Proverbs 20
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Proverbs 20:1:
1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise |
Excessive use of wine could cause a person to be inclined to speak in an argumentative way. Excessive consumption of fermented liquor might cause a person to act out aggressively toward others. Whosoever it is that goes astray because of it is not wise (the mind is dulled; no longer has mastery of oneself). This verse illustrates what happens to a person when they overindulge in wine or fermented liquor. Therefore, the recommendation to avoid overindulgence is to simply don’t drink at all, i.e., abstain.
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Francois Fenelon Files
"Some of the most dreadful mischiefs that afflict mankind proceed from wine; it is the cause of disease, quarrels, sedition, idleness, aversion to labor, and every species of domestic disorder."
-Francois Fenelon
Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging
Wine deceives a man; it not only overcomes him before he is aware, but it promises him a pleasure which it does not give; but, on the contrary, excessive drinking gives him pain, and so mocks him; yea, it exposes him to reproach and disgrace, and to the mockery and derision of others; as well as it sets him to scoff at his companions, and even to mock at religion, and all that is good and serious; see ( Hosea 7:5 ) ; and strong drink not only disturbs the brain, and puts the spirits in a ferment, so that a man rages within, but it sets him a raving and quarrelling with his company, and everybody he meets with; such generally get into broils and contentions, and get woe, sorrow, and wounds, ( Proverbs 23:29 Proverbs 23:30 ) . Aben Ezra gives this as the sense of the words,
``a man of wine''
(that is, one that is given to wine, a wine bibber), so Ben Melech,
``is a mocker, and he cries out for strong drink, that it may be given him;''
which is not a bad sense of the words. and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise;
whosoever gives himself to it, is not on his guard against it, but is overcome by it, does not act a wise but an unwise part: wine besots as well as deceives men. This may be applied to the wine of fornication, or to the false doctrine and superstition of the church of Rome; with which the nations of the earth are deceived and made drunk, and which puts them upon blaspheming God, deriding his people, and using cruelty to them, ( Revelation 17:2 Revelation 17:3 Revelation 17:6 ) ( Revelation 18:3 Revelation 18:23 ) . --Gills Exposition
Wine deceives a man; it not only overcomes him before he is aware, but it promises him a pleasure which it does not give; but, on the contrary, excessive drinking gives him pain, and so mocks him; yea, it exposes him to reproach and disgrace, and to the mockery and derision of others; as well as it sets him to scoff at his companions, and even to mock at religion, and all that is good and serious; see ( Hosea 7:5 ) ; and strong drink not only disturbs the brain, and puts the spirits in a ferment, so that a man rages within, but it sets him a raving and quarrelling with his company, and everybody he meets with; such generally get into broils and contentions, and get woe, sorrow, and wounds, ( Proverbs 23:29 Proverbs 23:30 ) . Aben Ezra gives this as the sense of the words,
``a man of wine''
(that is, one that is given to wine, a wine bibber), so Ben Melech,
``is a mocker, and he cries out for strong drink, that it may be given him;''
which is not a bad sense of the words. and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise;
whosoever gives himself to it, is not on his guard against it, but is overcome by it, does not act a wise but an unwise part: wine besots as well as deceives men. This may be applied to the wine of fornication, or to the false doctrine and superstition of the church of Rome; with which the nations of the earth are deceived and made drunk, and which puts them upon blaspheming God, deriding his people, and using cruelty to them, ( Revelation 17:2 Revelation 17:3 Revelation 17:6 ) ( Revelation 18:3 Revelation 18:23 ) . --Gills Exposition
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Proverbs 20:2:
"The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: Whoso provoketh him to anger, sinneth against his own soul." |
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion,.... The wrath and displeasure of a king, which causes fear; see Proverbs 19:12; kings should be terrors to evil works and workers, though not to good ones, Romans 13:3. This is true of the King of kings, who one day will be terrible to the drunkards, the mockers, and murderers of his people, before spoken of; whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul; he exposes his life to danger: the Targum supplies it as we do. It may be rendered, his "soul sinneth"; he is guilty of sin, as well as is in danger of punishment; see Proverbs 8:36. --Gill's Expositon of the Whole Bible
How formidable kings are to those who provoke them! how much more foolish then is it to provoke the King of kings! --Matthew Henry's Commentary |
Jonathan Edwards Files
"The subject that very much enrages an arbitrary prince, is liable to suffer the most extreme torments that human art can invent, or human power can inflict. But the greatest earthly potentates in their greatest majesty and strength, and when clothed in their greatest terrors, are but feeble, despicable worms of the dust, in comparison of the great and almighty Creator and King of heaven and earth. It is but little that they can do, when most enraged, and when they have exerted the utmost of their fury. All the kings of the earth, before God, are as grasshoppers; they are nothing, and less than nothing: both their love and their hatred is to be despised."
-Jonathan Edwards; Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
-Jonathan Edwards; Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
In Solomon’s day, human authority was embodied in the person of the king. Proverbs 20:2 is a Common Sense lesson in Prudence: Don’t provoke a roaring lion [i.e. king] unless you are ready to face the consequences.............The person of the king might be such that he garners no respect; however, his position as an earthly sovereign is providentially entrusted to him by God and to be revered (Romans 13:1-4). The prophet Daniel observed, “[God] removeth kings, and setteth up kings…” (Daniel 2:21). A wise man fears and respects the authorities God has providentially placed in his life (Romans 13:1b, 5). To unnecessarily provoke the wrath of an authority and become victim of his rage is foolish [as foolish as provoking a roaring lion]. --Pastor Travis D Smith [From the Heart of a Shepherd: Proverbs 20:2, 28 – A people’s respect for authority rests upon two pillars: Mercy and Truth.]
