Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20001029.htm

PROVERBS: ALIGNING TO GOD'S FIXED MORAL ORDER
Part III: Displaying God's Fixed Moral Order
S. Viewing Specific Proverbs Of God's Fixed Moral Order
(Proverbs 28:1-28)
  1. Introduction
    1. After motivating a young man to heed an observed fixed moral order, the literary genre of the Egyptian sboyet that the Book of Proverbs uses works to supply actual proverbs to reveal that order, cf. Bruce Waltke, "The Book of Proverbs and Ancient Wisdom Literature," Bibliotheca Sacra, 136:543, p. 221-238.
    2. Solomon reveals that order to be God's order for his son to heed. We continue that study of that order:
  2. Viewing Specific Proverbs Of God's Fixed Moral Order From Proverbs 28:1-28.
    1. A son must learn that he can discern if a party is wicked or upright by his response to threats: the wicked tend to paranoia (fleeing when no one pursues) where the upright stand secure as does a lion, 28:1.
    2. A son must learn that a high turnover in leadership comes from rebellion in its people, but by means of knowing God's fixed moral order can he make his land last long in spite of such a problem in people, 28:2
    3. A son must learn that as a ruler, he will need to help and not oppress the vulnerable to help his reign, 28:3.
    4. A son must learn his own conduct influences others to be upright, and that strives against wicked rulers, 4.
    5. A son must see that to the degree he seeks to follow the Lord will he understand true justice, 28:5.
    6. A son must learn that, given the choice, blamelessness provides a better future than wealth, 28:6.
    7. A son must see that heeding God's moral order will keep him disciplined so as to avoid self destruction, 7.
    8. A son must learn that lasting financial gain comes not by fleecing the poor, but by being kind to them, 28:8. God looks out for the welfare of the poor, so one needs to treat them well to gain God's blessing.
    9. A son must learn that to the degree he wants God to hear his prayers, he must heed law and order, 28:9.
    10. A son must learn not to mislead the upright into sin if he would expect to avoid failure and be blessed, 10.
    11. A son must learn that wealth does not automatically imply one is wise: wisdom is a moral issue, 28:11.
    12. A son must learn he can discern upright from errant leaders by how happy are their constituents, 28:12.
    13. A son needs to learn to confess rather than conceal his sins if he would prosper and find God's mercy, 13.
    14. A son must learn that to the degree he dreads erring will he avoid having his heart hardened unto ruin, 14.
    15. A son must learn that if he tyrannically oppresses people as a ruler, fleecing them of their money, he will be destructive to his nation's welfare as is a lion or bear and not enjoy a long life himself, 28:15-16.
    16. A son must learn not to shield a murderer from the pain of his own conscience; he deserves death, 28:17.
    17. A son must learn that his keeping his path upright is the way to insure himself against failure, 28:18.
    18. A son must see that occupying himself with known occupations is financially better than pure ventures, 19
    19. A son must learn that faithfully sticking to a sensible plan for financial gain will richly reward as opposed to trying fast, hurried, overly-risky ventures, Proverbs 28:20.
    20. A son must learn that he must work hard to avoid bribery: though it is not wholesome, even mighty men at the height of their powers (geber) will do wrong if financial pressures or needs threaten them, 28:21.
    21. A son must learn that selfish motives leads to seeking fast paths to wealth, and that leads to poverty, 22. He is much better off viewing life as something to be lived for God, and pursuing gain God's ways!
    22. A son must learn that rebuking a man gains more respect than flattering him to manipulate him, 28:23.
    23. A son must learn that he must not "fleece" his parents of their money if he would not destroy a family, 24.
    24. A son must learn that arrogant greed produces strife where trusting God for gain leads to prosperity, 25.
    25. A son must see that he must not rely upon his own views, but upon God's views to be kept safe, 28:26.
    26. A son must learn that as as ruler, his kindness to the poor affects relationships with them to his benefit, 27.
    27. A son must see that only when the wicked oppressors perish in a land can the upright thrive and not hide: hence, it is to a country or a group's advantage for wicked oppressors to be cleansed from it, Prov. 28:28.
Lesson: From these proverbs, we learn that a youth is much better off learning from his parents that heeding God's ways is to his own distinct advantage in the adult world.

Application: (1) We parents must have the courage under God's leading to inform our maturing sons and daughters of the VALUE of heeding God's fixed moral order. (2) As maturing children or as adults ourselves, we can apply these truths to our own lives for eventual blessings.