Proverbs
Notes on Proverbs – Chapter 6
Proverbs 6:1-5
Make Sure Thy Friend
1. Here, Solomon warns his son about the sin of irresponsibility.
2. The particular form of this sin is financial irresponsibility.
3. He is NOT discouraging his son from being generous—just from being foolish!
THE SITUATION
1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger…
1. Surety for thy friend…
a. Surety = to pledge, exchange, mortgage, undertake for, take on pledge, give in pledge
b. This speaks of a man who has either promised to pay a debt or obligation for a friend, or has pledged his own money or property as security for a friend. (Like co-signing on a loan for someone—or putting your property up as security on a loan. There are consequences if that friend doesn’t pay!)
2. Stricken thy hand with a stranger…
a. Clapping one’s hands was similar to a handshake today. It sealed a deal or a business transaction.
b. Again, he is speaking about a binding financial obligation to a stranger… a bank… a loan shark… a business partner…
3. Co-signing a note for a friend might appear to be quite generous and kind.
a. There may be times when it IS the RIGHT thing to do. (Your son’s first car… student loans…)
b. But there are other times when it is a FOOLISH thing to do.
· A casual friend at work who fell upon hard times…
· A relative you know is irresponsible…
· A teenager who needs a brand new Lexus…
· A risky or questionable business deal…
2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
1. Snared with the words of thy mouth…
a. The one who entered into this foolish loan arrangement has done so by the words of his mouth. This was a verbal agreement to be the surety for the loan.
b. Solomon equates such a verbal agreement with a trap… a snare…
c. In other words, he entered into an agreement which seemed like a good idea at first, but eventually became a trap!
d. Prov. 22:7 – the borrower is servant to the lender!
e. It is possible for us to agree to things that we shouldn’t! Things that can become a snare… from which we might not be able to extricate ourselves!
f. Prov. 5:22 – the sin of sexual impurity can be binding and entrap us. Now Solomon states that the sin of financial irresponsibility can also entrap us!
2. Taken with the words of thy mouth…
a. Taken – used as a synonym for “snared”… = captured; seized;
b. Same word in 5:22 – take the wicked…= holden with the cords of his sins
c. The words we say, the agreements into which we enter, (to put it in more modern terms)—the contracts we sign… can ENSLAVE us… seize us… capture us and keep us captive…
3. This is the hypothetical situation Solomon raises before his son.
a. “If you ever do this…if you ever find yourself in this situation, then here’s what to do…”
b. Solomon is NOT encouraging his son to BECOME a surety for a friend. Rather, he is warning his son about the DANGERS of such action.
c. He is saying, “If you ever find yourself in such a bind… then follow my instructions.”
d. The instructions Solomon gives are especially needed in our day and age—in light of the constant barrage of opportunities there are to buy on credit, to lease a car, take out a loan, use a credit card, borrow off the equity of your home… we are credit happy… could easily sign our life away.
e. This situation speaks of a man who entered into a financial arrangement without thinking it through… without thinking of the consequences… without reading the fine print…
WHAT TO DO
3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend;
1. DELIVER thyself! His first word of advice to his son is to do whatever it takes to get yourself OUT OF that obligation… get OUT of that trap!
2. Solomon warns his son to find a way OUT of the foolish financial obligation to which he verbally committed himself.
3. If you have “come into the hand” of a friend… NIV = fallen into your neighbor’s hand… meaning you are now under his control… he’s got you in his hands and you can’t get out…
4. If you find yourself in that position, do whatever you can to get out of his hand… out of the banker’s clutches… out of financial bondage…
Go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
1. Here Solomon states that part of “doing whatever it takes” may include swallowing your pride!
2. He says to humble yourself.
a. Why humble yourself? Because one who enters into such agreements often does so out of pride.
b. We like to think of ourselves as big shots… as being well to do… thinking we can handle that… we’re too smart to get taken… I know all about these agreements… no problem for me…
c. We might feel important signing a loan for someone else… it sort of makes us feel superior to them… they will look up to us as a hero who saved the day!
d. Then after we enter the agreement, we might discover that we bit off more than we can chew… more than we can handle… that we are not such a big shot after all…
3. Make sure thy friend…
a. Make sure thy friend =
· NASB – importune your neighbor…
· NIV = Press your plea with your neighbor!
b. Make your case before this person… by admitting that you spoke rashly… tell him you really aren’t able to follow through… you don’t have the resources to be surety for another man…
c. In short—plead for mercy! (Cf. Matt. 18:25)
d. This was a legitimate method of escaping from a financial obligation in the days of old… appealing to the mercy of one to whom you are obligated.
e. However, today, our financial institutions are a little different. Good luck pleading for mercy at Citizen’s Bank! They don’t know mercy… just the bottom line.
f. But, you may be able to work out another arrangement with them… a workable payment schedule… another way of guaranteeing the loan…
4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
1. Here Solomon makes the same exhortation: deliver thyself!
2. However, in this verse, he speaks of the URGENCY of doing so.
3. If you are in financial bondage or have co-signed a risky loan, do whatever you can to get out of that bondage and don’t wait! Do it NOW!
4. Don’t put it on the back burner. Take care of it right away… Don’t sleep or rest until you are free!
5. Don’t get USED to it… get OUT of it! Don’t get comfortable just paying the minimum balance… just paying off the interest… get the monkey off your back!
6. Have you ever seen a bird in a man’s hands? Have you ever seen an animal try to free himself from a snare? They give it their all!
7. Make this kind of freedom a priority!
8. Don’t rest until you are disentangled from bondage!
9. This is especially true of credit… the longer you postpone paying it off, the more you owe. The sooner you are free from those shackles, the better!
Conclusions:
1. This is NOT an exhortation against generously helping a brother in need.
2. It is a warning against RASHLY entering into arrangements without thinking the long-term consequences through properly. (Prov. 22:26)
3. Prov.11:15 – He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
a. DON’T enter into a surety for a stranger… don’t cosign for a stranger… don’t put your property up as collateral. You will SMART—it will hurt you!
b. The man who HATES that kind of financial bondage is sure—safe!
c. Don’t risk your financial safety—be safe!
4. This might SEEM like a friendly, gracious, loving, kind, Christian thing to do… BUT — it may not turn out like you think.
a. It is not necessarily a good thing to enable someone to buy something they cannot afford!
b. You might be encouraging him to be a big spender… and get himself in financial trouble…
c. You could be encouraging irresponsibility on his part…
d. And if he fails on the loan and you have to pay—it could easily ruin the friendship…
e. Thus, we are challenged to be extremely cautious about signing a loan for someone…
f. If you want to show kindness, it is better to give the money away…
5. This does NOT mean don’t ever do it under any circumstances.
a. There may be times when it is perfectly legitimate. Paul became a surety for Onesimus. (Philemon 10,17-19)
b. The warning is against entering into it rashly… foolishly… clapping you hands…
6. The difference is doing it wisely. (Ps. 112:5 – good men show favor and lend, but they do so with discretion!)
Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the Ant
THE TEACHER
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
1. Go to the ant… go = to go, walk, come—Come take a walk over to the ant and observe…
a. We are told to go to the ant to LEARN something from her.
b. The ant is our teacher in this Proverb.
2. This is kind of humbling isn’t it!
a. God tells us to get down on our knees in the dirt and watch ants. They could teach us a lesson!
b. It’s kind of humbling to think that we could learn a lesson from ants… but God says so!
3. Sluggard: lazy; slothful person…
a. The lesson of the ant is especially designed to teach lazy people.
b. In ancient times, a diligent, hard working person would probably be out in the field, plowing or planting. He wouldn’t even notice any ants walking about… he’s too busy working!
c. BUT, the lazy person is not likely to be out plowing in the field. He is more likely to be taking a little siesta, lying under a big shade tree…
d. The man lying down, lounging in the grass, is the one who is likely to see ants walking about…
e. Could it be that God designed the ant with its qualities just TO BE a teaching tool for the lazy person as he lounges around?
4. The sluggard is told to consider her ways…
a. Consider: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider—take a good look at the ant… inspect her ways… observe… see how they behave.
b. There is something instructive about the ways of an ant that God wants us to recognize… especially the sluggard.
c. Evidently Solomon had observed the ants and learned some valuable lessons himself! (I Kings 4:32-34)
d. Sometime when you’re on vacation this summer—or on the camping trip, take a few minutes to observe a group of ants… and you’ll see that Solomon’s observations are right on target!
THE LESSONS
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
1. They are self-motivated… unlike the sluggard who has no motivation! (no guide or ruler)
a. Nobody has to stand over the ant with a whip to get him to do his job. He just does it!
b. This is a great lesson for the kids here tonight—wouldn’t it be great if nobody had to tell you kids to clean your room? You just did it!
c. Wouldn’t it be great if nobody had to tell your son to pick up his dirty socks… he just did it!
d. Wouldn’t it be great if the believers in the local church were so motivated?
e. Imagine how great if people just noticed a need in the church and volunteered to meet that need? “I notice we need some more helpers for Vacation Bible School. Here am I send me!” Or “I notice we need some more helpers on the clean up crew, Here am I send me!”
f. Ants don’t need to be prodded and lassoed into doing the work. They just do it!
2. They don’t work with eyeservice and are not men pleasers. (Col. 3:22-23)
a. Some men work only when the boss is looking. They work with eyeservice… in other words, they aren’t REALLY busy, they just try to LOOK busy… appear to be working…
• These are traits we could ALL incorporate into our work ethic!
b. They try to please the boss by working hard only when he is watching, but goof off when he can no longer see them. (When the cat’s away, the mice will play!)
c. Ants aren’t like that. They don’t even need a boss or an overseer keeping an eye on them to make sure the work gets done. They just do it!
d. What a great testimony for a Christian worker to be like the ant… his boss can trust him to get the job done even if he is not there to oversee the whole project!
3. Ants are diligent and hard working.
a. Have you ever watched ants work? They seem like they are in a hurry… they seem like they are on a mission to get the work done.
b. Have you ever noticed how HARD they work? Have you ever seen the size of the morsels they carry? (Like me carrying a car!)
c. Edison said, “Genius is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.”
d. Ants may not be brilliant, but they sure put a lot of perspiration into their work. We could learn from them!
e. Prov. 14:23 – In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
• Hard work pays off—but those who talk instead of work will lose out!
• Penury = poverty; need;
f. Especially in the spiritual realm do we need to be diligent in our work—keep your heart with all diligence! (Prov. 4:23)
g. II Pet. 1:5 – give diligence in adding Christian virtue to your life!
4. The ant works and doesn’t make excuses.
a. She gathers her meat in the summer… when it’s hot…
b. Other critters might think it’s too hot to work. They take the day off and go to the beach… not the ant. He doesn’t make excuses.
c. He doesn’t put pleasure above his work. He gets his work done first… even if he has to work on a beautiful summer day!
d. Prov. 26:13 – the sluggard on the other hand makes all kinds of excuses as to why he can’t go to work. (There’s a lion in the street!)
5. The ant makes use of opportunities and doesn’t procrastinate.
a. The summer is the time to plant and provide food. Fall is time to harvest.
b. There is time for rest and relaxation in between, but when it is time to work, the work needs to get done. The ants make good use of the proper opportunities to work.
c. Prov. 27:23-27 – (vs. 25) – when the hay appears, that’s the time to get it! You can’t go early… you can’t go late. You have to take advantage of opportunity when it arises.
d. Good shepherds do that for their flocks. Ants do the same.
e. We too should follow that example.
6. The ant lays up for the future.
a. Prov. 30:25 – The ant provides (prepares; makes ready) her food in the summer… she provides food for the whole year during the summer and stores it up.
b. Prov. 10:5 – The wise son gathers in the summer… like the ant!
c. The sluggard on the other hand, does not think about the future.
d. Prov. 13:4 – the sluggard may desire food next winter, but because he didn’t provide for it, he goes without.
e. Prov. 20:4 – the sluggard does not prepare ahead of time, and goes hungry! (He makes excuses… it’s too cold… then it’s too hot…)
f. It is the presumption to behave like a sluggard, and then to expect divine provision in time of need… or expect someone else to bail you out.
g. Prov. 12:11 – He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread:
h. I Tim. 6:18-19 – we need to be diligent in our good works for the Lord—laying up treasures in heaven… providing for our eternal future!
