Advice That Will Bring Blessings

Advice that Will bring Blessings Proverbs 20:1-30

Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 2 The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life. 3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. 4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter;He will beg during harvest and have nothing. 5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out. 6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? 7 The righteous man walks in his integrity;His children are blessed after him. 8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes.9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. 11 Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right. 12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both. 13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. 14 “ It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer;But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies,But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16 Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. 18 Plans are established by counsel;By wise counsel wage war. 19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. 20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. 21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end.22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”;Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. 23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good. 24 A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? 25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows. 26 A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them. 27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. 28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne. 29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head. 30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

Proverbs 20:1NLT Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.

Matthew Henry wrote, “It seems hard to believe that men of the greatest abilities, as well as the ignorant, should render themselves fools and madmen, merely for the taste or excitement produced by strong liquors.”

Mankind rendering themselves or given to wine. Listen to Isaiah 5:11,22 11. Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them! 22. Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink,

Woe, meaning, how terrible it would be for you!

Proverbs 20:2NLT The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

Men who resist authority injure themselves.

Romans 13:2KJ Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Hear this contrast: Proverbs 19:12NKJ The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favor is as dew upon the grass.

Wrath or Favor?

Proverbs 20:3NLT Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.

Fools go out of their way to pick a fight; It’s always better to live without strife.

Proverbs 20:4NLT Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

Here’s a comparison in ‘ones’ earthly diligence there will be Spiritual diligence.

Galatians 6:6-10 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.