Lesson 280 - Senior
Memory Verse
"An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked” (Proverbs 29:27).
Cross References
I Maxims from the Wisdom of God
1. The uncertainty of life necessitates our following a wise course at all times, [PRO:27:1]; [PRO:28:22]; [PRO:29:1]; [PRO:25:6-7], [PRO:25:27]; [PS:39:5]; [JAM:4:13-15]; [1PE:1:24].
2. Self-praise and flattery both lead to disaster, [PRO:27:2], [PRO:27:5-6], [PRO:27:14], [PRO:27:21]; [PRO:28:23]; [PRO:29:4-5], [PRO:29:23]; [JOB:32:21]; [PS:12:3]; [1TS:2:1-6]; [ISA:47:10-11]; [EZE:31:10-14]; [OBA:1:4]; [MAT:23:12].
3. Anger, wrath, and envy are grievous sins, [PRO:27:3-4]; [PRO:29:21-22]; [PRO:14:17]; [PRO:16:32]; [PRO:23:17]; [ECC:7:9]; [JAM:1:19]; [JAM:3:16]; [PS:37:1], [PS:37:8]; [MAT:5:22]; [ROM:13:13]; [1CO:13:4]; [GAL:5:26]; [JAM:3:14-15].
4. The value of true friendship is shown, [PRO:27:9-10], [PRO:27:15-17]; [PRO:29:9]; [ECC:4:9-10]; [1SM:18:1]; [PHL:2:25]; [2TM:1:16-17].
5. Spiritual hunger always brings spiritual blessing; the lack of it is always followed by spiritual dearth, [PRO:27:7-8], [PRO:27:19-20]; [PRO:28:18]; [PRO:29:18]; [MAT:5:6]; [AMO:8:11-12]; [ISA:55:1-3]; [JHN:4:14]; [JHN:6:35]; [JHN:7:37].
6. The pursuit and reception of God's wisdom is life's highest possible aim or ambition, [PRO:27:11-13], [PRO:27:22]; [PRO:29:3], [PRO:29:11], [PRO:29:20]; [PRO:2:1-9]; [PRO:4:7]; [JOB:28:28]; [MAT:7:24]; [2CH:1:10-12]; [JAM:1:5].
7. Faithful service to God and man brings its reward, [PRO:27:18], [PRO:27:23-27]; [PRO:28:19-20]; [EPH:6:5-8]; [MAT:10:42]; Mattew 24:31-46; [PS:126:5-6]; [JHN:4:36].
8. The actions, attitude, and eternal hopes of the pious and of the wicked are contrasted, [PRO:28:1-18], [PRO:28:25-26]; [PRO:29:6-8], [PRO:29:24-25]; [PRO:14:32]; [JOB:27:8]; [PS:10:1-18]; [PS:33:18]; [PS:71:5]; [PS:146:5]; [ACT:24:15]; [JER:17:5-8]; [1JN:3:1-3].
9. Respect of persons is a sin against God and man, [PRO:28:21]; [PRO:29:12-14], [PRO:29:26-27]; [LEV:19:15]; [DEU:1:17]; [JOB:13:10]; [JAM:2:1-9]; [EPH:6:9].
10. Chastisement of children is a parental duty, and respect for his parents the duty of each child, [PRO:28:24]; [PRO:29:15], [PRO:29:17], [PRO:29:21]; [PRO:13:24]; [PRO:19:18]; [PRO:22:6], [PRO:22:15]; [PRO:23:13]; [EXO:20:12]; [EPH:6:1-4]; [COL:3:20]; [HEB:12:5-11].
11. Mercy is one of the fruits of righteousness, [PRO:28:27-28]; [PRO:29:2], [PRO:29:7], [PRO:29:10]; [PRO:3:3]; [MIC:6:8]; [MAT:5:7]; [JAM:2:13].
