Proverbs 16-17

Wednesday Evening Bible Study

August 4, 2004

Proverbs 16

:1 The preparations of the heart in man…

(Prov 16:1 NLT) We can gather our thoughts, but the LORD gives the right answer.

:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

thoughtsmachashabah – thought; device, plan, purpose; invention

establishedkuwn – (Niphal) to be set up, be fixed; to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring; to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense)

Lesson

Give it to God

Commit the things you do to the Lord and He will be at work in your thoughts, plans and purposes to help you do the things that are stable, secure, going in the right direction.
Ezra and his journey –
(Ezra 8:21-23 KJV) Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. {22} For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. {23} So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.
(Ezra 8:31 KJV) Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.

:4 …yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

(Prov 16:4 ICB) The Lord makes everything work the way he wants it. He even has a day of disaster for evil people.

:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Lesson

Cleansing from sin

When you’ve sinned, you need your sin cleansed, purged. It requires mercy and truth.
Truth – to admit the truth about your sin – we call this confession of sin.
(1 John 1:9 KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Forgiveness comes when we admit the truth about our sin – that it was wrong, that it needs to change, that God is right.

Mercy – when we confess our sins, God forgives us.
The guilty criminal stands before the judge and cries for mercy.
God gave His Son to die on a cross so the penalty for our sins could be paid for – and then He offers us this very costly forgiveness to us free of charge, simply if we believe in Jesus.
the fear of the LORD – this is what keeps us from sin in the first place
As a kid, there were a lot of things I probably wouldn’t have done if my mom or my dad had been standing there watching me.
Yet God sees all that I do. Am I aware of His presence? If I am, then I know a little about the fear of the Lord – a fear of disappointing Him.

:7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Lesson

Pleasing God

This is a general rule and not an absolute one. Jesus was pleasing to the Father, yet He was crucified by His enemies.
Sunday night we talked about doing what pleases the Father:
We talked about how intimacy with God is cultivated when we do the things that are pleasing to God:

(John 8:29 KJV) And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Jesus’ own closeness with the Father while on earth was tied to the fact that He lived a life that was pleasing to God.

Pleasing God – not just doing the bare minimum, not just doing the “commandments” – but looking for those things that are direct reflections of God’s heart.

Illustration

The other day I asked two of my sons if they wanted to go swimming with me. I had a couple of reasons why I asked them, but the main reason was simply that I wanted to spend time with them. One of my sons let me know that he didn’t want to go swimming with me.

I was not pleased. I didn’t force him to go swimming, but I wasn’t happy about it.

My other son and I went swimming and I have to tell you that I was “pleased” with him. But after about fifteen minutes, the other son came out to swim as well. It was wonderful.

Are you just “getting by” in your relationship with God, or are you trying to “please” Him? Are you just trying to get by with doing the things that you “absolutely have to”, or are you looking to do the things that please the Father?

:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

(Prov 16:9 NLT) We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.

(Prov 16:9 ICB) A person may think up plans. But the Lord decides what he will do.

Lesson

Godly plans

It’s not wrong to make plans. Plans are a good thing.
But what ultimately happens is up to God.

(James 4:13-17 NLT) Look here, you people who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." {14} How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone. {15} What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." {16} Otherwise you will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. {17} Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

It’s one thing to make our plans, but another to submit our plans to God’s ultimate authority.

And while we’re submitting our plans to God’s authority, we need to be careful to make sure that our plans include the things that we KNOW are “good” and are in God’s will (vs. 17).

When you know what God’s will is – be sure to do it.

Illustration

An incident from the American Revolution illustrates what tragedy can result from procrastination. It is reported that Colonel Rahl, commander of the British troops at Trenton, New Jersey, was playing cards when a courier brought an urgent message stating that General George Washington was crossing the Delaware River. Rahl put the letter in his pocket and didn’t bother to read it until the game finished. Then, realizing the seriousness of the situation, he hurriedly tried to rally his men to meet the coming attack, but his procrastination was his undoing. He and many of his men were killed, and the rest of the regiment were captured.

Nolbert Quayle said, “Only a few minutes’ delay cost him his life, his honor, and the liberty of his soldiers. Earth’s history is strewn with the wrecks of half-finished plans and unexecuted resolutions. “Tomorrow’ is the excuse of the lazy and the refuge of the incompetent.”

:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

We’ll talk about pride later …

:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory

hoary – gray.

Maybe you shouldn’t color your hair. Gray is good.

Illustration

On visits to the Far East, Hugh Downs, the silver-haired co-host of ABC’s 20/20, found one reason to flaunt his age:

Perhaps one day our culture will adopt what I found in Nepal. When meeting strangers, the polite thing to do is ask how old they are. Someone might say apologetically, “I’m only 50.” Whereupon the inquirer might say, “Oh, don’t feel bad. You’re getting there.” To call someone old is a compliment in Nepal. Solomon had it right when he said, “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory.”

-- Fifty to Forever, Thomas Nelson.

Proverbs 17

:2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame…

This verse makes me think about Jeroboam and Rehoboam.

Jeroboam was the servant of Solomon at one time.  Rehoboam was Solomon’s son.  Rehoboam acted unwisely in how he handled the kingdom and as a result the kingdom of Israel was divided and Jeroboam ended up as king over 10 of the twelve tribes.

:3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

Lesson

God’s refining process

There are folks who say that as Christians we should never spend a day in sickness or poverty.
But the Bible says that God uses difficulties to bring refining in our lives.
(1 Pet 1:6-7 NLT)  So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. {7} These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
God doesn’t want your heart to stay the same, He wants to make it better.  He’ll do it by carefully taking us through difficult times, causing us to look to Him and trust in Him.

:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

The blessing of grandchildren

(Prov 17:6 NLT)  Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.

Lesson

Looking to dad

Children are wired to admire their parents.
Even when parents split up, kids still want to know their parents and be like them.
For some of us, this helps explain why we’re still trying to please our parents.  For those who have ungodly parents, you have to be careful where this leads you.
For those of us who are parents, this presents life’s biggest challenge – give your kids something godly to admire.

:8 A gift is as a precious stone …

 (Prov 17:8 NLT) A bribe seems to work like magic for those who give it; they succeed in all they do.

:9 …but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

Love keeps the sin of others a secret.  Gossip spreads the news.

Lesson

Danger of gossip and slander

Gossip is so dangerous.  I’ve seen it separate good friends.  I’ve been separated from friends by the effects of gossip.
Illustration
Abraham Lincoln’s coffin was pried open twice.
The first occasion was in 1887, twenty-two long years after his assassination. Why? You may be surprised to know it was not to determine if he had died of a bullet fired from John Wilkes Booth’s derringer. Then why? Because a rumor was sweeping the country that his coffin was empty. A select group of witnesses observed that the rumor was totally false, then watched as the casket was resealed with lead.
The second time, fourteen years later, the martyred man’s withered body was viewed again—this time by even more witnesses. Why again? For the same grim purpose! Rumors of the same nature had again implanted doubts in the public’s mind. The pressure mounted to such proportions, that the same ghoulish, grotesque ceremony had to be carried out. In spite of the strong protests of Lincoln’s son Robert, the body was exposed a second time. Officials felt the rumors should be laid to rest along with the Civil War president. Finally—the corpse was permanently embedded in a crypt at Springfield.
Illustration
The story is told of three pastors who went fishing together in the northern wilderness of Canada.
While they were there they became quite cordial with one another and began to talk about their innermost thoughts. One confessed that he had been guilty of certain sins. He named them, then he urged the other two to confess their weaknesses. The second pastor confessed that he too, had certain weaknesses and recounted them in detail.
The third pastor remained silent for a long time. Finally when pressed by his fellow elders to reveal his weaknesses, he said, “Brethren, I don’t think you want to know my weaknesses, but since you insist, I am going to tell you. I just love to gossip, and I can hardly wait to get home.”
Illustration
Bill Gothard suggests that we should ask five questions before listening to a carrier of an evil report:

1. What is your reason for telling me? Widening the circle of gossip only compounds the problem.

2. Where did you get your information? Refusal to identify the source of information is a sure sign of an evil report.

3. Have you gone to those directly involved? Spirituality is not measured by how well we expose an offender but by how effectively we restore an offender (Gal. 6:1). Satan will sift you like wheat.

4. Have you personally checked out all of the facts? Even facts become distorted when not balanced with other facts or when given with negative motives.

5. Can I quote you if I check this out?

:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water

When you pour out water, you can’t get it back. When you start trouble …

(Prov 17:14 NLT) Beginning a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

Some people like to win at all costs. Not a good thing for relationships. Be sure you “pick your battles” – there are some conflicts you need to let go.

:19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife …

(Prov 17:19 ICB) Whoever loves to quarrel loves to sin. Whoever is proud is asking for trouble.

Lesson

Pride

Pride is dangerous.
Illustration
Former heavyweight boxer James (Quick) Tillis is a cowboy from Oklahoma who fought out of Chicago in the early 1980s. He still remembers his first day in the Windy City after his arrival from Tulsa. “I got off the bus with two cardboard suitcases under my arms in downtown Chicago and stopped in front of the Sears Tower. I put my suitcases down, and I looked up at the Tower and I said to myself, “I’m going to conquer Chicago.”
“When I looked down, the suitcases were gone.”
I love the heart of John Wesley …
Illustration
A stinging letter from the pen of John Wesley dating back to September 20, 1978, has survived until now. It is a letter addressed to Francis Asbury, a dear acquaintance of Wesley’s. Here is a rather pointed portion of this strong letter:

But in one point, my dear Brother, I am a little afraid the Doctor (Coke) and you differ from me. I study to be little, you study to be great; I creep, you strut along; I found a school, you a college—nay, and call it after your own names! Oh beware! Do not seek to be something! Let me be nothing, and Christ be all in all. One instance of this, your greatness, has given me great concern. How can you—how dare you suffer yourself to be called a Bishop! I shudder—I start at the very thought. Men may call me a knave, or a fool, a rascal, a scoundrel, and I am content, but they shall never, by my consent, call me a Bishop! For my sake—for Christ’s sake, put a full end to this! ... Thus, my dear Frankie, I have told you all that is in my heart....”

(1 Pet 5:5-6 KJV) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. {6} Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
I have a choice of whether I’m going to operate in a manner that will find God “resisting” me, or giving me grace.

:23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom …

Bribery

Illustration

New disappointments hit the headlines every day.  In fact, one of the latest letdowns involved 106 public officials in New York.  After a sting operation to uncover graft, U.S. Attorney Rudolph Giuliani made the following statement, “On 106 occasions, bribes were offered or discussed.  On 105 of those occasions, the public official involved accepted the bribe.  And on the other occasion, he turned it down because he didn’t think the amount was large enough.”

-- Newsweek, 1989

:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words

Learning from Dave Burns – as a young man, staff meetings, sitting around the table – I’d always have lots to say on subjects, but then regret having opened my mouth and talking about things that I didn’t really understand. Dave would stay silent and perhaps say just a few words, but when he spoke I always was blown away with his wisdom.

:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise

Or, it’s better to keep your lips shut and let them think you’re a fool than to open your mouth and dispel all doubt.

We’ve got two ears and one mouth – we ought to listen twice as much as we speak.