Proverbs 31:1-9 - Sayings of King Lemuel

Again, King Lemuel is unknown in the Bible and is most likely a non-Israelite. Job is the most well-known non-Israelite in the Old Testament and while Israel was undoubtedly the focus of God's work in the Old Testament, it is not restricted to Israel.

These sayings are actually words taught to him by his mother, and are largely a series of warnings.

The first warning is against chasing after women. You only need to open a newspaper, or look on a news website, to see a fair selection of people who have made fools of themselves with women. 

The second warning is against drink. Rulers should not get drunk, for then they may make stupid decisions and many people will be affected by these decisions.Verses 6 and 7 seem to say that the poor and downtrodden should get drunk so they can forget their terrible state. I don't think we should take this as positive advice, but as a commentary on what drink (and in our day drugs as well) do in the social scheme of things. They are seen as a way of escaping the terrible or hopeless life that some have. In the end, they lead only to death.

This little section closes with positive advice, instruction on what rulers are meant to do. This is to speak up and act on behalf of the weak and destitute.

Proverbs 30 - Sayings of Agur

No one knows who Agur was, nor for that matter who Ithiel or Jakeh were. He may or may not have been an Israelite. The fact that he is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible perhaps implies that he was not an Israelite.

"I am weary God, but I can prevail". This perhaps sums up the state we are in a lot of the time. We are not always overflowing with joy and a sense of victory, but neither have we lost all hope. We are finding things difficult, but we know that our God is faithful so we will get through.

In verses 2-4 he admits his unworthiness before God and his inability to know God be his own efforts. This is something we all need to admit. The reference to God's son in verse 4 is somewhat enigmatic.

Verse 5,6 express praise for God's word, and the warning in verse 6 is echoed in Revelation 22:18,19. We need to make the word of God the light for our path.

Verse 7-9 express a realistic attitude to wealth. There are dangers in having too much or too little. The human heart is sinful and in any situation it can find the path of sin. Indeed, in these verses there are allusions to the Lord's prayer. He asks for daily bread, and is in effect asking God to not lead him into temptation.

Verse 10-14 are an honest description of the presence of evil n the world.

Verses 15-31 offer various reflections on life.

Verses 32,33 are a timely warning.

Proverbs 29 - Sayings of Solomon (5)

Many of these sayings contrast the righteous and the wicked, contrasting both the nature of the righteous and wicked people, and the effect they have on the nation. The reality of verse 2 can be seen all around us. For a nation to prosper it needs righteous rulers, when corrupt people rule the wealth of a nation is quickly squandered.

The righteous have concern for the poor, while the wicked do not. Righteous rule brings stability, corrupt rule brings chaos.

There is also conflict between the righteous and the wicked. The wicked seek to kill or otherwise undermine the righteous. 

The key thing to remember is that the Lord watches over all. All of us were created by Him, and He will intervene. The wicked will always be brought down eventually. It is the kingdom of righteousness that is an everlasting kingdom.

A key to instilling righteousness in a nation is to discipline our children properly. That is why the devil has been so keen to undermine discipline, and every educationalist and sociologist who has gone along with the anti-discipline agenda has been aiding the devil in his work.

Proverbs 28 - Sayings of Solomon (4)

Sin brings with it a diminution of our soul, one aspect of this is the fear it brings. No matter how much someone may deny it, deep down we all know that sin is wrong and that judgement is bound to come our way. Hence the fear. Righteousness, conversely, produces a confidence and boldness.

We see the truth of verse 2 in many situations where countries or institutions become divided. Rebellion against God shows itself in rebellion against each other.

Verse 4 is very apt for our time where it is popular to praise evil. Perhaps the most prominent example of our age is the whole matter of so-called gay marriage and homosexuality. We have now reached the stage where homosexuality is praised and to even gently question the wisdom of same-sex "marriage" is to invite abuse. However, this direction is promoted by those who forsake instruction, it is the wise who question it. As verse 5 says, we need to realise that evildoers do not understand what is right.

