Advice, that Will Bring Blessings pt.2 Text: Proverbs 21:1-31
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. 3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4 A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin. 5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. 6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them, Because they refuse to do justice. 8 The way of a guilty man is perverse; But as for the pure, his work is right. 9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. 10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. 11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. 12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness. 13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath. 15 It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. 16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead. 17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich. 18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the unfaithful for the upright. 19 Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman. 20 There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it. 21 He who follows righteousness and mercy Finds life, righteousness, and honor. 22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold. 23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles. 24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name; He acts with arrogant pride. 25 The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor. 26 He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he brings it with wicked intent! 28 A false witness shall perish, But the man who hears him will speak endlessly. 29 A wicked man hardens his face, But as for the upright, he establishes his way. 30 There is no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the LORD.
Proverbs 21:1NLT The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.
God will have the final say. The king represents the most powerful person on the face of the earth, but regardless, God controls his heart.
Scripture reference is, Daniel 5 God speaks through Daniel to tell Belshazzar that his days are numbered. (God’s in control.)
Proverbs 21: 2NLT People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.
Man can become self-deceived, God determines his true motives.
I Samuel 16:7NLT But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Paul writes in I Corinthians 4:4NLT My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.
Proverbs 21:3NLT The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.
Isaiah 1:10-11,16-17NLT Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.”11.“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 16. Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways.17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
Proverbs 21:4NLT Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.
God will judge those who live and see with prideful eyes. Being proud is the opposite of humility.
James 4:6NKJ...God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Proverbs 21: 5-7NLT Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. 6 Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just.
These verses address the evils of ill-gotten gain. They show 3 major defects in the way this gain is acquired: 1. Hastily. 2. Deceitfully. 3. Violently.
Proverbs 21: 8NLT The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road.
Two paths- crooked or straight. The crooked path, leads to destruction. The path of the straight, everlasting life.
Proverbs 21:9NLT It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
So many young people choose their spouse on looks, money, lust or desperation; however, the best trait is always godliness.
Proverbs 21:10NLT Evil people desire evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.
Someone that doesn’t walk in the sure mercies of God, can’t give mercy. ( Neighbors even ‘pay dearly’ for their foolishness.)
Proverbs 21:11NLT If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise; if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
Here’s 3 classes of people: 1. The scoffer, is rebuked for learning nothing. 2. The simple, are warned by observing the rebuke of the scoffer. 3. The wise, deepen their understanding of wisdom and continue to grow.
Proverbs 21:12NLT The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring disaster on them.
The righteous have the ability by God, to hear and see everything. (The righteous have the gift of discernment.)
Proverbs 21:13NLT Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.
The creator is offended when the poor are forgotten. Remember Isaiah 58, tells every believer that remembering the poor is part of a true fast.
Proverbs 21:14NLT A secret gift calms anger; a bribe under the table pacifies fury.
Appeasement is always temporary. (If wisdom isn’t acquired the ungodly will rage again.)
Proverbs 21:15NLT Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.
Listen to Romans 13:3NLT For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
When rulers overstep their proper function, the Christian is to obey God rather than man.
Proverbs 21:16NLT The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.
Men who (practice) and are overtaken by temptations, destruction proceeds.
Proverbs 21:17NLT Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.
You’ve heard the young cry, “I going to be rich.” Just watch their habits. What comes first, second, third?
Psalm 37:23NKJ The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.
Proverbs 21:18NLT The wicked are punished in place of the godly, and traitors in place of the honest.
The wicked become our substitute in judgement. In Isaiah 43:4NLT we can see a for instance. God say’s, 4). Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
God gave Persia three nations because of their willingness to release the exiles of Judah.
Proverbs 21:19NLT It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
One who stirs up dissension is condemned throughout the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 21: 20NLT The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.
Listen to Proverbs 3:9-10NLT Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.
A pastor shared the testimony of someone in his congregation who committed their livelihood over onto the Lord. He said, they came to him around two weeks ago, and told him they didn’t know what they were going to do, because their tithe was just enough to pay their bills. The pastor told him that some how God would provide and, if for some reason He didn’t for him to call. That night, as his wife unwrapped a bought pizza, the wife begin shout, “come in here!” The wife handed him something that was wrapped up inside the boxed pizza, when he unwrapped the idem, he found money, it was the exact amount of their tithe.
Proverbs 21:21NLT Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.
Here’s the benefits for those who seek after wisdom. (Those who pursue righteousness will receive more than they seek!)Deuteronomy 28:1-14NLT “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. 2 You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God:3 Your towns and your fields will be blessed. 4 Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. 5 Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed. 6 Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. 7 “The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven! 8 “The Lord will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.9 “If you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways, the Lord will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do. 10 Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the Lord, and they will stand in awe of you.11 “The Lord will give you prosperity in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, blessing you with many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops. 12 The Lord will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. 13 If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom. 14 You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them.
Proverbs 21:22NLT The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust.
Wisdom is better than strength. Remember what Solomon ask God for first. (Wisdom)
Proverbs 21: 23NLT Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.
The ability to control the tongue is the greatest mark of wisdom.
Proverbs 21:24NLT Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.
Those who are proud and arrogant always resist correction.
Proverbs 21:25NLT Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.
An individual who refuses to work, never yields a profit.
Proverbs 21:26NLT Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!
Covetousness marks the greedy, while benevolence marks the righteous.
Proverbs 21:27NLT The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives.
The sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination. (Useless)
Proverbs 21:28NLT A false witness will be cut off, but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.
In court, a truthful witness promotes justice. (They’re a delight.)
Proverbs 21:29NLT The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act.
They lie, or do whatever it takes to getaway!
Proverbs 21:30NLT No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord.
If the Lord isn’t speaking, pray for peace over what man does.
Proverbs 21:31NLT The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.
There’s nothing wrong with preparation, but always depend on God for total victory.
Prayer.
