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A Study of Proverbs 28
February 03, 2008
One of our members requested a study of Proverbs. This chapter repeats some points already made and introduces new ones. Bad leaders plunge a country into chaos. Don't oppress the poor. Don't show partiality. Take care of your parents. Follow the teachings of your parents. Be industrious.
Bernie Parsons
Proverbs Chapter 28
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to the Load church of Christ 02-03-2008
Proverbs 28:1: “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
Those who do wicked things have guilty consciences. The righteous stand firm.
Proverbs 28:2: “For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.”
A land in rebellion has many rulers. A wise man can keep the country stable.
Proverbs 28:3: “A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.”
A poor man oppressing other poor is like a destructive storm that destroys the crops.
Proverbs 28:4: “They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.”
Lawbreakers uphold the wicked. Law abiding citizens protest their activities.
Proverbs 28:5: “Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.”
Evil men don’t understand the importance of right and wrong. The righteous do.
Proverbs 28:6: “Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.”
Better to be poor and righteous rather than perverse and rich.
Proverbs 28:7: “Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.”
A wise son obeys the law. One who hangs out with revelers shames his father. He will get into trouble by accompanying troublemakers.
Proverbs 28:8: “He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.”
Someone who charges too much interest on a loan gathers it for he who pities the poor. That is, in the long run, he will lose it and it will be given to a better man.
Proverbs 28:9: “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”
When a man will not keep God’s law, God does not want to hear from him.
Proverbs 28:10: “Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.”
One who leads the righteous astray will be ensnared in his own trap. The righteous and upstanding shall receive good things.
Proverbs 28:11: “The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.”
A rich man thinks too much of himself, but the wise poor know what he really is.
Proverbs 28:12: “When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.”
When the righteous triumph, there is rejoicing, but when the wicked prevail, men hide.
Proverbs 28:13: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
James 5:16: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
1 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 you hide your sins, they will drag you down. If you confess your sins and abandon them, you will obtain forgiveness and leniency.
Proverbs 28:14: “Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”
Happiness comes to he who fears and obeys God, else the heart hardens, causing one to sin and invite trouble.
Proverbs 28:15: “As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.”
A wicked ruler over the poor destroys them as would an angry lion or hungry bear.
Proverbs 28:16: “The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.”
A ruler without understanding oppresses the people, but if he hates covetousness, he shall rule for a long time. Covetous leaders desire what others have, leading to wars.
Proverbs 28:17: “A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.”
Deuteronomy 19:21: “And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
He who is guilty of anyone’s blood shall rush to his death, and no one can stop him.
Proverbs 28:18: “Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.”
The righteous shall be saved, while the perverse shall suddenly lose all.
Proverbs 28:19: “He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.”
1 Thessalonians 4:11: “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12: That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”
2 Thessalonians 3:10: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
The industrious person has plenty to eat, while he that idles will have poverty.
Proverbs 28:20: “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.”
James 5:1: “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2: Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3: Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4: Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.”
A reliable person receives many blessings while the man who takes a shortcut to riches will be punished for his ways. That is, he wrongs others and it will catch up with him.
Proverbs 28:21: “To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.”
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 2:2: “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?”
Partiality is an indicator of weak character—such a person will easily sin.
Proverbs 28:22: “He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.”
A shortcut to riches leads to improper behavior. Poverty awaits such a person.
Proverbs 28:23: “He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.”
Correction is appreciated later, while flattery is empty and worthless.
Proverbs 28:24: “Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.”
Mark 7:9: “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
10: For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
11: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12: And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13: Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
One who robs his parents, thinking it not wrong, is classified among the destroyers.
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 man creates trouble for himself, while a righteous man shall prosper.
Proverbs 28:26: “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”
Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
A man who maps his own path is foolish. A wise man finds the correct path.
Proverbs 28:27: “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.”
Proverbs 19:17: “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”
Those who share with the poor shall not be without, but the selfish shall be cursed.
Proverbs 28:28: “When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.”
Proverbs 11:10: “When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.”
Men hide when wicked men gain power, and prosper when they are destroyed.