In fact, this chapter places a great emphasis on those who are willing to learn and those who are not. Verse 13 also makes it clear the difference between those who conceal their sins and those who confess them.

All this leads to the difference between well-run nations and badly run ones. The moral character of our leaders does matter.

So the wise person is one who will

• Accept instruction
• Do what is right
• Confess their sins
• Give generously

There are two key reasons why this works. One is a direct causal effect, the other is that God is intimately involved in the running of the world.

Proverbs 27 - Sayings of Solomon (3)

A fool's provocation is a heavy burden. If we are sensible and someone makes a reasonable objection to something we do, then we can either make a reasonable response countering the argument, or accept the objection and make some adjustment to our actions. But when idiotic objections are raised this just cause trouble, especially in our own time when our legal system seems to have no conception of common sense.

A key feature of a wise man is the ability to accept just criticism. 

Verse 10 highlights the value of friendship. We need to hold the importance of family and friends in the right balance.

Blessings given in the wrong context or time are just like a curse. 

Good friends will sharpen each other. The ability to accept disagreement and to thrive on it is a key to a strong relationship. When we are obsessed with being right all the time, then that is a sign of immaturity.

Death always wants more, just as do our eyes. We need to recognise this fact. When we have made a choice, whether it be a wife, a job, some material object, then there will always be the temptation than some other choice might have been better. We need to live with the decision we have made and make that work. In that path lies contentment.

We need to make proper provision.

Proverbs 26 - Sayings of Solomon (2)

It is singularly inappropriate to honour fools, yet if we look at our society we can see many examples of fools being lauded.

An undeserved curse will not come to rest. Shimei (the stone thrower) wrongly cursed David to no effect (2 Sam 16:8,12). We need to remember this, for as we live in an increasingly unchristian and anti-Christian society one of the tactics of the enemy is to make false accusations and false charges. They will come to nothing.

Force is the only way to make fools go in the right direction.

Verses 4 and 5 are fantastic, for at face value they are completely contradictory. However, those who claim that these are contradictory only demonstrate that they themselves are fools! Proverbs is not a set of rules, it is wisdom. There are times when it is best to ignore fools, for answering them will only make us partake in their foolishness. At other times we should answer them, showing the self-contradiction in their foolish arguments. Wisdom is knowing when to take which line.

In fact the whole of the first twelve verses are laying into fools. The fools we have about are not just idiots but include many so-called sophisticated and learned people. 

Next up for attack are sluggards, the lazy. 

The chapter finishes with several proverbs concerning the deceitful tongue. God speaks only truth, and with a word He brought the universe into being. Satan is the father of lies, and a key element of our falleness is a proliferation of lies and falsehood.

Proverbs 25 - Sayings of Solomon (1)

These sayings of Solomon were put together by Hezekiah's men. Hezekiah led a revival in Judah and this included reverence for the words of David (2 Chron 29:30). So presumably Hezekiah's men searched out the various records to gather together these sayings of Solomon.

There are things that only God knows, it is a kings glory to search things out. What does this mean? There are two equally wrong approaches to wisdom. One is to assume we cannot know anything, or that it is wrong to seek to understand how the world works. Some people who give Christianity a bad name tend towards this, though not many. The more common error, and the one that is most prevalent in our secular society, is to assume that we either know everything or can know everything. The Biblical approach is to seek to understand, knowing the limits of our human minds. Ie, as it says elsewhere in Proverbs, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

We seek to purify metals before using them. In the same way corruption needs to be removed from a regime, then a solid kingdom can be established.

Jesus told a parable along the same lines of v6,7 (Luke 14:7,8).

We should be cautious in bringing disputes and accusations to light. We can often cause more trouble, including for ourselves, than we imagine.

Good decisions and right rebukes are very valuable.

We should handle riches carefully, if we take too much they will just make us sick. Equally we should not overstay our welcome anywhere. See how practical Proverbs is.

V18-20 warn against various kinds of duplicitousness.

Paul quotes v21,22 in Romans 12.

The chapter closes with various sayings.