Proverbs 24:1-12

CHAPTER 24
TEXT Proverbs 24:1-12

1.

Be not thou envious against evil men;

Neither desire to be with them:

2.

For their heart studieth oppression,

And their lips talk of mischief.

3.

Through wisdom is a house builded;

And by understanding it is established;

4.

And by knowledge are the chambers filled

With all precious and pleasant riches.

5.

A wise man is strong;

Yes, a man of knowledge increaseth might.

6.

For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war;

And in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

7.

Wisdom is too high for a fool:

He openeth not his mouth in the gate.

8.

He that deviseth to do evil,

Men shall call him a mischief-maker.

9.

The thought of foolishness is sin;

And the scoffer is an abomination to men.

10.

If thou faint in the day of adversity,

Thy strength is small.

11.

Deliver them that are carried away unto death,

And those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.

12.

If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this;

Doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it?
And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it?
And shall not he render to every man according to his work?

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 24:1-12

1.

Paraphrase the two statements in Proverbs 24:1.

2.

What kind of evil men is Proverbs 24:2 talking about?

3.

What is meant by house here (Proverbs 24:3)?

4.

Comment upon the two adjectives in Proverbs 24:4.

5.

According to Proverbs 24:5 wisdom is .............

6.

What kind of counselors did ancient kings rely upon (Proverbs 24:6)?

7.

Where did a fool not belong (Proverbs 24:7)?

8.

Proverbs 24:8 might remind one of people calling a spade a ...............

9.

What is meant by the thought of foolishness in Proverbs 24:9?

10.

What percentage of people faint when adversity comes (Proverbs 24:10)?

11.

What is meant by see that thou hold back in Proverbs 24:11?

12.

What is the implication of the statement in Proverbs 24:12 that we knew not this?

PARAPHRASE OF 24:1-12

1, 2.

Don-'t envy godless men; don-'t even enjoy their company. For they spend their days plotting violence and cheating.

3, 4.

Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts.

5.

A wise man is mightier than a strong man. Wisdom is mightier than strength.

6.

Don-'t go to war without wise guidance; there is safety in many counselors.

7.

Wisdom is too much for a rebel. He-'ll not be chosen as a counselor!

8.

To plan evil is as wrong as doing it.

9.

The rebel's schemes are sinful, and the mocker is the scourge of all mankind.

10.

You are a poor specimen if you can-'t stand the pressure of adversity.

11, 12.

Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don-'t stand back and let them die. Don-'t try to disclaim responsibility by saying you didn-'t know about it. For God, who knows all hearts, knows yours, and He knows you knew! And he will reward everyone according to his deeds.

COMMENTS ON 24:1-12

Proverbs 24:1. Two prohibitions: don-'t desire to be like evil men and don-'t desire to run with them. If one doesn-'t envy them, he won-'t run with them, and if one doesn-'t run with them, he will not become like them. Other passages about not envying such: Proverbs 24:19; Psalms 37:1; Psalms 73:3; Proverbs 3:31; Proverbs 23:17. Another passage about not desiring to be with evil people: Proverbs 1:15.

Proverbs 24:2. In Proverbs the expression evil woman usually is referring to an adulterous woman and a evil man to oppressors (as in this verse). These evil men have their heart involved in their sin, and they study how to be successful in their wickedness. 2 Timothy 2:15 shows that the righteous should study to show themselves approved unto God.

Proverbs 24:3. After two verses on the destructive way of the wicked, it is refreshing to come to two verses on building a house through wisdom, honesty, and diligence (Proverbs 24:3-4). Notice that wisdom is with the builder, not the destroyer. Oppressors who take the sword will perish by the sword (Matthew 26:52), not living out half of their days (Psalms 55:23). While these will be cut off, the righteous will live on in the earth (Psalms 37:9),

Proverbs 24:4. There is really a close relationship between wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. Proverbs 24:5 says the first two build and establish the house while this verse says the last mentioned fills its chambers with riches. It is obvious that these verses are dealing with the house of the wealthy. Notice the two adjectives describing riches: precious and pleasant. This is godly wealth, gained in the proper way and not by oppression. This makes such wealth precious to the possessor and pleasant also.