LESSONS:
» Self-motivated
» They do not work with eye-service
» Diligent and hard working
» Don’t make excuses (too hot!)
» Makes good use of available opportunities to work
» Lays up for the future
Proverbs 6:9-11
How Long Wilt Thou Sleep?
Introduction:
1. In vs. 6-8, Solomon tells his son to consider the ant and learn some lessons.
2. The lessons to be learned from the ant are:
» Self motivated
» They do not work with eye-service
» Diligent and hard working
» Don’t make excuses (too hot!)
» Makes good use of available opportunities to work
» Lays up for the future
3. Now Solomon warns against the dangers of laziness—the opposite of the ant (vs. 9-11)!
9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
1. The challenge: how long will you sleep?
a. This is a reasonable question to ask.
b. Over all, Americans are not generally lazy people… quite hard working. In fact, many Americans do not get enough sleep! But, there are always some who would need such a challenge…
c. In other cultures, laziness is a much bigger problem… life is a siesta!
d. Whatever our problem (too much or too little) it is a legitimate and profitable question to ask! Are you sleeping too much? Too little?
2. The lazy man is challenged to THINK about what he is doing with his time.
a. First he was challenged to think about the lifestyle of the ant (vs. 6)
b. Now he is challenged to think about his own lifestyle, and in particular, how HE uses his time… evidently, the ant has a few good lessons to teach him!
c. Perhaps he never really thought about how much of his life he was sleeping away!
d. If he tallied all of his hours in a chart and saw exactly how much time he wasted sleeping and lounging around, perhaps he would make some changes!
3. HOW LONG is a good question! Every once in a while, it might do us all good to chart out what we do with our time…
• How long do we sleep?
• How long do we lie on the couch and vegetate?
• How long do we sit in front of the TV or computer?
• How long do we spend reading the Word? In prayer?
• After making a chart of how our time is spent, we might see some areas that need prioritizing… rearranging…
4. WHEN is a good question too. “When will you arise?”
a. The lazy man is challenged to consider how long he sleeps.
b. Then he is challenged to DO something about it—get up!
c. When? When will you get up? When will you change your bad habits?
d. If we are wasting time, we too should be challenged: when are you going to do something about it? When are you going to change?
e. Arising is the answer to sleeping too much—just get up!
f. Notice how simple God’s answer to this lazy man’s problem is: Arise! Get up! You don’t need a 12 step program to deprogram yourself from old habits… just obey… arise…
5. We are all stewards of our time… our own lives.
a. We all have the same amount of hours in a day and days in a week.
b. However, not all men USE their time properly.
c. Ps. 39:4-5 – make me to know my days… my life is short… make good use of it! Don’t waste precious time!
d. Ps. 90:12 – so teach me to number my days… that I may apply my heart unto wisdom!
e. Eph. 5:16 – Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
f. We are told repeatedly to make GOOD use of our time and not to waste it.
g. In reality, time belongs to God. He has entrusted each one of us with a certain measure of it… and will call us into account one day for HOW we used His time…
h. We are all managers of the 24 hours we have each day.
i. Some men use it wisely. Others bury it… waste it…
• If you are wasting God’s time, the question is “how long?”
• WHEN will you stop? When will you use time for God’s glory?
• Are you a procrastinator?
j. HOW do you manage YOUR time? Are you a good steward?
• Are you spending time in the Word? With your family? Getting the rest your body needs?
• Redeem the time! Buy it up! Use it well!
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
1. Here the author speaks about the insidious nature of laziness…
a. It is something that creeps up on you… a little sleep here… a little slumber there… and before you know, the day is gone!
b. The question is sent out, “How long wilt thou sleep?” His answer, “Oh, just a little more sleep… just a little more slumber…
c. The answer sounds a bit like a drug addict or an alcoholic. How much do you want? Oh, just a little more… Rockefeller was asked how much money would it take to make him happy. He replied, “Oh, just a little more!”
2. Getting oneself into a lazy lifestyle is a trap… it can creep up on you…
a. 5:22 – this is another example of a man becoming enslaved and bound by his own sin!
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
1. Solomon warns that laziness is followed by poverty.
a. This doesn’t mean that all poverty is the result of laziness…or that all poor people are poor because they are lazy.
b. But it does mean the lazy man is usually poor! Slothfulness breeds poverty!
c. Prov. 10:4 – a slack hand results in poverty; diligence results in wealth.
d. Prov.14:23 – labor has its rewards, but standing around results in poverty. (You may not get a raise; you may get laid off!)
2. The lazy man shall WANT
a. His poverty drives him crazy too… because he craves after the things (wants things) that the more diligent possess… (21:25-26)
b. There are all kinds of things that others have and he wants… but because he is lazy, he doesn’t have them… he just WANTS them… covets…
c. II Thess. 3:10 – if a man is not willing to work, neither should he eat!
• Giving money to a lazy man is not helping but hurting!
• In fact, poverty, hunger and going without things ought to be a wake up call—it’s time to get a job!
3. An armed man: his poverty comes on him like an armed bandit…
a. This doesn’t mean his goods are stolen…
b. Rather, it means that he will wake up one day and realize that he is poor! He has nothing!
c. It came like a thief in the night!
4. Prov. 18:9 – slothfulness is a great waste…
a. Waste = that which is spoiled; corrupted; like rotten fruit left out too long
b. There are a lot of gifted, talented people who could accomplish great things, but do not because they are too lazy! What a waste!
c. Perhaps one of these men might have discovered the cure for cancer if they were diligent…
d. And think of the waste that takes place in our schools! Young people with such potential to learn and develop their talents… waste it because they are too lazy to do their schoolwork…
e. And think of the things we could accomplish as a church—if only everyone would use their spiritual gifts more diligently!
• We would be witnessing more and leading others to Christ…
• We would be ministering to one another more diligently…
• Think of the talent and gifts that believers here have—in art, music, writing, teaching, working with children, evangelism, etc.
• What a waste when such gifts are not used for the glory of God because of laziness!
5. Ecc. 10:18 – through idleness, a house decays and falls apart! So too the life!
a. This is true of the wooden house we live in…
b. It is also true of our family… if we through laziness neglect our family and spiritual things, our HOME will fall apart too!
c. No one has a right to expect God to supply their needs bail us out when laziness and sloth characterize their life… either in the physical realm or in the spiritual realm!
d. We know already that idleness will ruin our house… our life…
6. In the spiritual realm this principle is true as well.
a. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; (Rom. 12:11)
b. Phil. 2:12 – WORK out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
• Are we working at it diligently?
• Are we exercising ourselves unto godliness?
• Are we “giving all diligence to add to our faith virtue… knowledge… temperance… patience… godliness… brotherly love…
c. The man who is spiritually lazy will come to spiritual poverty!
d. The man who is too lazy or too tired to read the Word and pray will be spiritually weak… and an easy target for the devil!
e. The man who is too lazy to get up for Sunday school and church will be poor spiritually…now and at the Bema seat!
f. Perhaps we should all ask ourselves the question: How long are we going to sleep spiritually? When are we going to wake up and be diligent about spiritual things?
g. Eph. 5:14 – Awake thou that sleepest and Christ will give thee light!
h. Rom. 13:11-14 – it is time to wake up and get to work for God! The Lord is coming!
Proverbs 6:12-15
Body Language
12 A naughty person, a wicked man,
1. In this section, Solomon is describing an evil person… a particular KIND of evil person.
2. He introduces this person with two adjectives
a. Naughty = worthless, good for nothing, unprofitable, base fellow; (sometimes translated “man of Belial”)
b. Wicked = trouble (troublemaker), wickedness, sorrow (one who causes sorrow and grief)
3. This person is introduced in a less than flattering manner: a worthless, good for nothing trouble maker!
a. Perhaps you have met such a person—we probably all have at one point or another.
b. The world has no shortage of good for nothing troublemakers! Sometimes the church has no shortage either!
4. There are lots of ways for a troublemaker to cause trouble. Solomon is going to highlight demonstrate how a talented and experienced troublemaker is able to use every part of his body to cause trouble!
Walketh with a froward mouth.
1. The most obvious way for a troublemaker to cause trouble is with his mouth. James says that the mouth is a “world of iniquity!”
2. Froward: crooked; distorted
a. A froward mouth is one that distorts the truth…
b. A froward mouth is one that speaks in such a way so as to distort another person’s character… or motives… or put a person in an evil light.
c. Vs. 14 – frowardness is in his heart too—that’s why it eventually comes out of his mouth!
d. Prov. 17:20 – his heart is distorted; his words are distorted; and the end result is mischief—he is a mischief-maker—a first class troublemaker!
e. Prov. 24:2 – he dwells on ways to cause mischief and destruction—and then proceeds to use his mouth to accomplish it!
3. All kinds of trouble has been stirred by troublemakers who have a big mouth.
a. Prov. 16:27-28 – the troublemaker has a froward mouth… and stirs up strife, trouble and controversy which separates chief friends!
4. Note that this naughty person WALKS with a froward mouth: walk = one’s whole manner of life… a lifestyle of such behavior!
13 He winketh with his eyes,
1. The naughty person uses his mouth to cause trouble… but he doesn’t stop there! He uses his eyes too! And the rest of his body!
2. The eyes are in a sense the windows to the soul… (In fact, Solomon speaks of our eyes as windows in Ecc. 12:3 – windows be darkened = losing vision)
3. We can speak with our eyes…
a. Lots of messages can be communicated with our eyes…
b. We can communicate suspicion… surprise… disgust… disbelief…
c. We can smile approvingly with our eyes…
d. But eyes can also scowl… glare… and say “I hate you!”
e. Today a wink can mean several things:
• It can expression flirtation… making a pass…
• It can also mean, “I’m not telling the truth…”
4. In different cultures and in different time periods, there were no doubt different kinds of signals sent… (example: a signal in one culture might be a sign of friendliness, but a huge insult in another culture!)
5. But regardless of the exact meaning of a wink in Bible times, it was a means of communicating a message…
• Ps. 35:19 – winking with the eye = something malicious
• Wink = to narrow or squeeze the eye—it could have the sense of a glare…
6. The naughty person used a wink of his eye for evil purposes…
• With the wink of an eye he might be communicating that Joe is a liar… that Joe is a fool… that Joe is hated…
• We can say a lot without opening our mouth.
7. Wise parents will deal with the messages sent by body language from their child as if it were vocalized—it is the same thing. He is communicating a message…
a. The glare… the rolling of the eyes…
b. He doesn’t have to say “I hate you” or “You’re stupid”—but the eyes may say it.
c. That is rebellion just as much as if it were vocalized.
He speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers…
1. It is unclear to me how a person would communicate with his feet—but in that day in that culture, there may well have been some widely understood customs… (Shuffling of the feet; a little kick into the dirt; etc.)
2. Teaching with his fingers—
a. While we do not know for sure exactly what the signs were in those days, we use our fingers to communicate messages.
b. Thumbs up; thumbs down; middle finger; high five; OK sign; etc…
3. There are all kinds of ways we can speak without opening our mouth.
a. Some are subtle… some less than subtle…
b. These body language signs might be done behind someone’s back… or to their face.
c. It could even be the TONE of one’s voice…
d. Solomon doesn’t even mention facial expression here—facial expression can speak volumes! Pleasant countenance; sourpuss; grumpy face; happy face or an ‘I hate this’ face…
e. In all of this, it is demonstrated that we can use every part of our body as an instrument of unrighteousness… OR of righteousness.
1. Solomon’s point is that the naughty person has a 1001 ways to do his dirty work… without saying a thing.
2. Frowardness is in his heart…
a. Thus, it will eventually be expressed outwardly… through his froward mouth or through more subtle body language…
b. Either way, it WILL be expressed!
c. Whatever comes out of the mouth first resided in the heart.
d. Whatever is expressed through body language first resided in the heart.
e. His outward countenance might be a façade of sincerity… which only covers up the heart full of frowardness… deception… a clever liar!
