Proverbs Chapter 29

• Proverbs 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. 

Even God says that His spirit will not always strive with man. The Holy Spirit is what draws us to repentance. If we continually resist God and His ways over and over, sooner or later He leaves us to fend for ourselves and we get into one mess after another. The world is a mess because they resist the correction and wooing of the Holy Spirit. 

The same is true in the secular world and in government. If a person who commits a crime continues and never changes, he will destroy himself and either end up in jail for life or put to death. If we do something wrong and truly repent or change, we will be able to pull out of darkness with the help of the Lord but if we continually harden our hearts against that which is right, we will destroy ourselves and others with us. God will not allow us to sin forever. There is an end to all these things that are evil. 

• Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. 

History will show us the truth of verse 2. All we have to do is remember Hitler, Stalin, Nero, and other despots who destroyed lives and ruled with fear and a heavy hand. Most of these men could be in hell today with no escape if they never made things right with the Lord. They made hell real for the people who suffered under their leadership. If a country can get a righteous king or leader, they are blessed indeed and the poor will rejoice. 

• Proverbs 29:3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance. 

We always care about our kids. When we see them use wisdom and live good lives it causes us to rejoice. When we see them do things that we know will cause themselves harm, it causes us grief. 

• Proverbs 29:4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it. 

Those that take bribes and allow money to influence their decisions do not need to be judges or kings. It will destroy peace, law and order will never be fair and just. A righteous fair king or ruler will indeed cause a land to be established and it will prosper. 

• Proverbs 29:5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. 

False flattery is deceptive because they say one thing but actually believe another. We may think someone likes us but they may be plotting against us. A friend tells us like it is and speaks truth. This doesn't mean that we never say anything good about a person. People need encouraged and receive sincere compliments but at the same time we need to have friends that will tell us the truth when we make mistakes that could cause us harm. 

• Proverbs 29:6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice. 

We get caught in our own traps so to speak. What goes around comes around. We reap what we sow. We will surely be caught in the snare of evil if we pursue evil. It never fails to happen. Those that follow righteous living though have a reason to rejoice and sing. We can overcome by the constant trust in the Lord and not trust in self. There is no self righteousness. We have to rely on the Lord not only for salvation and forgiveness of sin but on helping us overcome sin and live fruitful righteous lives after His righteousness covers our own. 

• Proverbs 29:7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it. 

This is where we must be careful. We must always have compassion for the poor and needy. We must have compassion on those that have financial problems and do not have enough to live on. At the same time we must never enable laziness and never encourage people to work for a living instead of believing the government owes them a living. Many promise handouts just to get votes. Giving to the real poor and helpless should be the goal, not supporting deadbeats and laziness.

• Proverbs 29:8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath. 

We can choose to cause trouble or we can choose to let our actions and words bring peace. I only takes one person to incite riots and cause trouble between two friends. We can choose to desire peace instead and seek to reconcile those that are at war. 

• Proverbs 29:9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest. 

We waste our time when we do this. It is like casting pearls before swine or giving that which is holy to the dogs. It is also a waste of time to give advice to someone under the complete influence of alcohol. If he or she is drunk it is better to wait until they are sober and can consider our words. 

• Proverbs 29:10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul. 

If we are walking uprightly we will care not just for a person's temporal needs but we will care for his soul and where he is with God. Those that are out for gain and care not of anyone's life will hate those that are upright and just.

• Proverbs 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. 

Think first before speaking and consider to whom one is speaking. Will it edify or cause trouble? Will it bless or curse? Will it be fruitful or cause ungodly division. 

There is a time to speak, not all division is wrong when we divide ourselves from those who live sinful and care not what the word of God says. That is why a wise person will keep his speaking until afterwards. After he has gotten a chance to consider what needs to be said.

• Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked. 

Usually a servant whose livelihood depends upon his master will follow his leading whether for good or evil. If the ruler is evil so will the servants be or else they would not remain a servant long to an evil ruler if it was possible to leave and serve someone that was honest. 

• Proverbs 29:13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes. 

I believe this goes along with, "The rain falls upon the just and the unjust." The good, the bad, the rich and the poor dwell together upon the earth. We all have to make the same decisions whether to live by the law of the Lord or refuse His correction. We all suffer hardships and also good things, so the Lord never leaves us without witness to His goodness. Through Christ He made known unto us the way of salvation. The bad and good alike can choose to reject the good way or walk in them. Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

• Proverbs 29:14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever. 

We must never lose our compassion for the poor. A ruler who remembers the poor will establish his own kingdom. I will add though that this doesn't mean to encourage derelicts and deadbeat dads who do not want to work and support their families. A wise ruler knows that strong families that are not afraid of hard work also will establish a good kingdom. 

• Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. 

