PROVERBS 292007 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: Proverbs 29

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2007.

Proverbs chapter 29, though, as we get into the word this evening, and as I always remind you and encourage you of what the book of Proverbs is all about, we're talking about wisdom, which has nothing to do with being smart or intelligent or having a high IQ or anything like that. But it has everything to do with how well you receive instruction, how well you learn

How well you obey the word of God, how well you receive correction and follow the principles of God found in his word. I found this article interesting this last week. It took place in Hobart, Indiana. It's a guy by the name of Kevin Russell. And it says, Kevin Russell found out it's not easy trying to cash a check from God.

Hobart Police Detective Jeff White said, Police

Police were called to the bank after Russell tried to cash the check, which was written on an invalid Bank One check with no imprint. Russell had several other checks with him that were signed the same way, but made out in different dollar amounts, including one for $100,000. Russell struggled with police as they tried to detain him, White said, and then threatened the police as they transported him to the police station.

The detective was quoted by saying, I've heard about God giving out eternal life, but this is the first time I've heard him giving out cash. Hobart, Indiana. This 21-year-old man, of course, we would recognize and say, that's not very wise. There's no wisdom in that man at all. You cannot cash a check from God. Now, that is, you can't cash a check from God in order to receive cash, right?

But, you know, God has something more valuable for you.

And for me this evening right now, it's more valuable than one hundred thousand dollars you can receive from God. He offers to you freely wisdom. Proverbs chapter eight, verse 11, says that wisdom is better than rubies and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. The wisdom that God has for you is.

hearing his word and obeying his instructions is a far greater value than $100,000 of a forged check or anything else that you could desire. The wisdom of God being obedient to his word, the principles that he teaches in his word are far greater, more valuable than anything else that

That you could imagine or desire or want. And that's why we study the word of God week after week. That's why we're learning these things. Because for you this evening, you need to know God has wonderful riches for you. If you will listen to him and be obedient to him. So we start out in verse 1.

Proverbs chapter 29, which says he who is often rebuked and hardens his neck will suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy. The person who is often rebuked but does not change the one who hardens his neck, Solomon says he will be destroyed suddenly without remedy.

And so I ask the question, what does it take for you to be corrected? What does it take for you to receive instruction and change the way that you are living? Again, wisdom is not how smart you are. Wisdom is how well you receive instruction and correction. How well you receive the word of God and put it into practice in your life. You could compare it to an athlete and a coach.

All types of athletes and all types of sports have coaches. Now, why is it that these athletes have coaches? Is it because they are not naturally talented? Is it because they're not good at what they do?

No, if you're familiar with any type of sport or athletic thing, the best athlete does have natural talent, but they still need a coach. They need another set of eyes that can see from the outside to help them find out what they're doing wrong or how they can do it better if they're staying in line in the way that they're supposed to be.

And just like an athlete needs a coach, you and I need the word of God and others around us who will share with us the word of God to help us see what we're doing wrong, to help us see how we're going out of line or to show us how we can do things better according to the word of God.

We need to be obedient. Wisdom is receiving instruction from the word of God. And we need those people in our lives that can see where we're blowing it, that are open and really that love us enough to share it with us, to show us how we can improve and where we need to turn. Do you receive from the people around you or do you harden your neck?

He who is often rebuked and hardens his neck will suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy. Proverbs chapter 1 verses 24 through 31 recount to us wisdom calling out.

Calling out to everyone who will hear. Listen, if you want wisdom, come to me. It's available for whoever wants it. God has wisdom for you. You can walk uprightly. You can walk in the fullness of what God has for you. He invites you. Wisdom is calling out aloud in the streets.

But there in Proverbs chapter 1 verses 24 through 31, wisdom explains, okay, but I've been calling out. You have before you the word of God. You have the principles. You have what you need to live by them. If you choose not to, if you don't respond to the call, then you are going to be destroyed.

Wisdom says in Proverbs 126, I will also laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then wisdom or then they will call me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but not find me because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. Here, wisdom is saying this. Look, you didn't want me when I called out, when I made myself available on that Wednesday evening, when you were there and you heard the instructions and what God told you to do and you refused to receive it. You refused to walk in it. You refused to

to be obedient and listen to those that I placed around you. So when your calamity comes, you're going to call out, but I'm not going to hear. You're going to receive destruction. You're going to be destroyed. And that without remedy, suddenly, Solomon says in Proverbs 29.1, it's so important for us.

to respond when God speaks to our hearts, be it through our time personally in devotions, be it through a service like this where someone is sharing the word or be it through someone who is in your life that loves you enough to share with you the truth from God's word. You need to respond. If God is speaking something to you, listen and obey it. Do not ignore it because that's the heart in your heart. That's the heart in your neck.

