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TH1123: On-Line

Teaching Notes

PROVERBS

Please turn in your Bibles to Proverbs chapter 10, as we continue our study through the Word of God. As we move into this portion of Scripture, this is the section in which most people think of as Proverbs. Each verse focuses on a subject and here they are contrasting Proverbs, mostly contrasting the righteous with the wicked. Now why in the world would Solomon jump so quickly from subject-to-subject? I think the reason is that he wants us to meditate, think about one verse and grapple with its meaning and application before the reader moves on to the next one.

PROVERBS 10

VERSE 1

1. Understand this, both parents grieve over their children's failures and rejoice in their success. But women do tend to be more emotional then men, for the most part.

VERSE 2

1. Many people have sold their soul for the things of this world, trying to gain as much as they can in this life. And when its over they have noting to show for it because you can't buy your way into heaven. It is as Psalm 37:16 says, "A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked."

VERSE 3

1. God will care for His children, He will provide for their needs. It is as Psalm 37:19, 25 says, "They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied...I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread."

VERSE 4

1. If you are lazy you will be empty, but for those that go out and work, they will be rich. In other words, they will be able to have food and clothing. God does not want us to be lazy, as Paul said in II Thessalonians 3:10, "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." A harsh but true reality. Don't promote laziness!

VERSE 5

1. This trend seems to be growing today. Children growing up and instead of moving out on their own, remain home with their parents. And many times they become lazy, sponging off their parents, not willing to care for themselves. When your forty years old you should not be asking for an allowance from your parents! And Solomon is saying that lazy children bring shame upon their family.

VERSE 6

1. It is as Jesus said in Luke 6:45, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."

VERSE 7

1. We, as Christians, should leave blessings wherever we go. Things that will bless people, encourage them. The wicked, on the other hand, are not fondly remembered, not like the righteous.

VERSE 8

1. Some people won't stop talking long enough to learn anything. They think they know it all, but they are only showing the folly of their ways. A wise person will listen, will receive instruction.

VERSE 9

1. In other words "Your sin will find you out!" One example of this is seen in some communities where if you are caught soliciting prostitution, you will be arrested and your picture, with what you did, will be placed on the local cable channel! As the Lord told David regarding his sin with Bathsheba "'For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.'" II Samuel 12:12.

VERSE 10

1. This is speaking of someone who is scheming to take advantage of another person, they are nothing but trouble.

VERSE 11

1. Out of some peoples mouths comes nothing but filth. When I was younger I went to this doctor for a check-up. And because I was young I suppose he felt the need to use the "F" word in his conversation. It was like every other sentence. I don't know if he was trying to impress me or what, but it truly made me sick and I never went to see him again. It is like the saying goes "Some men's minds run like race horses, they run best on a dirt track!" May our words be sweet to those around us and not like an open sewer.

VERSE 12

1. Has hatred ever solved a conflict? Of course not, it just makes the situation worse! Solomon is taking about a forgiving spirit. You see, the flesh tells us that what they did to us is wrong, it is not fair, that we should do to them as they did to us. But the Spirit of God tells us to love them. Listen to what Paul has to say about love in I Corinthians 13:4-8. We read "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails..."

VERSE 13

1. In other words, learn from others, from their failures and their successes. If you don't, you will learn those lessons the hard way and suffer the consequences of your folly.

VERSE 14

1. Not only learn lessons of faith, but store them up, use them to help you grow and mature in the Lord.

VERSE 15

1. Poverty is devastating, not only physical, but spiritual!

VERSE 16

1. The fruit that is born in the righteous is life to those around them, it is a blessing. They are on the road to life and many are following them. The wicked, the fruit that is born in their life is evil and it leads to death.

VERSE 17

1. We can see this in our own life. When we listen and follow the ways of God we are at peace even through the storms of life. When we refuse to listen to God's instructions and follow our ways, our life is in turmoil, there is no peace.

VERSE 18

1. Don't lie or hide your feelings. If there is a problem talk to the person. You need to deal with it or that hatred will only grow in your heart and one day it will be manifested in your actions.

VERSE 19

1. As the old Proverb goes "Better to keep your mouth shut and have people think you are a fool than to open it and remove any doubts!" Keep a guard on the door of your mouth and let no foolishness come forth.

