#927 Proverbs 22 A Good Name

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

and favor is better than silver or gold.

2 The rich and the poor meet together;

the Lord is the Maker of them all.

3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord

is riches and honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;

whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go;

even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rules over the poor,

and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,

and the rod of his fury will fail.

9 Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed,

for he shares his bread with the poor.

10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,

and quarreling and abuse will cease.

11 He who loves purity of heart,

and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,

but he overthrows the words of the traitor.

13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!

I shall be killed in the streets!”

14 The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit;

he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,

but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,

or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Words of the Wise

17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,

and apply your heart to my knowledge,

18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,

if all of them are ready on your lips.

19 That your trust may be in the Lord,

I have made them known to you today, even to you.

20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings

of counsel and knowledge,

21 to make you know what is right and true,

that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,

or crush the afflicted at the gate,

23 for the Lord will plead their cause

and rob of life those who rob them.

24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger,

nor go with a wrathful man,

25 lest you learn his ways

and entangle yourself in a snare.

26 Be not one of those who give pledges,

who put up security for debts.

27 If you have nothing with which to pay,

why should your bed be taken from under you?

28 Do not move the ancient landmark

that your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man skillful in his work?

He will stand before kings;

he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22 ESV

Proverbs 22

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches - Do not sell out; you may say "integrity", over and over again, but it will be lost to you. It will not be the truth no matter how much you insist upon the claim.

The Lord is the maker of them all - Every life matters because we were made in the image of God, not for what a man has, his looks, wealth or lack. God has put integrity as the mark above all these things. We only have the right to point out those behaviors which have already been judged. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven will be considered the least by men's standards here.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.… Genesis 1: 26-27

…19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” 20 And Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. Genesis 3: 19-20

But the simple go and suffer for it - No discernment; he cannot see the danger ahead or does not understand the magnitude. He does not recognize the times, the changing of the sky, the seasons, or the temperament of those who can do him harm. 

…2 But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times! 4 A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.… Matthew 16: 2-4

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord - 

…42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?… John 5: 42-44

…10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 12 Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid.… Luke 14: 10-12

Train up a child in the way he should go - Do not leave this to the world, schools, culture, television, make sure that you acknowledge both the blessing and responsibility of children. Teach them what God says, and pray for Him to keep them in the way. Speak and walk before them in a manner worthy of our Lord.

And the borrower is slave of the lender - We have been taught the opposite in this day, that if you want something now then you should have it now. If you don't have the money for it then borrow the money. We have taught our children to seek needless debt, and we have become slaves to our appetites. 

I shall be killed in the streets - These are the words of the sluggard, there is a lion outside, so he cannot go to work. People find it difficult to accept that death is the wage of every man. The sluggard uses this as an excuse not to work, for he fears for his life, but he is really just lazy. I drive a car to work every day with the knowledge that people get into car accidents. I have proof, for I see them pulled off to the side every day, and I have been in accidents myself, but if I stay home then I and my family will starve. Work is necessary to life, but those who will not force the sluggard to work will end up being his slave.

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child - If you do not discipline your children then life will. The same people who tell you not to withhold anything from them, to give in to all their whining, will be the same people to call the cops on your kids when their "rights" are infringed upon. 

Or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty - It's strange but people suck up like this every day. They will walk past a poor man to give a rich man what he doesn't need.  

…26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1: 26-27

For the Lord will plead their cause - You will not win in this court, there will be a reckoning.

Make no friendship with a man given to anger - It will come back to haunt you. Those who do not have self control will always justify their wrath, will pull out grenades for every small thing, destroying friendships and making every man their enemy. It is self righteous and they think that all the world should bow to their ego.

Do not move the ancient landmark - This is a form of stealing, trying to expand into another's land. Respect other people's property.

Do you see a man skillful in his work - These men are a pleasure to watch and appreciate in their craft. They perform at a high level and this is to the pleasure of good kings, who would seek to reward such labor.