And you will be destroyed suddenly without remedy, Proverbs says. Verse 2. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. There are some people who will groan no matter who's in authority. So that's something you need to know. But

As we often see throughout the book of Proverbs, there's great encouragement and instruction for those who have authority. If you have authority, understand that if you are righteous, then the people will rejoice. But if you are wicked, the people will groan. Some of you have authority at work, some at home.

Maybe in other places you have authority. The question you need to find out and ask yourself is, are you righteous or wicked? Because the best thing that you can do for the people that you have authority over is to be righteous.

You need to believe God at his word and being and be more concerned about being righteous than being well liked. That's not the objective for you to have authority to be well liked and really, you know, be popular and for everybody to like you a lot. No, what you need to be more concerned about is being righteous. Here he says, when the righteous are in authority, who are the righteous?

The righteous, it's a reference to a person who does the things that are right according to God. And so Solomon is saying, put God's word to practice in your life, in your decisions, in your areas of authority, and the people will rejoice. But if you do not, then the people will groan. Verse three, whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, but a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.

Notice the contrast here. Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, but a companion of harlots wastes his wealth. Solomon is saying that a companion of harlots does not love wisdom, does not have wisdom, does not seek after wisdom. No matter what the world says and no matter how successful a person is, know that a companion of harlots is a fool.

To participate in harlotry, to be involved in sexual immorality is foolish. Those who do those things are fools. 1 Corinthians 6, verse 18, Paul tells us there to flee sexual immorality. But he explains why. He says every sin that a man does is outside the body. But he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Paul says, look, when you are involved in sexual sin, when you're the companion of harlots, when you're involved in fornication or adultery, when you're involved in pornography, when you're involved in those things, you sin. And yes, sin is sin and God judges it all the same. But

He says this particular sin is worse because it's against your own body. You're destroying your own self and your own soul, as we learned in Proverbs 5, 6 and 7.

You don't love wisdom if you're involved in sexual immorality. Be wise. Receive from God. Obey His word. Stay away from sexual immorality. It will save your wealth, your health. It will save your own soul. And it will cause your parents to rejoice. Verse 4.

The king establishes the land by justice, but he who receives bribes overthrows it. Again, we have a proverb here dealing with authority, and we'll see a few more of these as we go on this evening. The king establishes the land by justice, but he who receives bribes overthrows it. Solomon says, look, the king destroys his own land when he receives bribes.

But if he does what is right and just, he will establish his land. Again, for those of you who have authority in different areas, whatever area it may be, the people that you have authority over, the areas where you have authority, they will be established if you do what's right, if you follow God's ways, if you apply God's principles. So don't take bribes. Don't show favoritism.

Don't deal shadily. If you do those things, you'll be destroying the people that you have authority over. You'll be destroying that area, that thing that you have authority over. To establish it, you need to walk by God's principles. You need to walk justly and do what's right. Verse 5, a man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. To genuinely praise someone, to encourage someone, to say,

something nice or compliments a person that is good to give heartfelt thanks. That's good. But a person who flatters is not that person. The person who flatters is a person who will say anything to try to get what they want. They're paying compliments. They're saying things to try to accomplish their purposes. Their heart's not really in the things that they're saying, but they're using that to try to manipulate and receive what they want to receive.

Solomon is saying that when a person flatters, he's spreading a net for the feet of the person he is flattering. A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his neighbor's feet. In other words, he's flattering him to his face, but at the same time, he's spreading a net for his feet.

Solomon is saying, watch out for the person who flatters because they are trying to trap you. They're setting up the bait. They're really causing the distraction while they're working something else down below and seeking to trap you. When someone is praising you too much or is too excited about what you do or say, watch out because the person who flatters you is the person who's trying to trap you and spreading a net about your feet.

Realize and recognize it's not that you are so brilliant and wonderful. They are seeking to trap you and accomplish their own purposes. Proverbs 26, 28 tells us that a lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it and a flattering mouth works ruin. So watch out for those who flatter. Verse 6. By transgression an evil man is snared, but the righteous sings and rejoices.

Here again, we see the righteous, the person who walks according to God's ways, who walks in God's rightness. And here again, as we've seen over and over throughout the book of Proverbs, and I remember

The words in the New Testament, hey, to say the same things to you, it's not tedious, but it's necessary for you. There's a need for repetition. And so we find these principles and these things over and over again because we need to hear them. So let me share with you at least one more time. I'm sure there will be many more yet to come. Galatians chapter 6 verses 7 and 8. The principle, the law that God teaches is you reap what you sow.

If you sow to the flesh, you will of the flesh reap corruption or destruction. But if you sow to the spirit, you will of the spirit reap everlasting life. Solomon says by transgression, an evil man is snared, but the righteous sings and rejoices by your own transgression. You are snared. But if you live according to God's ways, if you are the righteous, if

You reap what you sow because you walk according to God's ways, because you're being obedient to him. You will sing and rejoice to be snared by your own sin or to rejoice because you've been obedient to God. It's your choice.