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Proverbs 20:3:
It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. |
Some might consider a person who backs away from confrontation a coward. The Proverbs say he is worthy of honor. You might even say it is the brave thing to do. Why not be in the same mind as the Sinless One who, “when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly”?
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Proverbs 20:4-6:
4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?
4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?
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Proverbs 20:7:
The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. |
 Richard Pratt
In recent decades, Christian television has spread what many call the “prosperity gospel” — the misguided belief that if we have enough faith, God will heal our diseases and provide us with great financial blessings. Of course, most people reading this article scoff at the thought that faith can yield such benefits. But don’t laugh too hard. We have our own prosperity gospel for our families. We simply replace having enough faith with having enough obedience. We believe that we can lift our families out of their brokenness if we conform to God’s commands.
You’ve probably encountered this outlook at one time or another. Teachers and pastors tell wives that they will enjoy wonderful relationships with their husbands and children if they will become “an excellent wife” (Prov. 31:10). After all, Proverbs 31:28 says: “Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her.” At men’s conferences, fathers recommit themselves for the sake of their children because “the righteous who walks in his integrity — blessed are his children after him!” (Prov. 20:7). In much the same way, young parents are led to believe that the eternal destinies of their children depend on strict and consistent training. You know the verse: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). Passages like these have been taken as indicating that Christian families experience blessings and loss from God, quid pro quo. We believe that God promises a wonderful family life to those who obey His commands. Now, we need to be clear here. The proverbs commend certain paths to family members because they reflect the ways God ordinarily distributes His blessings. But ordinarily does not mean necessarily. Excellent wives have good reason to expect honor from their husbands and children. Fathers with integrity often enjoy seeing God’s blessings on their children. Parents who train their children in the fear of the Lord follow the path that frequently brings children to saving faith. But excellent wives, faithful husbands, and conscientious parents often endure terrible hardship in their homes because proverbs are not promises. They are adages that direct us toward general principles that must be applied carefully in a fallen world where life is always somewhat out of kilter. As the books of Job and Ecclesiastes illustrate so vividly, we misconstrue the Word of God when we treat proverbs as if they were divine promises. --Richard Pratt; Key Life; Broken Homes in the Bible 12.5.19 |
Proverbs 20:8-23:
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.
14 “It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer;
But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
8 Plans are established by counsel;
By wise counsel wage war.
19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
Will not be blessed at the end.
22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”;
Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And dishonest scales are not good.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.
14 “It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer;
But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
8 Plans are established by counsel;
By wise counsel wage war.
19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
Will not be blessed at the end.
22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”;
Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And dishonest scales are not good.
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Proverbs 20:24:
A man’s steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way? |
 Kathy Brumbaugh Files
Sometimes, the plans we make for ourselves do not turn out as expected. What we thought would be a good path can lead to unexpected results. Sometimes, we become shocked, surprised and overwhelmed when things turn out far different from what we had hoped for.
There are things in life that we may never understand. However, if we allow our road in life to be directed by God, it doesn’t matter if we understand everything. What is important is knowing that we can trust God to direct us. With God walking by our side, we can trust that everything will come together for good. Now let us look at the writings of the prophet Isaiah as we continue to learn about following God’s ways. In Isaiah 30:19-20, we find God speaking to the people of Jerusalem concerning how he would always walk with them, help them, guide them and teach them. From Isaiah 30:20-21, we read, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’” These are the words of God as he walks with us, teaching us his way. It is the voice of the Holy Spirit nudging us today, telling us the right way to go. However, it is up to each of us to decide if we will follow those godly nudgings or not. We do have free will to make choices for ourselves. The question is, do we trust in God to show us the best path to take, or do we ignore God, thinking our way is better? --Rev. Kathy Brumbaugh; Schenevus United Methodist Church 12.1.22 |
Proverbs 20:25:
25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,
And afterward to reconsider his vows.
25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,
And afterward to reconsider his vows.
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Proverbs 20:26:
A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them. |
Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of the grain from the scaly, inedible chaff that surrounds it. After the harvest has been threshed, winnowing separates the loose chaff from the grain so that the grain, no longer mixed with the chaff, can be gathered. When God uses threshing and winnowing as metaphors for how to deal with people, as in the verse above, He does not necessarily stick to the order these processes are performed in agriculture. The metaphors are used to convey how God deals differently with the wicked and the just (‘the just’ being those who by grace are justified in Christ the Messiah).
In the modern world, harvesting, threshing and winnowing is all done by the one machine, the combine harvester. Unless we’ve witnessed these processes in third world countries where they’re still done in the old ways, we are unlikely to appreciate what these processes looked like in ancient times. In biblical days, the threshing wheel consisted of three or four heavy rollers of wood, iron, or stone, roughly made and joined together in a square frame, which was in the form of a sledge or drag. Rollers were said to be like barrels of an organ with their projections. Cylinders were parallel with each other and were stuck full of spikes having sharp square points. The driver sat on the machine, and with his weight helped to keep it down. (source) --Crying Out for Justice |