This is not a politically correct thing to say but we have more trouble from the young people and even smaller children if they do not have a stay at home mom. If at all possible a mother should stay at home and be there for her children. We live in a day of dead beat dads and also career minded individuals. Some women are afraid to trust in one person (a husband) to stay faithful while she cares for her children. Others may not want to be a stay at home mom and some may desire to be just that but are forced into the work force by circumstances.

This is not a judgment statement against anyone here but just a heart felt comment that children will be better off if the bond between mom and child is made the first few years of their life. I believe it is better than any pre-school or even kindergarten. What does it profit if we gain the whole world (finances, education and job titles) and lose the souls of our children in the process. Hasty marriages that end in divorce is also destroying the stability of the home. 

The story of the prophet Eli who didn't correct his sons is one sad example of children who went bad even with a good parent. They cannot be left to themselves. 

• Proverbs 29:16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall. 

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Anything less than that will produce violence, lust, greed, selfishness, unjust laws etc. I could go on and on. 

• Proverbs 29:17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. 
• 18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. 

If we correct with fairness and love it will work. Their anger is only temporary. If we are harsh, cruel and unjust we do more harm than good. 

This of course means a righteous vision, not just fleshly dreams and desires. We need godly goals and a desire to fulfill the will of God by being fruitful in all our ways. 

• Proverbs 29:19 A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer. 

He just takes orders because he has to. He is not expected to speak any objections. Some may agree verbally but object in their hearts and minds.

This makes me think of those who come to Christ and claim His salvation but are not on the faithful side of things. They want to escape hell and judgment so they receive Christ's gift of grace but they have no desire to keep His word. I have no right to really judge individual persons and say whether they are saved or lost but my guess would be that a person who receives Christ that way is probably not really saved from sin. The sin is still inside him.

Jesus came to save us from sin and the consequences of past sins. Power is given to us to overcome any sins we are tempted with in the future. In other words He not only forgives sins but takes the sin out of our hearts. We still have a freewill and a choice but we do not have to give into it. 

• Proverbs 29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him. 

The fast talker and fiery speaker is admired by the world but according to the word of God, those that think first and then speak are the ones that are commended.

• Proverbs 29:21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length. 

A faithful servant who has a kind master will be like a son or a daughter. Using kindness and compassion works better than cruelty and harshness. 

• Proverbs 29:22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression. 

How often to we see someone act in anger and do something that can't be undone. He or she then has to live with the consequences and the guilt. Not only does anger cause us to do things we normally would not do but if we transfer this anger to someone else and stir them up against another, even though we get our anger under control, they may not be able to and they may do something that harms someone. That makes two people or more guilty of doing things out of anger even though the action is only carried out by one person. 

• Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

The old Proverb, "Pride goes before a fall," may seem like a worn out cliché but history is full of examples of it's ultimate truth. Pride is what caused the fall of Satan from his first estate. 

• Proverbs 29:24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not. 

No matter how hard we may try to resist, the company we keep will influence us greatly. We slowly mimic them even without knowing it. Some will be considered guilty by others of their association with the thief. We do not want to do business with a thief or we would eventually be guilty of theft ourselves in the mind of those who watch our lives. 

• Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. 

We must trust in the Lord and avoid any appearance of evil. We must follow righteousness and be more concerned with fearing that Lord that having a fear of man. Man is here one day and gone the next. In a few years he is forgotten by other men. God remembers all our days and never forgets us throughout eternity. 

• Proverbs 29:26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD. 

Rulers may judge us temporarily as long as we are living in this unjust world but that doesn't last. Judgment from God is eternal. It should be our priority to avoid God's judgment by accepting the way out of judgment that He planned for us by believing in His Son, Jesus Christ and repenting to turning away from our sins. In doing so we have become born again by the spirit of God and new creatures in Christ. The righteousness of Christ covers all our sins and we become accepted by God as His own child. 

• Proverbs 29:27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked. 

As long as there are still those who stand for honesty, fairness and justice there will be those that stand up against the unjust and the criminal mindset. What we have forgotten in today's world is that cheating on spouses, divorcing, and not respecting the moral bounds God has set is also unjust and an abomination.

God makes laws to protect. It protects the innocent just like the law of the land we live in is supposed to protect the innocent against murder, rape and theft. God's laws will protect families, children and the country from moral decay and things that bring down our well being if we would only listen.

We don't listen and that is why our country even the great country of the United States is fast decaying and going downhill fast. We can pinpoint that time at about 1962 and 63 when prayer and bible reading was banned from the public schools as unconstitutional. The lady who started the protest against God is now dead facing the very one she denied all her life. She does not realize what her works did to this country. Of course I recognize that the country already was backslid and turning away from God in order to have allowed that to happen. Evil cannot prevail if the God's people remain faithful. -Dorna Chambers