If you remember Moses, when he was speaking to the tribes that decided to stay on the east side of the Jordan, they wanted to set up camp there. They felt that that was good enough for them. They didn't want to inherit all that God had for them. And as Moses was speaking to them, he said, OK, we'll allow this as long as, you know, all of your military men come over, help win the battle. And then once they've won the battle, they can come back and you can get settled there in that land.

And so they agreed to do so. But there are numbers chapter 32, verse 23. Moses warns them. He says, but if you do not do so, if you don't cross over and and help the rest of your brothers conquer the land, if you do not do so, then take note. You have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out. Again, the principle is you reap what you sow. Your sin will find you out if you're disobedient to God.

You may be getting away with it. You may feel like you've gotten away scot-free, but your sin will find you out. Your transgression will snare you. You will reap what you sow.

The conclusion then, if you want to be miserable, keep living in sin. Keep going on in rebellion to God. But if you want to sing and rejoice, if you want to have an abundant life, then live according to God's word. Believe in him and have relationship with him. It doesn't mean that, of course, everything will be nice and rosy and you'll never have problems or situations, but you'll still be able to sing and rejoice.

Because he will be with you always, even to the end of the age. Verse 7. The righteous considers the cause of the poor, but the wicked does not understand such knowledge. Here again we see the righteous. The person who walks in obedience to God. The person who hears God's word. This person considers the cause of the poor, but the wicked, they don't understand such knowledge.

The righteous consider the cause of the poor because that's what God does and that's what God commands. He shares with us over and over throughout the scriptures his heart for the poor, his concern for the poor, and that we are to have the same heart and concern for them. Now, the language that's used here is used to describe court cases and legal proceedings.

The NIV puts it this way. The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. The righteous are concerned that justice is done, that the cases are handled appropriately, that the right judgments are made. But the wicked people have no such concern. Don't be fooled. A wicked person may give to charities, may show on the outward to have a concern and a care for others.

But this verse isn't talking about the giving of money or the outward display. It's talking about taking the time to get to know and consider the cause of the poor to make sure that justice is done.

Sometimes the attitude is, hey, you know, this group, this people, this area, they can't really help in a financial campaign. Oh, well, no need to deal with it. No need to worry about it. Better to focus on those who can further my agenda. I'm not going to waste my time there. That's wickedness and they have no concern for the poor. Verse 8, scoffers set a city aflame, but wise men turn away wrath.

Now, this is not talking about fire, but it's talking about scoffers setting a city in an uproar. It's very easy to stir up anger. One of the proverbs we studied recently said, anybody can stir up arguments and anger and stir up strife. And that's what scoffers do. They set the city on fire. They stir up all kinds of trouble, big amounts of trouble.

vastly reaching arguments, strife, debates. But the wise do not do that. They do not stir up wrath. They do not stir up trouble. They do not cause people to be filled with anger. Instead, they turn away wrath, Solomon says. It's kind of like what we looked at on Sunday in regards to Paul.

Remember, I shared about Paul that everywhere he went, there were riots. He was run out of town over and over again. But it's not because he was a scoffer. He was there preaching the gospel, doing what he was called to do. But he wasn't out there stirring up anger in the people and looking to cause the riot. No, instead, what would happen is the scoffers around Paul would

Would stir up the city, the Jews in the city would get upset at his preaching about Jesus being the Messiah. They would get upset about his preaching to the Gentiles and they would stir up the crowd, stir up the city and run him out or the idol maker that we talked about on Sunday. He would get upset. He's losing business. And so he would stir up the city against them. Again, the same is true of Jesus. He didn't go around trying to get people upset and angry. That wasn't his issue.

That wasn't his method of operation. He did not lead a riot or a mob. Instead, the scoffers, also known as the Pharisees, set the city aflame against him. And that's why he was crucified. The point is, we're not called to go around and cause problems, but instead we're called to be wise and to turn away wrath. As we looked at Paul's exhortation from Romans 1,

Do your best as far as it depends on you to live at peace with all men. Verse 9. If a wise man contends with a foolish man, whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace. Here we have Solomon talking about this person who is a foolish man.

Now we've seen time and time again the fool throughout the book of Proverbs. There's lots of things that we've learned about the fool, but let me just boil it down to a couple of things. The fool will not listen. They will not receive instruction or correction. It's the opposite of someone who is wise. The fool always has an answer, an excuse for their behavior or why they do what they do. And you can't talk them out of it. You can't convince them otherwise. They will not listen or receive instruction.

