Posted by Jeff Short on April 17, 2019 · Leave a Comment
Introduction
Chapter 28 continues the proverbs of Solomon collected by Hezekiah’s men, which runs through chapter 29. These last two chapters of wise sayings are mostly two-line antithetical proverbs. This chapter is part of the kingly instruction and touches on themes of law, justice, hearing, and understanding. There are also references to confession of sin, oppression of the poor, riches, and pride.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
– Proverbs 28:1
Fleeing when no one is pursuing is twice mentioned as a curse upon those who break God’s law covenant (Leviticus 26:17, 36). The word for wicked conveys the idea of a criminal, or one who is guilty of wrongdoing. The word for bold means trust, or confidence. In contrast with the wicked, the righteous, or just, man walks confidently like a lion. The lion does not fear any (Proverbs 30:30), but rather instills fear in others (Proverbs 22:13; 26:13).
The lion symbol is often associated with kings or rulers (Proverbs 19:12; 20:2; 28:15; 30:30-31). David cited his overcoming a lion and a bear as evidence for his confidence in God and the righteous cause against Goliath (1 Samuel 17:34-37). Ultimately, it will be the Lion of Judah that prevails, overcomes all enemies, and will suffer no uprising of the wicked (Genesis 49:9; Numbers 23:24; 24:9; Revelation 5:5).
When the king rules in righteousness, the kingdom is established (Proverbs 16:12; 25:5) and the people dwell safely. When the people walk in righteousness, they walk in confidence and come to reward (Proverbs 12:28; 13:6, 9, 21, 25). The wicked walk in fear and come to destruction (Proverbs 10:2-3, 11, 16, 24-25, 28; 29:16), as their kingdom shall not be established (Proverbs 10:30; 14:34; 16:12).
Posted by Jeff Short on September 17, 2018 · Leave a Comment
A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
– Proverbs 25:26
The word for
falling down means to shake or slip. Its use here points to a loss of integrity for the
righteous, or just man. A
troubled fountain describes a water source that has been muddied by stamping, and a
corrupt spring is contaminated water in some way. The images portray water that has been ruined and is useless. The comparison is to the compromised person, who’s reputation has been lost and they are effectively useless.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 14, 2018 · Leave a Comment
He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
– Proverbs 24:24
The “respect of persons in judgment” from the previous verse is explained as declaring the
wicked to be
righteous. Declaring the guilty to be innocent is a corruption of justice. Such perverting of justice is an abomination to God (Proverbs 17:15), and also to the general public (Proverbs 11:26). Perverting justice may win power and position, but it will lose the people.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 8, 2018 · Leave a Comment
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
– Proverbs 24:20
This verse gives the explanation for the warning in the previous verse and takes a deathly serious turn. Commentators vary as to how much the afterlife is in view in Proverbs. Wisdom in Proverbs is concerned with the long view and the end of ways, so it is expected that the end of life, and what’s after, is in view. The word for
reward means after part, or end. It is most often translated “end” in this book (Proverbs 5:4; 14:12-13; 16:25; 19:20; 20:21; 23:18; 25:8). Those verses reflect the meaning of outcome, and in many instances it is the outcome of life. When taken with the last phrase, it is plain this verse is talking about death and the loss of expectation or hope for the wicked. The imagery of the
candle being
put out for the
wicked is used consistently to indicate the forfeiture of any good expectation at the death of the wicked (Proverbs 13:9; 20:20).
The saying is a sober warning to realize the end of the wicked and therefore not to envy or begrudge their successes. The prosperity of evil men is temporary, though it may seem to last their entire earthly lives. This warning is echoed throughout Proverbs (Proverbs 5:23; 8:36; 9:18; 11:7; 23:13-14).
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 7, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
– Proverbs 24:19
Verses 19-20 form the next saying concerning envying the wicked. This saying focuses on the inner attitude. The word for
fret means become angry, and the word for
envious means to be jealous. Wisdom teaches neither to be angry with the success of the
wicked, nor to be jealous of their prosperity. The saying echoes previous sayings (Proverbs 23:17; 24:1).
