Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Pr 22.1 and following. Indeed, fromthe same dust the Lord made both the rich and the poor. Their souls have the same value in His eyes (Pr 29:13; Job 31:13-15). Prosperity with the power that flows from it (verses 7, 16) are therefore very ephemeral things, out of all proportion to those that have eternal consequences: “good fame”, “good grace” (verse 1). The only wealth to be desired is that which with glory and life God will give to the humble and to all who fear Him (verse 4; Matthew 5:3-12). Differences in fortune on earth should only be an opportunity for the most fortunate to exercise their eyes, hearts, and hands (verse 9). To begin by seeing the needs that surround us, to be moved by them, and finally to respond to them according to our power, is to act like our dear Savior. “Jesus lives… was moved with compassion… broke the loaves and gave them away…” (Mark 6:33-44).
Some incredulous philosophers have argued that the child is born innocent and that it is his environment that corrupts him. Verse 15 states otherwise (Genesis 8:20-22; Psalm 51:6-8). But the young boy who has been brought up according to the rule of the Word (verse 6) will bear after his conversion, throughout his life, the fruits of this education.
In this new division of Proverbs, Wisdom ceases to express itself in balanced maxims and resumes direct exhortations as in chapters 1 to 9. But it’s a waste of time to talk to someone who isn’t paying attention. Before any teaching, the young disciple is therefore invited to bow his ear, to apply his heart to “excellent things” (verse 20; Philippians 1:9-11), to make them his subjects of meditation and conversation. And what is the purpose of this instruction? In the first place, to get the disciple to place his trust in a known God. Then put at his disposal a “safe standard”, in other words certainties to which he will be able to compare, to do justice, any other knowledge. Finally, to encourage him to propagate “the words of truth” himself (verses 17 to 21).
The following warnings are negative. Let us stop at verse 28: “Do not recede the ancient bound that your fathers made” (Pr 23:10-11). Many find too narrow the spiritual foundations on which believers of previous generations lived happily and approved of God. “Be careful, Danger!” this verse shouts to them. Moreover, to encroach on the various domains of this world is to inevitably neglect the one reserved for us and where the Lord is (Ps 16:1-7). Good fame is better than great wealth, and good grace is silver and gold. There are earthly blessings due to moral qualities. Wealth gives consideration, a good reputation inspires respect. Silver and gold provide many things, but not the love and affection that good grace inspires.
The rich and the poor meet: Jehovah made them all. How insignificant the difference between rich and poor is! Both are formed in the same way, both also meet in death. In these points they are perfectly equal. And as they are equal at birth and at their end, they are equal today before the One to whom they owe their origin. Job says, “He who made me in my mother’s womb,” didn’t he make my servant and servant, too, “and didn’t one and the same God form us in the womb?” (Job 31:15). The wise man sees evil and hides; but the simple ones ignore it and bear the pain. For the wise man has his eyes open to see evil coming and hide before being affected. The meaningless man is unable to discern danger. He does not suspect pitfalls, not having the senses exercised to discern good and evil. There is always in “the simple”, because of his ignorance, a certain confidence in himself, so he ignores it, and carries the pain.
The end of debonairness, of the fear of the Lord, is wealth, and glory, and life. We have seen in v. 1 what men desire and what the son of wisdom possesses. In v. 2 one man is not superior to the other in the eyes of the One who made them. V. 3 speaks of the path to ruin. V. 4 shows us what debonairness and fear of the Lord leads to. A debonair is a man who is humble and has no confidence in himself. It is the opposite of the simple in v. 3; but it is simple in heart. He gives Jehovah the place that belongs to him and keeps the place that God gives him; he loves what Jehovah loves and hates what God hates, for that is what the fear of Jehovah consists of. Debonairness is identified in this passage with fear and is inseparable from it. In chap. 21:21: “He who pursues righteousness and goodness will find life, righteousness, and glory.” Here the debonair finds wealth, and glory, and life. Wealth, because the debonair will inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5; Ps. 37:11). Glory and life are also promises related to the kingdom.
There are thorns, traps, on the path of the pervert; the one who guards his soul moves away from it: The way of the pervert carries his punishment with it; the wicked finds thorns that tear him apart, traps that he cannot avoid. He who watches over his soul moves away from this path, knowing that he will find there, not peace, but pain and torment. Elevates the young boy according to the rule of his way; even when he grows older, he will not turn away from it : The young boy needs this discipline from the beginning of his life, it has a rule and he must be raised to follow it. When maturity comes, the fold is taken and will be preserved even in old age. Under this direction the habits taken are therefore worthy of great esteem.
