Proverbs 22:1
Outline:
I. \\#1:1-9\\ Introduction
II. \\#1:10-9:18\\ - A Father’s Exhortations
A. \\#Pro 1:10-21\\ Resist Peer Pressure
B. \\#Pro 1:20-33\\ Wisdom Desires You
C. \\#Pro 2:1-22\\ Seek Wisdom
D. \\#Pro 3:1-35\\ Live Wisely
E. \\#Pro 4:1-9:18\\ Various Exhortations
1. \\#4:1-13\\ Wisdom
2. \\#4:14-19\\ The Wicked
3. \\#4:20-27\\ Stay on Track
4. \\#5:1-14\\ The Strange Woman
5. \\#6:1-5\\ Don’t Co-sign for A Friend
6. \\#6:6-11\\ Don’t be lazy.
7. \\#6:12-19\\ Know the Sure End of the Wicked
8. \\#6:20-35\\ Stay Away from the Adulteress
9. \\#7:1-5\\ Listen to Me
10. \\#7:6-23\\ A Young Man’s Demise
11. \\#7:24-27\\ Listen to Me
12. \\#8:1-31\\ Wisdom’s Character
13. \\#8:32-36\\ Wisdom’s Cry
14. \\#9:1-12\\ A Salute (Ode) to Wisdom
15. \\#9:13-18\\ A Warning Against the Strange Woman
III. \\#10:1-22:16\\ - Short Proverbs
IV. \\#22:17-24:34\\ - Medium-Length Proverbs
A. \\#22:17-21\\ Listen to Wisdom
B. \\#22:22-23\\ Do Not Mistreat the Poor
C. \\#22:24-25\\ Do Not Make Angry Friendships
D. \\#22:26-27\\ Do Not Co-sign
E. \\#22:28\\ Don’t Steal Land
F. \\#22:29\\ The Diligent Will Prosper
V. \\#25:1-29:27\\ - More Short Proverbs
VI. \\#30:1-33\\ - Agur’s Proverbs
VII. \\#31:1-31\\ - King Lemuel’s Proverbs
The book of Proverbs is not primarily a book of spiritual proverbs
but rather of practical ones. The overall keeping of this book is
more in line with the Old Testament Law than with the New Testament
"walk in the Spirit." Although the proverbs are based on God’s
wisdom, its earthly author, Solomon, wrote from the perspective of
being the
I. \\#1:1-9\\ Introduction
II. \\#1:10-9:18\\ - A Father’s Exhortations
III. \\#10:1-22:16\\ - Short proverbs
IV. \\#22:17-24:34\\ - Mix of short and medium length proverbs
A. \\#22:17-21\\ Listen to wisdom
1. \\#22:17\\ Like the section of lengthy lesson, Solomon
began by asking for the attention of those to whom
he was speaking.
a. Listen to these words.
b. Apply (use) these words.
2. \\#22:18-19\\ If you will, these words of wisdom will
do three things for you:
a. They will make life "pleasant."
1. The word means "delight, sweet, lovely."
2. Our family went to Six Flags. I watch people
and while watching, I saw a man come by with
a shirt which said "Life is crap." Someone
ought to make a shirt which says, "The best
on earth ride is LIFE." The truth is our life
is what we make it.
b. They will be "fitted" to your lips.
1. That is, wisdom will become part of your life
and shape you
2. The words of wisdom will mode us as God wants us
to be if we will let it.
3. Life is all about growth and change.
a. They should never stop.
b. It is that constant reshaping of ourselves
that gives even the oldest reprobate the
ability to be changed by the power of
Christ.
c. They will demonstrate your trust in the Lord.
3. \\#22:20-21\\ Wisdom Personified - When wisdom speaks, it
is the same as God speaking for wisdom is a direct and
pure attribute of God.
a. Wisdom asks the rhetorical question, "Have I not given
you some excellent counsel?"
Proverbs 8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent
things; and the opening of my lips shall be right
things.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness
is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth,
and right to them that find knowledge.
b. These obviously great and true counsels are given as
proofs that you can trust the less obvious counsels
to be true.
B. \\#22:22-23\\ Do not mistreat the poor
1. Do not rob them not just because they are poor and you
can.
2. Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate (the sick,
weak, mentally ill, most of who would be homeless).
3. Because God is their defender.
4. Other proverbs:
a. The rich man’s money makes him powerful, as the poor
man’s poverty makes him subject to abuse.
Proverbs 10:15 The rich man’s wealth is his
strong city: the destruction of the poor is
their poverty.
b. It is a sin to hate and take advantage of a poor
neighbor; but those who are merciful and kind will
be happy and blessed.
