Proverbs 3:33
Blessing and Cursing
1. Here is a simple 7 straightforward principle, which is found in many contexts throughout the Word.
2. It describes something very basic about God and His nature: He blesses the just and curses the wicked.
3. This stems from God’s nature: He loves righteousness and hates iniquity. (Heb.1:9)
4. The final verses in this chapter seem to be given as a conclusion to the several commands given in the chapter.
a. vs.27 – Don’t withhold good when it is in your power to do it.
b. Vs.29 – don’t devise evil against your neighbor… don’t betray his trust.
c. Vs.30 – don’t strive with a man without a cause.
d. Vs.31 – don’t envy the wealthy oppressors.
5. After saying all that, in vs.32, Solomon writes FOR… the froward is abomination to the Lord.
a. After listing many “don’ts” to his son, Solomon then gives some REASONS why not!
b. FOR it is abomination to God!
c. The “for” seems implied in the next three verses.
d. Each of the next three verses expands on that reason given in vs.32.
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked…
1. Don’t withhold good; don’t devise evil; don’t strive; don’t envy… why???
2. Because the curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked! That’s why!
3. Those who behave in a wicked way expose themselves to the judgment of God!
4. Lev. 26:14-18 – This curse was literal in the nation Israel.
5. Those who persist in it bring a curse upon their own lives!
Prov. 21:12 – God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. (lawlessness – men who don’t go by the rules)
a. The wicked are no match for God.
b. God will eventually overthrow all of their evil schemes and plots. They are doomed to fail… if not in this life, certainly in the next.
c. This thought is a good motivation NOT to behave in a wicked manner! We too could find God opposing us… bringing a curse upon our life!
d. The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked.
• Solomon suggests that instead of FOLLOWING the ways and lives of wicked men, we OBSERVE their lives!
• Great lessons can be learned by observing men—even believers—who do not walk the straight and narrow. Watch men who compromise and cut corners spiritually.
• They may prosper in the world, but they will wither up spiritually.
• Good lessons are there for us all. Watch and learn.
6. Psalm 106:14-15 – Sometimes, the curse of the Lord is not easily seen.
a. Sometimes, God seems to be blessing, but He sends leanness to the soul.
b. It has been my observation that when God sends leanness of soul to a believer because something isn’t right in his/her life, that believer tends to blame it on someone else! (the church has no love; the brethren don’t minister to me; I’m unhappy, it must be my spouses’ fault; etc.)
c. A curse on the soul is far worse than a physical malady!
d. The curse of God is often not seen at all by the outsider.
• Matthew Henry likened it to the leprosy consuming away in the timbers of one’s house… quietly… unseen… unknown by the casual observer—but very much a presence in that house!
7. Prov.26:2 – An undeserved cursed does not come!
a. Just as birds wander in the sky but never land on us—so too, a curse does not come upon us without cause!
b. In other words, God doesn’t judge us unless we deserve it! Unless it is earned!
c. Thus, if God chastens us—it is for a good reason!
d. This does NOT mean that bad things won’t happen to us. But there is a big difference between a trial designed for our good, and chastening which is the result of our sin or rebellion.
8. When God chastens the believer, that believer will waste away… wither away… consume away… until he can take it no more!
a. Isa.57:21 – there is no peace to the wicked!
b. Job 9:4 – you cannot resist God and win!
c. Ps.32:3-4 – God’s hand was heavy upon him!
But he blesseth the habitation of the just.
1. However, just the opposite is true in the habitation of the just.
2. God blesses the just!
3. In the previous verse, Solomon said that God’s “secret” is with the righteous, the just.
a. Vs.32 – The wicked know nothing of God and His ways.
b. God’s secrets… counsel, [hidden to the world] is known to the righteous.
c. God blesses the habitation of the just—He shares His secret counsels with them! His Word!
4. Lev.26:3-7 – so too, God’s blessing is promised to the just—here to the obedient. (That’s how one demonstrates that he is just—obey!)
a. In any age, the principle is the same: Obedience brings God’s blessing!
b. In the church age, our blessings are spiritual, and our reward for obedience is not obtained in this life, but at the Judgement Seat. Nevertheless, the principle is the same.
c. God blesses those who obey Him… who honor Him.
d. God honors those who honor Him. (I Sam.2:30)
e. Ps.1:3 – “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
5. Note Solomon’s use of the terms “house of the wicked” (vs.33) and “habitation of the just” (vs.34).
a. The two terms are used synonymously.
b. His point is that we can bring either blessing or cursing on our house, depending upon our behavior!
c. Prov.9:1 – wisdom builds a strong house!
d. Prov.11:29 – the fool troubles his own house—he brings trouble to it.
e. Prov.12:7 – The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
f. Prov.14:1 – a wise woman builds up her household.
g. Prov.14:11 – the two houses are once again contrasted.
h. Prov.15:27 – the greedy man troubles his house.
• It is far better to have a humble house with only herbs to eat with God’s blessing—than to dwell in a large castle without the blessing of God!
6. Some houses are overthrown. Why? Usually, because wisdom is not applied! Obedience is lacking or inconsistent!
a. Some houses are strong. Why? Because those in the house exercise wisdom… they trust and obey. It really is as simple as that.
b. We bring either blessing or cursing upon our own house.
» Either we build it up or tear it down…we bring blessing or trouble.
» It is important that we take God’s Word seriously.
» You cannot play fast and loose with this principle and expect to come out ahead!
7. Deut.29:19-20 – for the proud, arrogant man who thinks that he shall escape the curse of God! But he is dead wrong! Watch out! There is no escape!