3. He deviseth mischief continually…
a. This naughty person is on a mission—to stir up trouble and mischief!
• What a contrast between the sluggard in vs. 6-11 and the relentless diligence of the naughty person in performing evil!
b. It is continual… it is the nature of this kind of person… and thus his/her wheels are always in motion…
c. Prov. 2:14-16 – forwardness is the PATH… the course of life for this person. He rejoices in his evil! He loves stirring up trouble! That’s how he gets his kicks.
d. Prov. 20:3 – It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
• A godly man may try to stop mischief… that is an honorable pursuit.
• But the naughty person… the fool will not give it up… he devises mischief continually… he won’t stop his meddling… stirring up the pot…
He soweth discord.
1. This is the ultimate goal of the naughty person described here: to sow discord! To cause division… to stir up trouble and controversy!
2. 6:19 – he might even use lies to sow discord… he may send out lies by means of his body language… to lie about a person…
3. Some people just aren’t happy unless they are stirring up trouble.
1. Solomon reminds his son that the naughty person… the one who stirs up trouble will not be able to do so forever…
2. Eventually, his calamity shall come… he shall be broken… without remedy.
3. It may not even be in this life… but eventually, troublemakers will have to face the music before the Lord.
4. They may think that nobody saw their wink… or their body language… or the subtle messages they had been sending out… which caused so much trouble.
5. BUT—God knows! God sees it all. He not only understands English and Hebrew—He also understands body language. (Heb. 4:13)
6. For every idle word we say we shall give an account one day. The same is true for the words we say with our eyes… our fingers… our facial expression… they are all manifestations of what is going on in our heart…
7. And the Lord looks at the heart… He knows it all before we even express it!
Proverbs 6:16-19
Six Things the Lord Hates
Introduction:
1. This section (vs. 16-19) may well be considered a conclusion to the previous section, which deals with the naughty person or the wicked man.
2. In the previous section, Solomon spoke of the deceitful body language of this person—using the parts of his body for evil purposes… froward mouth; winks with his eyes; speaks with his feet; teaches with his fingers; frowardness is in his heart.
3. This next section also deals with the parts of the body—and their use in an evil sense. (look; tongue; hands; heart; feet; and a mouth that speaks lies and sows discord.
4. These evil uses of these body parts are things the Lord particularly hates. Yes, God DOES hate certain things. Some things are abominable—disgusting to Him!
A Proud Look (haughty eyes)
1. Ps. 101:5 – a high look is linked to a proud heart.
2. Prov. 30:12-13 – there is a generation that is pure in their own eyes…
a. But they are unclean in God’s eyes. There is often a huge difference between our concept of self and God’s!
b. They are lofty… proud… and you can see it in their facial expression.
3. Ps. 10:4 – a proud look indicates that God has been excommunicated from their thoughts!
a. Pride prevents men from seeking God… from seeking His will.
b. If we are proud, who needs help? Who needs guidance! I can do it myself!
c. Pride was at the root of the original sin—Lucifer became proud of his beauty and his wisdom… and was cast out of heaven.
• Ezekiel 28:17 – Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
• Pride sees no use for God or His Word.
• Imagine the horror in heaven when Lucifer gave that very first proud look… haughty eyes in heaven! No wonder he was cast out!
• How totally out of place are haughty eyes in God’s presence! Holy angels blush in His presence!
4.) Proud looks
a. Eyes that glory in might – physical strength (Jer. 9:23)
• Have you ever seen the proud look on the face of a body builder? A Mr. America contest… flexing their muscles for all to see?
• Women don’t often glory in strength… this is more of an issue with men…
• Perhaps there is a look of pride on the face of a boxer as he defeats his foe… “I am the greatest” is written all over his face
• God hates proud looks.
b. Eyes that glory in riches – wealth and the things money can buy (Jer. 9:23)
• The proud look on the face of a person with a fancy new car… an expensive new suit… an extravagant necklace…
• There is a look that likes to show off wealth…
• They look DOWN on the rest of us… like pompous royalty looking down upon the mere serfs and peasants…
c. Eyes that glory in wisdom – (Jer. 9:23)
• Have you seen the look of arrogance on the faces of some college professors?
• There is a look of the “intellectual snobs”!
• Their face wreaks of an air of intellectual superiority…
d.) Eyes that love SELF (II Tim. 3:2)
• One of the marks of the end times is a proud boaster who loves self.
• A sense of superiority can be seen on the face…
• You can actually read some people’s face. It says, “Aren’t I fabulous?”
• God reads it too—and hates it!
4. Prov. 21:4 – a haughty look is SIN! And God hates it!
The danger of proud looks…
1. Pride leads men to contempt and rejection of God’s word and messengers. (Jer. 43:2)
a. Proud sheep won’t listen to the shepherd…they know better
b. Proud men will not listen to God’s Word… or God’s spokesmen.
c. These proud men rejected Jeremiah’s warnings—pride caused them to think that they had a better idea!
d. Imagine a mere man thinking that his ideas or opinions are better than God’s? What is that but unmitigated pride!
2. Prov. 21:24 – it results in wrath… fighting…
a. Prov.13:10 – pride results in contention… wherever people are fighting, pride is at the root of it all… Someone is unwilling to give in… too proud to say “I’m sorry or I was wrong.” And the fight goes on!
b. 28:25 – proud men stir up strife… pride causes men to feel like they are in charge… they are able to manipulate situations to their own advantage… pride stirs up strife.
c. Pride demands its own way and will not bend until it gets its own way!
3. Ob. 1:3 – pride deceives us…
a. We begin to actually BELIEVE that we are some great one… that we can handle anything…
b. Like petty crooks who get away with a few crimes and begin thinking that they are smarter than the police…
c. Pride causes us to think that we can handle anything… nothing is too hard for us…
d. Pride is at the root of much evil… we begin to believe that our own strength, our own power, our own abilities are much greater than they really are.
4. Ps. 73:6 – pride ties us up like a chain… prevents us from walking freely. Pride is oppressive… binding… limiting…
a. The young student who thinks he knows it all will hardly see any need for study!
b. The musician who thinks he has arrived will not see the need for practice.
c. The Christian who thinks he has a superior knowledge of God, church, or the Christian life is not going to see his need to study the Word—after all—what could be better than his opinion?
d. Pride hinders us from really GROWING… it limits us… it keeps us from stretching for the mark… from striving for excellence, because it deceives us into thinking we already HAVE excellence!
e. Pride ties us up like a chain!
5. Prov. 11:2 – pride brings shame!
a. The one who exalts himself will be abased!
b. Luke 14:8-11 – this man took the seat of honor, but had to be moved out to a lower seat. How much better to take the lower seat… and be moved up when called upon!
6. I Cor.10:12 – Pride results in a fall!
a. Let him that THINKETH he standeth take heed lest he fall!
b. Prov. 16:18 – “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
c. Remember Peter’s famous words: “Lord, though all be offended in thee, yet I will never be offended!”
d. Isn’t that just like us? Don’t worry about me! I’m ok. I won’t fall. I can handle this… famous last words.
God seeks fellowship with the humble…
1. Ps. 131:1-2 – David demonstrates the opposite of a proud look.
a. He declares that his heart is NOT haughty or his eyes lofty…
b. He does not exercise in matters too high for him… he leaves circumstances that are beyond him in God’s care. (Can you do that? That is humility!)
c. Surely he behaved himself – to agree with, be or become like, level, resemble… he agrees with God; not proudly fighting against the Lord…
d. He quieted himself before God – to be silent, be still, wait…
• David learned to leave situations in God’s sovereign care and control.
• David learned not to be proud but to be still and know that God is God!
e. That is the perfect position of humility before God… a place we all ought to take… that’s our place.
f. Our place is NOT to walk about with a proud look—like the world does.
• Worldliness is characterized by the “pride of life.”
• We are to be the opposite—walk humbly before God…
2. Isa. 66:1-2 – God looks not to the proud but to the lowly!
a. God looks to the poor (lowly) man with a contrite spirit = crushed.
b. God looks to the man who trembles at His Word…
c. Ex: Luke 18:10-14 – two men in the Temple
• The Pharisee had a proud look…
• The publican had a humble look…
• God look favorably upon the publican…
• God hates a haughty look…
3. James 4:6 – God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
4. James 4:10 – if we humble ourselves, God will lift us up!
One day God will humble the proud!
1. Isa. 2:11-12 – the haughtiness of man will not be tolerated forever.
2. The tribulation period is designed to do just that: crush the pride of man and exalt the Lord.
3. The tribulation is quite a drastic measure God reserves for the world.
4. BUT — God even sends trials and thorns to KEEP us humble… and thus useable! (II Cor.12:7) (Lest I should be exalted above measure…)
5. God hates a proud look—and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Proverbs 6:17a
A Lying Tongue
1. God hates a lying tongue.
a. A lying tongue is an abomination to God (Prov. 12:22)
b. What strong terms! Lying is one of the seven deadly sins that God hates and it is also called an abomination to Him—something particularly disgusting to God.
c. God’s view of lying is quite clear. Unambiguous. Yet—in some circles men have attempted to teach that it’s OK under certain conditions, as long as no one is hurt—situational ethics!
d. God hates it! It is an abomination to Him. We don’t have to wonder what God’s view is.
2. We too should learn to hate lies like God does.
a. The thought of lying should make us cringe.
b. The Psalmist said: “I hate and abhor lying…” (Ps 119:163)
c. Prov. 13:5 – “A righteous man hateth lying.”
d. When someone asks you to say that they are not here—we should recoil and be revolted over the thought!
e. If we love the truth, then we must hate the opposite: lies!
f. Do we really hate lying? Or do we think it is cute at times?
3. We tend to dress up lies… to make them look good.
a. We call them “little white lies.”
b. We excuse them… justify them… (O, just tell him I’m not here!)
c. We like to refer to it as just “stretching the truth”—or telling a half-truth.
d. But in God’s book, there is no excuse for lying… ever! There are no mortal lies or venial lies. Sin is sin—and God hates it!
4. Lying includes much more than what we would refer to as a bold faced lie.
a. Lying includes all kinds of deception… distortion of the truth…
• We can distort the truth by making true statements, but over-emphasizing one element in the story and minimizing something else.
• Sometimes our choice of words can intentionally distort the truth… (John went to Filenes and took a pair of pants! He put it in his bag! Or—“He hung up on me!” (don’t you always hang up after a conversation? Or “I saw our Sunday school teacher fly by us on the highway!)
• We can distort the truth by what our words imply—even if they are factually correct! That’s lying—if we are intentionally deceiving!
b. Lying might include telling truth, but leaving out key facts so as to deliberately mislead…
• When two people are having a feud, ask each person privately what happened… and you will hear many of the same facts—but a wildly different arrangement of those facts!
• Party A will leave out all the facts that incriminate party A; party B will tell the same story, but leave out the facts that incriminate party B! It’s human nature—and it’s sinful!
• Prov. 18:17 – one man’s version of the story might includes lots of facts BUT when his neighbor comes, he will fill in some of the missing facts—(the rest of the story!) and it gives the story a completely different flavor! That is deception! It is lying—and God hates it.
c. Lying might include telling a half-truth.
• Abraham saying that Sarah was his sister—she was his half sister—but she was his wife!
• A half-truth is a whole lie!
• Ex: Did you pick up your room? “Yes I did, mom!”—when in reality you only picked up one pair of dirty socks—out of two week’s worth!
5. What is the source of all lies?
a. Satan is the father of all lies. (John 8:44)
• The Pharisees were OF their father the devil! They behaved like he did—they lied and were about to kill Jesus!
• When we lie, we are following the lead of the devil…
• He lied to our first parents—he said, “Ye shall NOT surely die!”
b. Satan can fill the heart of men to lie—exert some sort of external control and influence… pressure to lie. (Acts 5:3)
c. Lies proceed out of the fallen heart of man. (Mat. 15:19)
d. Lies proceed from our fallen nature—no one has to teach a child how to lie… as soon as they be born! (Ps.58:3)
6. Knowing the source of all lies, we should avoid those who lie when possible.
a. We cannot altogether avoid liars—or we would have to leave the world!
b. Ps. 40: 4 – we should not respect those who lie—even if they hold high position. We can respect their office, but not the person!
c. Ps. 101: 7 – David would not walk with those who lied. He wanted no dishonest liars in his court! He wanted to surround himself with men of truth! We should too!
