Proverbs Chapter 22

• Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. 

So how do we obtain a good name that is worth more than riches? It is good to have favor of men if it is because we have lived honestly and with great integrity. If the favor is a result in our good works for the Lord or our lives being lived as good examples of godliness, then it is good but if the favor we receive is because we have compromised our faith to please men then that is favor we do not want. 

This good statement in Proverbs can be taken and studied also with comments from the New Testament. 

• Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 

Sometimes pleasing men would be the very opposite of pleasing God. Yet we see another example of Paul:

• 1Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 
• 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 
• 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. 

We can please men in the good things of the Lord but not please men that are not after the word of God or the heart of God. 

• John 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 
• 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 

These wanted to believe and serve Christ but they did not do it openly for fear of the Pharisees. This is compromise. 

• Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. 

So we see that there are times when because of the word many shall be offended and we have to seek to please and obey God rather than men. There are other times when because of the word, we receive favor so this is a good example of taking and rightly dividing the word of God to get the proper meaning and balance. 

If we just take one verse out of context and live by it and ignore others then we can become very unbalanced in the word of God and not have the proper motive or understanding. 

• Proverbs 22:2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. 

We are equal in the sight of God and our standing with Him never and I mean never is influenced by what we possess. It is our faith that pleases God. 

• Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

If a poor man has much faith and a rich man does not, the poor man would please God and the rich man would die with nothing. If a rich man used his riches to help the poor and walked with God in all his ways while a poor man envied the rich man and did not have God in his life, then the rich would please God and the poor man would die lost. 

• Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. 

Sometimes we admire the fast talker and quick thinker but the bible admonishes us to think first before speaking or acting. In other words, count the cost first. I've seen good wonderful people that have hearts of gold, want to help someone that was in trouble which is commendable but they would jump in so fast that they themselves would end up in a mess. 

I have the opposite problem. I usually don't get into trouble because I do think first and consider if I can handle something. The only trouble is that at times I may never, "Get out of the boat" and miss opportunities. Everything has to be done with wisdom and balance. Seems like we can go to extremes either way.

• Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life. 

True riches are things spiritual that come from the Lord and last for eternity. Our hopes, our dreams are in Him and not in this life. God may allow some to be materially rich to see what they might do with their wealth but most of us are not blessed that way but the Lord provides.

The modern assumption that if one is rich, he is favored by God is very false. True riches are deep spiritual riches that no one can take away from us. Thieves cannot break through and steal the true riches. When we quit this life, we have the true riches in eternity. A pot of gold doesn't do one that passes on, a bit of good. His wealth is left for others to fight over. 

On a national level, God will bless materially a nation that looks to Him and trusts in Him. We may notice that 3rd world nations that live in poverty may simply be because in their ancestry were those that worshipped other gods or idols. If we reject God, we cut off our heritage and blessings both spiritual and material. This doesn't mean every individual is going to be materially rich with this world's goods as some teach. It means that the natural outcome of a nation that trusts in the Lord will be material blessing because the righteous way they live will cause prosperity. 

In the days of the holocaust, Germany prospered temporarily while robbing the Jewish people of their possessions. It didn't last. That kind of prosperity is not from the Lord. If we have to steal and plunder to gain, it will not be fruitful and eventually we will lose what we gain and in the process be in danger of losing our souls. 

• Proverbs 22:5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that does keep his soul shall be far from them. 

Again we see that those that trust in the Lord and in His ways, are taken care of. The Psalmist said, "I've never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread." Again I repeat this doesn't mean that we will all be rich. The warning of Jesus should ring in our ears. 

• Luke 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 

• Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 

Notice it says, when he is old. Sometimes the youth will stray temporarily, yet if his parents are faithful to bring him up in the ways of the Lord, when he is old he will not depart from it. I have kept the same faith as my father taught me yet I went through youthful periods of seeking worldly things at times, yet without getting into deep trouble because of my upbringing. 

• Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 

This proverb speaks for itself. If we borrow especially heavily, we will be a servant to the lender. Better to save up for things. When my husband died, I had a choice whether to invest the life insurance money or pay the house off. I paid the house off. With stock markets going crazy and my income greatly reduced, to not have house payments and owe creditors seemed to be the wisest choice. I was able to be completely free of debt and just have to be concerned about taxes, insurance, food and utilities.

It is a type of bondage to buy so many things we think we need to make us happy yet be so in debt that we can't enjoy them. 

• Proverbs 22:8 He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. 

We reap what we sow. Those that do evil, increase wealth dishonestly, and harm the innocent will find it all to be in vain because he loses it all in the long run. 

• Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor. 

Remembering that blessed means happy, true blessings simply means to be content and happy in the Lord. God does not promises riches in this life if we give. Sometimes it will work out that way but we are promised that He will take care of those that put their trust in Him and give to the poor. When we give to those that cannot repay us, we will be happy and content knowing we please God and we helped a neighbor. It will return to us and we shall receive back in some way but never are we promised to get rich until the day we stand in the presence of God. 

• Proverbs 22:10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. 

Mocking true men and women of God similar to Ishmael mocking Isaac, making fun of those who are living in holiness and walking in the spirit or just a troublemaker who opposes anything that is good may be what is referred to here. This does not mean that we do not stand up for righteousness or attempt to correct serious error but we would not do that in a mocking scorning way which does more harm than good. If one that scorns and mocks enters our place of worship to cause trouble, we remove him physically. They are welcome if they come to worship or the hear the word of God but if they just come to oppose and cause trouble, they should leave. 

• Proverbs 22:11 He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. 

Only through Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us, can we achieve the pureness of heart and begin to speak that which edifies instead of wasted words of contention. 