VERSES 20-21

1. Do your words feed and nourish people or do they cut them up and destroy them? As Paul said in Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

VERSE 22

1. Did you realize that God's blessings upon your life will make you rich? Not necessarily monetarily but spiritually. You see, God's blessings are inward and those inward blessings are manifested in outward joy. Yes God does bless us with physical things, but those things He does in us will last a lifetime. Several years ago they interviewed some million dollar lottery winners to see how things were going some 5 years later. Some were broke, others had family and friends that were mad at them, and not one was truly happy. And yet look at all the people that are playing the lottery to become rich and happy. Riches didn't bring them what they thought it would bring them, only heartache. We need to be content with what God has given us and rejoice in Him!

VERSE 23

1. To many, evil is just a game. People out looking to perpetrate some kind of mischief on another.

VERSE 24

1. The wicked live in fear of the evil that they have done to others will come upon them. But if we do as David said in Psalm 37:4 you won't have to worry. David said "Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart." You see, if you delight in the Lord you won't have to fear, you will have peace as His desires for your life become your desires as you are in fellowship with Him!

VERSE 25

1. What is Solomon speaking of when he says "whirlwind"? Think about the devastation's we have seen already with the tornado's that have hit the south. Solomon is speaking of judgment and its devastating effects for those who have not built their life upon the Rock, Jesus Christ!

VERSE 26

1. Don't ask a lazy person to do something, for you will only become irritated and it will leave a sour taste in your mouth. You are better off just waiting for someone who is not lazy, a person who wants to serve and not be served! That is why I will not put anyone in ministry here at Calvary Chapel that doesn't have a servants heart. And I will remove anyone who is in a ministry that feels some task is below him to do. That he is to big for that. Why be frustrated, and I won't!

VERSE 27

1. I do believe we can shorten our days depending on how we walk. For those that abuse their bodies with drugs, they can cut their life short. Obviously God knows what we will do, and He knows the set days He has for us, but don't live a foolish life, fear the Lord, serve Him, and your days will be prolonged.

VERSES 28-29

1. I like the way G. S. Bowes illustrates this point. He says: "Alexander the Great was not satisfied, even when he had completely subdued the nations. He wept because there were no more worlds to conquer, and he died at an early age in a state of debauchery. Hannibal, who filled three bushels with the gold rings taken from the knights he had slaughtered, committed suicide by swallowing poison. Few noted his passing, and he left this earth completely un-mourned. Julius Caesar, 'dyeing his garments in the blood of one million of his foes,' conquered 800 cities, only to be stabbed by his best friend at the scene of his greatest triumph. Napoleon, the feared conqueror, after being the scourge of Europe, spent his last years in banishment." Yes, the expectation of the wicked perishes!

VERSE 30

1. The new heavens and the new earth that God will create after his 1,000 year reign here on earth will be filled with the righteous, those who have come to Him by faith. Wickedness, sin will be seen no more, the curse will be removed. PRAISE GOD!

VERSE 31

1. If you don't have a good picture of this, go to the butcher and look at all those cow tongues that have been placed in the meat section of the supermarket.

VERSE 32

1. We must learn what to say and what not to say. There are things that are appropriate and those that are not. Ask God to allow things that would glorify Him to flow from your lips.

PROVERBS 11

VERSE 1

1. In Leviticus 19:35-36 God instructed His people to have just balances as they bought and sold things. They were not to have one set of weights to buy things and another set to sell. How does that apply to us today? Be honest, fair in all your business dealings. Some feel that they can't make it by being honest. If you feel that way then get out of the business for you are not bringing honor to God but dishonor to Him.

VERSE 2

1. In our studies through Samuel, Kings and Chronicles we have seen this played out. Where kings started out humble before God and over time they just got a little to big for their britches and God had to bring them down. (A good example of this is king Asa who started out trusting in God but over time trusted in the strength of man, and at the end of his life his walk was hampered, his feet were diseased and he died. You can look at his life in II Chronicles 14-16 on your own).

VERSE 3

1. We are all guided by someone or something. If you want what is best for your life, allow God to guide you through His Word. It is as Psalm 119:66-68 says, "Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes."

VERSE 4

1. How many people want to be the richest person in Hell? Very few if any! And you can't buy your way into heaven only receive the free gift that God has given you. It is as Peter tells us regarding this issue in I Peter 1:18-19. We read "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

VERSES 5-8

1. In other words, what you sow you will reap. God has a way of turning the tables on the wicked. Remember the story of Joseph and how his brothers sold him into slavery. Years later, as God turned the tables on them, Joseph said to them "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." Genesis 50:20.