• Read vs.1-6 – David wanted to surround himself with godly people!
• Vs. 3 – he wanted nothing wicked before his eyes…
• Vs. 3 – he hates those who turn away from doing right
• Vs. 4 – he rejects those with a froward or evil heart
• Vs. 5 – he will cut off any who slander. He wants no slanderers or gossips in his court
• Vs. 7 – he doesn’t want to associate with any deceitful men or liars! Avoid them!
• Vs. 6 – he wants to associate with the faithful… the godly… those who walk in a perfect way.
• That’s what WE should want too!
• We can’t avoid sinners and liars altogether—but our close friends and associates should consist of the godly!
7. What damage liars can do! They slander… they gossip… they spread rumors… they distort the truth… they tell half-truths… and untold damage is the result!
a. Prov. 26:28 – A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
• It is an expression of hatred of those afflicted.
• If someone lies about another person—that is hate in action!
• Sometimes that hatred can be covered up in flattery… which is a lie! (Prov. 10:18)
• Prov. 27:6 – faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Sometimes lies are covered up in sweet words—even kisses… like the kiss of Judas.
• But in the end, it works ruin… destruction… great damage.
b. Prov. 25:18 – like a maul, a sword, and a sharp arrow—all mighty destructive instruments! (try to envision each illustration!)
• Lies can hurt individuals…
• Lies can break families apart…
• Lies can separate chief friends…
• Lies can split churches…
• And there are individuals who DELIGHT in lies! (Ps. 62:4)
• Some individuals delight in telling lies because they delight in sowing discord and getting even… and hurting people.
• That is pure wickedness.
8. What should our response be to lies?
a. Pray: Ps. 31:18 – Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
• Pray that God would not allow much damage to be done by those who lie about us… our family… our church…
• I Pet. 2:15 – by our well doing we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men who are trying to harm us…
b. Pray: Psa. 109:1-4 – when it happens to you personally, GIVE yourself to prayer!
• This is acknowledging that God knows all…
• This is an acknowledgment that you are leaving it all in His care…
• This is a refusal to take vengeance into our own hands…
• This also expresses the fact that MUCH prayer is needed—give yourself to prayer!
• Ps. 52:1-5 – ultimately God will deal with every liar. No one lies without Him knowing all about it…
c. Pray: that God would deliver us from lying too!
• Ps. 119:29 – Remove from me the way of lying!
• Pr. 30:8 – Remove far from me vanity and lies.
• Let’s be honest. We have all lied… distorted the truth…
d. Purpose in your heart: Job determined that he would not use deceit!. (27:4)
Proverbs 6:17b
Hands that Shed Innocent Blood
Introduction:
1. Solomon had warned his son about the evil use of his body parts—body language really IS a language and God knows how to read it! (vs. 12-14)
2. Now he speaks about 7 sins God hates—sins that incorporate different parts of the body—facial expression; lying tongue; and now hands used to shed blood.
THE SIN OF MURDER
1. After talking about a proud look or a lying tongue, we have all been convicted. Now Solomon speaks of the sin of murder. We can all join in on a collective sigh of relief—for none of us have ever committed murder!
2. The 10 commands state, “Thou shalt not kill.” We feel pretty good about that commandment—for none of us have ever killed anyone. We are not guilty. (We might not fare so well against some of the other commandments: covet; bear false witness; etc…)
3. However, the sin of murder makes us all feel a litter safer… less convicted… innocent.
4. While the expression “hands that shed innocent blood” does refer to the sin of murder, the Lord expanded its meaning in Matthew 5:21-22.
a. Killing puts a man in danger of the judgment. Anger at a brother without a cause also puts a person in danger of the judgment!
b. Both sins have the same penalty… both sins are the same KIND of sins.
c. They differ only in degree, not in kind.
• The sin of anger is like a sin in seed form.
• If allowed to grow and fester that sin of anger will manifest itself in various ways… (Bulging blood vessels in the neck; insults; pushing; shoving; hitting; even shooting or stabbing!)
• The ultimate demonstration of the sin of anger is murder.
5. Murder begins in the heart. (Matt. 15:19)
a. Murder is a sin of the heart—just like every other sin.
b. The hands will only do what the heart/mind tells them to do.
c. Hands don’t shed innocent blood all by themselves.
d. The premeditation takes place in the mind and heart long before the blood is ever shed.
e. Notice that the Lord says that evil thoughts proceed from the heart. The mind thinks evil… and if that mind is not controlled by the Holy Spirit, it has the capacity to think the ultimate evil—committing murder.
f. Thus the murder is actually incubated in the heart.
g. The Lord Himself indicates that there is a link between anger or hatred in the heart and hands that shed innocent blood.
• Cain was angry (very wroth) (Gen. 4:5)
• Cain slew his brother (Gen. 4:8)
• The first record of an angry man in the Bible also turns out to be the first record of a murderer!
• From that point on, there are lots of examples of murderers in the Bible!
• Esau planned to kill Jacob; Joseph’s brothers planned to kill Joseph;
6. Gal. 5:19-21 – the source of this hatred is fallen human nature.
a. The potential for the outbreak of all of these sins resides in us all… and in our kids.
b. Murder is the fruit of strife… anger… wrath… hatred… envies…
c. Each of them can potentially result in murder.
d. Think of the case of the plastic surgeon in Methuen who shot his wife’s lover in the hospital room. His envy led to anger to hatred to murder—or manslaughter… the Lord knows. Prior to this, he was a mild mannered, upright model citizen!
7. Probably none of us here will ever actually commit murder. BUT to prevent us from being guilty of the same kind of sin, we must guard our hearts.
a. It is VERY like that our hearts might be filled with anger… hatred… envy… vengeance… wrath… strife…greed… pride…
b. Each of those sins of the heart could be translated into physical action if we are not careful to guard our hearts.
c. Psalm 55:21 – David speaks of some men with WAR in their heart. If that war is not resolved, it could lead to a physical war with the hands… no longer just in the heart!
d. Prov. 27:4 – these sins of the heart can manifest themselves in outrageous ways… and we might even shock and scare ourselves of what we are capable of doing or saying…
e. Prov. 19:19 – a man who does not guard against wrath will eventually pay a price…
• The sin of anger results in punishment…
• There may be serious consequences to our sin of anger—even if it doesn’t lead to murder.
• It could lead to getting fired… breaking up your marriage… ruining your testimony for the Lord…
f. I Pet. 4:15 – Christians are warned against the sin of murder—because it is possible.
HOW TO PREVENT THE SIN OF ANGER AND WHAT IT MIGHT LEAD TO
• Psychology says that we should VENT our anger… reenact difficult situations… have rap sessions in which we yell at people to let off some steam… punch a tree…or a pillow…or perhaps you need a prescription!
• The message in the Bible is quite different:
1. Cease from anger!
a. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. (Ps. 37:8)
• This is a command—and places the responsibility on us!
• If we get angry, it is our own fault. It is not to be blamed on our second grade teacher or our wicked step mother!
b. The Bible says do NOT express your anger! Cease!
• Cease: to let drop, abandon, relax, refrain, forsake; to let go; to refrain, let alone; to be quiet
• Anger in the heart is NOT like steam under pressure. It does not need to be vented like a volcano.
• Venting anger is simply TRAINING ourselves to be an angry person and to express our anger in open and violent ways
c. In reality, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the anger is GONE. If we confess our sin of anger, it is gone… gone… gone!
2. Control your anger – be slow to anger
a. Prov.16:32 – the man who is SLOW to anger = the man who controls his spirit.
• It IS possible to control one’s spirit… to control one’s temper.
• The fruit of the Spirit is temperance—self control!
• Jas. 1:19 – slow to wrath—a command!
b. It isn’t easy to control one’s temper—but by God’s grace and God’s power we can…we have the power of the resurrection available to us!
c. We all blow up from time to time… and we will never eradicate anger altogether. But we can learn to control it… or rather to allow God to control our hearts…
3. Ignore the insults of others – Prov. 19:11 – we need to learn to ignore the transgressions of others… the hurtful things they say and do…
a. We don’t need to always have the last word…
b. We don’t have to retaliate for every barb thrown our way…
c. Learn to turn the other cheek…
4. Avoid angry words—for they lead to angry action—Prov. 15:1 – a soft answer turneth away wrath.
a. This wrath speaks of the wrath of the other person.
b. However, in an argument… wrath leads to more wrath on both sides.
c. God’s answer to anger is STOP… resolve issues that lead to anger… and worse…
5. Avoid the rowdy crowd – Prov. 22:24-25 – make no friendship with a furious man… with someone who lacks self control.
a. Why? Because it might rub off on you!
b. Because after a while those uncontrolled outbursts of his might begin to sound normal…
c. Because you will learn his ways… (It is passed on from generation to generation—this is an example of a sin that is passed on from the father to the third and fourth generations!)
d. Kids learn how to deal with situations at home. How do you make your point? Throw a lamp? Kick the door? Punch a hole in the wall?
e. Angry behavior is learned.
6. Deal with the upsetting situations each day – Eph. 4:26 – Let not the sun go down upon your wrath… for it might lead to something worse tomorrow!
a. To control your anger, deal with the issues that cause the anger!
b. Avoiding the issues and sweeping it under the rug only leads to frustration and more anger…
7. Those are all helpful passages which give us some common sense wisdom in dealing with wrath and anger—and the violence they could lead to. But the real cure is to be filled with the Holy Spirit!
a. Gal. 5:16 – walk in the Spirit and ye shall NOT fulfill the lusts of the flesh—listed in vs.19-20—which include hatred, wrath, strife, envy, and murder—bloody hands and the heart sins that lead to it!
b. Gal. 5:22-23 – temperance—self control—we can either be controlled by anger or by the Holy Spirit!
• It is a choice—whom we choose to serve—the Lord or the flesh!
• No believer is the poor, innocent victim of an overactive anger gland!
• We have a choice whether we want to yield our members to God or not. God has plenty of power to enable us to have victory.
• Anger does not have to be a life controlling sin for the believer. The cross is the answer.
Prov. 25:28 – He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
♦ There is nothing more pitiful than a man who cannot control himself.
♦ The prisons are FULL of such men—and women…
♦ A city that is without walls is a city that cannot defend itself… the smallest army can successfully attack!
♦ A man who cannot control his anger is also easily attacked… the smallest little irritation sends him off into a tailspin…
♦ I know people who cannot control their temper… they are to be pitied.
♦ A lack of control over our temper can ruin a life… lead to destruction…
Proverbs 6:18a
A Heart that Deviseth Wicked Imaginations
Introduction:
1. Previously: the evil use of body language – vs.12-14.
2. Solomon continues to warn his son about the things God especially hates—the seven deadly sins.
3. So far, they are also linked to a part of the body. (face; tongue; hands; now the heart)
The Heart
1. Heart: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding; reflection; emotions;
a. Heart = as seat of thought life; our appetites; seat of emotions and passions; as seat of courage.
b. It is the seat of either sin or holiness. (Luke 6:45)
• It is where we treasure up all of our innermost thoughts, desires, plans, ambitions, goals, and purposes…
• Whether they be good or bad!
c. I Sam. 16:7 – God is most concerned about the heart.
• How has your heart been lately?
• Has it been a source of that which is good, lovely, pure, holy, joyous… OR has it been a source of malice, bitterness, resentment, subtlety, and evil intentions?
• You want to know what kind of person you really are? Very often we put up a “front” that is not a good reflection of what is really going on inside. (hypocrisy)
• Prov. 23:7 – for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.
» What kind of person are you? What fills your heart throughout the day? What do you think about continually? What’s on your mind?
» Is our heart filled with ambitious thoughts of worldly success?
» Is our heart filled with inflated views of self?
