THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
CHAPTER 28
Righteousness Is Better than Evil
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion [The righteous - Strength to stand up and be counted Jesus said would be given us in the day of persecution and adversity - Keith Hunt]
2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; but by a man of understanding and knowledge right will be prolonged [When everyone thinks they are in the right, when none of them are, there will be many who want the top position; it takes a man of understanding and knowledge (the right kind - the Godly kind) to rule for a long time. Of course we’re not here talking about a “dictatorship” - Keith Hunt]
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From the New KJV Study Bible
28:1 The godly person can face life boldly; the wicked can only fear.
28:2 Many ... princes (officials) are necessary to curb human evil. Both understanding (sound judgment) and knowledge (correct information) are necessary for right to prevail.
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3 A poor man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no food [A driving rain can destroy, wipe out a crop, it often happens on the prairies of North America; So a poor man oppressing the poor results in destruction; it’s as useless as a driving rain (one that is full of rain to bring good), but driving can ruin not sustain; it is counter productive and does not make a logical sense - Keith Hunt]
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them [Anyone who does not keep the law of the Lord is really giving praise to doing your own thing, which is then wickedness; those who keep the law of the Lord in their daily living by example are contending with them. I and my horse was once a member of “musical horse ride” - the ranch wanted us to do it for their special “Canada 150 years old” party. They knew I could not participate on the 7th day Sabbath; they all agreed to have the party on Sunday afternoon - Keith Hunt]
5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all [The evil person does not think about “justice” - they could care less about it, evil doing is the only thought in their mind; those who truly seek the Lord and all His ways of living, understand justice and all that is right and proper - justice being: fair play, fair mindedness, evenhandedness, impartiality, objectivity, honesty, righteousness, morals - Keith Hunt]
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though be rich [Simple to understand; better to be poor but have integrity (moral uprightness, honesty, good character, decency), than someone physically rich but perverse (immoral, behave unacceptably, pig-headed, contrary, self-seeking despite consequences) - Keith Hunt]
7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons shames his father [Someone keeping the law of God as taught by his father, is a son living right; but a son living a life of gluttony and parting all the time, “Let’s have a bash every night because who knows if we shall have a tomorrow” attitude, will shame his father - Keith Hunt]
8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion gathers it for him who will pity the poor [A general statement as some increasing their physical possessions, using wrong and evil means, do at times “get away with it” but often their possessions can end up being inherited by someone who will give most of it away to the poor - Keith Hunt]
9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination
[This is a very important proverb of truth. Does God hear the prayers of the un-converted? The NT makes it very plain that everyone is at one time in blindness and deception true theology wise. Until we are called we are in spiritual blindness. Those who are deceived by a false Christianity or the un-converted, are still in spiritual blindness, unless and until God calls them to His truths. So those people can be sincere yes, but they are still sincerely wrong! So as it is God that blinds people to His truths (see Rom. 9 to 11), He can then hear their prayers over this or that. It is the people who are no longer spiritually blinded, that are in deep trouble if they turn away their ear from the laws of God. The NT says, “He that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin” - in other words their sins, because they know better, but have willfully turned away, is no longer covered by the blood of Christ; their sins remain; their prayers from that point on are an abomination. A sobering and very serious proverb - Keith Hunt]
10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he himself will fall into his own pit; but the blameless will inherit good [It is not a pleasant thing to turn, or try to turn, the upright and righteous to do evil; more often than not such a person will fall into their own evil trap; the blameless in not trying to do this, and the blameless who do not fall for evil traps, will inherit good; the long run of inheriting good is the Kingdom of God; not a better “good” there is - Keith Hunt]
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor who has understanding searches him out [Many of the rich are vainly pompous, they are wise unto themselves and blinded to what they really are; the poor who had understanding of wisdom (true riches), can see the inner depths of the mind-set of the physical rich, and help him never become like minded - Keith Hunt]
12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; but when the wicked arise, men hide themselves [Most of the time the average person likes it when the righteous rejoice in being the main force, and their is glory all around; so if and when the wicked rise up, people will run and hide from them; they are just not welcome news - Keith Hunt]
13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy [This is for all people from the true God in heaven; to obtain mercy, grace, to be saved, you have to confess you are a sinner; then you have to have a mind-set that wants to forsake sin; with that God can have mercy upon you. You then are under grace. Keeping that mind-set to the end of your life, you are then saved by grace into God’s Kingdom. You need to study my study called “Saved by Grace” and really come to understand the subject fully. It may be a shock to hear me say, that most Christians have not a clue about the subject of being saved by grace - make sure you do - Keith Hunt]
14 Happy is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity [Certainly the Pharaoh of Egypt fell into calamity when he hardened his heart as Moses asked him to “Let my people go.” People who harden their heart against what is right, will eventually (sooner or later) fall into calamity, the worse being the second death - Keith Hunt]
15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear is a wicked ruler over poor people [There are many analogies the poor could give to describe a wicked ruler over them, the two given here are as good as any others - Keith Hunt]
18 A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness will prolong his days [All it takes is a lack of wisdom and understanding (Godly attributes) and a ruler becomes very oppressive; with the lack of such usually goes covertness in an oppressive mind, they covert their own human wisdom with the power they have; when the people can they will overthrow such a ruler. A ruler who is the opposite will generally prolong his days and his rule - Keith Hunt]
17 A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit; let no one help him [A man who is bloodshed from the evil he has done, when blood looks like coming his way, he will run and hide; such a man deserved no help…..what goes around comes around…..as you have done to others it will eventually come back on you likewise - Keith Hunt]
16 Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, but he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall [Another important truth for salvation. The parents of John the Baptist are said to be “blameless” - see Luke 1: 5,6. Did they not sin? Oh no they sinned, for it is written, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” When you are in a never-ending “repentant mind-set” knowing you are a sinner - God will extend His grace and mercy to you as I said above; you are then under His grace, forgiven - in that sense you are “blameless.” So to walk blamelessly you are a humble ever repentant sinner, with a mind that wants to do the will of God…..such will be saved (by grace); those with no such mind will fall, eventually suddenly into the lake of fire, the second death - Keith Hunt]
19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! [We’ve been told this a number of times already, the lazy will usually have poverty enough; those who get up and get out to work will usually have food enough to eat and pay the other bills that this physical life sends our way - Keith Hunt]
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished [A general statement proverb; some faithful have not always been blessed with physical blessings - Hebrew 11. Then many have been, like Abraham. Those who only have physical riches on their mind will not go unpunished for their selfishness; if not repented of, their punishment will be the second death - Keith Hunt]
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From the New KJV Study Bible
28:4, 5, 7 The pursuit of the law (God's will) is itself an effective thrust against evil.
