Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29: More Proverbs of Solomon (Cont.). 

Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed - without remedy. A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet. The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger. Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. The poor and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives sight to the eyes of both. A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother. Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them. A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent. An angry person stirs up conflict; and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

God wants us to heed a rebuke because rebukes prevent us from continuing to make the same mistakes. God says that if we remain stubborn, refusing to listen to rebukes, that we will be destroyed and there won't be another opportunity to reconcile our mistakes. Joy comes from loving wisdom and God wants us to be wise. God wants us to care about justice for the poor. We shouldn't take advantage of the poor because they are poor, instead we should ensure they achieve justice. Wisdom turns away anger and God wants us to avoid quarrels. We are to bring calm during an argument instead of giving full vent to our rage. God wants us to discipline our children that they would discover wisdom and not turn insolent. Godly discipline won't harm your child, but will benefit their life all the days of their life. God doesn't want us to be angry or to be full of pride, instead He wants us to be lowly in spirit and to trust in Him.

Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25: More Proverbs of Solomon.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. What you have seen with your eyes do not bring hastily to court. If you take your neighbors to court, do not betray another's confidence. Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him. Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house - too much of you, and they will hate you. If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

God wants us to remove wicked people from our lives and in doing so we will be established through righteousness. The presence of a single wicked person can dethrone a king. God does not want us to exalt ourselves, but instead to be humble and allow others to invite us to a place of honor. Pride comes before the fall and God is protecting us from humiliation in front of noble men. God does not want us to be hasty to take what we have seen to court or to take our neighbors to court lest we betray the confidence of another. It would be a mistake to assume we know what we have seen without first investigating it because we could be wrong. God does not want us to wear out our welcome with our neighbors. Our presence should be a treat and not a punishment. God's will is that we would feed our enemy and provide him with water if he is hungry or thirsty. Remember God has said to leave revenge to Him and treating our enemies kindly is the same as heaping burning coals on their head. 

Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24: Thirty Sayings of the Wise (Cont.).

Saying 20: Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence. 

Saying 21: By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.

Saying 22:  The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength; surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.

Saying 23: Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

Saying 24: Whoever plots evil will be known as a schemer; the schemes of folly are sin.

Saying 25: If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength; rescue those being led astray to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

Saying 26: Eat honey, my son, for it is good; know also that wisdom is like honey for you.

Saying 27: Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place; for through the righteous fall seven times, they rise again. 

Saying 28: Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.

Saying 29: Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, for the evildoers has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Saying 30: Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials.

Further Sayings of the Wise:

To show partiality in judging is not good; An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips; Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready, after that build your house; Do not testify against your neighbor without cause; A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

God does not want us to associate with the wicked, to envy their lives, or to desire their company. The hearts of the wicked plot violence and God's will is for us to be at peace with one another. A house is built by wisdom and established through understanding. Wisdom and knowledge provide power and strength. God wants us to seek out advisers because victory is won through many advisers. We are told to rescue those being led to death and hold back those being taken to slaughter. God wants us to lead as many people to life (God) as we can and to prevent them from death (hell). The righteous will always rise again, this is a promise, even though we might fall seven times. God does not want us to rejoice when our enemy falls. It is God's will that we would allow him to punish our enemy, but God still loves him or her. The punishment is for the good of our enemy just as discipline is for the good of our children. God's will is that we would not be afraid of evil because he gives us this promise that the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.  

Proverbs 15

Proverbs 15: Proverbs of Solomon (Cont.).

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. A hot tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. The heart of the righteous weighs its answers. Wisdom's instruction is to fear the Lord and humility comes before honor.

God wants us to speak gently and give thoughts to our answers. Anyone who has worked with children knows the effect a harsh word has on the spirit. Our words should bring healing and happiness. God wants us to be patient and to calm quarrels. Our lives should be symbols of peace not conflict. God wants us to plan with the help of advisers. Rushing into plans leads to failure: think and then act. Don't let success make you forget your humility.