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 1, 2018 · Leave a Comment
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
– Proverbs 24:16
Verse 16 continues from verse 15 and provides explanation for the warning in that verse. The warning was against plotting against the righteous. Falling
seven times is a figure implying strength or resiliency. Such falling would seem to be final, but the righteous will not ultimately fall, but rise. The wicked’s plots may seem to succeed in the short term, but will ultimately fail. The success of the wicked will be short lived as they will finally
fall into mischief, or evil. This contrast is consistently thematic throughout Proverbs (Proverbs 4:18-19; 10:28; 11:7, 23; 28:18).
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 31, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
– Proverbs 24:15
Verses 14-15 form the next saying, which speaks to the futility of plotting against the righteous. The
dwelling of the righteous and his
resting place are figures of the full life of the
righteous. The plotting of the
wicked is not just an effort to steal money or goods, but an attack on the whole way of life of the righteous. Lying in wait and spoiling reminds of the warnings earlier in the fatherly addresses (Proverbs 1:11; 7:12). This warning, though, is aimed at the
wicked.
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 26, 2018 · Leave a Comment
A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
– Proverbs 21:29
The word for
hardeneth means to be strong, or firm. The word appears three times in Proverbs and is translated
impudent (Proverbs 7:13),
strengthened (Proverbs 8:28), and
hardeneth (Proverbs 21:29). The word for
directeth means to separate mentally, or understand. The proverb contrasts the
wicked and the
upright. The wicked man puts up a strong front, whereas the upright considers well his way. The proverb speaks of appearance versus substance. The wicked are more concerned about the right appearance, whereas the upright is more concerned about the right way.
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 23, 2018 · Leave a Comment
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
– Proverbs 21:27
The word for
abomination means disgusting, or detestable. Here it refers to a form of ritual worship that God hates. The first phrase echoes Proverbs 15:8 and the issue is the odious nature of hypocritical worship. Getting the outward form right is meaningless when the heart is not right (1 Samuel 15:22-23). In the second phrase,
wicked mind refers to an evil intent, or plan. We could view this as an attempt to bribe God to overlook unrighteousness, or an attempt to entice God to deliver the wicked one through payment apart from repentance and faith. However, God refuses to hear those who will not hear him (Proverbs 28:9).
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Proverbs 28:1
Posted by Jeff Short on April 17, 2019 · Leave a Comment
Introduction
Chapter 28 continues the proverbs of Solomon collected by Hezekiah’s men, which runs through chapter 29. These last two chapters of wise sayings are mostly two-line antithetical proverbs. This chapter is part of the kingly instruction and touches on themes of law, justice, hearing, and understanding. There are also references to confession of sin, oppression of the poor, riches, and pride.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
– Proverbs 28:1
Fleeing when no one is pursuing is twice mentioned as a curse upon those who break God’s law covenant (Leviticus 26:17, 36). The word for wicked conveys the idea of a criminal, or one who is guilty of wrongdoing. The word for bold means trust, or confidence. In contrast with the wicked, the righteous, or just, man walks confidently like a lion. The lion does not fear any (Proverbs 30:30), but rather instills fear in others (Proverbs 22:13; 26:13).
The lion symbol is often associated with kings or rulers (Proverbs 19:12; 20:2; 28:15; 30:30-31). David cited his overcoming a lion and a bear as evidence for his confidence in God and the righteous cause against Goliath (1 Samuel 17:34-37). Ultimately, it will be the Lion of Judah that prevails, overcomes all enemies, and will suffer no uprising of the wicked (Genesis 49:9; Numbers 23:24; 24:9; Revelation 5:5).
When the king rules in righteousness, the kingdom is established (Proverbs 16:12; 25:5) and the people dwell safely. When the people walk in righteousness, they walk in confidence and come to reward (Proverbs 12:28; 13:6, 9, 21, 25). The wicked walk in fear and come to destruction (Proverbs 10:2-3, 11, 16, 24-25, 28; 29:16), as their kingdom shall not be established (Proverbs 10:30; 14:34; 16:12).
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