And so Solomon says, if a wise man contends with a foolish man, with this person who will not receive instruction or correction, that the fool, no matter what their response is, will cause there to be no peace. Whether the fool is laughing or

mocking, you know, jeering and scorning, making jokes and having a good time, really making a mockery of the wise person and what they're saying. Or if they're, by the contention of the wise man, if they're confronted and it brings up anger and rage within them, and that's their response, either way, Solomon says there is no peace.

Whether you confront someone and they get really upset about it or you confront them and they begin to make jokes and mock and again cause issues as a result, there's no peace either way. Solomon's advice would be to not enter into a controversy with the fool. We always think we can convince the person next to us, don't we?

I mean, of course, their position is so ridiculous. How can they believe such things? If only they would hear what I have to say. If only they would hear my words, then, you know, I would be able to convince them. Then we would be able to knock some sense into their head. But we've learned over and over again throughout Proverbs, you cannot convince the fool with arguments, with debates, with

With your many words or your great insights or your great arguments. If they will not listen to God, they're not going to hear you. Solomon says, look, either way, there's not going to be peace. Address the situation if you need to. Use the word of God, but don't continue in controversy. Don't contend with a fool because there will be no peace. Verse 10 says,

The bloodthirsty hate the blameless, but the upright seek his well-being. I think of Cain and Abel as a good example of this verse. The bloodthirsty hate the blameless, but the upright seek his well-being. It's found in Genesis chapter 4. You know the story where Cain and Abel both presented their offerings to the Lord and Abel's was received and Cain's was not.

And so Cain began to hate and have great anger towards his brother. God confronted him and said, Cain, why are you upset? Why are you so angry? Why are you hating your brother? Don't you know if you do what's right, you'll be received as well. But if you don't, then sin will trap you and catch you. Instead of repenting, Cain hated his brother. He knew what he needed to do, but instead of changing his ways,

Changing his heart, he figured it would be better to kill his brother. So that's what he did. Sometimes when we hate people, it's because we would rather them be gone than to change our own ways because we know that we are wrong. But rather than deal with our wrong and deal with what's going on within our heart,

We express it in hatred towards them. Our conscience cries out to us, but we don't want to change. And so we lash out at the person who challenges us, really, in our own hearts. Verse 11. A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back. Feelings. Do you vent all your feelings? Don't laugh yet. Okay.

The picture that's painted here is quite important in the Hebrew. The word vent means to bring out or to lead out. The word feelings is really the word that means spirit. It's talking about what's going on within you. Solomon is saying here, the fool brings out his spirit or perhaps lets out his spirit.

But a wise man holds them back or soothes and stills his spirit. The fool brings out his spirit as opposed to the wise man who soothes his spirit. The picture is of someone who controls his spirit or feelings and someone who does not. It's like letting a lion out of the cage. Someone who kind of brings it out and lets it go.

That's the fool who vents all his feelings. Someone who brings it out and just lets it all go. You know, you've probably heard the expression, you know, thanks for listening. I just had to vent. What happens when you do that? Well, you just kind of go and let it all out, right? All the things from 1925 that really have been bothering you, it just all comes spilling out. And that's the idea here. The fool vents all his feelings. It just, it all comes out.

Really, it's expressing that the fool has no control over his feelings and emotions. Instead, his feelings and emotions have control of him. Proverbs chapter 25, verse 28 says, Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls. If you can't control yourself, your feelings, your emotions...

Solomon says, you're like a city that's broken down with no walls. You're vulnerable. You're weak. You have no defenses. You're easy prey for attack. God doesn't want you to be controlled by your feelings and emotions. He wants you to have control of your feelings by being obedient to his word.

I was listening to Pastor Alvin from Carvey Chapel Whittier on Tuesday, and he was sharing about this subject. And he said something that I thought was really interesting and very well put. He said, you know, we often are led by our emotions and we wait for us to feel, you know, that we're able to do something or we wait for us to feel right in order to do it.

But he said, what we need to remember is that motion leads to emotion. Motion leads to emotion. When you take the action, when you are obedient, your emotions and your feelings, they will follow. They will come in line. You have to be obedient first, even when you don't feel like it.

You have to walk according to God's ways, even when you don't feel like it. And later, afterwards, the motion will lead to the emotion. For the spouse who says, I just cannot love my wife or my husband. That emotion is gone. I do not love them. You need to understand motion leads to emotion. You may not feel that emotion at the moment.

But what you need to do is be obedient and love your spouse regardless of how you feel about it. Put them first and die to yourself regardless of how you feel about it. And your emotions will follow. He told the story, I'll try to relate it to you the best I can, of a woman who is seeing a doctor. And the woman was saying, you know, I really cannot stand my husband anymore.

I hate him. He's made me so miserable. I want to make him as miserable as I can possibly make him. And so the doctor said, well, here's what you need to do. Go back home and tell your husband how much you love him. Tell him how much he means to you. Just lavish him for two months.

