Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20120722.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
20. Studying Proverbs 21:28-22:5
  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 21:28-22:5.
    1. Proverbs 21:28 teaches that a witness of falsehood [false witness] (kazab, B. D. B., A Heb.-Eng. Lex. of the O. T., p. 469) will perish (abad, Ibid., p. 1-2), but a nobleman (ish, Kittel, Biblia Hebraica, p. 1180; Robert B. Girdlestone, Syns. of the O. T., 1973, p. 45-50) who hears speaks in endurance (nesah, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 664) ["one who listens attentively will report accurately, and his testimony will stand," Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Pr. 21:28]. Being attentive as a leader pays dividends, even equipping him to speak accurately in court so that his testimony stands opposite that of liars for the good of society.
    2. Proverbs 21:29 asserts that a wicked nobleman (ish, cf. Pr. 21:28) shows boldness (azaz, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 738; Hiphil = causative active) with his face, but the upright man, he (emphatic pron. hu', Ibid., Kittel) orders aright (kun, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 465-466; Hiphil = causative active) his ways. The wicked must put on a false front to persuade others, but the upright can afford to relax, letting their actions speak volumes.
    3. Proverbs 21:30 claims there is no wisdom, and there is no understanding (tebunah, Ibid., p. 108), and there is no advice, counsel (esah, Ibid., p. 420) [successfully] to oppose (neged, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 617) Jahweh. We must submit to God's ways to succeed, for, opposing them brings certain failure.
    4. Proverbs 21:31 teaches the horse is readied (kun, Ibid., p. 465-466; Hophal = causative passive) for the day of battle (milhamah, Ibid., p. 536), but from Jahweh is deliverance, victory (teshu'ah, Ibid., p. 448).
    5. Proverbs 22:1 asserts a name [a good reputation, cf. Z. P. E. B., v. Four, p. 364] is to be chosen rather than riches (oser, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 799), and favor ( hen, Ibid., p. 366) is more wholesome (tob, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1180 and 2 in citing Gen. 1:31 where God created the "wholesome" (tob) universe) than silver or gold. A good reputation is better than riches since it yields good relationships that edify the inner man, something riches are powerless in themselves to accomplish!
    6. Proverbs 22:2 claims the rich and poor meet together, each other [have this in common] (pagash, Ibid., p. 803; Niphal = passive), Jahweh is the Maker of all of them (kol , Ibid., Kittel, p. 1180; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 481-483, plus 3 m. pl. suffix). We must honor the poor and rich alike irrespective of their level of wealth, for all people alike bear God's image, having been made like Him and by Him, cf. Genesis 1:27.
    7. Proverbs 22:3 teaches the crafty, shrewd, sensible man (arum, Ibid., p. 791) sees evil, misery, distress, injury, wickedness (ra'ah, Ibid., Kittel; Theol. Wrdbk. of the O. T., v. II, p. 856) and hides himself (satar, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 711), but the naive (peti, Ibid., p. 834) keep on going (abar , Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 716-719) and are punished (anash, Ibid., p. 778-779). It pays to be wary of troublesome threats in life's pathway so that we avoid being needlessly harmed versus naively, blindly heading into the future.
    8. Proverbs 22:4 asserts that as the consequence of (eqeb, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1181; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 784) humility (anawah, Ibid., p. 776) and the fear (yir'ah, Ibid., p. 432) of Jahweh are riches (oser, cf. Pr. 22:1) and honor (kabod, Ibid., p. 458) and life. Humility, that rises from accepting one's limitations, and fearing God, that rises from accepting His greatness, yield riches, honor and life. Two reasons are behind this truth: (1) these viewpoints lead one to make wise choices in life, and (2) they win God's rich reward.
    9. Proverbs 22:5 claims that thorns (sen, Ibid., p. 856), bird-traps [snares] (pah, Ibid., p. 809) are in the path of the perverted, twisted (iqesh , Ibid., p. 786), but he who guards his life principle (nepesh, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1181 and 3 in citing Gen. 2:7 where God created man a nepesh with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual life) keeps far from (rahaq, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 934-935) them. We guard our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual realms of life from destructive pain and snares by being openly upright before all.
Lesson Application: May we align with God's fixed moral order in each of these realms for blessing.