Reflections on Proverbs 29

 

Proverbs 29 (Contemporary English Version)


1. If you keep being stubborn after many warnings, you will suddenly discover you have gone too far.
   
2. When justice rules a nation, everyone is glad; when injustice rules, everyone groans.
   
3. If you love wisdom your parents will be glad, but chasing after bad women will cost you everything.
   
4. An honest ruler makes the nation strong; a ruler who takes bribes will bring it to ruin.
   
5. Flattery is nothing less than setting a trap.
   
6. Your sins will catch you, but everyone who lives right will sing and celebrate.
   
7. The wicked don't care about the rights of the poor, but good people do.
   
8. Sneering at others is a spark that sets a city on fire; using good sense can put out the flames of anger.
   
9. Be wise and don't sue a fool. You won't get satisfaction, because all the fool will do is sneer and shout.
   
10. A murderer hates everyone who is honest and lives right.
    
11. Don't be a fool and quickly lose your temper-- be sensible and patient.
    
12. A ruler who listens to lies will have corrupt officials.
    
13. The poor and all who abuse them must each depend on God for light.
    
14. Kings who are fair to the poor will rule forever.
    
15. Correct your children, and they will be wise; children out of control disgrace their mothers.
    
16. Crime increases when crooks are in power, but law-abiding citizens will see them fall.
    
17. If you correct your children, they will bring you peace and happiness.
    
18. Without guidance from God law and order disappear, but God blesses everyone who obeys his Law.
    
19. Even when servants are smart, it takes more than words to make them obey.
    
20. There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.
    
21. Slaves that you treat kindly from their childhood will cause you sorrow.
    
22. A person with a quick temper stirs up arguments and commits a lot of sins.
    
23. Too much pride brings disgrace; humility leads to honor.
    
24. If you take part in a crime you are your worst enemy, because even under oath you can't tell the truth.
    
25. Don't fall into the trap of being a coward-- trust the LORD, and you will be safe.
    
26. Many try to make friends with a ruler, but justice comes from the LORD.
    
27. Good people and criminals can't stand each other.
    

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Central throughout Proverbs is the truth that our attitude toward God is the fulcrum on which our lives pivot. If we respect Him and seek His ways we will become wise and have a good life. If not, we go another path that brings with it trouble and pain. Verse 18 of this chapter is a much quoted and used verse that is in keeping with this central truth, though it is often misapplied. In the King James it says "Where there is no vision the people perish," which often leads to misapplying it to the subject of vision. But it is saying that "Without revelation people run wild." In other words, where God's word is not taught people throw off restraint and run wild. This is how central God and His ways are to the direction of our lives. He establishes the standard by which life is to be lived, and without that standard every man does what is right in his own eyes, in which case there is no standard, no right or wrong, no justice. There must be a standard before any of these can exist.

A prominent topic in this chapter is rulers. It is upon the bases of God's standard that we can even have a discussion of good or bad, wise or foolish, just or unjust rulers. Whether we understand this or not, we understand clearly when we are being oppressed and our lives made miserable due to an unrighteous or unjust ruler. Solomon says that everyone rejoices when rulers are righteous, but groan when they are wicked. We may not be righteous ourselves, but we want to be treated righteously. Furthermore, Solomon tells us that it is through justice that a ruler establishes stability in the land. But if the ruler is more interested in his position and having people shower him with gifts, he will demolish the land. If the king wants longevity he should judge the poor fairly. Bottom line, though, we need to realize that justice comes not from the ruler but from God (verse 26).  This takes us back to the central truth. The standard of justice is established by God. If a ruler rules justly he is merely operating on God's standard.

Another prominent topic in this chapter is the wicked versus the righteous. I will mention, as in previous reflections, that Solomon uses the terms 'wicked', 'fool', and 'unrighteous' interchangeably, and contrasts them with the terms 'wise' and 'righteous'. He characterizes the wise and righteous as fearing or respecting God and seeking His ways and the wicked, fools, and unrighteous as not respecting God or His ways. Would he use the term 'wicked' with anyone who goes contrary to God's ways or reserve the term only for those who do really vile things? I would not want to venture a dogmatic response to this question, but lean toward his use of the term for all who behave contrary to God's ways. I say this having in mind that God's ways include justice, fairness, and kindness toward all. He teaches humility and concern for others rather than selfishness. Considering these practices, those who go contrary to them would take unfair advantage of others, would practice injustice, would be unkind to others, and would be proud and selfish. These behaviors along with others that could be included lean heavily toward a definition of wickedness.

So what does Solomon have to say in this chapter about the wicked versus the righteous? First, he characterizes the wicked as encouraging rebellion. Where their numbers increase, so does rebellion. But just know, they and their practices will not last. They will come to an end and the righteous who suffer from these practices will see their end come. In other words, the righteous will prevail. Not by force, not even by trying to prevail. It will happen because wickedness is self-destructive. As Solomon says in verse 6, "An evil man is caught by sin." Their actions catch up with them. Furthermore, the wicked do not hold back their anger, and I would add, take pride in not holding it back. They hate those who are honest and detest those who are upright. I assume this is because those who are honest and upright expose their guilt. Nor do the wicked understand the rights of the poor, which suggests they tend to take unfair advantage of those who are defenseless. But the wicked need to know that they and the poor are on common ground. The same God gave them both sight. The implication here not only suggests that they were both created by the same God, making them equal, but that they are at the mercy of this God who can not only give, but can also take away.

What about the righteous? Solomon contrasts all his statements about the wicked, evil, mockers, foolish, with opposite statements about the righteous or wise. They are not caught by sin so they are free to sing and rejoice. They understand the rights of the poor and do not take advantage. While the wicked stir up trouble, the righteous bring calm. While a fool will not hold back his anger, a wise man will. And, although the wicked detest the upright, the righteous detest the unjust.  A good point on which to conclude is that the righteous have a completely different worldview than the wicked. They are guided by their trust in the Lord and are thereby protected. The wicked place their trust, or lack thereof, in man. Therein are they directed differently and have no understanding of the worldview of the righteous. They have no basis on which to understand it. It makes no sense to them.