» Is our heart filled with self-righteousness?
» Is our heart filled with a desire to please and honor God?
• Examine your heart. THAT is the kind of person we really are!
d. All of the issues of life proceed from the heart. That’s why we are told to keep your heart with all diligence! (Prov. 4:23)
e. The heart devises all the plans and sets the direction for our whole life. It is the very core of our being… the inner control center of our life…
The Heart Devises
1. Devise: to cut into; plow; engrave; or to plot evil…
a. Evil is plotted out like a man plots out how he is going to plow his field. (Which way would be the most advantageous? In what direction should the rows be plowed? How long? How many? When is the best time? How deep? Which fields?)
b. Farmers don’t just start plowing any old field. They put a lot of planning into growing their crops if they want to be successful.
c. As the seat of thought life, the heart thinks, makes plans, imagines things, tries to predict the outcomes of certain actions, devises the whole course of one’s life… it all starts in the mind… the heart.
d. Prov. 6:14 – Frowardness is in his heart; he deviseth mischief continually!
• The kind of person Solomon is describing is one who is constantly thinking of new ways to exhibit mischief… planning to stir up trouble… it is a full time job!
• If frowardness (evil—the old nature) is in the heart and controlling the heart, then that heart is going to be continually devising ways to express itself… planning… plotting… imagining…
2. Prov. 24:8 – a froward heart naturally devises mischief. Thus, the one who makes such plans is called “mischievous.”
a. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he!
b. He behaves that way because that is the kind of person he is.
c. Solomon warns his son about the kinds of evil he should expect to see out there in the world.
3. Ps. 36:3-4 – another mischievous person—
a. His mouth is deceitful
b. He has quit following the ways of wisdom; he has quit trying to do good.
c. He stays up at night devising his mischievous plans…
d. He doesn’t abhor or hate evil. He seems to delight in it!
4. Micah 2:1 – Others plan and plot evil at night… and just wait for the morning light that might carry out their plans.
a. Note that they carry them out when it is in the power of their hands to do so.
b. Many evil people make such plans but do not have the ability or opportunity to carry them out.
c. God holds them responsible for their thoughts!
d. Prov. 24:9 – the thought of foolishness is SIN! Even if the opportunity to carry out your plan never materialized.
e. Mischievous people are constantly devising wicked imaginations…
5. There are people like that out there!
a. Perhaps you work with one. Perhaps there is one or two in your class at school! Perhaps you live next door to one.
b. Perhaps you have even met one in Christian circles!
c. What destruction such a person can do! What damage—in a neighborhood… in a school… a church… even a family!
Wicked Imaginations
1. Imaginations: thoughts; plans; inventions;
2. I Chron. 28:9 – the Lord knows all the imaginations and thoughts of our hearts! David told this to Solomon…
a. We are to seek God with a pure mind and heart…
b. If there are evil intentions or motivations in our heart, God knows.
c. That is comforting to know—especially when people treat us cruelly. God knows their hearts too—and will deal with them in justice one day.
d. We can rest in that—and need not take vengeance into our own hands.
3. God hates those who devise wicked imaginations. He loves those who devise pure imaginations.
a. We ARE responsible for our imagination… our mind… our thoughts… our day dreams… where we allow our minds to wander…
b. Jer. 7:23-24 – The Lord rebukes Israel for her imagination
• God said “Obey me. Keep my commandments.”
• Israel resisted—and chose to walk in her OWN imagination…
• Whatever she devised in her own mind—THAT would she do.
• It speaks of a mind that refuses to submit to God… and demands to imagine and plan its own ways.
c. Jer. 13:10 – God has spelled out one direction and one course, but they have devised another course in their own minds. (This seems better!)
6. II Cor. 10:3 – “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
a. God does not tolerate imaginations that wander from the straight and narrow.
b. He demands that they be cast down—by the HOLY SPIRIT as we fill our minds with things that are pure, lovely, of good report, full of virtue…
c. God requires that our MINDS be in submission to His Word and His will.
d. It is possible to be a total rebel in our minds—and put on a front on the outside. (Hypocrisy)
• We can do the right things; say the right things; outwardly obey; and yet rebel on the inside.
• God sees the heart. One cannot fool God.
7. Solomon’s point is that the HEART devises such wicked imaginations!
a. Such plans and intentions originate in the human heart.
b. Jeremiah tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked!
c. Unless the HOLY SPIRIT controls us, our hearts could deceive us!
d. Unless we are Spirit controlled our hearts could devise wicked imaginations… make evil plans and plots… (With great subtlety of course!)
8. The world is full of sinners whose hearts are fallen and are filled with wicked devises.
• God hates it. How much? Read Gen.6:5, 11, 13!
• There was a time when the whole world was characterized by this deadly sin… and God destroyed the whole world.
• If God hates it that much—suffice it to say that we should not use our minds and hearts that way—to plan and plot evil!
9. We have a responsibility to RENEW our minds… daily. (Rom. 12:2)
a. Notice that this renewed mind is PRECEDED by a life that is given over to Christ… presented as a living sacrifice… our all on the altar.
b. The end result of a renewed mind is that we begin to PRACTICE God’s will… those good thoughts are put into practice, just like the wicked put their evil thoughts into practice.
c. Just as the wicked lie in bed at night devising wicked imaginations, we too should lie in bed at night meditating on our great God! (Ps. 63:5-6;
d. Ps. 143:5 – I will meditate on the Lord and MUSE on His works!
• Muse: put forth thoughts; commune; ponder… wondering about good things…
• Just as the imagination can be let loose to devise evil, it can also be let loose on the wonderful works of God!
e. When our minds are daily renewed in the Word of God, we will be busy using our minds to think of ways to glorify God—to witness to the lost—to minister to the saints—to improve our service in the local church—to be a better vessel in God’s hands!
Proverbs 6:18b
Feet that be Swift in Running to Mischief
Introduction:
1. Solomon has been using body parts as a figure of a sin that God hates.
2. Face; tongue; hands; heart… and now the feet.
The Feet
1. The last figure was that of the heart—devising wicked imaginations.
2. Now the feet carry out those plans… the feet go where the heart devises…
3. How “feet” are used in Proverbs…
a. Feet move us… from one place to another. (Either literally or figuratively)
b. Feet move us… and thus speak about the direction our life is taking (Prov. 4:26 – ponder the path of thy feet.)
c. Feet move us… and thus eventually bring us to places we should not be if we are not careful. We can sin with our feet! (Prov. 19:2)
d. Feet bring us swiftly to mischief! (6:18)
e. Feet run to evil… (Prov. 1:16)
f. Paul quotes Isaiah when he describes human depravity: “Their feet are swift to shed blood.”—feet carry out the evil deeds of the inner man.
4. When used figuratively, feet are most often used in a negative sense in Proverbs… running to evil rather than to good.
a. Obviously, it is not the feet that are evil… they only go where we tell them to go!
* Cf. Prov. 6:14 – mischief is in his heart—so his feet run to it!
b. But they symbolize wandering… running to carry out evil… going here and there to perform the mischief just devised…
c. The heart devises the evil plan—the feet execute that plan… the feet carry out that covetous, envious, crafty, revengeful, mean-spirited plot…
d. Feet are spoken of as running to evil most often—because the heart of man is evil… the heart is the control center that directs our feet… that steers our ship… that sets the tone and direction of our life.
e. The feet here are RUNNING to evil… which speaks of the speed and diligence and vigor used in carrying out the evil plan. Evil men are often hard workers… quite diligent in their plans and plots.
f. The diligence and tenacity of evil men in carrying out their evil plans should shame us—O that we would be as swift to do good—how beautiful are the feet of them that proclaim the good news!
5. God hates feet that run to carry out mischief.
a. Prov. 10:23 – for some, causing mischief is a sport! They love it! Have you met people like that? I have.
• If there is a spark of controversy, they are right there to fan the flames… keep the controversy going and growing!
• It is a sport to them… (sport = laughter; fun; sport)
b. Prov. 1:15-16 – thus we are exhorted to stay away—refrain your feet from the path of those who are headed for trouble!
c. This is good advice for young people at school… and for businessmen… and for housewives… for anyone!
d. If God hates what their feet are up to—then stay away!
e. Prov. 14:7-9 – Don’t follow the way of foolish… the wicked… remove your feet from their path!
• When you perceive by listening to him that he is headed in the wrong direction—GO from him!
• Prudent or wise men will THINK about where their feet are headed!
• How do you tell a fool? He mocks at sin… makes light of holy things… stay away! His feet are headed for destruction.
• It is so easy for young people to get involved in the wrong crowd—parents—keep an eye on the friends your children choose! Teach them HOW to choose good friends…
Our Feet Can Lead Down the Wrong Road
1. Prov. 16:25 – Sometimes the wrong road SEEMS right…
a. Read Pilgrim’s Progress—almost every wrong turn Christian took LOOKED pretty good at first… softer grass, more shade, ran parallel to the main road, seemed to be headed in the same direction…
• But he always ran into mischief down that road…
• One day Christian asked Greatheart how to tell if he was on the straight and narrow. Greatheart replied, “It’s simple my boy. The straight and narrow goes straight… it doesn’t have any twists or turns! ANY turn off the straight and narrow is a wrong turn!”
b. Our adversary is a master at making evil look good… at counterfeiting… he can make the wrong road look like the right one…
c. Remember—the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Nothing is more deceptive than the machinations of the fallen heart!
d. Beware! We CAN be deceived by our heart! Our feelings can fool us into thinking, “this seems right… it feels good… it must be God’s will.”
2. Knowing that our heart easily deceives us—and knowing that our feet are prone to wander off on to the wrong way—even toward mischief, we need God’s guidance…
a. Jer. 10:23 – it is not in man to direct his steps.
• This is the beginning of wisdom—realizing that we don’t have what it takes to direct our own steps… we need God in every step we take!
b. Ps. 37:23-24 – the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.
• Do we let God order our steps? Or do we give the orders ourselves?
• God delights in the one whose steps are ordered from above!
• If that is our heart attitude (Lord guide me!) then even if we fall, He will lift us right back up again!
• God hates feet that wander off into mischief. He delights in feet that are directed by His Spirit.
c. Prov. 16:9 – You choose which way you want to go—in the straight and narrow or your own road!
• If we choose to walk with God—He will direct our steps!
• That’s a promise.
d. Prov. 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord and He will direct your path!
• Ours is a walk of faith… trusting in the Lord to direct our steps.
• Acknowledge Him—recognize His leading… His hand in directing your steps… be conscious of His presence…
• THEN He will direct our path…
• Sometimes it seems like God has NOT directed our steps… that our way has become all tangled up… like Paul when he intended to carry out his missionary journeys when suddenly his steps were halted—and he was cast into prison. Even there Paul realized that his steps “turned out rather to the furtherance of the gospel!”
• God WANTS our pathway to be clear and safe. Therefore He said, “Consult me in everything!”
• God has plenty of wisdom… and He wants us to come to Him and seek it!
• Seek it wholeheartedly! (Prov. 2:3-5)
• Ps. 119:105 – God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet… a lamp to illuminate the right way for us go… the right path… and will keep our feet from mischief!
• Ps. 119:9 – how can a young man cleanse his way? How can we keep our feet off dead end roads… away from mischief… away from sinful lifestyles? TAKE HEED to the Word! (vs.11 – hide it in your heart!)
Proverbs 6:19
Sowing Discord
What would cause a person to want to sow discord?
a. Pride – a proud heart stirs up strife (28:25)
• If a person can sow discord and make others look bad, then they make themselves look good!
• Note that the sower of discord is linked together with a false witness… one who speaks lies.
• In order to make one party look bad, it is often helpful to twist the truth a bit… stretch the truth… spice it up…
• The uglier the picture you paint of your victim, the sweeter you smell—self always comes out smelling like a rose!
• Pride is often behind those who stir up strife among friends and sow discord.
• III John 9-10 = Diotrephes – he loved the preeminence. In order to maintain his preeminence, he was evidently putting down the apostles… trying to turn the people against them… in order to exalt himself!
b. Anger – an angry man stirs up strife (29:22)
• Another reason for sowing discord is anger.