The rich govern the poor and the one who borrows is a servant of the man who lends: The rich use his material advantages over the poor during the duration of life, because, v. 2, at the beginning and at the end they meet. We enslave ourselves to the rich when we borrow from him. It is the opposite of debonairness and fear of God that give wealth to v. 4. Hesows injustice will reap misfortune, and the rod of his wrath will end. However, one always reaps what one has sown (Job 4:8). Wealth does not make the rich prosper; it is justice that reaps the good. God can use the unjust as the rod of his wrath; it will end and “the staff of wickedness shall not rest on the lot of the righteous” (Ps. 125:3). The benevolent eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor: Others are the divine principles. The spirit of benevolence is part of it and will be blessed. God takes into account what is done for the poor. It is not a question here of wealth to be administered, but of sharing with the poor what makes us live, our subsistence. God looks to the heart.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Human approval
Ex 3:21 I will even make this people find thanks in the eyes of the Egyptians, and when you leave, you will not leave empty. 1 Sam 16:22 Saul had Isai say, “Please leave David at my service, for he has found favor in my eyes. Acts 2:47 praising God and finding favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church every day those who were saved. Rom 14:18 He who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
- Equality of man
Pr 22:2 The rich and the poor meet; It was Jehovah who made them both. Mt 23:8 But you do not call yourself Rabbi; for only one is your Master, and you are all brothers. Acts 10:28 You know, he told them, that a Jew is forbidden to bond with a stranger or enter his home; but God has taught me not to look at any man as filthy and unclean. John 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has Not God chosen the poor in the eyes of the world, that they may be rich in faith, and heirs to the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him?
- Bearing Testimony to the Truth
Isaiah 43:10 You are my witnesses, says Jehovah, You, and my servant whom I have chosen, That you may know it, that you may believe me and understand that it is me: Before me there has not been formed of God, and after me there will be none. John 15:27 and you too will bear testimony, because you are with me from the beginning. Acts 5:20-21 Go, stand in the temple, and proclaim to the people all the words of this life. 21 Having heard this, they entered the temple in the morning and began to teach. The high priest and those who were with him having come, they summoned the Sanhedrin and all the elders of the sons of Israel, and they sent to fetch the apostles to the prison. 2:15 Say these things, exhort, and resume, with full authority. Let no one despise you.
- Traps of the world
-False gods Ex 23:33 There will be on one branch three calyxes in the shape of an almond, with apples and flowers, and on another branch three calyxes in the shape of an almond, with apples and flowers; it will be the same for the six branches coming out of the candlestick.
-Guilty covenants Ex 34:12 Beware of making an alliance with the inhabitants of the land where you are to enter, lest they be a trap for you.
-Silver and gold Dt 7:25 You will burn in fire the carved images of their gods. Thou shalt not covet and take for thyself the money and gold which are upon them, lest these things become a trap for you; for they are abominated to Jehovah, your God.
Bad companies Jos 23:13 be certain that Jehovah, your God, will not continue to cast out these nations before you; but they will be for you a net and a trap, a whip in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you have perished from above this good land that Jehovah, your God, has given you.
– Idolatry Ps 106:36 They served their idols, Who were a trap for them;
-Unfulfilled vows Pr 20:25 It is a trap for man to take lightly a sacred commitment, and to think only after making a wish.
Friendship with violent men Pr 22:25 Lest you get used to his paths, and they become a trap for your soul.
-Mockery Pr 29:8 The mockers blow fire in the city, But the sages calm the anger.
-Greed 1 Tim 6:9 But those who want to enrich themselves fall into temptation, into trap, and into many foolish and pernicious desires that plunge men into ruin and perdition.
From all of the above, we note that verses awaken the son’s attention after occupying it with many matters of detail. He is bound not only to listen carefully, but to let into his heart the knowledge that Wisdom instills in him through the words of the wise. If he does that, what a joy for him to keep them as a real treasure! Then from the abundance of the heart his mouth will speak; the words “shall be arranged together on his lips”, so as to form a coherent whole which the listeners will be able to grasp. But even more precious is that these words will have the effect of depriving the one who receives them of all confidence in himself and making him put all his trust in The Lord. This is indeed the end result of Proverbs where Wisdom makes our way in this world, which only an incessant trust in our God can follow. – These excellent things, Solomon wrote them to us. They are before our eyes as the inspired Word, so that we can constantly return to them. They are not speeches entrusted to our memory, but we can find in them every day “the sure standard of the words of truth”, that is, the certain law according to which we have to go to walk in the truth and have the approval of those who have entrusted it to us. It is something that attracts God’s judgment to take advantage of the poor because he is poor, and to plunder him, because being in need he is obliged to go through where the one who oppresses him wants. The poor, as we have seen so many times, is the special object of God’s care. Blessed is he who understands it (Ps. 41:2)! Any friendship with angry or violent man is an association with the world, characterized by this main feature of his nature (Gen. 6:13). If we usually have this example in front of us, we do not take long to imitate it; the soul is trapped and the feet go out of the way of wisdom. Let the wise be careful not to condone others. He who confides in man and disregards God draws God’s judgment upon him. He will be stripped even of the bare necessities (Pr 20:16; 27:13). Do not go back the old limit that your fathers made. Let the wise be satisfied with the limits marked by his fathers without indulging in the ambition and lust to extend them; he will thus be inclined to dishonest acts (Pr 23:10-11; Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Job 24:2). Have you seen a diligent man in his work? He will stand before kings, he will not stand before obscure people. Let him be, unlike the lazy, diligent in his work. It involves consciousness. Kings value this activity and industry and grant the one who manifests them a place in the kingdom, an earthly position that characterizes the Old Testament. Such a man prospers and does not stay in the company of the obscure people with whom he had started his career. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “Continuation of proverbs on the moral life (Pr 23).
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.