Proverbs 28:1-9

CHAPTER 28
TEXT Proverbs 28:1-9

1.

The wicked flee when no man pursueth; But the righteous are bold as a lion.

2.

For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof;

But by men of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

3.

A needy man that oppresseth the poor

Is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

4.

They that forsake the law praise the wicked;

But such as keep the law contend with them.

5.

Evil men understand not justice;

But they that seek Jehovah understand all things.

6.

Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity,

Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

7.

Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son;

But he that is a companion of gluttons shameth his father.

8.

He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase,

Gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor.

9.

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law,

Even his prayer is an abomination.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 28:1-9

1.

Cite outstanding Bible examples of righteous men who were as bold as lions (Proverbs 28:1).

2.

What is the meaning of for in Proverbs 28:2?

3.

What is the implied contrast in Proverbs 28:2?

4.

Comment upon the comparison in Proverbs 28:3.

5.

Who praise the wicked (Proverbs 28:4)?

6.

What do the obedient do to the wicked (Proverbs 28:4)?

7.

Do evil men ever get into the field of judging (Proverbs 28:5)?

8.

Proverbs 28:6 contrasts the honest .............. with the perverse .............

9.

What is the implied contrast in Proverbs 28:7?

10.

What was God's law to Israel about usury (Proverbs 28:8)?

11.

What would be a modern example of one turning away his ear from hearing God's law (Proverbs 28:9)?

PARAPHRASE OF 28:1-9

1.

The wicked flee when no one is chasing them! But the godly are bold as lions!

2.

When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily; but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.

3.

When a poor man oppresses those even poorer, he is like an unexpected flood sweeping away their last hope.

4.

To complain about the law is to praise wickedness. To obey the law is to fight evil.

5.

Evil men don-'t understand the importance of justice, but those who follow the Lord are much concerned about it.

6.

Better to be poor and honest than rich and a cheater.

7.

Young men who are wise obey the law; a son who is a member of a lawless gang is a shame to his father.

8.

Income from exploiting the poor will end up in the hands of someone who pities them.

9.

God doesn-'t listen to the prayers of men who flaunt the law.

COMMENTS ON 28:1-9

Proverbs 28:1. Mischievous children and evil adults will often drop the wrong they are doing to run when they hear some sound even though it is not somebody pursuing them. House robbers seldom try to break into a home where there is a light on even though they recognize that probably nobody is therethere just might be. See Leviticus 26:17 and Psalms 53:5 for fleeing when no man pursues. On the other hand (by way of contrast) the righteous have nothing to be ashamed of, and their courage causes them to stand right where they are. Noah was bold in a world of iniquity, for he was a preacher of righteousness in it (2 Peter 2:5) as well as an ark-builder (Hebrews 11:7). Elijah was bold on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:17-40). The apostles were bold when encountered by the authorities (Acts 5:27-29).

Proverbs 28:2. When a nation was wicked, God brought an unrest that produced many turnovers in leadership (nobody remained in power for long), and in time the whole government collapsed and passed out of existence. The last clause shows that the opposite was true where men of understanding and knowledge were in power. Clarke: Nations, as nations, cannot be judged in a future world; therefore, God judges them here.

Proverbs 28:3. The needy man of this verse picks on the man who is poorer than himself, and when he takes the only thing of value that this poorer man has, there is nothing left. On a sweeping rain: These are frequent in the East; and sometimes carry flocks, crops, and houses, away with them (Clarke).

Proverbs 28:4. Other passages on the disobedient praising the wicked: Psalms 10:3; Romans 1:32. They praise the wicked because they are their kind; If ye were of the world, the world would love its own (John 15:19). An old saying: Birds of a feather flock together. Elijah said to the sinning nation, How long go ye limping between the two sides? (1 Kings 18:21). Micaiah always contended with wicked King Ahab (1 Kings 22:8). Malachi contended with the sinning nation of his day (Malachi 3:5-9). John the Baptist contended with the wicked Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 3:7). When Paul saw the wholesale idolatry of Athens, he contended with them (Acts 17:16-17). We are told not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but to reprove them (Ephesians 5:11).

Proverbs 28:5. An evil man's moral conception is perverted; he cannot distinguish between right and wrong; the light that was in him has become darkness (Proverbs 29:7 (Pulpit Commentary). Compare Matthew 6:23: If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness how great is the darkness! On the righteous knowing discernment: If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know... (John 7:17). While the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged, the spiritual judgeth all things (1 Corinthians 2:14-15). The righteous by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). Paul prayed for the Philippians to have this discernment: And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; so that ye may approve the things that are excellent (Philippians 1:9-10). That God's enlightened people possess discernment, John affirmed, Ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all things (1 John 2:20).

Proverbs 28:6. The comparison is between a poor man who is honest and a rich man who is perverting his way. Proverbs 16:8 affirms the same: Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice. In other words righteousness and justice are more important in the sight of God than riches, even great riches. We are to seek righteousness first and foremost (Matthew 6:33). Proverbs 19:1 also speaks of the poor who walk in their integrity (and praises them for it) and of those who pervert their ways. So does Proverbs 28:18.

Proverbs 28:7. This verse reflects that which is seen so often throughout the Bible; namely, that though all people live in the same world and are more or less exposed to the same things, some live right, and some don-'t. This is even true of one's offspring: a son may be a wise son, or he may be a companion of gluttons. This same contrast is seen in Proverbs 29:3: Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; But he that keepeth company with harlots wasteth his substance (like the Prodigal Son).

Proverbs 28:8. Of the wicked oppressing the poor to increase their own substance, Clarke exclaims, Oh, that the names of all those unfeeling, hard-hearted, consummate villains in the nation, who thus take advantage of their neighbour's necessities to enrich themselves, were published at every market cross; and then the delinquents all sent to their brother savages in New Zealand! Other passages bearing out that such ill-gotten gain will in time get back where it belongs: Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay; He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, And the innocent shall divide the silver (Job 27:16-17); The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous (Proverbs 13:22); To the man that pleaseth him God giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God (Ecclesiastes 2:26).

Proverbs 28:9. Of those who turn away their ears from hearing God's Word, Zechariah 7:11 says, They refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear. God refused to hear the prayers of many in Isaiah's day because of their disobedience: When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood (Isaiah 1:15). The curse of God is upon all who turn their ears from His Word: Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words...it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city (Matthew 10:14-15). All religious acts by the disobedient are obnoxious to God: The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah (Proverbs 15:8).

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 28:1-9

1.

Give Bible examples of righteous people who were bold (Proverbs 28:1).

2.

Why does God judge nations here (Proverbs 28:2)

3.

Comment upon sweeping rain from their weather pattern (Proverbs 28:3).

4.

Why do those who forsake the law praise the wicked (Proverbs 28:4)?

5.

Give Bible examples of the obedient contending with the wicked (Proverbs 28:4).

6.

Comment upon those who seek Jehovah understanding all things (Proverbs 28:5).

7.

The comparison in Proverbs 28:6 is between what two classes?

8.

Show from Proverbs 28:7 that all people do not react the same.

9.

Where does the wealth of the rich sometimes come from (Proverbs 28:8)?

10.

Comment upon turning away one's ears from God's law (Proverbs 28:9).