Proverbs 22
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Proverbs 22:1-2:
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and the poor have this in common, The Lord is the maker of them all. |
Philippians 2:3 states, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
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Jesus says in Mark 7:15: “Nothing outside a man can make him unclean by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean.” Here the uncleanness is not coming from unclean hands but from unclean behavior.
The Bible says a good name is to be CHOSEN OVER RICHES. Is there any merit in this statement? Maybe not in the short term… perhaps you will get what you want but those around you are learning you are not kind, trustworthy, nor honorable. They lose respect for you. They will gladly cheat you the way you cheat others and not feel guilty. They may bow to you because you have the money, but they would celebrate your downfall in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose because they don’t LIKE the way you treat them. These are the effects of a “bad name”. -Ashley Thaba
Parents need to realize that a few minutes of lecturing cannot change a lifetime of teaching a child. I had an experience once that reminds me that working with a child’s reputation is ongoing, not just a once in awhile thing!
Our four children were very young when my husband was superintendent of Albuquerque Indian School. The school often had visitors from Washington, D.C., and on one such occasion a special event had been planned. I was to bring the children and join my husband at the school for the event. I got the children ready and got them in the car. All the way to the school, I lectured them about their behavior. I was so very concerned that the superintendent’s kids be well-behaved! As I went on and on lecturing, finally our pre-school son had had enough. Borrowing Archie Bunker’s phrase, he said, “Oh, Mom! Stifle yourself!” The other children broke out laughing! How silly I was to think that in a few minutes driving to the school I could cover what they needed to learn since birth! -Pat Lamb; The Pathway 2.10.20
Our four children were very young when my husband was superintendent of Albuquerque Indian School. The school often had visitors from Washington, D.C., and on one such occasion a special event had been planned. I was to bring the children and join my husband at the school for the event. I got the children ready and got them in the car. All the way to the school, I lectured them about their behavior. I was so very concerned that the superintendent’s kids be well-behaved! As I went on and on lecturing, finally our pre-school son had had enough. Borrowing Archie Bunker’s phrase, he said, “Oh, Mom! Stifle yourself!” The other children broke out laughing! How silly I was to think that in a few minutes driving to the school I could cover what they needed to learn since birth! -Pat Lamb; The Pathway 2.10.20
There are three basic ways to get a great name. The first way is in Matthew 1:21 in which Jesus is given his name at birth. We can get a new name by accepting the birth of Jesus in our life.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Word says if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. The new birth gives us a new name.
In Hebrews 1:4, the Word says that by inheritance obtained a more excellent name. Inheritance means occupancy, state, portion, possession, river or flow. We have an inheritance when we accept Jesus in our life.
In Genesis 49:1–27, Jacob calls his children by their name they inherited and how they had or had not lived up to it. We must live up to the name we inherited after accepting Jesus as Lord of our life.
The third and final way to obtain a great name is by achievements, according to Philippians 2:5–11. Jesus humbled himself, laid aside his divine form, took on the form of a servant and likeness of a man and became obedient unto death. He achieved these things and was given a name above all names. -Dr Ron Gobolt; Word of Truth Ministry
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Word says if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. The new birth gives us a new name.
In Hebrews 1:4, the Word says that by inheritance obtained a more excellent name. Inheritance means occupancy, state, portion, possession, river or flow. We have an inheritance when we accept Jesus in our life.
In Genesis 49:1–27, Jacob calls his children by their name they inherited and how they had or had not lived up to it. We must live up to the name we inherited after accepting Jesus as Lord of our life.
The third and final way to obtain a great name is by achievements, according to Philippians 2:5–11. Jesus humbled himself, laid aside his divine form, took on the form of a servant and likeness of a man and became obedient unto death. He achieved these things and was given a name above all names. -Dr Ron Gobolt; Word of Truth Ministry
Proverbs 22:3-5:
3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards his soul will be far from them.
3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards his soul will be far from them.
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Proverbs 22:6:
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it |
If you neglect to instruct [children] in the way of holiness, will the devil neglect to instruct them in the way of wickedness? No; if you will not teach them to pray, he will to curse, swear, and lie. If ground be uncultivated, weeds will spring.
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The modern world has two extremes in this area. Some insist on no coercion for children and adults alike, a totally permissive society. We are living in terms of this anarchy today to a considerable degree. The other extreme is to say that, because most men are children of all their lives, they need controlling all their lives. Both alternatives are ungodly. The permissive society treats all as gods, each free to do as he pleases. The coercive society plays god over its citizens, In a Christian social order, Gods law must govern, and God alone must be God. All our lives we must reckon with some coercion if we depart from the law, and, from our childhood, we have a measure of freedom under God as His creatures and image bearers.