With all kinds of ways of expressing your great love for him and demonstrating for him how much you love him and really just go all out, spare nothing to help him and make him happy and really bless him like crazy. She said, are you crazy? I just told you I hate this guy. I can't stand him. And Zach says, wait, you're setting him up after two months of

Then announced to him, I hate your guts. I don't love you. And divorce him. And that's the worst thing that you could possibly do to him. That'll destroy him. And the woman said, oh, that's a great idea. That's a great plan. So she goes home and puts it into practice. She begins to tell him how much she loves him. She begins to bless him in different ways and cook his favorite meals and serve him in all these different ways. And and.

She never goes back to the doctor, and the doctor calls her up one day and says, Hey, I never heard back. What happened? I mean, are you ready now to divorce your husband? And the wife responded, Are you crazy? I found out that I really do love this man. He's the best thing that ever happened to me. That's the idea. That's the picture. You do it first. You don't wait to feel like it. You do it, and your emotions will follow.

We live in a society that has it all backwards. Our society gives full vent to all its feelings. Our society is controlled by its emotions and feelings. Our society encourages you to be controlled by your feelings. But the Bible makes it very clear that is foolish.

You don't feel like loving your spouse? Tough. Do it anyway. Then you'll feel like it after the fact. You don't feel like reading the Bible today? You're a fool if you don't read the Bible because you don't feel like it. If you don't spend time with God because you don't feel like it. You need to do what is right and be obedient and your feelings will follow. But if you wait until you feel like it, you never will. And you're going to be a fool in destroying yourself.

If you don't feel like loving your spouse and so you don't, you're a fool. If you feel like throwing a fit and that's what you do, you're a fool. You're governed by your own feelings and emotions. If you're controlled by those things, you're a fool. You're like the defenseless city waiting to be destroyed. No, God says, look, you have everything you need.

Be obedient. I know you don't feel like it, but you can't live life based on that. Live life by faith, believing that I've given you everything that you need, believing that my word is what's best for you. Live life by faith, not by sight, and your feelings and emotions will follow. Verse 12, if a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked.

Again, looking at those who have authority, if you in authority pay attention to lies, Solomon says, all your servants become wicked. And this is the scary part of authority. If you having authority, pay attention to the lies. If you stray from the truth, all the people under your authority will be affected and swayed as well. If you want a good example of this, read through first and second Kings chapter

Read through 1 and 2 Chronicles. The kings of Israel and Judah are perfect examples of this. When there was a king that was good, that worshipped God, that followed God, the people would follow. They would begin to worship God again. But then when the next king came who turned away from God, who began to worship idols, then all the people would join him and begin to worship idols and would turn away. When the king honored and worshipped the Lord, the people would follow him.

When they would turn away from him, the people would follow. If you have authority, wherever it's at, guard your heart. Pay extra attention to how you walk and live because everyone in your care will be affected by it. I don't care if it's a secular job. They're affected by your spiritual life. 1 Timothy 4, verse 16 says,

Paul tells Timothy, take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you. You're going to save yourself and those who hear you. Because if you stray from the truth, so will those that have been entrusted to you. Verse 13. The poor man and the oppressor have this in common. The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

Whether you're on the giving end of oppression or the receiving end of oppression, Solomon says, you have this thing in common, and that is that the Lord gives light to the eyes of both. The Lord is the one who gives life to both the oppressor and the poor who's being oppressed. The oppressor, we saw this as well in Proverbs 22 too, the oppressor thinks himself better than the person he oppresses. Whether it be

Someone oppressing the poor or oppressing a particular race or someone oppressing a particular group of people. The oppressor does not consider that God gives life to the both of them. It's a good reminder for us. How do you treat people? When you look at the people around you, what is your estimation of them? Do you realize that God loves them just as much, maybe more, as he loves you? I was just kidding about the maybe more part.

He loves them just as much as he loves you. He died on the cross for them. No matter what you may think of them or feel about them, he loves them. He gives light to them. He gives them their next breath just as much as he gives you yours. You need to take that into consideration. Maybe we don't impress people like Hitler and Saddam did, but do we harbor that type of attitude in our hearts? It's not good. We need to love God.

As the Lord loves. Verse 14. The king who judges the poor with truth. His throne will be established forever. Kind of similar to what we saw in verse 7. Remember verse 7. It says the righteous considers the cause of the poor. But the wicked does not understand knowledge. And so the king who judges the poor with truth. Is a righteous king. Because he considers the cause of the poor. And so God says his throne will be established forever.