VERSES 9-11

1. There is truly a blessing when the righteous are in power. But when the wicked are in power the people suffer. That is why there is rejoicing when the wicked die. A good example of this is seen in the life of Herod the Great, who was a wicked man. The people hated him so much that he feared for his life. In fact, he was so paranoid that he had many of his wives and sons killed so they would not take over his throne. It was so bad that there was a saying going around during that time "that it was safer to be one of Herod's pigs than one of his sons!"

Realizing no one would mourn his death, he ordered his soldiers to kill several prominent people of the city when he died so there would be mourning instead of rejoicing. When he died the soldiers no longer felt obligated to carry out his evil plan and they did not kill anyone. Thus, there was rejoicing in the death of this wicked man.

VERSE 12

1. As Paul said in Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." It is better to get along with those around you than to be in constant conflict. But, it is not always possible, do the best you can, not everyone will receive you. Just allow the love of Christ to flow through you.

VERSE 13

1. Don't pour your heart out to anyone and everyone. Some people are not mature enough to handle it, they are gossipers. Find a prayer partner, a mature Christian who will bring the matter before God and no one else!

VERSE 14

1. There is wisdom found in speaking godly advise, not worldly advise.

VERSE 15

1. Solomon dealt with this in Proverbs chapter 6, but once again he is warning not to guarantee loans to strangers for you will get burned many times.

VERSE 16

1. It is like the story of Nabal and his wife Abigail. Nabal, whose name means fool, refused to feed David's men who had assisted him in watching over his flocks. When David heard what happened he was ready to destroy Nabal and all those with him. But Abigail came to her foolish husbands aid and pleaded for mercy from David and brought provisions for his men. And David did extend mercy to her and her husband, but when Nabal found out what she did he was so mad that he had a heart attack and died several days latter. And in the end David end's up marrying Abigail. (I Samuel 25).

VERSE 17

1. There is much wisdom in this. A righteous person has peace in his heart and it is life to his body. A wicked person, filled with hatred, his life is being eaten away!

VERSE 18

1. As Christians we need to be honest in our work for we are representatives of Christ.

VERSE 19

1. Look at the pattern of the wicked, there lifestyle leads to death both physical and spiritual.

VERSE 20

1. If you want God to delight in you, listen to His voice. Yes, as Paul said in Ephesians 1:6 "...He has made us accepted in the Beloved." But on the practical side, walk in a way that would delight your heavenly Father.

VERSE 21

1. You can't escape the judgment of God outside of Christ even though many may join forces with you. We see this climax at the end of the tribulation period, during the battle of Armageddon where the people of the world join forces to fight against God. Not a wise move on their part!

VERSE 22

1. Get the picture? It doesn't matter how beautiful a woman is on the outside, because what is in her heart will come flowing out her lips. Many physically beautiful women have shown their ugliness by their words!

VERSE 23

1. Desiring good means to hate evil. That is what we should do, for God hates evil!

VERSES 24-25

1. The spiritual principle is simple - you can't out give God. Now don't jump to the wrong conclusion. God is not some investment broker. We don't give to God $100 to get $1,000 back. If that is what you want go to Las Vegas or invest in the stock market and see what happens. You see, that is called greed, it is not the right motivation. Give out of a pure heart to assist in the work of His kingdom and I guarantee this, you will be blessed!

VERSE 26

1. Don't hold onto things to drive up the price or neglect the need of another.

VERSE 27

1. Again the principle is sowing and reaping.

VERSE 28

1. If you put your trust in earthly things you are going to come up far short.

VERSE 29

1. People who destroy their families will be empty, left with noting!

VERSE 30

1. If you want to shine, then share Christ. In Daniel 12:3 we read "Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever."

VERSE 31

1. In the Hebrew this verse can be translated in the positive or the negative. To help us to understand what Solomon is saying, turn to I Peter 4:17-19. It says "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now 'If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?' Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator." You see, God will chasten His children, not punitive but corrective. But the wicked will be punished, it will be punitive for them. Judgment does begin in our own hearts as God chastens us and makes us more like Him. But for the wicked - death and destruction will come their way for rejecting Christ and standing before God in their own filthy righteousness instead of His holy righteousness that has been imputed to us through Christ!