#933 Proverbs 28 Shadow Scared

The wicked flee when no one pursues,

but the righteous are bold as a lion.

2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,

but with a man of understanding and knowledge,

its stability will long continue.

3 A poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.

5 Evil men do not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,

but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

8 Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit

gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way

will fall into his own pit,

but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.

11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes,

but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,

but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.

13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

14 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always,

but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

17 If one is burdened with the blood of another,

he will be a fugitive until death;

let no one help him.

18 Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,

but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,

but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good,

but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

22 A stingy man hastens after wealth

and does not know that poverty will come upon him.

23 Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

than he who flatters with his tongue.

24 Whoever robs his father or his mother

and says, “That is no transgression,”

is a companion to a man who destroys.

25 A greedy man stirs up strife,

but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want,

but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,

but when they perish, the righteous increase. Proverbs 28 ESV

Proverbs 28

The wicked flee when no one pursues - They are in the wrong, and so worry that their sins may find them. Everyone is suspect around them, because they have surrounded themselves with like minded. They will not repent of their sin, own it, and so are driven to run by it. What would they do to someone who treated them like they treat others? 

…8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. 9 We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching… 1 Timothy 1: 8-10

…9 I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said, ‘You are My servant.’ I have chosen and not rejected you. 10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness. 11 Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish.… Isaiah 41: 9-11

When a land transgresses it has many rulers - The bigger the transgression, the bigger the government. The bigger the bureaucracy the more it weighs upon the people. You have many princes, and they are not all wise, but all come at a cost. 

A poor man who oppresses the poor - If any should know empathy, but don't assume this is not you. We are all transgressors, born into sin, all made in the image of God and fallen in Adam. How is it that you and I cannot forgive, feel slighted at the smallest inconvenience, or have we not known or understood what Christ did for us? We are spiritual still-borns, dead in our trespasses and sins, the riches of God's grace come to us by faith in the work, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have nothing in ourselves to boast about. Let us go forth in peace with patience.

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Matthew 18: 23-35

Evil men do not understand justice - It is not that they can't look up the definition, and in fact they cry unfair often, and without mercy. We have a whole generation of virtue signalers right now, but justice is a sick tool in their hands, for she is not blind. If you want justice in truth, then you would want it for the Floyd family, for the stores that were robbed, for the police that were injured, and you would want the rule of law, not mob rule, not lynching. They instead think that their violence is just, their discrimination is justified, their illogical, misguided burning and destruction is all just in their eyes. If we have ever called out for mercy in our own case, then let us show it with understanding.

…18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”… Romans 12: 18-20

But a companion of gluttons shames his father - Excess is a sin most overlooked and accepted in a materialistic world. It has been, unfortunately, my goal too often.

“By identifying himself with those who squander all that is precious,—life, food and instruction—the foolish puts to public shame (see 25:8) his father.” (Waltke)

Even his prayer is an abomination - Ritual verses Reality.

“Many suppose, if they do not know their duty, they shall not be accountable for their transgressions; and therefore avoid every thing that is calculated to enlighten them…. But this pretense will avail them nothing; as he that might have known his master’s will, but would not, shall be treated as he shall be who did know it, and disobeyed it.” (Clarke)

Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way - They sound of good intention, but guide men the wrong way. For some it is their pleasure to bring the good down to their level, either to show them as not so great or to feel better in their sin.

…18 For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.… Matthew 5: 18-20

1 If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, 2 and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.… Deuteronomy 13: 1-3

But he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy - Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. Denial, cover up, cleaning the outside of the cup, are a waste before Him Who knows the heart.

…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.… 1 John 1: 8-10

But he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty -

“If we are not to be lazy in business but fervent in spirit, in this world and in all its concerns, how much more we need to be like this in the momentous concerns of eternity!” (Bridges)

Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress - People will throw you under the bus for very little. Men can be bought and so we should keep this in mind, follow the money, and often you will find the root of their decision. We recently had the accusation of Quid Pro Quo against our president, and oddly enough, the party that brought forth the accusation is running a candidate for president who is actually the most glaring example of quid pro quo. So they are either incompetent at assessing such, or they are just that evil.

But he who hides his eyes will get many a curse - "I didn't know," no, you pretended not to see; you turned your back.