Proverbs 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour
sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor,
happy is he.
c. When you take advantage of the poor, you dishonor the
Creator who made Him. When you show mercy and
kindness to the poor, you honor his Maker.
Proverbs 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor
reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him
hath mercy on the poor.
d. When you make fun of the poor, you shame his Maker.
When you are glad at the poor’s misfortune, you anger
his Maker.
Proverbs 17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth
his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not
be unpunished.
C. \\#22:24-25\\ Do not make friends with the easily angered.
1. The short-tempered man is described as "angry" and
"furious."
2. Both terms would describe a person who cannot control his
anger but is volatile and even violent.
3. Two dangers if you do:
a. You will become like him. (Researches talk about the
danger of abused children becoming abusers.)
b. You become ensnared. That is, you will become his
victim.
4. Other proverbs:
a. One who is easily angered is foolish. One who devices
wickedness is hated.
Proverbs 14:17 He that is soon angry dealeth
foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
b. One who is not easily angered has an understanding
spirit. One that is easily angered has a foolish
spirit.
Proverbs 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of
great understanding: but he that is hasty of
spirit exalteth folly.
c. A short temper is the mark of a fool. A controlled
temper is the mark of prudence.
Proverbs 12:16 A fool’s wrath is presently
known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
d. A calm reaction stops a fight, A harsh reaction
intensifies a fight.
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath:
but grievous words stir up anger.
Proverbs 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up
strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth
strife.
e. A violent person has a wicked nature.
Proverbs 16:29 A violent man enticeth his
neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is
not good.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things:
moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
f. A man who can control himself is the strongest man
there is.
Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is
better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his
spirit than he that taketh a city.
D. \\#22:26-27\\ Do not co-sign.
1. To co-sign is to become security for another’s debt.
2. We often shake hands to seal a deal. Their custom must
have been some type of slapping (or striking) hands.
3. Doing so could cost you your most basic necessities.
4. The Law warned about taking the most basic of necessities
from the poor, but some still practiced it.
Exodus 22:26 If thou at all take thy neighbour’s
raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him
by that the sun goeth down:
27 For that is his covering only, it is his
raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and
it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me,
that I will hear; for I am gracious.
5. Other passages
a. Free yourself from the obligation of being someone’s
security as diligently as you would free yourself
from a hunter’s snare.
Proverbs 6:1 My son, if thou be surety for thy
friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a
stranger,
2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth,
thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when
thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go,
humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
4 Give not sleep to thine eyes,4 Give not sleep
to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the
hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
b. A man who doesn’t understand danger will become
security for a friend.
Proverbs 17:18 A man void of understanding
striketh hands, and becometh surety in the
presence of his friend.
c. Being security for a stranger will cost you. Refusing
to be security is the surest business choice.
Proverbs 11:15 He that is surety for a stranger
shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship
is sure.
d. Being security for strangers and the immoral will cost
you. Repeated verse.)
Proverbs 20:16 Take his garment that is surety
for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a
strange woman.
Proverbs 27:13 Take his garment that is surety
for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a
strange woman.
6. But we are not to let others go unhelped.
a. If we have it, give it; don’t lend it.
Matthew 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and
from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou
away.
b. If we don’t have it, don’t give it.
Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love
one another: for he that loveth another hath
fulfilled the law.
E. \\#22:28\\ Don’t steal land.
1. The ancient landmarks marked the property boundaries.
2. As much confusion as our church has had in keeping up with
our small piece of property, you can imagine what
problems might have been had in ancient times.
3. Another passage says do not steal your neighbors land.
Do not steal the orphans’ land.
Proverbs 23:10 Remove not the old landmark; and
enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
F. \\#22:29\\ The diligent businessmen will prosper.
1. Those diligent in their business will not work with
peasants but with kings.
2. "Mean" man is the insignificant or obscure person.
3. Other passages:
a. Diligence in business, abundant in money. Negligent in
business, absence of money.
Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with
a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh
rich.
b. The diligent become leaders. The lazy become servants.
Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall
bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
c. The spirit of the lazy wants but never does. The
spirit of the diligent wants and attains.
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth,
and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent
shall be made fat.
d. A lazy person and a wasteful person are both kin to
each other.
Proverbs 18:9 He also that is slothful in his
work is brother to him that is a great waster.
e. The lazy man always has an excuse for doing nothing.
Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There
is a lion without, I shall be slain in the
streets.
Proverbs 26:13 The slothful man saith, There
is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
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