- Proverbs 29:1-5
-
- Prov 29:1 (KJB)
- He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall
suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
-
- Often reproved - Correction or chastise
- Destroyed -Crush, break into pieces, or shatter
- Remedy - Healing
-
- In previous verses we read about how a fool is chastised for the purpose
of bringing him around to his senses. This verse speaks about a person who
has been repeatedly corrected or chastised and has refused to listen to wise
instruction and that refusal has caused them to be hard hearted toward the
word of God and that rejection of God’s word will cause two types of
destruction in the person’s life. The first type will be in his physical
life where he must pay for his debts against society which could be prison
or the death penalty, depending upon what his final crime was. The second
type of destruction is total and that is eternal damnation from being at the
White Throne Judgment Seat of Christ. There he will give account of his sins
and the penalty will be without remedy, that is, no reprieve given. Such is
the life that the unrepentant sinner has to look forward to.
-
- Prov 29:2 (KJB)
- When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the
wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
-
- Mourn - They will sigh - Used for a person grieving or in physical
distress
-
- When the righteous rule the land, the people will rejoice because they
know that they will not be persecuted and their families will be safe on the
streets. They do not have to worry about some secret police force picking
them up and throwing them into prison without cause. The righteous can do
business openly and without fear. The free practice of religion can be
restored and people can worship God without fear. When the wicked are
ruling, then everything good must go underground to survive. The people sigh
because they realize their homes can be invaded and families taken without
any reason. Everything in their lives is subject to confiscation and theft
by the government. Someday when we are in the New Heaven and the New Earth,
the Lord Jesus Christ will rule and all His children will be free from any
type of threats because they will all have been done away with in Judgment.
-
- Prov 29:3 (KJB)
- Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company
with harlots spendeth his substance.
-
- Spendeth his substance - Will destroy wealth
-
- In the early chapters of Proverbs we saw the warnings about young men
involving themselves with harlots. The son who avoids these situations and
lives his life in wisdom is one who causes his father to rejoice because he
knows that his son has his mind on other more productive and legal things
which means that he can be trusted. The one who keeps company with the
harlots and the lifestyle which accompanies it, and that may include
drinking and gambling, is one who will not only spend what he owns but may
begin to take from the family money to keep up his lifestyle. Remember a few
passages back in 28:24 we saw that there may be some who steal from their
parents and not call it a transgression. This person may do the same thing
and does not see it as stealing because he is blinded to his own sins that
he keeps feeding and not forsaking. People that live this lifestyle are
those who retire with nothing because they do not prepare.
-
- Prov 29:4 (KJB)
- The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that
receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
-
- Judgment - Justice
- Establisheth - To stand or to stay or to fix firmly
- Overthroweth it - He will break it down
-
- This verse also speaks of a righteous king who establishes his country
to stand firm and he does it by proper justice. He will not allow anything
illegal in his administration and this results in a strong land and a strong
land is one that other countries fear to invade because of their strength.
Citizens would rather fight for a country where their freedoms are at stake
rather than fight for a country where they will continually be oppressed.
The second half of this verse shows how a king can break down the strength
of a country. A country that is strong in righteousness is strong in the
Lord but if the rulers start to take bribes, that will break down the
strength of the country because sin always erodes whatever it involves
itself in. There was a time when the United States was a very strong country
but since we have made a pact with sin, it is becoming constantly weaker.
-
- Prov 29:5 (KJB)
- A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
-
- Flattereth - To be smooth or to divide
-
- A person who lavishes flattery on another person for the purpose of
gaining some advantage is setting a trap for that person. Someone should
realize that if another is praising them like they are a deity, then they
should realize they are being set up. The problem is that some people know
how to give praise in such a way that the person receiving them gets caught
up in them. One of the best examples of this is Herod.
(Acts 12:21-23 KJV) And upon a set day Herod,
arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto
them. {22} And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the
voice of a god, and not of a man. {23} And immediately the angel of
the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of
worms, and gave up the ghost. Herod accepted the
praise that he was a god and the God of Heaven smote him. Whenever someone
inordinately praises someone, they better be on guard because they are being
set up for something. Flattery should be a momentary thing without any
strings attached.
Back
-