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Children, little ones, toddlers and the like, soak in what they see and hear. That is why training a child in what is good and right is important from a very young age. As Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go; and even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The word “he” encompasses both male and female.
In Deuteronomy 6:7, written by Moses after receiving the Ten Commandments from God, we read what he had to say to parents (and his words still speak to us today): “You shall teach them (God’s commandments) to your children diligently, and shall talk to them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” We also learn in Proverbs that children will not always listen to their parents (that has been a truth throughout the ages). Proverbs 10:17 says this to us, “Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but the one who rejects reproof leads others astray.” Also, Proverbs 13:18 has this to say to us: “Poverty and disgrace come to the one who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.” -Rev Kathy Brumbaugh |
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
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
The original language of the verse is Hebrew and it contains an idiom that is difficult to translate into English. The verse literally says, “Dedicate a child in the way of his mouth and when he is old he will not turn aside from it.” Hebrew speakers liked to use human illustrations to describe action and emotion. We have all heard how God brought the Hebrew people out of Egypt “with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.” (Deuteronomy 4:34) Job cried out against his oppressors by saying, “My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.” (19:20) That last saying was brought directly into our English translations of the Bible and since it is such a vivid illustration we still use it today!
The same cannot be said about Proverbs 22:6. We do not talk about raising up a child “in the way of his mouth.” That is a foreign idea to us, but if we take the time to understand what it means we can gain a better grasp of Scripture and have clearer expectations about raising children according to God’s word.
The phrase “way of his mouth” is used throughout the Old Testament. It usually refers to what someone has said, but in Leviticus 24:12 it is translated as “the will of the Lord.” This is helpful for understanding Proverbs 22:6 because the emphasis is on the will of the child. The author is saying “Train up a child according to his own will and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Understanding Proverbs 22:6 in its original context reveals that it is a warning, not a promise. It is a warning to parents that if they allow their children to have their own way, they will not depart from that foolishness when they are older. As professor Edward Wilde has written, “When we look at the surrounding proverbs (which may give a hint) we have warnings of what NOT to do: V. 5: keep away or suffer the consequence. V. 7: Don’t borrow, or suffer the consequence. V. 8, don’t be unjust, or suffer the consequence.” Professor Wilde offers his own translation, “Dedicate your child to his desire and he’ll be happy to go there – and stay there.” -Tim Dinkins
The same cannot be said about Proverbs 22:6. We do not talk about raising up a child “in the way of his mouth.” That is a foreign idea to us, but if we take the time to understand what it means we can gain a better grasp of Scripture and have clearer expectations about raising children according to God’s word.
The phrase “way of his mouth” is used throughout the Old Testament. It usually refers to what someone has said, but in Leviticus 24:12 it is translated as “the will of the Lord.” This is helpful for understanding Proverbs 22:6 because the emphasis is on the will of the child. The author is saying “Train up a child according to his own will and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Understanding Proverbs 22:6 in its original context reveals that it is a warning, not a promise. It is a warning to parents that if they allow their children to have their own way, they will not depart from that foolishness when they are older. As professor Edward Wilde has written, “When we look at the surrounding proverbs (which may give a hint) we have warnings of what NOT to do: V. 5: keep away or suffer the consequence. V. 7: Don’t borrow, or suffer the consequence. V. 8, don’t be unjust, or suffer the consequence.” Professor Wilde offers his own translation, “Dedicate your child to his desire and he’ll be happy to go there – and stay there.” -Tim Dinkins
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Prov 22:7: The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender..
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Proverbs 22:7 is direct and self explanatory. Whether we are living in 8th century B.C. Judea or in modern America, the lender will most likely charge interest or demand some sort of compensation. If we borrow something, we are now subject to the will of the lender and are forced to comply with their terms.
Every time we pay interest, we are WORKING for the lender - in effect becoming their slave. We must work just to support that debt. Not only has the lender become the master in this regard, he/she is becoming wealthier at the same time. This is one important way that the rich become richer, and the poor become poorer. (See Matthew 25:29 - "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.") The "rich" put money to work for themselves in the form of lending and investments. They earn money from their loans, just as Jesus encourages in the parable of the talents. (Matthew 25:14 - 30 ) The "rich" are masters of their money, not servants to it, as it works and multiplies for them. Those that are "poor" not only fail to make money work for them (lend/invest), but they are losing money/net-worth by paying out interest. One borrows when they want to spend more than they actually have. The price, according to Proverbs, is servitude. The rich, who are wise with their earnings, just keep getting richer as they continually master their use of money. -God and Mammon\ |
Proverbs 22:8-12:
8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow,
And the rod of his anger will fail.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.
