The Gateway to Righteous Living
Proverbs 24:1-34
- What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
- You've been given a box of Lego blocks or Lincoln logs for a present. What's the first object you will build? How large? Will you follow directions, or make it up as you go along?
- About the first house you lived in, where was it? What color? How many rooms? Your favorite room? speak louder
- If you were judging a beauty contest, would you emphasize looks, talent, or poise?
- What do you remember about your first kiss on the lips: Who? When? What were you feeling at the time?
#People = The wise, the righteous, the wicked, the lazy
#Time =
#Place =
#Obedient faith =
#Sin =
#Key Idea =
1Be not envious of evil men,
nor desire to be with them,
2for their hearts devise violence,
and their lips talk of trouble.3By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
5A wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the gate he does not open his mouth.
8Whoever plans to do evil
will be called a schemer.
9The devisinga of folly is sin,
and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.
10If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
11Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man according to his work?
13My son, eat honey, for it is good,
and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
15Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
do no violence to his home;
16for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,
but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.
19Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
and be not envious of the wicked,
20for the evil man has no future;
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21My son, fear the Lord and the king,
and do not join with those who do otherwise,
22for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?
More Sayings of the Wise
23These also are sayings of the wise.
Partiality in judging is not good.
24Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
25but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.
26Whoever gives an honest answer
kisses the lips.
27Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house.
28Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.
29Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
30I passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,
31and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall was broken down.
32Then I saw and considered it;
I looked and received instruction.
33A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
34and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
and by understanding it is established;
4by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
5A wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the gate he does not open his mouth.
will be called a schemer.
9The devisinga of folly is sin,
and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.
your strength is small.
11Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man according to his work?
and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
do no violence to his home;
16for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,
but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.
and be not envious of the wicked,
20for the evil man has no future;
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
and do not join with those who do otherwise,
22for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?
24Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
25but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.
26Whoever gives an honest answer
kisses the lips.
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house.
and do not deceive with your lips.
29Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,
31and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall was broken down.
32Then I saw and considered it;
I looked and received instruction.
33A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
34and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
Wisdom and Righteousness
The chapter emphasizes the importance of wisdom, understanding, and righteousness over material wealth or power. It teaches that:- We should not envy evil people or desire to be like them, as their hearts are focused on violence and trouble.
- Wisdom brings strength and is more valuable than physical might.
- A wise person can build up their household and win victories through good counsel.
Justice and Compassion
The chapter calls for acting justly and showing compassion:- We should rescue those unjustly sentenced to death and not ignore their plight.
- God knows our hearts and will repay each person according to their deeds.
- We should not rejoice when our enemies fall or stumble.
Perseverance of the Righteous
There is encouragement for righteous people to persevere:- A righteous person may fall seven times but will rise again, while the wicked stumble into calamity.
- We should not fret because of evildoers or envy the wicked, as they have no future hope.
Warnings Against Laziness
The chapter concludes with warnings about the consequences of laziness:- It uses the example of a neglected vineyard to illustrate how laziness leads to poverty and ruin.
(PROVERBS 24)
Wisdom tells how to relate to the wicked and foolish and conduct oneself with neighbors, and warns against sloth.
THE HOUSE WISDOM BUILT (24:1–9): It “becomes strong through good sense” and “through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.”
RESCUE THE PERISHING (24:10–12): If you do not help those unjustly sentenced, God will punish you.
LIKE HONEY TO THE SOUL (24:13–14): If you eat wisdom, you will have a bright future and your hopes will be fulfilled.
DOWN SEVEN TIMES (24:15–16): The godly are able to overcome misfortune.
WHEN ENEMIES FALL (24:17–22): If you rejoice over the misfortune of the wicked, God will be displeased with you.
PARTIALITY AND PREPARATION (24:23–27): Do not declare the guilty innocent or you will be denounced by the nations. Develop your business before building your house.
RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL (24:28–29): Do not lie or testify spitefully against others.
LEARN FROM THE LAZY (24:30–34): Laziness will bring poverty.
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- The "wise man compares and wisdom (vv. 13-14). How are they alike? How do they differ?
- Advertising encourages us to envy. What does this chapter imply about envy (vv. 1,19,20)? What or who should we follow instead?
- How are we to wield power wisely (vv. 5-7)? Com- passionately (vv. 11-12)? How are the two related?
- What is meant by defeating evil powers and deferring to the Lord's justice (vv. 17-22)?
- What happens when God's people seem to be defeated (vv. 10,16)? What is their hope? honey
- How do these "sayings of the wise" extend the themes set forth in the preceding chapter? How do the wise approach their life and learning (v. 32)?
- What is the difference between judging rightly and wrongly?
- What does verse 27 imply about priorities for work? For marriage?
- Re-read verse 10. With what would you compare your strength in times of trouble: A pea? A hatbox? A bookshelf? A brick building? Or a huge mountain?
- What is your typical reaction when drug thugs, rapists or terrorists get their due? How can you not gloat (vv. 17-18)?
- What does it mean to you that the Lord God knows all your secret thoughts your faltering, your gloating, your ignorance?
- Do God's people "fall"? What difference is there then between God's people falling and the ungodly falling (v. 16)?
- What compassionate rescuing effort do verses 11-12 bring to mind? Who reached out to you in that way as your lifesaver? How can your small group join hands to rescue the perishing? When will you begin?
- If your life were a house built by wisdom, what "rare and beautiful treasures" would be housed there?
- What was once your strong suit ("stone wall," v. 31), but is no longer, due to neglect ("thorns" and "weeds")? What would it take to rebuild that neglected area of your life to what it once was?
- What do "outdoor work," "fields," and "your house" (v. 27), each typify in your life? Has the nesting instinct taken over? What must be done first? How willing are you to do that?
- What areas of your life are wide awake to the Lord? What areas are still asleep? How might you become more awake?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- What transformative move needs to be made?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others via social media links at this bottom.
- What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
- Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
- What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts, or actions need to be addressed or changed?
PRAYER: In the Name of Jesus.
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Proverbs 24 - How to Build Your House
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