Proverbs 20:1-24
Introduction: There are three questions raised by the author in this chapter. These questions are existing in the human mind from the beginning. Many philosophers, religious leaders raised the questions and were searching for the answer.
V.6 WHO ARE YOU? Faithful or unfaithful. Are your claims true? Claims on yourself righteousness. Are you fool are wise.
Fool is the one: “the greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be”(Socrates). Fool seems right to him(Pr.12:15). Pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth(Pr30:12). The best example of the fool is explained by Paul in 2 Cor. 10:12 – compare themselves, measure themselves. They don’t see the people better than themselves. Hippocrates hearts are not with you(Pr.23:7). The passage Pr.26:24-28 brings out the characteristics of false man. Be careful with such fellows –He disguises himself with his lips(26:.24), sweet in his speech but full of abominations(26:25), Deceptive(26:26), lying tongue flattering mouth(26:28). The hypocrites talk about past – it was good, he was good, church was good, ministry was good, but they never follow the footsteps of their past (Mt.23:28).
Faithful: faithful in duty conscious (Gen.39:6), complete honesty in handling the money(2 Ki. 12:15). Laborers were faithful(2 Chr.34:12). Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, Pedaiah the Levites and their assistants were Trustworthy to distribute the supplies to the needy(Neh. 13:13). Prove faithful in everything(1 Cor.4:2). YHWH expects Honesty in everything(Lev.19:36), accurate and honest Scales, weights and barrels (Dt.25:15, Lev.19:36), No debt remain outstanding (Rm.13:8)
V.9. HOW ARE YOU?
Human became impure(Job14:4), if the Lord keeps the record of sins, can you stand before God?(Ps.130:3). There is not a righteous man on the earth(Eccl.7:20).
People give excuses for everything they do: Adam said the woman whom you gave(Gen.3:12), Aaron said the people were trying to kill me(Ex 32:24), king Saul it’s getting late( I Sam 15:21).
Moses said I am not eloquent(Ex 3:11,4:40), No social position(Judg. 6:15), No I am afraid to go out because there may be…(Pr.22:13), I am a child( Jer.1:6), you are a hard man and I was afraid of you(Mt.25:24-25), we never saw anyone….(Mt.25:44-45). The Lord is the one who enables you to do everything(Phil 4:13).
Jesus Christ came to save the sinners(1 Tim.1:15-16). He became the friend of the sinners(Mt.11:19), woman touched him(Lk.19:7), he never condemned any one(Jn.8:11), he demonstrated his own love for us(Rm5:8). He came to seek and save what was lost(Lk. 19:10). Wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us (Socrates).
V.24 WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
God is the divine leader. Remember how he led you in desert for forty years(Dt.8:2). Like a mother bird he carries you under his wings(Dt.32:11-12). Teach me and lead me straight way(Ps.27:11). He leads like a shepherd(Ps.77:20). No place on the earth where he cannot reach(Ps.139:9-10). “We know what we are but know not what we may be” (William Shakespeare).
The Lord leads to the best in our Life, the road may seems to be hard, thorny, fiery, watery, and lonely but the end is pleasant and beautiful. All he needs is, our Surrender.
