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A Study of Proverbs 24
December 09, 2007
One of our members requested a study of Proverbs. This chapter repeats some points already made and introduces new ones. Be strong. Surround yourself with wise advisors. Don't envy the wicked. Don't show partiality. Don't oppress the poor. Don't be lazy.
Bernie Parsons
Proverbs Chapter 24
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to the Load church of Christ 12-09-2007
Proverbs 24:1
“Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2: For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.”
Evil people may seem to have riches and power, but be not deceived. Their minds run on how to destroy others and how to inflict pain and suffering on others.
Proverbs 24:3 “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it
is established:
4: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and
pleasant riches.”
Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge are treasures. With those, your chances of success in life are greatly increased.
Proverbs 24:5: “A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth
strength.
6: For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of
counsellers there is safety.”
A wise, knowledgeable person is a strong person. A leader going to war must surround himself with a large number of wise advisors in order to succeed.
Proverbs 24:7: “Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in
the gate.
8: He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9: The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to
men.”
Fools reject wisdom—some cannot learn. The fool does not stand in the city entrance to offer advice. A man who plans evil gains a reputation as someone to avoid. Foolish people think sinful thoughts. The mocker is hated by others.
Proverbs 24:10: “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is
small.”
Hebrews 5:14: “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Ephesians 6:13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Those who cannot stand when times are difficult are weak. We must prepare by exercising righteousness, girding for battle, and standing firm when attacked.
Proverbs 24:11: “If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death,
and those that are ready to be slain;
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?”
When we see someone who is about to be murdered, we must intervene and rescue them. We cannot excuse our lack of aid by saying that we were not aware. God is aware, and will hold us accountable. He is the champion of the poor and the oppressed.
Proverbs 24:13: “My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the
honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
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.”
Just as honey is sweet on the tongue, so is wisdom to the soul. Just as finding a hive of honey and honeycomb is rewarding, so is the finding of wisdom. It supplies hope.
Proverbs 24:15: “Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the
righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16: For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked
shall fall into mischief.”
Micah:7:8 “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.”
A wicked man will eventually come to ruin and destruction. On the other hand, a righteous man will continue to rise up when he falls, time after time.
Proverbs 24:17: “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine
heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath
from him.”
Our goal is justice and fairness. Revenge belongs to God. We must not rejoice at the downfall of our enemies.
Proverbs 24:19: “Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou
envious at the wicked;
20: For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked
shall be put out.”
We must not desire the wealth and power of the wicked. In the long run, the wicked will perish.
Proverbs 24:21: “My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not
with them that are given to change:
22: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them
both?”
Titus 3:1: “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2: To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”
Psalms 37:11: “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
Be loyal citizens, and do not seek to rise up against your leaders. Those who do so will face sudden trouble and come to ruin.
Proverbs 24:23: “These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to
have respect of persons in judgment.
24: He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people
curse, nations shall abhor him:
25: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall
come upon them.
26: Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.”
Isaiah 5:20: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
We must not approve of wickedness as if it were good. We must not render false judment by favoring the criminal. Instead, we must rebuke the wicked, and so earn respect.
Proverbs 24:27: “Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in
the field; and afterwards build thine house.”
First things first. Planning is important. Better to make sure that the crop will come in before beginning your house. What good is a house if you are starving?
Proverbs 24:28: “Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and
deceive not with thy lips.
29: Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the
man according to his work.”
Deuteronomy 19:16: “If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
17: Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
18: And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
19: Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
20: And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
21: And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
Don’t go looking for trouble by bearing false witness against your neighbor. God hates lying, and He hates false witness.
Proverbs 24:30: “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of
the man void of understanding;
31: And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the
face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32: Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received
instruction.
33: Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to
sleep:
34: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an
armed man.”
There is a lesson to be learned from the lazy and the ignorant: his field is overgrown, and his vineyard is in disrepair. His stone walls have gaps in them. The lesson is this: if one is lazy, and prefers sleep and rest to work, he shall come into a state of poverty, to his great hurt. It is like falling into the hands of a wandering robber or a bandit.