This surely means a righteous king but even evil kings probably would prefer to be surrounded by those he can trust not to betray him. The story of Joseph in the book of Genesis is a great example of those that observed that Joseph was blessed of God even though they themselves were not godly people.

A king should know that to surround himself with flatterers and those that just say what he wants to hear, is not good. Those type of people are just out to be in his favor and not out for the good of the king. They can flatter to the face but betray him behind his back. Better to be around people that will speak the truth even if the truth is not what we want to hear at times. This was how Joseph was and also Daniel which we can read about in the book of Daniel.

• Proverbs 22:12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor. 

Even though at times it appears otherwise, the word of the Lord shall go forth and not return empty. He will preserve His truth and overthrow the words of the wicked. 

• Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

• Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. 

Lazy persons who want an excuse to continue in their laziness will always find an excuse to convince either themselves or someone else that their excuse is legitimate. 

• Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein. 

Although God does not hate anyone but hates the evil they do; if people continually reject His word, His correction and His way of salvation, they are given over to a reprobate mind. They can be deceived and get into all trouble. The Lord is our safety and our shield. He will keep us from evil if we trust in Him. It is to our own peril that we reject and refuse His ways. 

A strange woman is one that entraps a man because of her beauty and offers things forbidden by the word such and sexual immorality, cheating on their own wives etc. She is out for gain and cares not for the soul of that man or his family. A godly woman will avoid this type of thing. She will not sell her body or have anything to do with a married man. She will walk in integrity and holiness. 

• Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 

We are born to rebel but we also are born to be trained and loved. We can train a child the right way. The younger they are the more they will respond to love and proper training. When they are old they will not depart from it. 

This is not a verse that condones beating a child in anger or being cruel in any way. I've seen someone hit their child for every little word or mistake and the child got worse, not better. We must train up a child in love and gentle guidance. Sometimes we have to use the rod but only if the situation calls for it. 

• Proverbs 22:16 He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to want. 

If we want to refute this modern day robbing of widows and the false teaching of the prosperity gospel, here is a verse that does it. It use to be that the governments of the world did this and they do in some places, but now in this modern age, we have some (not all) churches and prosperous pastors that do this.

They will actually make people feel guilty if they don't give to their ministries using the story of the widow's mite to do so ignoring the warning of Christ in the same context about those that devour widow's houses and for pretense make long prayers. 

I believe God will bless the widow who gives what she has to the Lord's work, but I believe God will judge those that take advantage of her and guilt her into giving to make their own pockets richer. 

• Mark 12:38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 
• 39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 
• 40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. 
• 41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 
• 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 
• 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 
• 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. 

It is strange that many will preach about the poor woman and the widow's mites but say little about devouring widow's houses when it is in the same chapter in Mark and also in the a chapter in Luke. Matthew and John does not mention the widow's mites at all. 

• Proverbs 22:17 Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart unto my knowledge.
• 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 

There is good knowledge and there is knowledge that is better that we don't know. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and I believe the beginning of the good type of knowledge. Yet we can know all the right things but not allow it to change our lives. We can say "Thou shalt not" and quote scripture but do we live out the scriptures we quote? "Love your neighbor as thyself". Do we do that too? 

• Proverbs 22:19 That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 

It appears that the writer of Proverbs is writing these things to teach others to trust in the Lord. God does desire that we trust in Him. When we seek to please the Lord, the thing which pleases Him the most is that we trust Him. I quoted this verse once but I'll put it in again because faith is very important if we want to walk in the spirit. 

• Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

• Proverbs 22:20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 
• 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou might answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? 

The whole word of God is written to any and all who would receive them and believe them. In doing so eternal life awaits. They are words of truth. We not only want to receive these things for ourselves but share them with others. We cannot share this with anyone else if we don't read, study and receive them ourselves first. 

• Proverbs 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 
• 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 

There are many that rob the poor and think they are doing the will of God in the process. Jesus tells us to help the poor, not rob them. I've heard stories of rich people in third world countries riding around in expensive cars while the people they rule over have no shoes for their feet. 

• Matthew 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 
• 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 
• 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 
• 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 
• 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 
• 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
• 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 
• 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 
• 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 
• 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 
• 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 
• 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 
• 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 
• 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 
• 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 

I realize that this is a warning to nations that reject His people Israel and also the believers in Christ but I believe that at times this can have an individual interpretation if the Holy Spirit so leads. Other scriptures verify that fact. In James we read: 

• James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 
• 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 

As I pointed out many times in other writings, this never means we give someone else's money by going in debt and borrowing but give what we already have. We don't give what belongs to someone else. Some politicians like to appear to care for the poor and give to them but they actually give tax money from the hard working wage earners not out of their own pocket. Many times it is to get votes.

• Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 
• 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. 

So true. There is another verse that goes with these:

• Exodus 23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: 

So many innocent people have suffered and died because of mob violence, false accusation and someone stirring people up with hate toward a person or a group of people. We are not to follow vain trouble making people. 

• Proverbs 22:26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 
• 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? 

In other words don't co-sign for anyone's loan unless you yourself have the ability to pay it back. I've seen a beloved relative of mine do this so many times and he himself went into bankruptcy. This type of giving is not biblical. It is not true biblical giving if we have to borrow it from a bank. God only asks us give what we have. 

And yes I do not believe in getting loans or giving to the church by credit card. Sometimes we have to use a credit card temporarily for online giving but it should be something we pay back right away. Unless we can pay the bills, it is not biblical giving. We are giving someone else's money. 

• Proverbs 22:28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. 

This is a form of stealing. When we remove them we are trying to steal their land. 

• Proverbs 22:29 See a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. 

To me honest and diligent in business will attract kings and those in authority. He will be in the company of good men as opposed to dishonest obscure persons. He may end up in the employ of kings and princes. Dorna