Proverbs 28:10-18

TEXT Proverbs 28:10-18

10.

Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way,

He shall fall himself into his own pit;

But the perfect shall inherit good.

11.

The rich man is wise in his own conceit;

But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

12.

When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;

But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

13.

He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper;

But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.

14.

Happy is the man that feareth alway;

But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

15.

As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear,

So is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16.

The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor;

But he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

17.

A man that is laden with the blood of any person

Shall flee unto the pit; let no man stay him.

18.

Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered;

But he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 28:10-18

1.

Who might cause the righteous to go astray (Proverbs 28:10)?

2.

Are all poor men ignorant men (Proverbs 28:11)?

3.

Is Proverbs 28:12 referring primarily to rulers?

4.

Cite a Bible example of one who tried to cover his transgression but did not prosper (Proverbs 28:13).

5.

Cite a Bible example of one who confessed and forsook sin and obtained mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

6.

In what sense is fear used in Proverbs 28:14?

7.

What would a wicked ruler do to his people (Proverbs 28:15)?

8.

Whom does his covetousness oppress (Proverbs 28:16)?

9.

Is Proverbs 28:17 a capital punishment verse?

10.

Is Proverbs 28:18 another contrasting verse?

PARAPHRASE OF 28:10-18

10.

A curse on those who lead astray the godly. But men who encourage the upright to do good shall be given a worthwhile reward.

11.

Rich men are conceited, but their real poverty is evident to the poor.

12.

When the godly are successful, everyone is glad. When the wicked succeed, everyone is sad.

13.

A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.

14.

Blessed is the man who reveres God, but the man who doesn-'t care is headed for serious trouble.

15.

A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a lion or bear attacking them.

16.

Only a stupid prince will oppress his people, but a king will have a long reign if he hates dishonesty and bribes.

17.

A murderer's conscience will drive him into hell. Don-'t stop him!

18.

Good men will be rescued from harm, but cheaters will be destroyed.

COMMENTS ON 28:10-18

Proverbs 28:10. Clarke: He who strives to pervert one really converted to God in order that he may pour contempt on religion shall fall into that hell to which he has endeavored to lead the other. Satan is out to cause the upright to go astray (1 Peter 2:8; 2 Corinthians 2:11). It is no wonder that those who are all-out for Satan cause many to stumble if they can: They think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you (1 Peter 4:4). About falling into one's own pit see Proverbs 26:27. While the plotter falls into his own pit, the perfect (whose downfall he sought) will inherit good. David could say, Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over (Psalms 23:5). Did you notice that our verse has three lines instead of the customary two?

Proverbs 28:11. Because wealth and great earthly possessions often bring conceit to the rich, 1 Timothy 6:17 warns, Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded. because he is out to get more money, he may be plotting new schemes and moves to increase his wealth, but in so doing he may not fool some of the poor people. Some poor man of understanding may face him with what he is up to, to the rich man's embarrassment. Not all poor people are ignorant people.

Proverbs 28:12. Judah knew what it was to have both good and bad kings. When men like Hezekiah and Josiah were on the throne, it was a glorious time for the nation. Proverbs 11:10 says, When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth. Proverbs 11:11: By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted. But when wicked rulers like Ahaz and Manasseh came to power, there was fear. Proverbs 28:28 also says, When the wicked rise, men hide themselves, and when the wicked perish there is shouting (Proverbs 11:11), and the righteous increase (Proverbs 28:28). Because Archelaus was ruling in Judea, Joseph was afraid to settle there with his family. (Matthew 2:22-23).

