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A Study of Proverbs 22
November 11, 2007
One of our members requested a study of Proverbs. This chapter repeats some points already made and introduces new ones. Avoid angry companions. Be righteous. Be just. Rear children properly. Help the poor. Be careful in your business. Don't borrow money.
Bernie Parsons
Proverbs Chapter 22
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to the Load church of Christ 11-11-2007
Proverbs 22:1: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”
A respectable name is more valuable than riches, and respect than silver and gold.
Proverbs 22:2: “The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.”
Leviticus 19:15: “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.”
James 2:1: “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2: For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3: And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5: Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”
The rich man is no better than the poor. God has made us all.
Proverbs 22:3: “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
The wise see evil coming and and hide, while the naive run into it and suffer.
Proverbs 22:4: “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.”
Riches, honor, and life result from fearing God and living humbly.
Proverbs 22:5: “Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.”
Thorns and traps line the way of the perverse. The righteous avoid them.
Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Train a child in righteousness and when he is older, he will not forget his training.
Proverbs 22:7: “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
The rich have power over the poor, while the borrower becomes the lender’s servant.
Proverbs 22:8: “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.”
If a man sows injustice, he reaps troubles, and as a result, the device of his anger fails.
Proverbs 22:9: “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.”
He who shares shall be blessed for giving to the poor.
Proverbs 22:10: “Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.”
Drive away the mocker, and contention, strife, and reproach shall cease.
Proverbs 22:11:” He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.”
The king notices and rewards a man who is truthful and dependable.
Proverbs 22:12: “The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.”
The Lord preserves truth and destroys the words of the untruthful.
Proverbs 22:13: “The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.”
A lazy man makes excuses as to why he cannot do his work.
Proverbs 22:14: “The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.”
The mouth of the adulteress is a deep trap into which the cursed shall fall.
Proverbs 22:15: “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
A child, on his own, tends to foolishness, but spanking can correct that.
Proverbs 22:16: “He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.”
A man who unfairly takes from the poor to become rich, as well as the man who bribes the rich, shall find himself in poverty.
Proverbs 22:17: “Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18: For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19: That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.”
Listen to my wise words and learn. If you live by them, you will put your trust in God.
Proverbs 22:20: “Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21: That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?”
Haven’t I written wisdom and established words of truth to your benefit?
Proverbs 22:22: “Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23: For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.”
Do not steal from the poor as he needs what he has. If you do, the Lord will punish you.
Proverbs 22:24: “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.”
Avoid those who are angry and full of wrath. His ways will destroy you.
Proverbs 22:26: “Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27: If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?”
Don’t agree to stand good for the debts of others lest you lose all that you own.
Proverbs 22:28: “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.”
Don’t steal land by shifting the ancient boundary markers.
Proverbs 22:29: “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
A man who is careful about his business shall stand before kings rather than average men.