Again, those of you who have authority, do you judge rightly and with truth? Do you deal justly and rightly with those who are in your care? Do you do what's right? Do you make good and fair decisions? If you want to be established, do what's right. Walk in the truth. Do not show favoritism. Do not compromise the truth or compromise what is right. And you will be established. Verse 15 says,

The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. How can you give your children wisdom? Very simply, Solomon says, by correcting them, correcting them. Notice that there's two ways mentioned here, two methods of correction, the rod and rebuke.

The rod being physical discipline and rebuke being verbal correction and instruction. Both are important. Both are necessary. If you want to give your children wisdom, the rod and rebuke give wisdom. But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. If you do not listen to God, if you leave your children to learn lessons on their own, you will bring shame to yourself.

Proverbs 13, 24 says he who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly. Hebrews chapter 12 explains to us that discipline is an act of love. God disciplines us. And if we don't receive discipline, we're not God's child and child.

We need to know that God loves us and that's why he disciplines us. And the same is true with your children. You need to discipline your children. If you don't, you hate your children and will bring shame upon yourself. Verse 16. When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases, but the righteous will see their fall.

When the wicked are multiplied, of course, it makes sense. Transgression increases, continues to get worse. Corruption gets worse and worse and continues to grow. But the righteous will be steadfast. They will continue. They will see the fall of the wicked.

It's important to know when the wicked are multiplied, it looks like the wicked are winning, that they're getting away with it, that really God's word is not coming to pass. But he says the righteous will see their fault. It's going to happen. They will reap what they've sown.

And the righteous will see it take place. They will fall. It may not look like it now, but believe God at his word. It may not even be in this life that you see it, but the righteous will see their fall. You walk uprightly. Don't envy the wicked. No matter how successful or great they might have it at the moment. You do what's right in God's eyes. And you will see the fall of the wicked. Verse 17 says,

Again, we deal with correction. It says, correct your son and he will give you rest. Yes, he will give delight to your soul. Correct your children. Give them discipline and they will give you rest. They will give delight to your soul. It's in your own best interest to correct your children. They will bring you rest and delight. Raise them well. Teach them God's ways. Correct them. Even if it hurts you more than it hurts them. Correct them.

And they'll bring rest and delight to yourself. Verse 18. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint. But happy is he who keeps the law. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint. In the King James, it's read this way. Where there is no vision, the people perish. You've probably heard that expression before. But I think it's important, again, to notice the contrast.

But happy is he who keeps the law. The context here is in keeping the law. Solomon says, whoever keeps the law, that person is happy. Again, whoever receives God's instruction, whoever walks in wisdom, they are blessed. They're happy. They're the ones who have the abundant life that God promised.

But if a person is not receiving revelation, where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint. If they're not receiving revelation or vision, they will not keep the law. And so they will not be blessed. They will not be happy.

This word here for vision or revelation, it's the word that's used whenever God delivered a message for the people through one of his prophets, through Isaiah or Ezekiel. They would receive the vision of the Lord and they would pass that on to the people. And that was a word that God used to indicate that he was giving a special message through one of his prophets.

In 1 Samuel chapter 3, to give you a good understanding of what this word is talking about. Chapter 3 verse 1, it says that the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days. There was no widespread revelation. Same word. God was not revealing himself. There was no widespread vision. There was not the message of God to the people.

Now, to put it in context of what's taking place at this time, 1 Samuel chapter 3, it's the time of the judges. When the people would do what is right in their own eyes. They would walk away from God and then as they were reaping what they had sown and going into captivity, they would call out to him and he would send a deliverer and he would deliver them.

but they continued to go back to do what was right in their own eyes they would not continue on in obedience to god why well we find proverbs 29 18 where there is no revelation the people cast off restraint and in first samuel 3 1 in those days there was no widespread revelation they weren't hearing from the lord

But then in verse 21 of 1 Samuel chapter 3, it says, Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. It was at that time through the prophet Samuel that the people began to come back and worship the Lord and walk in obedience to God. Why? Well, because it was there in Shiloh that the Lord revealed himself to Samuel by the word of

of the Lord. Understand the picture. There was no widespread revelation. There was nobody sharing the vision of God to the people, revealing God's word to the people. So they cast off restraint. They did not keep the law. That's why they kept going into captivity. But when Samuel came, then the word of the Lord was, or the Lord revealed himself to Samuel by the word of the Lord. And the people began again to walk in obedience to God.

Basically, this proverb is saying, look, when a person is not hearing from God through his word, they will not keep the law. They will not walk in obedience. But happy is the one who keeps the law.

And he keeps the law because God has revealed himself to them. Again, it's a relationship. It's a personal and real thing that is taking place. And that's why it's important to be in the word of God, giving him time to reveal himself to you, because that's what helps you keep on following him and being obedient to him. Perhaps you were following him at one time, but have you cast off restraint because you did not take the time for him to reveal himself to you?