12. Unwise contention brings leanness of soul and accomplishes no good for God's cause, [PRO:29:9], [PRO:29:11], [PRO:29:20], [PRO:29:22]; [PRO:17:14]; [PRO:20:3]; [PHL:2:3]; [2TM:2:14], [2TM:2:23-24]; [TIT:3:9]; [JAM:3:16]; [1CO:1:11]; [1CO:3:3].
13. Righteousness will eventually triumph in spite of all that opposes it, [PRO:29:16], [PRO:29:27]; [ISA:3:10]; [PS:34:15]; [PS:37:3-9], 37:25, [PS:37:35-37].
Notes
Lessons from the Proverbs
Sermons can be preached on any of the verses of our lesson text. As can be seen from the outline, a wide variety of topics is taken up in these three chapters. Most of the proverbs are sufficiently clear in themselves, making further comment really unnecessary, especially if, through the use of a reference Bible, they are studied in their proper relationship to the whole of Scripture. The purpose of the outlines and notes of this Bible Study Course is to bring the student in touch with the teachings of the whole Bible on the matters taken up in the specific lesson, so he can rightly divide the Word of Truth and receive the full instruction that God has for him. For these notes we have selected a few of the topics, which we have not frequently dwelt upon in other lessons.
Tomorrow and Its uncertainties
"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,” are the words of God. This same principle applies to our walk during our entire lifetime. Besides the writings in other parts of the Bible on this subject, the Book of Proverbs has preserved for us, in several places, choice bits of advice on this subject. In this particular lesson from the Proverbs we read: "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
In matters relative to our eternal salvation it is utter and sheer folly to put off until tomorrow the reception of those things we are able to seek for and receive today. That God is no respecter of persons, we shall see from a study of this lesson, and neither is He a respecter of place or of time. He is ready to hear the sincere prayer of the penitent, and He is able to hear that prayer no matter where it is prayed. God is eager to answer such a prayer also; and the faith that prompts the prayer, small though it may appear to be, will cause God to give more faith that the blessings of salvation may be received by the spiritually hungry soul.
It is folly to put off till tomorrow anything pertaining to our salvation, because we do not know that life will be ours on the morrow. A minute of time can change the whole eternal destiny of any one of us. Some one moment of our life will see each one of us ushered into eternity. We have no assurance that that particular moment is going to be in a distant time. It may be the very next moment that we have to live. If we put off to the future the prayer that will bring the forgiveness of God, we are claiming title to a future moment that may never be given to us. We may never live to see that future moment which we have chosen for the prayer of repentance, and thus be lost forever.
The same rule applies to all the actions of our lives. We cannot boast ourselves of tomorrow. Tomorrow is not ours to claim until God Himself gives it to us. This present moment is all that is ours; and when we live it to the honour and glory of God, doing with our hearts what our hands find to do, we shall be fulfilling God's complete will for us. This does not mean that we are not to have a goal in life toward which we may strive. This does not mean that we cannot look ahead at what seems to be the will of God for us. It means that whatever we do, whatever we think, and whatever we plan -– all is subject to God's will as it is revealed to us and as He gives us the time, grace, and strength to carry it out. To fail to take Him into account in our planning is distinctly to violate His will, for He has instructed us that when we make our plans we "ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” [JAM:4:15]).
Self-Praise and Flattery
A bard of a former generation wrote: "There is not one wise man among twenty will praise himself.” Two others have written similarly: "Flatterers are the worst kind of enemies” and "Self-love is the greatest of flatterers.” But the Word of God uses even stronger and more condemning language for these sins, for nothing is more opposite to the spirit of the true Gospel than these vices. Nothing is so damning to the souls of men as they. Both are produced and sustained by the sin of pride, about which we have studied in a former lesson of this book.
The Word of God states, that, "the LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things” [PS:12:3]). Concerning the praiser of oneself, the Bible has this to say: "Thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know” [ISA:47:10-11]). We have no need to go to any other source of wisdom than the Word of God to see the dire and absolute consequences of continuance in these two sins.
