Posted by Jeff Short on April 6, 2018 · Leave a Comment
And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
– Proverbs 23:2
Exercising self-control is a part of keeping your wits from the previous verse. The phrase,
put a knife to thy throat, is a figurative expression for exercising extreme control over your appetite. Today, we might say, “Bite your tongue,” and by that mean you should exercise extreme control over your speech. The word
appetite makes us think about gluttony. Proverbs warns against gluttony (Proverbs 23:21; 28:7), but the warning here is not as much about gluttony in general. Wisdom is teaching to be self-controlled, discerning, and sober minded. This is particularly so when we are in situations where we need to be on guard.
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Posted by Jeff Short on April 5, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Introduction
Chapter 23 continues the collection of sayings from chapter 22, introduced as the “Words of the Wise.” The sayings are usually grouped in two to three verses about a general subject. Subjects covered in this chapter include caution, wealth, hospitality, wasted words, advocacy, wisdom, child discipline, parents, perspective, excess, honoring parents, avoiding the pit, and drunkenness.
When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
– Proverbs 23:1
Verse 1 begins a warning to keep your wits about you. A ruler may be a king, governor, magistrate, or otherwise powerful person. Verse 3 makes plain that things are not always what they seem. The word for consider diligently means to discern, perceive, or separate mentally. Wisdom teaches to discern the situation. One should be cautious, perhaps even skeptical of the motives. The ruler likely wants something from you, or is testing you in some way. The flattery of the situation could be blinding and so the warning to keep our heads.
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Posted by Jeff Short on April 2, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
– Proverbs 22:29
Proverbs praises diligence and warns against laziness (Proverbs 10:4; 12:24). The word for
diligent means ready, or skillful. Promotion is in view in terms of standing before kings as the reward of the diligent. Wisdom seeks promotion on merit, not bribery or empty talk (Proverbs 14:23; 28:19). Even the talk of the diligent differs from the talk of the lazy. The talk of the diligent is a wise plan executed successfully (Proverbs 21:5).
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 30, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
– Proverbs 22:28
The saying of this verse stands alone, giving the simple imperative, “Do not.” No reasons or consequences are given, though those can be found elsewhere in Scripture. The word for
landmark literally means a twisted cord. The word is used by implication to refer to a border, edge, or boundary. The word appears over 200 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. It is most often translated
border or
coast. In a few places it is translated as
landmark or
bound. In the law, the word refers to the property boundaries given to the tribes by allotment from God. The inheritance was to remain in the families and the borders were important to be maintained. The law forbade falsifying property boundaries (Deuteronomy 19:14; 27:27). This very act brought God’s judgment on the people (Hosea 5:10).
Wisdom reinforces the command of law. Moving a boundary marker was lying and stealing. The law did not provide a specific penalty inflicted by man, but did warn the sin would incur the curse of God (Deuteronomy 27:27). Proverbs echoes this warning by assuring Yahweh will “establish the border of the widow” (Proverbs 15:25) and will “plead their [the fatherless] cause” (Proverbs 23:10-11). This proverb is another stern warning against oppressing, extorting, and defrauding of the weak and vulnerable.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 29, 2018 · Leave a Comment
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
– Proverbs 22:27
Being surety, or striking hands, is like cosigning a loan for someone today. If the borrower defaults, the cosigner assumes responsibility for the debt. The warning of the previous verse comes home in harsh reality that you could literally lose your bed from under you. Wisdom takes a longer view and looks to the outcomes, or the end of the way you are going. Becoming surety opens yourself to vulnerability and puts you at risk of future loss.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 28, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
– Proverbs 22:26
Proverbs has repeated warnings about
sureties (Proverbs 6:1-15; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 27:13). A surety, or a pledge, secures a debt and Proverbs cautions doing so, particularly for one whose reputation is bad or unknown. A pledge is a form of rash vows and puts a person in unnecessary risk. Solomon advised his son to get out of such a situation as fast as he could if he ever got in it (Proverbs 6:1-15).
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 27, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
– Proverbs 22:25
Verse 25 completes the proverb started in verse 24. The warning against associating with the angry man is to avoid the
snare of becoming like him. Wisdom teaches that we become like those we companion with and those we allow to influence our lives (Proverbs 13:20). Wisdom teaches us to discern the character of others and to avoid all forms of folly and wickedness (Proverbs 1:11-19; 2:12-20; 7:22-27). This is more than a question of taste or preference. Wisdom commands to “forsake the foolish and live” (Proverbs 9:6). The hot tempered, angry man is one type of fool to avoid (Proverbs 21:14; 29:22).
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 26, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
– Proverbs 22:24
The word for
friendship literally means to tend a flock and is put for associating with. Wisdom has warned against the folly of anger (Proverbs 15:18; 19:19), but the warning here is along a different line, as seen in the next verse. The word for
angry means nostrils and the word for
furious means heat. The words describe the marks of a hot tempered man. The saying instructs not to associate with, or be the companion of such a man.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 24, 2018 · Leave a Comment
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
– Proverbs 22:23
Verse 23 gives the consequence for verse 22, which forbids unjust treatment of the weak and needy. Wisdom has previously given warning against injustice toward the poor because God is their Creator (Proverbs 14:31; 17:5). Here God is their counsellor and protector. He will
plead their cause means he will take their case and contend for them. The word for
spoil means to rob. Yahweh will also mete out justice to those who have oppressed the poor. In due time, exploiters will reap what they have sown (Proverbs 1:16-19; 5:22-23; 28:17).
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Proverbs 23:2
Posted by Jeff Short on April 6, 2018 · Leave a Comment
And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
Exercising self-control is a part of keeping your wits from the previous verse. The phrase, put a knife to thy throat, is a figurative expression for exercising extreme control over your appetite. Today, we might say, “Bite your tongue,” and by that mean you should exercise extreme control over your speech. The word appetite makes us think about gluttony. Proverbs warns against gluttony (Proverbs 23:21; 28:7), but the warning here is not as much about gluttony in general. Wisdom is teaching to be self-controlled, discerning, and sober minded. This is particularly so when we are in situations where we need to be on guard.– Proverbs 23:2
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
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