That's why it's important for you to be in the word. That's why it's important for you to be involved in Bible studies, to hear God reveal himself and deliver his messages to you through the gift of teaching, because otherwise you will cast off restraint and you will not walk in obedience to the Lord. Verse 19, a servant will not be corrected by mere words, for though he understands, he will not respond. A servant will not be corrected by mere words, for though he understands, he will not respond.

Solomon here, it seems that he's speaking of not just any servant, but a stubborn servant, a foolish servant, because the fool is the one who will not receive instruction or correction. Words are not enough to correct a fool. Proverbs chapter 26 verse 3 tells us, A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool's back. Mere words are not enough for the fool to be corrected.

They need the rod. They need correction, punishment, discipline. And I would use this opportunity to ask you this. At the place of your employment, what does it take for you to be corrected? How many times does your boss have to speak to you before you change your behavior? What action do they have to take in order for you to get there on time or to do what they're asking you to do and and

Be obedient to complete the job that they've hired you to complete. What does it take? If it takes more than mere words, you're a fool. That's what the Bible says. How well do you receive instruction and correction? Be a wise servant. Let the verbal warning, instruction, or correction be enough to change your behavior. Don't be a fool and require some harder discipline. Verse 20 says,

Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Do you see a man who's hasty in his words? He's quick to speak. Does that describe you? Are you hasty in your words? Are you known for your quick wit?

Are you always waiting for someone to stop talking so that you can say what you want to say? Are you quick to make promises or agreements? Or how about this one? Do you relate really well to Peter and the Gospels?

Quick to speak and put his foot in his mouth, Solomon says, hey, there's more hope for a fool than for someone who is quick to speak, someone who is hasty in their words. We see an example of that in Mark chapter nine. Remember when they're on the mountain and Jesus is transfigured before them and all the disciples, well, Peter, James and John that are there, they're odd and they're amazed at what's going on and.

Peter says, hey, let's build three tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. But Mark chapter 9 verse 6 explains why he said that. It says, because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. Word of advice, if you don't know what to say, probably better not to say anything at all. He was quick to speak. Of course, we know James 1.19. My beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to laugh.

The right, the wise thing to do is to hold your tongue. Take some time. Be slow to speak and not hasty in your words. Verse 21. He who pampers his servant from childhood will have him as a son in the end. This is a difficult proverb because the word translated son is

It's not really known exactly what it means. It's only used once in the Old Testament, and there's lots of varying opinions about what it should be translated as as a result. It's derived from the word that means to continue or to propagate. And so it's believed to be a reference to an heir. And so, you know, like Abraham, when he was worried that he didn't have a son, and so all of his inheritance would be passed on to his servants.

That's the idea that some believe that this verse is talking about. But here's the principle. The point here is if you pamper a servant from when they are young, they will expect to be treated that way for the rest of their life. We often look at the servant-master relationship of biblical times to the employee-employer relationship of today. And so perhaps, again, for some of you who have authority, this is something for you to consider.

When you treat someone special while they're young or while they're new, you train them to expect to be treated that way for the rest of their life. Verse 22. An angry man stirs up strife and a furious man abounds in transgression. The Bible has a lot to say about anger and about stirring up strife and causing problems. Again, a fool gives full vent to his feelings. Don't let anger control you.

Don't let it cause you to stir up strife. The person who stirs up strife is an angry man, it says. And a furious man abounds in his transgression. Perhaps he's somewhat like this guy. So it's back a couple weeks ago in Belgrade. I'm not sure where that is. I think that's Germany or something. It's entitled, Fighting Surgeons Leave Patients in the Lurch.

And it goes on to say this, a routine appendix operation in Belgrade went badly wrong when two surgeons started fighting and stormed out of the operating room to settle their dispute outside. At least they went outside to settle it. Surgeon so-and-so was operating when his colleague entered and made a remark that started a quarrel, said the anesthesiologist on duty.

At one moment, the person who walked in pulled the ear of the operating doctor, slapped him in the face and walked out, she said. The surgeon followed and an all out fight ensued, resulting in bruises, a split lip, loose teeth and a fractured finger. The operation was completed successfully by the attending assistant doctor.

He was an angry man and he stirred up strife and I feel bad for the patient. You want to make sure that your doctor, if you're going into surgery, is not an angry man because he may stir up strife in the midst of it. Proverbs 29, 23. A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor. Man's pride brings him low, God says.

He hates, absolutely detests pride. Over and over we hear in the scriptures that God is opposed to the proud. And so if you persist in pride, depending upon yourself, being full of yourself, God will humble you. Jesus said that as well in Matthew 23, 12. He who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Humility is really just recognizing who you are and recognizing your need for God. And so you need to humble yourself and rely upon the Lord. Follow his instructions in his strength. Know that his ways are best and prove it by your obedience and you will be blessed. Verse 24, whoever is partner with a thief hates his own life. He swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.