28:8 Gathers it for him: Wealth gained by corrupt means will eventually end up in the hands of a person who will give it away (see 13:22).
28:9 Refusing to do God's will, but expecting His approval.
28:12 When the righteous or the wicked determine public policy. See v. 28; 29:2.
28:13 He who covers is lost; he who confesses and forsakes is saved (see also v. 18).
28:14 always reverent: To have a proper sense of awe and worship for God, which results in an appreciation for God's truth and a desire to live by it.
28:16 covetousness: The obsessive desire to possess is a critical defect whether in a ruler or in the people.
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21 To show partiality is not good, because for a piece of bread a man will transgress [To have respect of persons and to show partiality is not good; neither is it good that a man should transgress for a piece of bread - Amplified Bible. Sadly too many do show partiality to others in one way or another; too many will transgress, do evil, for even a small reward; with some it does not take much to get them to do wickedness, they are pulling at the bit on the starting line - Keith Hunt]
22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him [They are just one minded…all consumed, they do not consider anything but what their evil eye sees…..riches upon riches coming their way; being in poverty is not considered for one split second; they are going after riches and that is all that matters, they can think of nothing else, it becomes the god of their mind’s eye. As Jesus taught, it must be cut out, destroyed, how hard it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God; but all things are possible with the Lord, He can give you the power to cast down fortresses - Keith Hunt]
23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue [If the man listens, takes your rebuke, admits your right and he is wrong, turns and goes the correct way, then only good and favour is the outcome; but to flatter someone for no true purpose, in the quiet of their mind they know it, and you mean nothing to them, you have no favour in their sight - Keith Hunt]
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, "It is no transgression," The same is companion to a destroyer [They are led to believe it is not wrong to rob their father or mother. My father had a younger brother (and an older brother and sisters) and it was a fact the youngest did rob his mother while making out he was looking after her affairs; my father was so disgusted he did not speak to that brother the rest of his life, and my dad lived to be 94. Jesus gave a lesson on this proverb. Mark 7:9-13. God commanded through Moses that a person should honour their father and mother. The scribes and Pharisees said, “But if a man shall say it is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever you you might profit (benefit) by me; he shall be free. And you prevent him to no more help his father or mother. Making the word of God none effective through your traditions, which you teach; many such like things you do.”
What the Pharisees taught was you can say I’ve promised to give what I have to the “church” - when I die, and in so promising you do not have to give any of it to help your father and mother if they should have need of help. It was avoiding, “doing away with” a commandment of God; Jesus denounced such teaching in no uncertain way - Keith Hunt]
25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered [Oh how I have seen this take place in the Church of God; one famous in his day radio and TV minister, became so proud, vain, self-ego, even on one TV program putting his name under Jesus Christ; it was God the Father, Jesus Christ, .... then the man’s name, whom I’m talking about. His religious empire finally came crashing down with strife that you could hardly believe it was happening, but it sure did, I was there to witness it all; but he who will humble himself and trust in the Lord, do things right, will prosper, his work will prosper, but not in any public way or even in the Church of God - so what the church is served and blessed and guided, and restoration is made by the little flock, the salt of the earth - Keith Hunt]
26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
[Truly trusting in your own mind and heart, no one else, you’ll end up a fool, doing foolish things; but living and undertaking all things wisely….. you mostly miss the errors you could have done; as the proverbs say over and over; walk with wisdom, deliverance nearly always comes - Keith Hunt]
27 He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses [Once more by repeating we see the importance of helping the poor, the real poor, from no fault of their own; could be a flood victim, tornado victim, hurricane victim, earthquake victim and etc. We are told in Gal.2: 10 not to forget the poor. It is repeated many times throughout the Bible. Ancient Israel had laws to help the poor, like when taking in the harvests the corners of the field were to be left for the poor. He who hides his eyes from the poor God will not be pleased with and many curses may follow them over time - Keith Hunt]
28 When the wicked arise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase [People generally know the things that make the wicked, wicked, and will try to hide themselves from the wicked and their clones. They’ll try to keep safe distance from the wicked; when the wicked perish, then it is time for the righteous to step up to the plate increasing more and more - Keith Hunt]
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From the New KJV Study Bible
28:21 partiality: See 24:23 and note.
28:23 Rebuke sometimes shows more love for another than soothing words.
28:24 It is a heinous sin to act selfishly in a sacred relationship.
28:25, 26 Trust in self (pride) is a source of strife, hatred, and war.
28:27 hides his eyes: See 21:13.
28:28 See v: 12 and note.
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TO BE CONTINUED
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