BIBLICAL EXAMPLES ABOUND

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

PROVERBS 27:1-14
Lesson #44
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES ABOUND

• Memory Verse: Pro 27:1
• “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” (1)
  • In this verse we see the sovereignty of God and the short sightedness of man.
  • Only God knows what will happen tomorrow because God knows everything.
    • Does that mean we should not make plans? No.
    • It simply means that if we trust in God we do not have to worry about tomorrow or get all upset when things don’t happen the way we planned.
    • The believer’s life does not belong to him but to God.
    • The Biblical example is Balaam. He had his own agenda and timing. (Num 22)
  • Notice the word “boast”.
    • The person who thinks he controls all things and can change a future outcome will boast how he accomplished this or that when things seem to fall into place. This person is a fool who says there is no God for him.
    • The opposite of “boast” is humility. The believer in Christ that accommodates his schedule to God’s timing humbles himself to a sovereign God.
  • Read Jam 4:13-15
  • Also the idea in this proverb is the concept of procrastination.
    • God has given us things to do today that He wants accomplished today, not tomorrow.
    • The believer in Christ must not boast that he has tomorrow to do what God wants him to do today.
• ^“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” (2)
  • A person’s reputation will speak for itself. You do not have to advertise your own good works.
    • Why?
    • God raises people to honor and God puts people down.
  • The person that constantly talks about himself and what he has done is filled with pride.
  • The perfect model of this verse is Jesus Christ. He did not promote himself, but He promoted God, the Father.
• ^“A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.” (3)
• ^“Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” (4)
  • Key words: fool (no God for me).
  • By contrast the proverb tells us that a fool’s anger is almost too heavy to bear.
  • The heaviness is in the heart of the fool. Why?
    • The believer in Christ who has a fear of the Lord, knows he does not have to bear the problems in life on his own. Because he is bought with a price, the Lord will bear these burdens.
    • Remember that Jesus said his yoke is easy. (Mat 11:30)
  • The fool has no one to bear his burdens. He carries them all himself. Then when things do not turn out the way he desires, he gets angry.
  • Jealousy (envy) is often related to anger. Jealousy is an uncontrollable sin that can imagine all kinds of circumstances that are not true. It is often related to a low self-esteem.
    • Jealousy uncontrolled can lead to extreme anger.
    • Extreme anger, which is wrath, can lead to murder.
    • What is the difference between wrath and anger?
      • It is a matter of degree and external action.
      • Anger is a sudden emotion while wrath is a deep seated extension of anger that ends in overt actions.
  • But this proverb tells us that envy (jealousy) is worse than anger or wrath. Why?
    • Anger and wrath are quickly settled.
    • Envy or jealousy lingers and eats away at the soul.
    • It is a matter of degree and duration.
    • Anger can be slight and passes quickly, but wrath is deep-seated anger that endures over time.
    • Read Eph 4:26
  • Nabal in 1Sam 25 is the example of this proverb in verse 3. He got so angry he had a stroke and died.
    • We have discussed Nabal various times in the book of Proverbs because his name means “fool”, and the book of Proverbs speaks many times against the fool that says, “No God for me!”
    • Simeon and Levi in Genesis 34 are the examples of the proverb in verse 4. God said they were cruel and put aside their inheritance because of their angry vengeance when their sister Dinah was raped.
• ^“Open rebuke is better than secret love.” (5)
• ^“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (6)
  • Key words: rebuke (remove evil).
  • A true friend will try to help you overcome some personality problem by correcting you.
  • We have a good example in scripture with the Apostle Paul who rebuked Peter for changing seats at the table to eat with Jews instead of remaining to eat with the Gentiles. (Gal 2:11-14)
  • “Secret love” is hypocrisy. Peter would eat with the Gentiles as long as other Jews did not know about it.
  • The kisses of an enemy remind us of the betrayal kiss of Judas Iscariot and his hypocrisy in pretending to be a friend when in fact he was an enemy of our Lord.
• ^“The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.” (7)
  • “The full soul” is the person that is a spoiled brat. Nothing is good enough for him no matter how good or how sweet it is. Samson is a good example. (Jdg 14)
    • Samson was called by God to serve God but he did not value the things of God.
    • Instead he constantly violated his vow to God to do his own thing.
    • In the end the sweetness turned to bitterness and cost him his life.
  • “The hungry soul” is the grateful person that appreciates everything that God gives him. He even appreciates things that are not of high value materially or are not “sweet”.
• ^“As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.” (8)
  • Cain is the Biblical example of this proverb.
  • His character and his evil actions that caused him to kill his brother made him unacceptable at home. Cain did not value God or his family.
  • God sentenced him to a life of wandering which meant he had a life of insecurity and danger in a dangerous, insecure world.
  • The prodigal son in the New Testament is also an example, though he recognized the insecurity living with the pigs, and he returned home.
• ^“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.” (9)
  • Key words: counsel (advice).
  • We have two good examples in scripture:
    • The woman that anointed the feet of Jesus with perfume. (Luk 7:37-38)
    • Jonathan was a close friend to David and counseled him regarding the hatred of his father King Saul.
• ^“Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.” (10)
  • Joseph is the Biblical example. His brothers wanted to kill him and sold him into slavery in Egypt.
  • For the New Testament believer, this speaks of Christian fellowship.
    • Often the Christian has a closer relationship with a fellow believer than with a member of his own family.
    • This proverb encourages us to value those close friendships with other believers.
• ^“My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.” (11)
  • A Biblical example of a close Christian relationship is that of the Apostle Paul and Timothy.
  • Timothy was like a son to Paul.
    • As a spiritual parent and teacher Paul wanted to be proud of Timothy’s successes in the ministry. Timothy cared for Paul as a good son.
    • The same feelings exist with a teacher and the students.
• ^“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.” (12)
  • Key words: prudent (caution); simple (without wisdom).
  • Joseph is the Biblical example of this proverb. He fled when Potiphar’s wife accosted him. He knew what was right and with caution avoided a sinful situation.
  • Of course he ended up in prison, but he knew that it was where God wanted him and that God would work it out for good to him.
  • The person that has not formed his basic belief system of right and wrong based on the Word of God will excuse himself when he suddenly finds himself deep in sin because he was not cautious.
• ^“Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.” (13)
  • Key words: surety (to co-sign another’s debt); stranger/strange woman (prostitute).
  • The story of Tamar and Judah are the example of this proverb.
  • Judah did not consider God’s commands important. Tamar did not wait for God’s provision and timing. She deceitfully worked out her own plan even though it was a sin.
  • Prostitution can leave a man as poor as signing for a bad debt.
• ^“He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.” (14)
  • Why would a blessing be a curse? It would be a curse if was not honestly intended.
  • A person that blesses his friend with a loud voice wants others to hear it so as to impress them.
  • We have a good example in scripture with Absalom, the son of King David.
    • He went out to greet people and talk them into backing his rebellion against his father, the king.
    • God did not back Absalom’s rebellion. Things did not end well for him.

Homework
Proverbs 27:15-27

• Application of Pro 27:1-14
  • What does verse 1 tell you about God?
    • God is sovereign and controls our days in His hands. We need to trust Him and be obedient to His plans for our day.
  • Why do you think envy (jealousy) is worse than wrath and anger? (4)
    • Anger and wrath can be quickly settled, but jealousy lingers to eat away at the soul.
• Preparation for Pro 27:15-27
  • Read Pro 27:15-27
    • What do you think verses 15 and 16 mean? (The word “bewraeth” means to betray.)
    • What kind of friends does verse 17 tell you to choose?
    • (Advanced question) What do you think verse 19 means?
• Memory verse: Pro 27:17