Warnings and Instructions Proverbs 28:1-28
The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion. 2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; But by a man of understanding and knowledge Right will be prolonged. 3 A poor man who oppresses the poor Is like a driving rain which leaves no food. 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them. 5 Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all. 6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich. 7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father. 8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion Gathers it for him who will pity the poor. 9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. 10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good. 11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding searches him out. 12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves. 13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. 14 Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. 15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people. 16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days. 17 A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit; Let no one help him. 18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall. 19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! 20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. 21 To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress. 22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him. 23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue. 24 Whoever robs his father or his mother, And says, “It is no transgression,” The same is companion to a destroyer. 25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered. 26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered. 27 He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses. 28 When the wicked arise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.
Proverbs 28 is filled with words of warnings and instructions. The wise take heed, warnings are given, so we might know how to handle certain situations, and to keep us away from danger. Instructions are here, so we might understand the how do’s. (The dos and don’ts) When applied, God’s word has the ability to sow all of His supernatural love, righteousness, gifts, and fruit within our being.
Proverbs 28:1NLT The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.
A guilty conscience imagines accusers everywhere, while a clear conscience has boldness to face everyone.
Psalm 53:4-5aNLT Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to God. 5 Terror will grip them, terror like they have never known before.
People who live with corruption are usually very paranoid. ( Can’t sleep well at night.)
I Samuel 17:46NLT Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!
Proverbs 28:2NLT When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.
Because of Israel’s rebellion, it often brought rapid change in leadership. Wise leaders endure, and see things through. Wisdom promotes order and longevity.
Proverbs 28:3NLT A poor person who oppresses the poor is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.
When the poor come into power and oppress their own own, it’s as bad as a destructive storm washing away their fields.
Matthew 18:23-28NLT “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. 26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. 28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
Proverbs 28:4NLT To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them.
Ephesians 5:11-14NLT Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
Proverbs 28:5NLT Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand completely.
Those who seek the Lord and fear Him, understand His ways.
Proverbs 28:6NLT Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich.
The poor who obey God’s laws, are better off than the rich who are filled with themselves or sin. The peace of God can’t be bought, and God’s true anointing only follows true righteousness.
Proverbs 28:7NLT Young people who obey the law are wise; those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.
The young who follow and obey God’s law would not be a glutton (Or filled with the works of the flesh) and shame his father.
Proverbs 28:8NLT Income from charging high interest rates will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor.
The law forbade the charging of interest to fellow Jews, but this was often violated.
Proverbs 28:9NLT God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law.
Remember I Peter 3:12NLT The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” ( Psalm 34:12-15)
Proverbs 28:10NLT Those who lead good people along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the honest will inherit good things.
Those who attempt to corrupt the righteous will be harshly judged by God.
Matthew 5:19NLT So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Proverbs 28:11NLT Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.
Many rich men are filled with self-confidence, and this brings deception. However, the poor who pocess God’s gifting, will see right through a rich man’s conceited ways.
Proverbs 28:12NLT When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.
Remember in I Kings 18, Obadiah hid 100 prophets during the reign of Ahab, and in II Kings 11, Joash was hidden for 6 years while the wicked Athaliah ruled. (Proverbs 29:2 says the people groan when the wicked rule.)
Proverbs 28:13NLT People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
I John 1:6-9 (Instructs every person how to deal with sin.) 6. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Proverbs 28:14NLT Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.
Remember Pharaoh and his repercussions on all of the Egyptians.
Proverbs 28:15-16NLT A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a roaring lion or an attacking bear. 16 A ruler with no understanding will oppress his people, but one who hates corruption will have a long life.
A ruler who is covetous and wicked, will do anything. He will cause a lot of pain and harm; however, the ruler who is righteous will bring blessings and favor.
Proverbs 28:17NLT A murderer’s tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don’t protect him!
He will be like a fugitive until death. Example: Cain was a “vagrant and a wanderer” in fear of his life.
Proverbs 28:18NLT The blameless will be rescued from harm, but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed.
The blameless and the crooked is the contrast.
Proverbs 28:19NLT A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.
Those who trust in schemes are following empty pursuits.
Proverbs 28:20NLT The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.
Blessing are the product of honest labor.
I Timothy 6:9NLT But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
Proverbs 28:21NLT Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.
A small bribe can destroy those who are weak in God’s word, and don’t realize their covenant.
Proverbs 28:22NLT Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty.
Many times, a miser is motivated by greed, and their greed destroys them and others.
Proverbs 28:23NLT In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.
Flattery has no value, but reproof does, so it leads to gratitude.
Proverbs 28:24NLT Anyone who steals from his father and mother and says, “What’s wrong with that?”is no better than a murderer.
To plunder one’s own family is an unthinkable crime, but it is worse yet when denied.
Proverbs 28:25NLT Greed causes fighting;trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.
Arrogance satisfies itself at the expense of conflict with others and never knows the prosperity of humble trust in God.
Proverbs 28:26NLT Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.
In other words, those who walk wisely trust in the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5NLT Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Proverbs 28:27NLT Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.
Generosity is the path to blessings.
Proverbs 28:28NLT When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. When the wicked meet disaster, the godly flourish.
Righteousness increases, while unrighteousness decreases.
Prayer
