Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today

Proverbs 29:9

⁹ If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

In all the writer’s instructions about our communication this particular statement is basic to our understanding.

Vs 9A The condition is stated: a wise man is seen potentially in a difference with a fool.

Vs 9B The result of the difference is described: the fool receives no good from the argument and disturbs others.

The conclusion is obvious. “There is no profit in an argument with a fool.” But, there is an even more subtle understanding to be gained. The wise man must be able to judge his adversary – whether he be a fool or not.

Proverbs 20:3

³ It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

Proverbs 19:3, 19, 25, 29

³ The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the LORD.

¹⁹ A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

²⁵ Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And beatings for the backs of fools.

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today
Proverbs 28:1, 4, 5, 10, 12, 15, 18, 28

Proverbs 28
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the LORD understand all.
10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
But the blameless will inherit good.
12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory;
But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves.
15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
Is a wicked ruler over poor people.
18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved,
But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.
28 When the wicked arise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.

Proverbs states all virtue and fault in absolute terms. We may never see absolute evil and surely will not see absolute righteousness, but we must acknowledge the fact of their existence.
Proverbs 28 gives in descriptive terms eight ways to recognize wickedness or evil about us in our daily lives.
Vs 1 The wicked person’s caution is the result of fear and a bad conscience.
Vs 4 The support of the wicked is by those who hate God’s law and do not want the restraints that come with it.
Vs 5 Justice is not the concern of evil men. They do not study it, desire it or support it. Justice is accidental to them.
Vs 10 Those who promote evil will find that it is self destructive.
Vs 12 When wicked men rule there are no winners. There is no redeeming virtue in sin.
Vs 15 Wicked rulers never favor the poor. They always are destructive to them.
Vs 18 The devious conduct of the wicked will prove to be their downfall.
Vs 28 Two impossibilities for truly wicked rulers: they cannot endear themselves to their subjects and they cannot promote righteousness.

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today

Proverbs 26:11 with II Peter 2:22

Proverbs 26:11

¹¹ As a dog returns to his own vomit,

So a fool repeats his folly.

II Peter 2:22

²² But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.

As the nature of a dog is to act in a particular fashion in every instance, so it is the nature of a fool to continue in his foolishness whatever it is. Neither counsel, discipline nor example will deter him from his folly.

In verses 4 and 5, he can be neither condoned nor ignored – he will not change.

Biblical theology and psychology understands man as he is by nature and as his conduct displays his character. Proverbs describes a man as either wise - knows and obeys God , or foolish - caring only for himself and his appetites.

Present day evangelical theology and psychology has accepted the secular understanding of man as personality and emotion. So man does not need a “new birth” – he needs redirecting. The result is a new, different, ineffectual gospel.

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today

Proverbs 25:1-4; 14:34

Proverbs 25:1-5

These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
³ As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
⁴ Take away the dross from silver,
And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry.
⁵ Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.

Proverbs 14:34

³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.

The writer in 14:34 states the defining principle of national government or government at any level. That is, upright conduct and principles are that by which a nation is judged. A Righteous government is most desirable.

I. Chapter 25:1-5 - The writer gives the information necessary to know why and how a nation is being governed.

· Vs 2 - A good government knows the national condition.

· Vs 3 - All things done by a good government do not have to be known.

· Vs 4 - The principle of separation for value is stated by illustration.

· Vs 5 - The description of the character and the influence that shapes it is stated.

A. The wicked in positions of familiarity with governmental leaders have influence.

B. The governmental leaders will not do the best job where there is the influence of the wicked.

C. For the government to do its best, the wicked must be removed.

We are given three glaring illustrations of the wickedness of our government leaders: The conduct of Johnson in the Vietnam Conflict; the criminal and blasphemous behavior of Richard Nixon; and the gross shameless immorality of Bill Clinton. There was no vacuum -- these men identified our national condition.

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today

Proverbs 24:19-22, 29

¹⁹ Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the wicked;
²⁰ For there will be no prospect for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
²¹ My son, fear the LORD and the king;
Do not associate with those given to change;
²² For their calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin those two can bring?

²⁹ Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work.”

In Proverbs there are two levels of human responsibility.

A. Individual: Which includes all personal interaction such as child-rearing and the social concerns of neighbors.

B. Government: All matters to do with tax, legal differences, criminal prosecution, and punishment. There is no place for personal revenge, retaliation, or vigilantism.

Proverbs assumes a society with a functioning civil government. The period of "Lex Talonis" is not it's subject. But ultimately, justice belongs to God. He will judge righteously.