Sunday, November 16, 2008

Proverbs 29:1-7

Rejoicing of the righteous.
v.1 Sudden death. He who is often corrected but stiffens his neck (doesn't accept criticism) will be suddenly broken beyond healing. This proverb warns about the danger of stubbornly continuing in sin.
v.2 Righteous rule. When the righteous rule the people rejoice. When the wicked rule the people groan. See also 28:28 forming an inclusio around v.1 which possibly indicates the state of the entire nation Israel (suffering under wicked regimes that will be suddenly destroyed).
v.3 Wise son. The son who loves wisdom makes his father proud, but a son living riotously with prostitutes squanders his wealth (Lk 15:11-32). Wise behavior brings joy and prosperity to the family.
v.4 Justice. Justice brings a country stability, but a ruler greedily seeking bribes (or taxing excessively) brings it down. Wicked rulers put their own interest ahead of the good of the country with disastrous effects.
v.5-6 A snare. One who flatters his neighbor sets a snare for his feet. An evil man is ensnared by his own sin, but the righteous man escapes with joy.
v.7 Rights of the poor. The righteous man knows the rights of the poor (or justice for), but the wicked do not have any such knowledge (or concern).

Read Proverbs 29:1-7

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