• When anger is not dealt with right away, it can fester and result in all kinds of residual sins.
• Jesus said that anger is at the heart of murder!
• But most believers would never commit murder… but we might try to hurt someone by less drastic means. (After all—we’re too respectable to commit murder!
• We love ourselves too much to want to sit in jail for 50 years! Thus, we come up with other ways to hurt.
• Thus, instead of assassinating the person, we assassinate their character!
• We poison their friendships… by sowing discord…
• What is often at the core of this kind of sowing of strife and discord? Anger! A person who is angry will invent ways of retaliating… of getting even… getting back… inflicting pain and suffering…
• Hatred – hatred stirs up strife (10:12) If an angry man sows strife, hatred will cause a man to stir up strife—but on a grander scale!
c. Froward man sows strife (16:28) – (froward: turned or twisted; perversity, a perverse thing; crooked—used several times of Sodom and Gomorrah)
• This term indicates a perversity in the thinking of the one stirring up strife… sowing discord.
• There is something unnatural about their behavior… like the unnatural perversity in Sodom…
• Brethren ought to be like family… there is something perverse about trying to break up a family.
• Friends ought to be friendly… there is something perverse about the one who attempts to break up friendships… but that is exactly what Solomon says of this kind of person. (Prov. 16:28)
d. Earthly, sensual, and demonic! (James 3:14-16)
• James says that behind this kind of strife is a worldly, earthly kind of thinking… that is sensual (feelings oriented) and is influenced by demons!
• I Cor. 3:3 – carnality—wherever there is this kind of strife—and division—caused by the sower of discord—there is carnality—the opposite of spirituality.
e. A love of transgression – Prov. 17:19 – “He loveth transgression that loveth strife”.
• Some men just love sin… and they especially love this sin of sowing strife.
• They are not happy unless they are involved in some controversy… strife… argument… etc.
• They hate to see a good argument die down!
f. What is behind the sowing of discord among brethren?
• A proud, angry, worldly person who is motivated by his carnal nature, a love for sin and strife, and influenced by demons!
• That makes me want to think twice before sowing any discord among brethren!
What are the results of sowing discord?
1. Separate chief friends. (16:28; 17:9)
a. Two times Solomon warns us of this danger.
b. A third party—for various reasons (pride; anger; love of strife) can become a wedge between others…
c. Like a boat in a small pond, some people leave a string of broken relationships in their wake…
d. Like a boat—you only begin to feel the ripples after it has done its work.
e. Some believe that all seven of the things the Lord hates in Prov. 6:16-18 are related to the sowing of discord.
• A proud look; lying tongue; a heart that devises wicked imaginations; feet that are swift in running to mischief… all aimed at sowing discord!
• The fine art of sowing discord involves the whole person… the look… the words…the whispering… the clever plots… the body language… the crafty twisting of words…
f. Anyone can separate chief friends. It’s easy. All you have to do is be willing to sow discord… innuendoes… stretch the truth… roll the eyes at times… throw in a little gossip… put down one of the friends… emphasize every unkind thing they’ve ever done… and a few little white lies and VOILA! Friends are no longer friends!
g. I’ve seen it happen over the years… it’s happened to me… I’ve watched the wake of broken relationships… I’ve had to deal with the aftermath…
h.) All I can say is, “No wonder God hates it! It is mean spirited… hurtful… destructive… and sometimes irreversible!”
• Prov. 18:19 – “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”
2. Divisions in the church (I Cor. 3:3)
a. A divisive person can not only break up friendships, but can cause divisions and splits in churches!
b. I’ve seen that happen too.
c. Sometimes division in the church is good and needful—if it is over the truth… doctrine. But normally, church splits are NOT over important issues.
d. The issue in I Cor. 3 – was over personality and style… not doctrine!
e. That was a sinful kind of division… Paul rebukes those involved.
f. It doesn’t take much to cause people to polarize either… just one or two sowers of discord… and the work of God can be destroyed.
g. I Cor. 3:17 – no wonder the severe warning!
• Anyone who interferes with that sacred unity will have to answer to God!
• You don’t step in and stir up trouble in another person’s family… or between husband and wife. They are sacred unions…
• The church is God’s family too… it is His bride… He is the groom. He takes very seriously those who sow discord and seek to harm His family!
• Confusion and every evil work. Jas. 3:16. There is no end of the trouble that can be caused by a sower of discord.
h.) Ps. 133:1 – Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
• God loves peacemakers… but God hates sowers of discord!
• This is especially so with BRETHREN!
3. People will get hurt (26:17)
a. This verse gives us a graphic picture of a meddler… a busybody… one who steps into the business of others when they shouldn’t… a trouble maker!
b. The point is that someone is going to get bit! People are going to get hurt!
c. The person who meddles in the affairs of others is like a man picking up a dog by the ears. That dog is going to bite!
d. The person himself may get hurt too!
e. Prov. 11:27 – the one who seeks mischief—it will come to HIM!
f. This is not karma… this is divine justice. It often comes in this life—but justice will certainly be meted out in the life to come. (See 11:6)
Several years after inventing radar, Sir Robert Watson Watt was arrested in Canada for speeding. He’d been caught in a radar trap. He wrote this poem:
Pity Sir Robert Watson Watt,
Strange target of his radar plot,
And this, with others I could mention,
A victim of his own invention.
g. That’s why we don’t have to retaliate against the sowers of discord. God knows what they have done and God will deal with each one.
h.) Prov. 12:13 – time will tell… time exposes all. The wicked is snared and the just come out of trouble.
How do you handle it?
1. Prov. 22:10 – Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
• Prov. 26:20-21 – As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
• Where no wood is, the fire goes out! So does the discord!
2. We are commanded NOT to be a busybody in another person’s matters (I Pet. 4:15)
a. This is a sower of discord among brethren—one who feels he has to put his two cents into every argument, just to stir things up.
b. God hates this—and so should we!
3. How much BETTER to be a peacemaker—a sower of peace rather than a sower of discord! A sower of harmony!
a. God loves one and hates the other.
Proverbs 6:20-23a
Guidance Through God’S Word
20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother
1. Once again, Solomon addresses his son… a father/son talk.
a. The particular theme of the rest of the chapter is a warning against adultery.
b. In fact, Solomon spends several whole chapters warning his son against adultery. (vs. 24ff.)
c. Interesting isn’t it, that Solomon would spend so much time warning his son in this area—since this is the very area in which his father David fell.
d. No doubt, Solomon saw some of the ripples in his home life which were directly related to his father’s behavior. The kids pay a price.
e. Solomon didn’t want his son to continue that kind of behavior.
2. Evidently both Solomon and his wife (the mother of his son) BOTH warned their son about this evil.
3. Several truths should be noted in this verse.
a. It is the responsibility of BOTH parents to teach the children!
• We often think of training children as the mother’s job… the father is off at work all day.
• Not so in the Bible. In fact, the father is especially singled out in Eph. 6:4! “Fathers… bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord!”
• Fathers need to talk to their sons… especially about the subject at hand…adultery.
• But not only the father… the mother too.
b. Each parent will have wisdom in different areas. A wise husband will put to use the unique wisdom of a woman in training children.
• A father may be strong on helping his son avoid temptations…
• A mother may be strong on warning the son about the dangers and sorrows to the home and children when infidelity strikes…
• A father might be strong in nurturing a sense of honor and reputation to be maintained for the Lord.
• A mother might be strong in teaching her sons and daughters HOW to love their spouses…
• With an older son or daughter—both the father and mother might profitably warn about the dangers of infidelity from different perspectives.
• When it comes to the sin of adultery—Solomon wanted his son to remember what he had been taught by BOTH his father and mother.
c. The child is to listen to BOTH parents.
• The son here is commanded to obey the instruction of BOTH mother and father. The writer takes it for granted that both parents are saying the same thing.
• The instructions from mom cannot be contradictory to those of dad or the child is being trained in confusion.
• A wise husband will discuss these issues with his wife—and consider her viewpoint.
• But when it comes to this subject—adultery—there should certainly be agreement!
4. While these laws and instruction in context refers particularly to the sin of adultery, they would also apply to ALL the words of wisdom as found in the book of Proverbs.
a. In other words, it seems that the commandments and laws being drilled into the child’s heart mentioned here have to do with lifelong principles… principles which will govern the rest of their days.
b. The words of wisdom found in Proverbs include: the use of the tongue; the use of money and property; respect for elders; diligence vs. slothfulness; wise use of time; avoiding immorality; avoiding association with foolish men; the pursuit of the knowledge of God; etc.
c. Parents have a responsibility to train a child in wise principles that will set them in a right direction the rest of their lives.
d. Parents have a responsibility to drill these principles of morality and godliness, as deeply as possible into the hearts of their children.
e. Solomon and his wife taught their sons about the evil of adultery…
• In our culture today, our teens need to be taught by dad and mom on this important subject today!
• Don’t leave it to the kids on the corner to teach them… or TV… or the school systems… they are going to get twisted information.
• This is the responsibility of the parents!
• When it came to the subject of sexual immorality, Solomon gave his sons some clear commandments!
• His mother laid down the law!
• We need to be clear too.
21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck
1. The commandments that Solomon gave his son are to be kept close to his heart… for the rest of his life.
a. In his heart, he should HATE the sin of adultery…
• Especially as you see its effects over the years…
• The awful scars it leaves on the kids…
• The bitterness and even hatred between families…
• But especially because it is sin against GOD!
b. He should LOVE the warnings against it that he received from his parents.
• Most young people hear the warnings, and say, “Yea, I know! Next subject, please!”
• Perhaps not til later in life will they grow to appreciate the training they received in this area… and the repeated warnings…
c. This truth about holiness, which was passed on to him from his parents, should be BOUND next to his heart…
2. He is to keep this truth next to his heart CONTINUALLY…
a. This warning is not just for young people in their teens and twenties… but it is for believers of all ages!
b. Immorality ruins the homes of older folks who have been married for decades!
c. This is not a truth that we can afford to forget… keep the warning FRESH in your mind… bind it on your heart continually…
3. One of the very first qualities (after salvation!) that a young person should look for in a mate is faithfulness… fidelity…purity…
a. Looks are quite insignificant. They are going to get old, fat, and wrinkly one day anyway! Dig a little deeper than their looks!
b. Don’t even think of going out with a person who is a flirt… whose mouth spouts out filthiness, foolish taking, or jesting which are not convenient. Do not tolerate behavior that is unbecoming of saints! (Eph. 5:3-4)
c. Unclean persons are not believers in Christ! Be not ye therefore partakers with them! Stay away! (Eph. 5:5-7)
d. You will meet such persons… when you do, remember the godly advise your parents gave you—stay away!
22When thou goest, it shall lead thee
1. Goest = going, walking, traveling
a. It is used as a figure of our whole life… not just when we are taking a walk.
b. One’s whole life is seen as our journey or our pilgrimage on earth.
c. When thou goest means “all throughout your life here on earth” or “as you journey through life…”
2. It shall LEAD thee…
a. All throughout your life, this godly wisdom passed on to you from your godly parents will lead you… guide you… direct your steps…
b. If we keep our parents godly wisdom next to our heart, it will continually give us guidance… even long after we have moved out of their house!
c. Such godly advise will prevent us from falling… tripping over stumblingblocks that many in the world fall over.
d. Wherever we go through life, these lessons will go with us… and will provide guidance in decisions we make.
e. Those lessons about purity will cause us to choose to stay away from situations where we might be tempted… to avoid compromising situations…
f. They will teach us to make no provision for the flesh…
g. Ps. 119:24 – “Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.” Godly parents should be giving advice based on God’s word. His word and wisdom from it will continually serve as our counselors all throughout life!
h. Keep the wisdom of God’s word close to your heart… and you will have a built in counselor! A built in guidance counselor!
