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.
Proverbs 20:5NLT Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.
Those who have good advise, and godly wisdom stay silent; however, if you are around when he or she speaks, you will be rewarded.
Proverbs 20:6NLT Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?
It is hard to find those that have done, and will do more good than they speak. (Loyal friend) The question is, “Who can find ‘one’ who is truly reliable?”(Most, live with motive in mind.)
Proverbs 20:7NLT The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.
Generations are blessed when a godly inheritance with integrity is left.
Proverbs 20:8NLT When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good.
If great men are righteous men, they will cause blessings to come, and will prevent evil. (True anointing flows where righteousness lives.)
Proverbs 20:9NLT Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin?”
Only through the work of the Holy Spirit can ‘one’ say they are pure and free from sin. (Jesus makes ‘one’ clean.)
Proverbs 20:10NLT False weights and unequal measures—the Lord detests double standards of every kind.
Men who love money more than the Lord. “The love of money is the root of all evil.”
Proverbs 20:11NLT Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
It’s always the parents responsibility to raise their children by the commandments of God.
Proverbs 20:12NLT Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the Lord.
Spiritual discernment can’t be bought and shouldn’t be taken for granted. (One of the gifts of the Spirit.)
Proverbs 20:13NLT If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!
Those that indulge themselves with sleep will be rewarded with loss. (Some will sleep right through Spiritual harvest.)
Proverbs 20:14NLT The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,” then brags about getting a bargain!
There’s nothing wrong with this as long as it’s done with integrity.
Proverbs 20:15NLT Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.
Words are forever!
Matthew Henry once said, He that prefers true knowledge to riches, follows the ways of religion and happiness. If we really believed this truth, the word of God would be valued as it deserves, and the world would lose its tempting influence.
Ecclesiastes 10:20NIV Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say
Proverbs 20:16NLT Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.
Just good practical sense because both parties could leave you high and dry.
Proverbs 20:17NLT Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.
There can be a temporary high for those who steal, (a euphoria) but stolen goods are never enough. Maybe because the person didn’t work for what they stole.
Proverbs 20:18NLT Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice.
Just as ‘one’ shouldn’t proceed into physical warfare advice should be heeded in spiritual warfare. The word and Spirit of God are the best counsellors.
Proverbs 20:19NLT A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.
According to Proverbs 6, these people are an abomination unto the Lord.
Proverbs 20:20NLT If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.
Bless your parents regardless, because you can’t change them; however, God can, through your faithful testimony.
Once this young believer came to me, and said, “you are so positive, how can I become that way.”
Proverbs 20:21NLT An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end.
A good example of this is the prodigal son in the book of Luke 15.
Proverbs 20:22NLT Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.
If the Lord doesn’t do it, do you really want to. Romans says, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay. (Paraphrase)
Proverbs 20:23NLT The Lord detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales.
Trickery, and dishonest scales are a blatant lie. (God hates that.)
Proverbs 20:24NLT The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?
We do our part, and walk by faith. (God is sovereign.)
Proverbs 20:25NLT Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.
We need to always watch our oaths.
Proverbs 20:26NLT A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat, then runs his threshing wheel over them.
Kings represent God on earth; therefore, he should always uphold righteousness.
Proverbs 20:27NLT The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.
The Holy Spirit teaches, comforts and convicts.
Proverbs 20:28NLT Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love.
Mercy and truth are the glories of God’s throne.
Proverbs 20: 29 The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.
Both young and old have their advantages; and let neither despise or envy the other.
Proverbs 20:30NLT Physical punishment cleanses away evil; such discipline purifies the heart.
Sometimes God uses or allows physical punishment to purify our hearts.
