advice when making plans, or planning war.
Proverbs 20:19: “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.”
Talebearers talk smoothly in order to get you to share secrets, which they will reveal.
Proverbs 20:20: “Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.”
Exodus 21:17: “And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.”
He who curses mother or father brings his own ruin and destruction.
Proverbs 20:21: “An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.”
Think of the prodigal son! Patiently await your inheritance.
Proverbs 20:22: “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.”
Romans 12:19: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
Do not try to get even—let God decide when and how to repay the wicked.
Proverbs 20:23: “Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false’ balance is not good.”
God hates false weights and measures. He hates dishonesty and stealing.
Proverbs 20:24: “Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?”
Acts 17:28: “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”
God produced us and keeps us alive. How then can we figure our own direction in life?
Proverbs 20:25: “It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.”
One should not declare something as holy, make vows about it, and then have second thoughts about it.
Proverbs 20:26: “A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.”
A wise king totally subdues his enemies, so that they are unable to fight him again.
Proverbs 20:27: “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”
Man’s spirit is God’s candle to search the innermost parts of a man.
Proverbs 20:28: “Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.”
An honest and merciful king will appease his subjects, with less liklihood of an uprising.
Proverbs 20:29: “The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.”
Young men are admired for their physical strength, while old men are admired for their experience and wisdom.
Proverbs 20:30: “The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.”
A bruising wound removes evil, and stripes cleanse the innermost part of a person.