22 When thou sleepest, it shall keep thee
1. He switches from walking along life’s way to sleeping or reclining… from life’s activities to life’s quieter moments.
a. Sleep = to lie down; rest; relax,—not just sleep.
b. Godly wisdom will guide us through all the hustle and bustle of life… and it will KEEP us in those quiet times… times of relative tranquility…
2. Another difference here is from guidance to KEEPING…
a. Keep = guard; protect; watch over; keep charge over… like a guard
b. The man or woman who keeps these rules of purity and fidelity will be safe… protected…
c. There are lots of immoral people in the world who are not safe at night…
• Because of their adultery and immorality, they have made enemies.
• Many so-called “love triangles” end in murder.
• Those folks are not safe at night…
• Others may have deadly sexually transmitted diseases in their bodies and they don’t even know it.
• Immoral people are not safe when they sit down to relax…
• And even if they are not in danger of disease or being murdered, they are always in danger of being caught…
d. The son or daughter who KEEPS the godly advice of his parents concerning adultery and moral purity… is safe! He is protected. He can sleep soundly at night… in purity of both body and conscience!
3. The protection and safety afforded by taking heed to the commandments and godly advice is a theme often seen in this book.
a. 3:19-24 they will keep you safe… day and night… keep you from falling…
b. 4:10-13 – godly parental advice is a lifesaver! She is thy life!
22 And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
1. After the time of resting or relaxing, it’s time to get up… to awake…
2. Even then, godly wisdom will TALK with you…
a. Talk = to put forth, mediate, muse, commune, speak
b. The godly wisdom passed down from parent to child is something that will stick with them the rest of their lives!
c. When they wake up—they will have something to think about… something to meditate on… to muse over in their mind.
3. As our children begin their day, and thoughts turn to their friends who are going through a divorce… perhaps YOUR words of wisdom will come to their mind!
a. Perhaps they will be able to share those words with their friend!
b. Perhaps something you told them years ago, that they had never really come across in real life suddenly they are faced with such a situation… and know just what to do… just what to say…
4. Perhaps a generation later, the same wisdom you heard from your parents—which you shared with your kids—will be passed on to your grandchildren.
5. Godly wisdom will stay with you the rest of your life… and will be a constant companion—one who stays with you and talks with you… God’s wisdom is to be a friend… a companion… one who walks with us and talks with us… God’s wisdom will be the best friend you will ever have in life!
6. The warnings from our parents—this godly wisdom—will still be warning us all throughout life! (Ps. 19:11)
Proverbs 6:23-26
Ruined By Lust
23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;
1. The commandment mentioned here is not the commandments of Moses, but rather the commandments of Solomon given to his son. It is his fatherly advice given in this book. (see 7:1-2)
2. The advice Solomon is giving his son here is likened to a lamp and a light.
a. This is a common figure in the poetic books.
b. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps. 119:105
c. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Ps. 119:130
d. The advice Solomon gives his son is now recorded in Scripture for us. It is not only Solomon’s advice, but God’s Word!
3. The wisdom Solomon gives his son… and the wisdom we receive from God’s Word illuminates our way.
a. Illumination keeps us from stumbling… from falling…
b. We are viewed as pilgrims on our journey through life… and there are many potholes and pitfalls to avoid. In the darkness, we will fall in. But if our way is illuminated, we can avoid them!
c. If we follow God’s wisdom, we don’t have to fall into those pitfalls.
d. If we think we can handle life on our own, we WILL fall… and fall hard!
e. Ps. 18:28-30 – God will “light our candle”… if we let Him. He will illuminate our way so that we can leap over a wall… He will give strength… guidance… enablement… victory… BUT—we must walk in the light of that candle!
f. Ps. 43:3-4 – God’s light leads us out of darkness and unto the place of holiness and purity.
And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
1. God’s wisdom and Word not only give light… positively shining on the way we should go. It also gives REPROOFS… warnings… rebukes when we take a wrong turn!
2. When Divine wisdom speaks through His Word and we follow those warnings, we will walk in the way safely and will not stumble. (Prov. 3:21-23; 4:12)
3. Solomon has driven home this point several times. “Son, please be safe! Be careful! Follow my advice… take heed to my reproofs and warnings!”
1. Now he gets real specific. “Son, if you follow my advice, you will be kept from the evil woman!”
a. Kept = guarded; protected from; preserve from;
b. The wisdom Solomon gives his son is for the PROTECTION of his son!
c. If his son takes heed, he will be protected from the evil woman…
d. Note that this fatherly advice… recorded as divinely inspired Scripture… will keep on protecting that son when dad is not around… (vs.22)
2. The evil woman is a seductress… a harlot… an adulteress…
a. She is called a whorish woman and an adulteress in vs. 26
b. Solomon’s point is that this kind of woman is one of the pitfalls in life that divine wisdom will enable us to avoid… IF we take heed.
c. Wisdom will provide protection from all kinds of trouble… here’s an important one—the evil woman… the harlot…
3. Every young man (and young woman—there are evil men out there too!) needs to hear this advice from their father.
a. Young people need to be TAUGHT the danger of such behavior…
b. We can’t expect them to know all this unless they are told. That’s the father’s job.
c. Solomon spends a good portion of several chapters dealing with this issue with his son. We should follow his pattern.
HOW THE SEDUCTRESS SEDUCES:
She uses her tongue: From the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
1. Remember back in vs. 12-19 how Solomon had been speaking about the way people use the members of their body to sin… body language…?
a. vs. 13 – winking with the eye and speaking with the feet; teaching with fingers
b. vs. 17 – a proud look; lying tongue
c. Now, Solomon speaks about the harlot—how she uses her body to entice.
d. Vs. 24 – Her tongue: she flatters the foolish young man with her tongue.
• Cf. 2:16 – she flatters with her words
• 5:3 & 7:5 – her mouth is smoother than oil… her words are so sweet…
• 7:21-22 – she flatters with her lips and “forces” him! He goes like an ox to the slaughter… defeated by her tricks.
» Forced = to drive; impel; move; chase;
» With her words, she caused him to yield.
e. She can be the CAUSE of the fall… but the man who falls is not a poor innocent victim of circumstances.
• Solomon has already told us what to do—stay away!
• Remember Joseph—he didn’t give Potiphar’s wife TIME to talk him into anything! He ran!
• Nobody can FORCE us to sin.
• The adulteress is the bait that entices a man to bite the hook… but she cannot force it.
• Solomon is warning his son NOT TO LISTEN to such a woman! Her words can draw you in… don’t listen! We’ve already been warned.
• The young man does not have to fall. If he follows his father’s commandments, he will not yield.
• If you KNOW that she uses her tongue to entice—then don’t listen—and you will be protected from her evil ways.
1. The harlot will show enough of her body to cause the young man to lust.
2. This is human nature: exposed flesh causes lust. Therefore, godly women will dress modestly.
3. This is the ungodly woman—the harlot. She exposes herself enough to draw the young man in… entice… lure… tempt…
4. She is trying to entice him into committing adultery. But that begins with adultery in the heart…
5. Solomon warns his son not to lust after her beauty in his heart… in his mind…
• This is just what Jesus warned against in Matt. 5:28 – lusting in the heart = committing adultery in the heart.
• The next step is actually committing adultery!
6. How can a young man NOT lust after her beauty? Don’t look!
7. Where is this evil woman to be found?
a. In Solomon’s day, she was probably found only in certain sections of the ancient city of Jerusalem. You would have to go out of your way to see her.
b. Nowadays, she is everywhere.
• She is in your livingroom if you watch the regular programming on TV!
• She is in the movie theatre!
• She is at the beach.
• She is on the Internet! Pornographic web sites are among the most profitable.
• She is on the billboards as you drive down the highway.
• She is in the magazine racks at the barbershop.
• And if you don’t keep your mind and heart pure, she will be in your bedroom next!
1. Again, Solomon mentions how she uses her body parts to entice… here her eyes.
2. She flirts with eyes… she doesn’t have to speak… you get the message. She speaks with her eyes. (Cf. 6:13)
3. She uses her tongue to entice you… she exposes enough flesh to entice you… she flirts with her eyes to invite you in…
4. A young man who is not taught what to expect out there will be taken in by this woman… he won’t be prepared… it will seem so innocent at first… and then he won’t know what hit him… until its over.
5. Remember the image Solomon uses: like a dumb animal going to the slaughter…
1. Once a young man gets caught up in this lifestyle, it will ruin him. He will be reduced to a piece of bread!
2. Life in the fast lane can lead to alcohol and drug abuse… divorce… broken homes… and literally to poverty!
3. Consider the warning in 5:8-10 – lest strangers are filled with thy wealth.
4. Prov. 29:3 – he that keeps company with harlots spends his substance… on riotous living… like the prodigal son.
5. That lifestyle can lead to poverty.
And the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
1. This is the true goal of the adulteress—to hunt for another victim!
a. Remember Solomon’s description of the young man going in unto the harlot—a dumb animal going to the slaughter.
b. She is actually a hunter… hunting for lives to ruin… precious young lives to be brought down the wrong path… for her pleasure… for her financial profit… and for the ruin of the young man and his family!
c. She hunts for another victim… and reduces him to poverty… dishonor and shame.
d. She is like a hunter, hunting for a dumb animal, to kill, slay, to save the skin for herself, and eat the flesh… and throw the rest away.
e. The young man who believes her words of flattery is a fool indeed!
2. Now Solomon was talking to his son… and certainly our sons need to hear this. But so do our daughters!
a. Young people are by their very nature inexperienced… and easy prey.
b. They need to be taught at home. They need to be warned.
c. And note that Solomon says these parental commands and words of instruction will KEEP the young person from evil! (vs. 24a)
Proverbs 6:27
The Danger of Sexual Sins
Introduction:
1. Solomon has been warning his son about the danger of sexual immorality.
2. In vs. 24-26 he warned his son about the seductive methodology of the immoral woman… how she lures and entices.
3. Now he warns his son about the consequences of such behavior.
a. It Burns (vs. 27-29)
b. It Is Not Easily Forgiven (vs. 30-32)
c. It Leaves a Reproach That Won’t Go Away (vs. 33-35)
IT BURNS (VS. 27-29)
1. First of all, Solomon likens this sin to fire.
2. Can a man take fire in his bosom and not get burned? Can a man go on hot coals and not be burned? Of course not!
a. Fire burns! A little spark can ignite a whole forest!
b. If the woods are dry, it only takes one little spark to ignite.
3. Think of the implications of the analogy here. There are two ingredients: the spark or fire and the clothes.
a. The spark or fire = contact with this woman… (this would include a touch, a hug, a stare, a wink of the eye, etc. – vs. 25)
b. The clothes or that which catches on fire = the man, his heart, his life…
• Clothes are dry and extremely flammable.
• The point is that a man is too… susceptible to burning.
• It doesn’t take much to start a fire. One little spark will cause the clothes to ignite…
• A man is like the dry, flammable clothes—easily burned!
• The point is that if he comes in close contact with a spark, he WILL get burned! That’s a law of nature.
4. Don’t play with fire!
a. At some point, every parent has to warn the child about something hot… something that can burn and do a lot of damage.
b. We warn our young children not to touch the stove… or the wood stove… or the electrical outlets. “Hot” is one of the first words we teach our young kids.
c. Not to do so would be negligence on our part. They NEED the warning.
d. It would be negligence because of the serious consequences of a burn… they could be scarred and disfigured for life—even killed! They could burn the whole house down.
e. Sexual immorality is far worse. This too can cause us to become scarred and disfigured for life… it can burn our whole household… our family down… ruin!
f. Light a match to dry, flammable clothing and there will be a fire. It is unavoidable. There are serious and unavoidable consequences to the sin of sexual immorality too.
g. Far worse than a scar on one’s face or hand is a scar on the soul.
h. Solomon is giving his son some good advice: Don’t play with fire. You WILL be burned! You are not the exception to the rule.
5. The illustrations given imply a man who is almost defying the laws of nature.
a. Have you ever seen someone walk on coals? They are defying this principle. (Ask one of those voodoo priests to stand on them for a few minutes!)
b. A man who takes fire in his bosom is also defying such laws.
c. The implication of such a man is, “This won’t hurt me. I can handle this. Maybe others would get burned, but not me.”
d. This is an attitude of pride… (Cf. I Cor. 10:12 – Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”)
e. Prov. 16:18 – Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
f. Prov. 28:14 – Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
• What does it mean to fear God? Should we be afraid of drawing near to God? No! We should fear sinning against Him or displeasing Him!