Proverbs 28:13. When one has done wrong, he can go one of two ways: either seek to cover or conceal his transgress (like Achan-Joshua 7:1; Joshua 7:16-26) or confess the transgression and forsake it (like 1 John 1:9 teaches us to do: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins). The Prodigal Son is a good example of the latter (Luke 15:21-24). When one tries to conceal sin when he should confess and forsake it, things are not going to go right. It is like keeping a thorn in one's hand that ought to be removed, like keeping a bad tooth in one's mouth that ought to be extracted, like driving a car that is badly out of time, etc. Not until one removes the bad and gets things fixed will things be like they ought to be. Nathan did King David a great favor when he dealt with him about his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-13). After David -s sin was all over, after God had uncovered it, and after God had forgiven it, he could write, Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guileno dishonesty in attempting to cover it up (Psalms 32:1-2). And then as he looked back at his own covering up attempt, he said, When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture was changed as with the drought of summer (Psalms 32:3-4). Then Nathan came, and now David could say, I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin (Psalms 32:5).

Proverbs 28:14. One's attitude toward God is under consideration. He will either fear God (the reverence and godly fear mentioned in Hebrews 12:28 and Ecclesiastes 12:13) and depart from evil (Proverbs 16:6), or he will harden his heart so he won-'t fear, and he will continue in his sins. Romans 2:5 speaks of this hardness and impenitent heart, and they do go together. Proverbs 23:13 says we should not envy sinners (that leads to sinning) but to be in the fear of Jehovah all day long.

Proverbs 28:15. The next two verses have to do with kings as do a number of verses in Proverbs. The Hebrews-' own history contained a classic example of a wicked ruler (Pharaoh) over a poor people (when he had them in Egyptian bondage). First the Egyptians made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field, all their service, wherein they made them serve with rigor (Exodus 1:14). But that wasn-'t enough, so Pharaoh said to the Egyptian midwives, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birth-stool; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him (Exodus 1:16). And when he saw that that wasn-'t working, he issued this order to the Hebrew people themselves: Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river (Exodus 1:22). Wicked King Herod, who killed at will throughout his reign, was like a roaring lion and a ranging bear when he sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under (Matthew 2:16).

Proverbs 28:16. Greedy tyrants (like Hitler) want more and more territory, and they become great oppressors (such as he did of Poland, France, England, Russia, and others). This verse says such a ruler lacks understanding: he does not have the welfare of his people at heart as many of them fall in his battles, and he finally bites off more than he can handle and is finally defeated (as Hitler was). Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days (Psalms 55:23). In contrast the ruler who is not greedy (hateth covetousness) shall prolong his days. The contrast of this verse is reflected in Psalms 37: Evildoers shall be cut off; But those that wait for Jehovah, they shall inherit the land. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and he shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the land, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace...The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay such as are upright in the way. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, And their bows shall be broken...I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. But one passed by, and, lo, he was not (Proverbs 28:9-28).

Proverbs 28:17. Clarke: He who...slays the innocent...may flee to hide himself: but let none given him protection. The law demands his life, because he is a murderer; and let none deprive justice of its claim. Murder is the most horrid crime. What law did Clarke have in mind? Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed (Genesis 9:6); He that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death (Exodus 21:14); Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain...Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death...Blood, it polluteth the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it (Numbers 35:30-33).

Proverbs 28:18. A double contrast: whoso walketh uprightly vs. he that is perverse in his ways and shall be delivered vs. shall fall at once. Proverbs 10:9 is similar: He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known. The right way to live proves to be the best way to live!

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 28:10-18

1.

Comment upon the wicked causing the righteous to go astray (Proverbs 28:10).

2.

Describe a situation as you visualize one from Proverbs 28:11.

3.

Who were some of the good kings and then some of the bad ones of Judah's history (Proverbs 28:12)?

4.

What will happen if one tries to cover his transgression (Proverbs 28:13)?

5.

What will happen if he confesses and forsakes his transgression (Proverbs 28:13)?

6.

Comment upon the difference between fearing and hardening one's heart (Proverbs 28:16).

7.

Connect Pharaoh and Israel with the truth of Proverbs 28:15.

8.

How did Hitler exemplify Proverbs 28:16?

9.

What verse or verses of the Bible command capital punishment (Proverbs 28:17)?

10.

What is the double contrast in Proverbs 28:18?