Proverbs 24:5. The thought of wisdom is continued in this verse, this time stating that its possession makes one a strong man. Grammatically the verse is Hebrew parallelism in which the second statement is a restatement of the first. Other passages on the might of wisdom: Proverbs 21:22; Ecclesiastes 9:16. The section in which the last mentioned verse is found tells, There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city (Ecclesiastes 9:14-15).

Proverbs 24:6. The strength referred to in Proverbs 24:5 was evidently military strength as this verse shows. The first statement of this verse is found in Proverbs 20:18, and its last statement is found in Proverbs 11:14. Proverbs 15:22 is similar to the last statement. Kings kept courts of wise men to counsel them in time of war. David (and later Absalom) had Ahithophel (2 Samuel 16:23), and Ahab had his prophets (1 Kings 22:6).

Proverbs 24:7. A fool does not have wisdom, or he would not be a fool, for the two are considered opposites (Proverbs 11:29; Proverbs 14:16; Proverbs 17:24; Proverbs 29:11). The gate was the place of official and legal business where wise men presided (Proverbs 31:23). Because he does not have wisdom, the fool will not be one of the elders of his city.

Proverbs 24:8 The evil and wickedness that are in the world stem from the devil, but he works through human beings to bring them about; thus, there are those who devise evil. Such a one shall soon be known, and his persistence in such behavior will give him a reputation. Others may be slow in recognizing worth in an individual or in praising him, but they will not fail to notice his evil and in telling others about it. He will not fool them: Men shall call him a mischief-maker.

Proverbs 24:9. We know that the act of foolishness is sin (2 Samuel 24:10); here we are told that even the thought (whether expressed in act or not) is likewise sin. By thoughts adultery is committed in the heart (Matthew 5:27-28). By Thoughts one who hates is guilty of murder before God (1 John 3:15). A scoffer is one who not only rejects that which he should believe but who laughs at, makes fun at, that which he should believe and at those who do believe. He is also called a mocker, which he is: In the last days mockers shall come...saying, Where is the promise of his coming? (2 Peter 3:3). Such will not only lose out with God, but they have already lost out with them (The scoffer is an abomination to men).

Proverbs 24:10. Adversity (Opposition, trials, reverses) test one's strength (faith, courage, emotional composure). Some can stand more adversity than others. We should all strive to be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might (Ephesians 6:10). No man should be content to remain weak, yet there are those who faint (lose heart, fall apart, give up) when hardships come. Such lack depth: He hath not root in himself...when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth (Matthew 13:21). Here is where determination and depth of character are important. One cannot be an overcomer without them. The world is divided into two classes: the overcomers and the overcome.

Proverbs 24:11. These are people who need delivering and who are evidently worthy. Those addressed also have the power to deliver them. Ability with opportunity represent responsibility to do so. Hold back those who would otherwise be slain. Sometimes people fail to save others for fear of getting themselves into troubles. But Christians will do their duty even if it involves laying down their lives (Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 13:3; 1 John 3:16). Other passages to consult: Psalms 82:4; Isaiah 58:6-7.

Proverbs 24:12. People sometimes try to cover the reality of their failures (to deliver people as in Proverbs 24:11) by excusing themselves as if ignorant of the need. But this lie but adds another sin to the great sin of irresponsibility already committed. God knows the truth; He knows (weighs) the heart (Proverbs 21:2). And He will someday punish a person for his neglect of duty. Other passages; Job 34:11; Psalms 62:12; Jeremiah 32:19; Romans 2:6; Revelation 2:23; Revelation 22:12.

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 24:1-12

1.

What two prohibitions are contained in Proverbs 24:1?

2.

The expression evil men usually refers to what kind of men in Proverbs (Proverbs 24:1)?

3.

What three words in Proverbs 24:3-4 are closely related to each other?

4.

What two things do Proverbs 24:3-4 say will be accomplished by the informed person?

5.

What quality is extolled in Proverbs 24:5?

6.

According to Proverbs 24:6 where in is safety?

7.

What about a fool and the gate (Proverbs 24:7)?

8.

What name is given to the one devising evil (Proverbs 24:8)?

9.

Show how thoughts and sin go together (Proverbs 24:9).

10.

What does the Bible say about us if we faint amid trials (Proverbs 24:10)?

11.

What class of people are we to help (Proverbs 24:11)?

12.

Suppose that helping others would endanger ourselves (Proverbs 24:11).

13.

Instead of saying, I have sinned, what do more people say about their failures (Proverbs 24:12)?