Proverbs 22:7-22:17

[Christina]

Our Father has told us all things. The answers to all lives important questions are in the word if we look for them Proverbs is a wealth of information. Do not think because its Old testament it does not apply to today it is eternal in its Wisdom read the following examples of how wide ranging Gods advice is.Proverbs, in the Hebrew tongue is "Mishlai", it means "to rule", and in the Greek the word is "Paroimiai", "any dark sententious saying". Thus it is a rule or saying to govern your life. It is not a collection of human wisdom, but a Divine set of rules from YHVH, our heavenly Father. Proverbs 22:7 "The rich ruleth over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender."Once you take another man's money, you become a servant to that man. The point here is don't borrow from a man that you do not intend to be a servant of. Don't get all tied up in usury, for as the interest builds, it will bring you and your household down. Today the thing that brings people down the easiest are credit cards, for they are used so rapidly that you lose count of the balance in the account. Take it easy, and use it for only what is necessary. Proverbs 22:8 "He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: And the rod of his anger shall fail."If plan to do evil trickery or harm to someone, it will boomerang back on you, and bring calamity to you.Proverbs 22:9 "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor."The Hebrew word for "poor" is "dal" and it means "handicap". This verse is dealing with the rich man giving of what God has blessed him to the handicap. It is nothing to do with a ministry or preacher begging for money and forcing an obligation or vow from a person. So what this is saying is that if a rich person blessed by God gives of his substance to the handicap [feeble], God will continue to bless him. This is using wisdom and causing your blessings to continue.Proverbs 22:10 "Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; Yea, strife and reproach shall cease."The point here is "Never put up with a troublemaker". This "scorner" is one that is a scorner of God, that mocks and makes light of spiritual things from God's holy Word. So many today think the only message of Christ is to put up with anythingeven the sconer,the trouble maker, God says cast them out.Proverbs 22:11 "He that loveth pureness of heart, For the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend."[/B]One that uses honesty with courtesy in all his words, will be welcomed even in the courts of a king or in the courts of any land. That is just the nature of things in mankind from a primitive society, to a government in an advanced society. This does not exclude us for making a stand against something that is evil; we are not to show courtesy for anything evil. Christians are not a walking mat for evil minds anywhere. We are to take the stand wherever something needs to be said against evil acts and words.Proverbs 22:12 "The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the transgressor."God will confuse the mind of the transgressor, or anyone that would come against one that has the wisdom of God. That is "knowledge and wisdom" that only God can give, for all true wisdom is from our Father. That wisdom alerts us as to the events of the day, and to what is and is not important. We receive that discernment which comes from the Holy Spirit.Proverbs 22:13 "The slothful man saith, "There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets."This verse is pointing out that a lazy person will always make excuses for not doing what should be done. In Solomon's day it was the lion in the streets might get them, whereas today it might be a car crash would hit him, or any of a number of stupid excuses. God simply cannot use a lazy person.Proverbs 22:14 "The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein."The word women in the Hebrew text is "zur", one of our own kind, a Christian that is an apostate. This deals with both men or women that have gone over to the traditions of men. When these people speak they sound so good selling their lies, and God is saying that if anyone is so stupid to listen to them, God will allow them to fall into their pit. They are "abhorred" because they are ignorant of what they are doing, they don't know what is of God, or what is tradition of men Proverbs 22:15 "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."Discipline in a malicious sense against a child will drive that child in the opposite direction from what it was intended to do. It will drive him away from the teachings of the bible and to the pitfalls of this world. When the word "rod" is used, it is in reference to giving discipline. Never punish a child in anger, and be sure that the child understands what the punishment is for. Make sure they understand why it was necessary, for the child will learn fast.Proverbs 22:16 "He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want."This deals with those that try to rip off the feeble and the elderly, for God is against them and they will pay the price for their deeds. God doesn't like it when someone takes advantage of those that can't help themselves. If you see this going on, report it and take a stand against those that do such a thing.Proverbs 22:17 "Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thine heart unto my knowledge."