Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22:1

22:1 A good name means a good reputation. It is the fruit of a good character. It is better than great riches because it is more precious, more powerful, and more enduring. For the same reasons, loving favor is better than silver and gold. 22:2 Social distinctions are artificial in the sense that we are all of the same human family, and all come from the same Creator. Class distinctions that survive in life are abolished in death. 22:3 A prudent man looks ahead and hides himself from coming judgment. The Israelites did this on the Passover night by sprinkling the blood on their door. We do it by finding refuge in Christ. The thoughtless pass on in their folly and “pay for it” (Moffatt). 22:4 Humility and the fear of the LORD may seem very dull and commonplace, but don’t knock them till you’ve tried them. They are rewarded with spiritual riches, divine honor, and abundant life. 22:5 All kinds of difficulties and troubles lie in the way of the perverse man. The man who keeps himself clean avoids them. 22:6 The usual interpretation of this proverb is that if you train up a child properly (in the way he should go), he will go on well in later life. Of course there are exceptions, but it stands as a general rule. Henry Ward Beecher observes: It is not hard to make a child or a tree grow right if you train them when they’re young, but to make them straighten out after you’ve allowed things to go wrong is not an easy matter. Susannah Wesley, the mother of Charles, John, and 15 other children, followed these rules in training them: (1) Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save his soul. (2) Teach him to pray as soon as he can speak. (3) Give him nothing he cries for and only what is good for him if he asks for it politely. (4) To prevent lying, punish no fault which is freely confessed, but never allow a rebellious, sinful act to go unnoticed. (5) Commend and reward good behavior. (6) Strictly observe all promises you have made to your child. The proverb can also be understood as encouraging parents to train their children along the lines of their natural talents, rather than forcing them into professions or trades for which they have no native inclination. Thus Kidner says that the verse teaches respect for the child’s individuality and vocation, though not for his self-will. And the proverb may be a warning that if you train a child in the way that he himself wants to go, he will continue to be spoiled and self-centered in later life. Jay Adams writes: The verse stands not as a promise but as a warning to parents that if they allow a child to train himself after his own wishes (permissively), they should not expect him to want to change these patterns when he matures. Children are born sinners and, when allowed to follow their own wishes, will naturally develop sinful habit responses. The basic thought is that such habit patterns become deep-seated when they have been ingrained in the child from the earliest days. 22:7 Money is power, and it can be used for good or for evil. Too often the rich use it for evil, and perhaps that is why it is called the mammon of unrighteousness. The borrower is a slave to the lender. Debt is a form of bondage. It requires the payment of exorbitant interest rates. It keeps a man’s nose to the grindstone. It limits his mobility and his ability to take advantage of opportunities. 22:8 One who sows iniquity gains nothing substantial or worthwhile. The attempt to beat others into submission by anger will be thwarted. 22:9 The generous man is blessed in showing benevolence to others. By sharing his substance with the poor, he gains present happiness and future reward. 22:10 When a scoffer fails to respond to instruction, correction, and admonition, the next step is eviction. Cast him out! When Ishmael was put out of the house, contention, quarreling, and abuse ceased (Gen_21:9-10). 22:11 The man who loves purity of heart and whose speech is gracious will enjoy royal friendships. God may be the King referred to here. A little word in kindness spoken, A motion, or a tear Has often healed the heart that’s broken, And made a friend sincere. Author unknown22:12 The LORD preserves and perpetuates the knowledge of the truth so that it will never perish from the earth in spite of the rage of demons and men. The same Lord overthrows false teaching and exposes lies. 22:13 If a lazy man can’t find an excuse for not going to work, he will make one up, no matter how ridiculous it is. Here he says that there is a lion . . . in the streets of the city. What would a lion be doing in the city? It’s probably nothing more than a cat! 22:14 The seductive words of an immoral woman conceal a trap that is difficult to escape from. A man who has estranged himself from the LORD will fall into that trap. This reminds us that God often abandons men to sin when those men reject the knowledge of God (see Rom_1:24, Rom_1:26, Rom_1:28). 22:15 Mischief and self-will are native to the heart of a child, but by applying the board of education to the seat of learning you can rid him of these vices. Matthew Henry counsels: Children need to be corrected, and kept under discipline, by their parents; and we all need to be corrected by our heavenly Father (Heb. xii. 6, 7), and under the correction we must stroke down folly and kiss the rod. 22:16 The employer who gets rich by paying starvation wages will himself suffer want. This will also happen to the man who gives to the rich, presumably in order to court their favor. We should give to those who can’t repay us.

Proverbs 22:17

IV. PROVERBS OF THE WISE MEN (22:1724:34) A. Words of the Wise (22:1724:22)22:17 Verses 17-21 form a section that introduces the proverbs from 22:22 to 24:22. It invites the reader to incline his ear to hear the words of the wise. Perhaps Solomon collected some of these proverbs from others, but the second half of the verse indicates that some of them are his own. 22:18 A person should keep these proverbs in his mind (to remember and obey) and let them all be fixed upon his lips (to pass them on to others). 22:19 The reason Solomon made known the proverbs was that the readers might truly trust . . . in the LORD. 22:20 In the RSV this verse reads, “Have I not written for you thirty sayings of admonition and knowledge?” Some scholars point out that the proverbs that follow (up to 24:22) can be divided into about 30 groupings, as follows:

Pro_22:22-23Pro_23:22-25Pro_22:24-25Pro_23:26-28Pro_22:26-27Pro_23:29-35Pro_22:28Pro_24:1-2Pro_22:29Pro_24:3-4Pro_23:1-3Pro_24:5-6Pro_23:4-5Pro_24:7Pro_23:6-8Pro_24:8-9Pro_23:9Pro_24:10Pro_23:10-11Pro_24:11-12Pro_23:12Pro_24:13-14Pro_23:13-14Pro_24:15-16Pro_23:15-16Pro_24:17-18Pro_23:17-18Pro_24:19-20Pro_23:19-21Pro_24:21-22The Berkeley Bible reads, “Have not I written for you previously of counsels and knowledge. . . ?” The word “previously” is in contrast to “this day” in verse 19. 22:21 The writer aimed at imparting the words of truth so that his pupils might be able to teach others who sent to him for counsel or so that they might be able to satisfy those who sent them for training. 22:22, 23 This begins the section that ends at 24:22. No one should take advantage of the defenseless poor. Neither should anyone show injustice to the afflicted at the gate, that is, at the place of judgment. For God pleads the cause of the poor, and He will punish the rich oppressor and the unjust judge. 22:24, 25 Association with an angry, hot-tempered man is bad business. It often makes a man become like the company he keeps. This can really be a snare because in a moment of passion, a man can ruin his life and testimony. 22:26, 27 Shaking hands in a pledge here means to guarantee someone else’s debt. It is foolish to do it. If you can’t afford to make full payment of the debt, why run the risk of having the furniture taken out of your house, and thus expose yourself to discomfort and shame? 22:28 The ancient landmark was a series of stones which indicated the boundaries of a person’s property. Dishonest people often moved them during the night to increase the size of their farm at their neighbor’s expense. Spiritually, the ancient landmarks would be “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The fundamental doctrines of Christianity should not be tampered with. 22:29 A man who excels in his work . . . will be promoted to a position of honor. He will not serve unknown men. This is another reminder that cream rises to the surface. We see it in the lives of Joseph, Moses, Daniel, and Nehemiah. The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight, But that while their companions slept Were toiling upward through the night. Longfellow