A partner or accomplice, Solomon says, hates his own life. Why does he hate his own life? Well, he can't tell the truth because then he brings judgment on himself. And if he lies, he brings judgment upon himself. So learn the lesson. Don't involve yourself. Don't partner with the thief because it's to hate your own life. Verse 25. The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. This example,

is a very important verse. The fear of man brings a snare. Who do you fear? The contrast is to trust in the Lord. The point is you either fear God or you fear man. You're either more concerned about what God says or you're more concerned about what man says. Which do you fear? Where do you put your trust?

Do not fear man, but fear God. Obey God first and don't let what others think affect how obedient you are to God because that is to fear man. Example of that, Genesis chapter 12. Remember when Abraham goes down and claims that Sarah is his sister? Why? Because he feared man. He feared man instead of God. He disobeyed God first.

And attempted to save himself by his own means. The fear of man was the downfall of Saul as well, the first king of Israel. 1 Samuel 15, 24. He says,

Saul said, I was afraid. I didn't do what God told me to do because I feared the people and I wanted to make them happy. And they had some good ideas. And so I followed them instead of being obedient to the Lord. It's what resulted in David acting in madness in Proverbs chapter 27. Remember when he was being chased by Saul and it says that he feared Saul. And so he escaped to the land of the Philistines.

Where he engaged in all kinds of crazy activity. It's what caused Peter to deny Jesus. When he was challenged, hey, you weren't with Jesus, were you? The fear of man brings a snare.

If you're concerned about what others think and what others say, if the people around you change your behavior and your obedience to the Lord, that's a snare. It's going to destroy you. Don't fear man. Fear God. Trust him first. Be obedient to him first. Be more concerned about what he thinks than anybody else.

Be more concerned with pleasing him than with others. Trust the Lord, fear him, and you will be safe. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 10 verse 28, Fear the Lord. He's the one who has a say in where you spend eternity.

So be obedient to him. Receive him. Walk in his ways. Verse 26. Many seek the ruler's favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord. Where does justice come from? It comes from the Lord. It doesn't come from the courts. It doesn't come from that law being passed. It doesn't come from the president or the king or anybody else. It comes from the Lord. Don't look to man for justice. Look to the Lord.

There may be justice that is performed on the earth, but you're not to look to man to do it. Look to the Lord. Have you been wronged? Look to the Lord for your justice. Verse 27. An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked. Just like the spirit and the flesh are at war, just like they are in conflict,

Continual combat between each other. The upright and the ungodly are always at odds. They're an abomination to each other. They cannot coexist peacefully. One's disgusting to the other as much as that one is disgusting to the other. It's an abomination. Now, this is important to remember.

Because Jesus said, look, the world will not receive you just as it didn't receive me. If you were of the world, then the world would receive you. But you're not of the world. And so the world cannot receive you. James chapter 4, verse 4. He says, adulterers and adulteresses. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. You need to choose your alliance as well.

Who are you going to side with? Are you going to fill your life with the things of the world and listen to the philosophies and desires and plans of the world? Are you going to hear their opinions? Are you going to walk in their ways according to what they say is right and all the things that they have? Or are you going to walk in obedience to God? The Bible says, beware when all men speak well of you. Hey, if you fit in really well, you're probably not doing something right because the unjust man is an abomination to the righteous.

And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked. There's going to be conflict. There's going to be some difficult situations, some tension, but it's worth it. Don't fear man. Fear God and walk in his ways. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, God, your word is powerful. It's living and active. And Lord, you've spoken to us in so many ways this evening.

Lord, I pray that in each of our own hearts, individually as you're speaking to us, Lord, that there would be revelation. God, as we continue to meditate on these things, that we would receive directly from you in these areas. Lord, that we would continue to walk in obedience. Lord, that we wouldn't cast off restraint and turn away from you. But Lord, we ask that you would reveal yourself even more in these things to us, that we might continue to walk in obedience to you, Lord. And if we haven't been giving you time, Lord,

For you to reveal yourself to us, forgive us, God. Lord, help us not to allow emotions and feelings to rule and dictate our lives, but help us to be obedient to you first. Lord, when we don't feel like spending time with you, help us to be obedient, to spend time with you, that we may continue to have you revealed within our hearts, that we might continue to walk according to your word and be blessed. Lord, when we don't feel like loving our spouse or loving our neighbor, Lord,

Lord, help us to be obedient to your word. Lord, trusting that motion will lead to the emotion. God, in any other area that you've been speaking to our hearts, help us, Lord. Give us strength. Speak to us even more clearly now, this evening, as we meditate on these things. Lord, that we might walk in obedience to you. Not fearing man, not fearing what others will think or say, but Lord, we'll put you first and live to bring glory to your name.

In Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen. Amen.