Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20120527.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Proverbs: Motivating Teens And Adults To Align With God's Fixed Moral Order
Part III: Solomon's Proverbs Reflecting God's Fixed Moral Order For Blessing, Proverbs 10:1-22:16
B. Proverbs With Directions On Righteous Living, Proverbs 16:1-22:16
13. Studying Proverbs 19:24-20:3
  1. Introduction
    1. Where Proverbs 10:1-15:33 contrasts wise, upright lives with foolish, wicked ones, Proverbs 16:1-22:16 focuses mainly on the upright life, guiding us on how to live righteously in many realms of experience.
    2. We thus view each proverb in this section to draw out its deeper insight that Proverbs 1:5-6 implies exists:
  2. Studying Proverbs 19:24-20:3.
    1. Proverbs 19:24 teaches the sluggard (asel, Kittel, Bib. Hebr. p. 1178; B. D. B., A Heb.-Eng. Lex. of the O. T., p. 782) buries (taman, Ibid., p. 380) his hand in the dish (salahat, Ibid., p. 852) [for the sop dip, cf. John 13:26]; he even (gam, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 168-169) will not return it to his mouth. Lazy folk do not finish their initial efforts for gain, so it is foolishly lazy to start a project we will not finish.
    2. Proverbs 19:25 asserts strike, flog (nakah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 645-646) a scorner (lis, Ibid., p. 539) and the open-minded, naive (peti , Ibid., p. 834) will become shrewd (arom, Ibid., p. 791; Hiphil = causative); reprove (yakah, Ibid., p. 406-407; Hiphil = causative) a discreet, intelligent man ( bin, Ibid., p. 106-107; Niphal ptc. = passive) and he will discern (bin as a regular verb) knowledge. The more we shift from being scornful to naive to discerning, the the less corrective effort is required for good results! Thus, we lessen our own painful costs if we are discerning and not naive, and especially if we do not scorn.
    3. Proverbs 19:26 claims he who assaults (shadad, Ibid., p. 994; Piel = intensive) his father and he who drives away (barah, Ibid., p. 137-138; Hiphil = causative) his mother is a son who puts to shame (bosh, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 101-102; Hiphil again) and causes embarrassment, disgrace (haper, Ibid., p. 344). Mistreating one's parents brings shame and disgrace even on one's self, so we best honor them.
    4. Proverbs 19:27 teaches cease (hadal, Ibid., p. 292-293; imperative), my son, to hear correction (musar, Ibid., p. 416), and you will go astray (shagah , Ibid., p. 993) from the words of knowledge. An essential key to sticking with a knowledgeable path in life is a readiness to heed correction.
    5. Proverbs 19:28 asserts a worthless, corrupt (beliya'al, Ibid., p. 116) witness mocks justice (mishpat, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 1048-1049), and the mouth of the wicked gulps down (bala', Ibid., p. 118; Piel = intensive) vain wickedness (awen, Ibid., Kittel; Robert B. Girdlestone, Syns. of the O. T., 1973, p. 83). A false witness mocks justice since he associates with wicked people that corrupt him, so, to contribute to justice in society, we must associate only with the upright.
    6. Proverbs 19:29 claims that condemning judgments (shepet, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 1048) are firmly established (kun, Ibid., p. 465-467; Niphal = passive) for those who scoff ( lis, cf. Pr. 19:25), and beating strokes (mahalumot, Ibid., p. 240) for the backs (gew, Ibid., p. 156) of those of dull, closed minds (kesil , Ibid., Kittel; Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 908). Scoffing and an unteachable mind lead to sure trouble with the authorities, so we should be teachable and humble in relating to others to avoid problems with authorities.
    7. Proverbs 20:1 teaches wine (yayin, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 406) is a mocker (lis, cf. Pr. 19:25) and strong drink, beer (shekar, Ibid., p. 1016; NIV) a boistrous one (hamah, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 242), and all who reel in drunkenness (shagah, Ibid., p. 993) by them are not wise. We must avoid substance abuse.
    8. Proverbs 20:2 asserts like the growling (naham, Ibid., p. 625) of a young lion (kipir, Ibid., p. 498) is the terror (emah, Ibid., p. 33-34) of a king; he who makes him [the king] infuriate himself (abar, Ibid., p. 720; Hithpael = intensive reflexive) forfeits (hata', Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 306-307) his [own] life (nepesh , Ibid., Kittel, p. 1178 and 3 to cite Gen. 2:7 where God made man a nepesh with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual life). It is to our great advantage not to cause an authority figure to be angry at us.
    9. Proverbs 20:3 claims it is the glory of a nobleman (ish, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., Girdlestone, p. 45-50) to cease from strife, but every arrogant, flippant man (ewil , Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., Bible Know. Com., O. T.) breaks himself out [in strife] (gala', Ibid., B. D. B., p. 166; Hithpael = intensive reflexive). Leaders should work to cease from strife even if wronged, for strife in a leader's experience often costs him dearly in reprisals.
Lesson Application: May we align with God's fixed moral order in each of these realms for blessing.