Anger and Envy
"An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” Everyone has personal experience in the consequences of anger and wrath -– from his own life and conduct prior to his conversion if he is a Christian, and from the lives and conduct of some with whom he associates daily. Grievous crimes are committed because of the influence of these carnal tendencies. Lives are taken, property is destroyed or stolen, human suffering is increased, homes are broken, and innocent children are thrust on an unsympathetic world, because of anger and wrath.
But the Book of God speaks again. There we read, "Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” Here it is plain that as bad as anger and wrath are in the sight of God, envy is even worse. All these sins arse condemned by God, and the individual who harbours such vices in his heart has not felt the regenerating power of God's salvation from sin, or is backslid. He is a sinner. He is outside the fold of God's protection and grace. He is a child of the devil.
It is contended by some that it is necessary for a Christian to receive the fullness of sanctification – the second, definite work of grace that follows justification by faith and precedes the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire -– in order for anger to be removed from his life. But the Word of God shows us plainly that a Christian is delivered from these sins when he is justified. It states: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; . . . wrath, strife, . . . envyings, . . . and such like: of the which, I tell you . . . that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” [GAL:5:19-21]).
Contention
Another wise man of our times, following the teachings of the Bible, wrote, "Religious contention is the devil's harvest.” The Holy Spirit tells us that "only by pride cometh contention” [PRO:13:10]). God has told us also to "leave off contention” [PRO:17:14]) and that "it is an honour for a man to cease from strife” [PRO:20:3]).
Some feel that contention and strife are justified when the issue is religious in character. Many of these same people teach that falsehood is also justified -– in short, that sin ceases to be sin -– when it concerns their religious work. But God who has said in His Word that all liars shall be cast into the lake of fire has also said: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” [PHL:2:3]). He has also instructed us to "shun profane and vain babblings for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” He has also said that we are to avoid foolish and unlearned questions, "knowing that they do gender strifes,” for "the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” [2TM:2:16], [2TM:2:23-25]). We are also told to "avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” [TIT:3:9]).
Spiritual Hunger and the Triumph of Righteousness
There is a place in the heart of man that never can be satisfied by any temporal thing, or by the worship of anything but the true and living God. Some try to quench this thirst and satisfy this hunger in their own way, but the Bible tells us that, "the eyes of man are never satisfied.” How comforting are the words of Scripture, for there we find: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
Satisfaction is to be found, but it is not to be found in the things of the world. True satisfaction comes only to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Therefore, we can say that true happiness is known only to the righteous. "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” [PS:1:3]).
The wicked has been seen spreading himself like a green bay tree, but he has passed away. He was sought but could not be found. On the contrary, the righteous, or perfect man, has peace in this life and in the life that is to come. One of the verses of our lesson states that "when the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.” The righteous shall "eat the fruit of their doings” [ISA:3:10]) and "shall flourish like the palm tree” [PS:92:12]). The righteous shall "shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” [MAT:13:43]). It is the righteous who will make up the armies, which will follow the glorified King of kings and Lord of lords when He comes in His glory to set up His Kingdom upon this earth and rule for a thousand years [REV:19:14]).
What a glorious hope and anticipation! The wicked may seem to prosper, but eternal punishment is sure. The persecutors may rage and oppress, but their work will be cut short and they will be cast into eternity without hope, unless they repent of their evil ways. But "they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” [DAN:12:3]). "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” [1CO:15:57]).
Questions
1. What is a proverb?
2. What is said concerning the uncertainty of life and our attitude toward it in this lesson text, as well as in other parts of the Bible?
3. Quote some verses that show the evil of self-praise and flattery.
4. What is the basic sin behind self-praise and flattery?
5. What other sins are committed because of anger?
6. What other sins are committed because of envy?
7. Why is the pursuit of God's wisdom the highest motive that we can have in life?
8. Is the chastisement of children a parental duty? What attitude should all children take toward their parents?
9. Why is contention unwise? and why does it bring leanness of soul and accomplish but little for God?
10. Quote some verses that show the eventual triumph of righteousness.