• That kind of fear stems from two things: an acknowledgement of who God is (infinitely holy)… and an awareness of who we are (fallen and so very capable of sinning at any moment!)
• An exalted view of God and a humble and lowly view of self results in fear. This kind of godly fear will keep us AWAY from any spark that might ignite us—for we recognize how easily we could be ignited.
g. The man who is painfully aware of how vulnerable he is in this area will not play with fire. Or even a spark!
6. The wise man stays away from fire… and sparks.
a. Anything that might ignite impurity in our mind or heart ought to be avoided.
b. Be careful in your use of the Internet. This invention has made pornography easily accessible—just the click of the mouse! And it has been the ruin of many a man… (I have had to console women who are heartbroken because their husbands spend time viewing pornography)
c. Be careful about going to the beach! It is no secret that modesty is not in vogue at the beach.
d. Be careful about what you watch on TV… or videos.
e. The pilgrims didn’t have to worry about any of these things… not like we do. That demands all the more vigilance on our part.
f. However the Puritans were not exempt from this sin—some did wear the scarlet letter. But even though they didn’t have the high tech contraptions and media to deal with… human nature was the same!
› Flirting with an adulterous or an immoral woman is playing with fire.
› Touching ignites the flesh. That is not a debatable point. Once those juices get flowing, they are virtually impossible to stop. That’s the natural law. You know this law. You know it to be true… scientific even!
• If you want to be pure… if you want to avoid sparks flying… and being burned… then don’t touch!
• That’s what the text is implying here.
• Don’t touch your neighbor’s wife… and for unmarried people—avoid whatever will ignite you.
• Remember I Cor. 10:12!
g. If something ignites you like a spark—don’t play with fire. (I Thess. 5:22)
• Don’t think of it as innocent or harmless.
• Don’t think that it won’t lead to something worse… that’s how sparks work. (warm, to hot, to smoke, to a tiny flame, to a bigger and bigger flame—that eventually is difficult to put out.)
• Stay away! That is the way of safety.
• Even some in the world are recognizing now the value of abstinence for the unmarried.
• But abstinence in young people doesn’t just happen. You have to work at it… the Bible says that we should abstain from any appearance of evil… of any compromising situation that might lead to evil…
• Young people might ridicule the idea of “abstinence even from touching”—but it is probably the only way to maintain any kind of abstinence.
• Once you touch—and get the juices flowing… you may not be able to stop. Once the sparks fly—you will burn! That’s exactly what Solomon is saying here.
h. Rom. 13:14 – “Make no provision for the flesh.”
• Whatever stirs up the flesh—get rid of it… avoid it… turn the other way.
• This might mean making some lifestyle changes… some personal sacrifices… but it is far better to sacrifice than to burn!
7. Wise parents will be careful with their children.
a. If you KNOW that your son is like dry, flammable material that only takes one small spark to ignite… don’t allow him in situations where sparks might fly!
b. It is foolish to allow teens to have the opposite sex over the house without supervision. Don’t be so foolish as to say, “But my kids wouldn’t do anything. I trust them.”
c. You shouldn’t trust them. In fact, Solomon is warning his son not to trust himself! That’s the point. We can’t trust in human nature…
d. The natural law says that if you put a spark next to dry clothes, it WILL ignite! Don’t ever trust that your clothes won’t burn!
e. With young people today, it is not only that their clothes are dry. It is more like they are soaked in gasoline!
f. There’s only one way to prevent a fire from starting—Keep the sparks away from the clothes! Don’t walk on hot coals. Don’t play with fire. You will get burned.
g. When Joseph found himself near a spark, he ran as fast as he could.
h. Would you play with matches if your clothes were soaked in gasoline? Would you even go near a fire? It is folly to think that our clothes won’t burn… this won’t happen to me… or this won’t happen to my kid! I already gave him a talk about that.
8. Fire burns—and is extremely painful. It leaves scars.
a. Solomon warns his young son about the sin of sexual impurity. He doesn’t want his son to have to suffer through the awful consequences of the sin—it’s like getting burned. It hurts for a long time after the fire goes out.
b. Think of some of the consequences of this sin in the life of a young person today…
• Single mother—or father—no hope of going to college—
• confined to a low paying job the rest of their life—often means poverty
• a constant reminder of their sin staring them in the face every day—
• there are many long lasting and far reaching consequences to this sin.
9. Going into your neighbor’s wife (vs. 29)
a. Now Solomon states that the sin of adultery is like a fire that ignites.
b. The man who commits such a sin is not “innocent.” (be clear, be pure, be free, be innocent; exempt from punishment)
c. There are consequences to the sin of adultery… they are as sure as a scientific law… like the law of gravity… or fire.
d. You can defy the law if you will, but you will lose in the end.
e. The consequences of adultery are unavoidable. Play with fire and you will be burned.
f. Job 31:9-12 – Job also states that this sin is a fire that destroys.
g. The warnings are many and lengthy. Take heed. God knows human nature. This is repeated for a purpose.
Proverbs 6:30-35
The Reproach of Adultery
30Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
1. Solomon speaks about the sin of stealing.
a. Men do not despise a thief when he steals a loaf of bread when he is hungry.
b. The passage seems to be speaking about an otherwise honest man, who has fallen into hard times, and has no food to eat… so he steals. Perhaps he steals because his children are hungry.
c. This is not a drug addict stealing to support his habit; or a slothful man stealing because he is too lazy to work. This is not a bank robber who steals in order to get rich quick.
d. It is a poor man… who is hungry. He steals just enough to eat and cause the hunger pains to go away… and perhaps some for his family to eat.
e. Men do not despise such a person.
• His actions are understandable…
• We can easily forgive such a man…
• A judge in court would probably be quite lenient on such a man.
• This is not the kind of crime that would cause a public outcry of rage against the man.
• People might despise a bank robber who steals their hard earned money… but most people wouldn’t despise a hungry man who stole a loaf of bread.
2. However, Solomon is not condoning such behavior! (vs. 31)
a. It is still sin. This is not a matter of situational ethics. Stealing a loaf of bread is sin whether we are hungry or not.
b. There is no such thing as a set of circumstances in which it is OK to sin… to break God’s commandments.
c. Thus, Solomon states that this man is to restore sevenfold.
d. In fact, if caught, he is to restore sevenfold, even if he has to empty the contents of his house to pay for his crime!
e. The law was quite strict about such crimes. (Ex. 22: 1,3,4) Sometimes the punishment would be according to what the judge decided.
f. Stealing was wrong. It was a violation of the ten commandments. It was sin… and there were no excuses for it… not even hunger.
3. The main point of these verses is this: if a hungry man steals, it is sin, and there are consequences and punishment according to the law if he is caught.
a. You will be punished. The Law does not excuse your behavior.
b. BUT—on the other hand, men WILL have mercy. Most men will be sympathetic to such a man. Men will forgive such actions. Most men would say, “There but for the grace of God go I!”
c. Jas. 2:13 – Mercy rejoices over judgment. There are times when judgment might be appropriate, but mercy is better. A man who steals a piece of bread is such an example. (cf. vs. 15-16)
d. Men are much more likely to show forgiving mercy rather than severe judgment on such a situation.
e. The thief who repents will receive forgiveness from God and from men.
4. At first glance, these two verses seem out of place in the context of the chapter.
a. From vs. 24-29 – Solomon had been speaking about the evil woman and the sin of adultery.
b. Then in vs. 30-31, he seems to suddenly interject a command concerning stealing a loaf of bread.
c. And following this passage on stealing, he reverts back to the topic of adultery.
32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
1. BUT—Solomon had just mentioned stealing… BUT in contrast to stealing a loaf of bread, is the sin of adultery.
2. Actually, the verses on stealing were not just a diversion of thought, but are PART OF his teaching on adultery.
3. BOTH sins are in essence, stealing… a loaf of bread… and stealing a man’s wife.
4. BOTH acts are sinful.
5. BOTH are forbidden in the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt not steal.” “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
6. BOTH sins can be forgiven by God upon repentance.
7. However, there is one huge difference.
a. Men won’t despise a thief who steals bread when hungry… when he hungers and lusts for food.
b. But men WILL despise the man who hungers and lusts after his neighbor’s wife… and commits adultery!
c. The sin of committing adultery is not like stealing a loaf of bread. It is far worse.
• A loaf of bread stolen might be a nuisance. But it can easily be replaced… restored as the breadbox was before. (Our dog stole 6 muffins off the counter one day. We forgave him.)
• When you steal a man’s wife and commit adultery—that can never be restored as it was before.
• If a man stole a loaf of bread and was caught, the people from whom he stole would probably have given it to him any way! Not so with a man’s wife.
• Even beyond bread—anything physical can be replaced. (car; house; machinery; jewelry; gold nuggets)
• It is one thing to put your hands on another man’s property. It is another thing altogether to put your hands on his wife!
• The husband/wife relationship is a sacred thing. Hands off!
8. The man who commits adultery lacks understanding.
a. He does not understand that pleasure of sin lasts but a few moments… but the consequences –the shame, guilty, and reproach go on and on!
b. He does not understand that he is being enticed to bite a hook… like a fish going for the bait—only to be hooked.
c. He does not understand his sin will find him out.
d. He does not understand that such a woman will reduce him to a piece of bread. (vs. 26)
e. He does not understand that by taking hot coals in his bosom, he is going to get burned.
f. He doesn’t understand that he is really being led like an ox to the slaughter (7:22).
g. Therefore, he is called a FOOL repeatedly.
9. The man who commits adultery destroys his own soul.
a. The man who commits adultery thinks it is going to be nothing but pleasure. He is dead wrong. It will destroy his soul.
b. Just like the man who turns to drugs for comfort, excitement, or pleasure. It starts off as fun, but soon becomes destructive. So too with the sin of adultery.
c. Prov. 5:22 – he shall be holden with the cords of his sin… enslaved by it…
d. Prov. 8:36 – but it is especially destructive, because it is sin against God.
• Remember what Joseph said to Potiphar’s wife? “Shall I do this great evil and sin against God?
• It destroys our relationship to Him. It’s not worth it. RUN!
10. A wound and dishonour shall he get. (vs. 33)
a. Prov. 5:11 – it can destroy the body physically with disease.
b. But worse than the physical sickness is the dishonor and shame it brings.
c. It brings a wound to the soul! (Ps. 38:1-8 – David’s inward wound after his sin with Bathsheba.)
11. His reproach shall not be wiped away. (vs. 33)
a. People will never forget David’s sin with Bathsheba. This reproach just doesn’t go away. (I Kings 15:5)
b. Men will forgive and forget the sin of the man who steals a loaf of bread when he is hungry. But it is far more difficult to forgive and forget the sin of adultery.
c. This reproach will haunt him for years and years.
d. It is NOT the unpardonable sin. God will forgive… but men will not forget. (That’s why it is NOT a good idea to receive men back into the pastorate after they have committed adultery—men don’t forget!)
34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
1. The consequences of adultery are far worse than of stealing bread… and longer lasting.
2. The jealousy and rage of the man whose wife was stolen… he will not spare in his vengeance.
a. He will not spare—he will stop short of nothing—even killing the adulterer!
3. There is nothing the adulterer can do to make it up to him either.
a. You can restore a stolen loaf of bread—even sevenfold.
b. But you cannot restore this situation… though you try with a ransom and with large gifts.
c. The man offended will never be able to look at the man who committed adultery against him without thinking of the adultery… even after many long years.
4. Thus, Solomon teaches his son about long lasting consequences of the sin of adultery. His hope is that his son will listen and spare himself from guilt and shame.
a. Listen to the words of Augustine: “When that which delighteth is soon gone, that which tormenteth remaineth without end.”
b. Listen to the words of the apostle Paul: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.”
c. Listen to the words of Joseph: “Shall I do this great evil and sin against God?”
d. Listen to the words of the Lord Jesus: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
e. We would do well to take heed. FLEE youthful lusts.