11 He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.
8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow,
And the rod of his anger will fail.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.
11 He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.
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Proverbs 22:13:
The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” |
Fear is me choosing to dwell on the multitudes of what-if scenarios rather than believing the promises of my faithful God and Savior. Fear is me, the wicked part of me which believes that God is nothing but harsh and exacting, and uses that belief as an excuse to do nothing.* Fear is me refusing to recognize that God has cared for me all along, that he has never dealt with me as my sins deserved. Fear is me refusing God's precious gift of forgiveness through faith in his Son. Fear is the opposite of faith in this most literal sense: it is opposed to faith. It won't have any of it.
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Proverbs 22:16:
16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty |
Proverbs 22:16 sounds rather cryptic. After analyzing various ways of understanding the Hebrew, scholars Reyburn and Fry call the Contemporary English Version’s rendering “a good expression of it in colloquial English: ‘Cheat the poor to make profit or give gifts to the rich—either way you lose.’”*** Given that it often seems to pay off financially, what kind of poverty or loss do you think the Israelite sages were saying resulted from kowtowing to the wealthy?
------William D. Reyburn and Euan McG. Fry, A Handbook on Proverbs. New York: United Bible Societies |
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Proverbs 22:17-21:
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; 18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, 19 So that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you.20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, 21 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truthTo those who send to you? |
Can you imagine what it must be like to be in God’s position everyday as He contends with all the prayers and petitions from us? So many times, over and over, God hears something like, “Lord, please help me to understand,” or “Lord, please give me the wisdom and words to handle this situation or this relationship issue.” Then God says okay and shares His wisdom to us only to have us reject the response because it does not suit our needs as we want it. Then when we experience the same problem, or even a worsening of the problem, we blame God for not solving the problem for us or not answering our prayer request. Then God slumps down upon His throne and scratches His head and smiles, and then He whispers to His Son and Spirit: “When will they ever learn to listen?”
There is a specific purpose for God’s written Word. It allows us to receive God’s wisdom in small, digestible bites as we have need. God’s Word allows us to carefully and prayerfully seek answers to life’s problems and challenges by examining not only specific wisdom about the matter, but also many examples and testimonies from God’s chosen people recorded in His Word. However, though we can read the words and see the meaning of the text before our eyes, often our heart wants to declare certain parts of His Word non-applicable to our situation. We declare our matter is unique! We think to ourselves, “I cannot do that, not in my situation.” However, if it is God’s wisdom that you seek, why can’t you realize that God’s wisdom is right before your eyes, and the answer to your problem and situation begins by trusting what He is sharing with you in black and white (sometimes red, when it is Jesus’ own words), even though it seems wrong in your eyes. When we begin trusting our understanding above God’s wisdom on matters, we are walking in ways that are not God’s ways. When our will seems to deny God’s will, we are not trusting in the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe but our own frail and certainly imperfect desires over His desire for us. When we justify our understanding is not satisfied with His wisdom and guidance on a matter, we just told God, the One who knows all the stars by name and made you and has known you since before conception, that He does not understand and does have the right answers. --Coach Brown |
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Proverbs 22:22:
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; |
A coalition of groups in Michigan has taken the first step toward launching a petition campaign to drastically cut the rates that payday lenders can charge customers for short-term loans.
Last Wednesday, a ballot proposal committee called Michiganders for Fair Lending submitted its petition language to the Department of State. The group hopes to use the state's initiative process to gather 340,047 signatures and put its proposal before voters in November 2022. "We are a coalition dedicated to fair lending for Michigan," said Pastor Dallas Lenear of Journey Church of Grand Rapids. "Together, we’re working to protect consumers and put an end to predatory payday lending practices. "Proverbs 22:22 says 'Do not exploit the poor because they are poor. …' Yet, that is precisely what predatory payday lenders do here in Michigan." - Detroit News |
Proverbs 22:23-29:
23 For the Lord will plead their cause,
And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a furious man do not go,
25 Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.
26 Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge,
One of those who is surety for debts;
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Do not remove the ancient landmark
Which your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before unknown men.
23 For the Lord will plead their cause,
And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a furious man do not go,
25 Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.
26 Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge,
One of those who is surety for debts;
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Do not remove the ancient landmark
Which your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before unknown men.