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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Proverbs Chapter 24

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Solomon, Agur, and Lemuel
Date Penned: (970-931 BC)
Overview: Wisdom to Teach People to Live Godly (c 1-31)
Theme: Wisdom for All People (c 10-24)
Message: Wisdom in Action (v 1-34)

Proverbs 24 Commentary 

(24:5) Applying Wisdom - An athlete who thinks clearly, assesses situations and plans strategies--has an advantage over a physically stronger but unthinking opponent. And wisdom, not muscle, is certainly why God has put people in charge of the animal kingdom. We know we should exercise regularly and eat well to build our strength, but do we take equal pains to develop wisdom and knowledge? Since wisdom is a vital part of strength, it pays to attain it. 

(24:6) Godly Counsel - In any major life decision, whether concerning college, marriage, work, or children, it is not a sign of weakness to ask for advice. In fact, we would be foolish not to ask for it. Find good advisers before making any big decision. They can help you expand your alternatives and evaluate your choices. 

(24:8) Resisting Temptation - Planning to do evil can be as wrong as doing it because what we think determines what we will do. Left unchecked, wrong desires will lead us to sin. Everyone has experienced temptation, even Jesus (see Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 2:17-18). Temptations become sins when we carry them out; therefore, we need to deal with them immediately, before they become schemes and plans. If we are tempted, should we think, I might as well go ahead and do it, because I've already planned to? No. We may have thought about doing something, but it has not yet led to doing any damage to others. In a situation like this, stop and ask God to forgive you and put you on a different path. 

(24:10) Learning from Struggles - Times of trouble can be useful. They can show us who we really are under pressure and what kind of character we have developed. In addition, they can help us grow stronger. When Jeremiah questioned God because of the trouble and adversity he faced, God asked how he ever expected to face big challenges if the little ones tired him out (Jeremiah 12:5). Don't complain about your problems. The trouble you face today is training you to be strong for the more difficult situations you will face in the future. 

(24:17-18) Keep from Boasting - David, Solomon's father, refused to gloat over the death of his lifelong enemy, Saul (see 2 Samuel). On the other hand, the nation of Edom rejoiced over Israel's defeat and was punished by God for their attitude (Psalm 137:7; Obadiah 1:2). To gloat over the misfortunes of others is to make yourself the avenger and to put yourself in the place of God, who alone properly and fairly judges all the earth (see Deuteronomy 32:35). 

(24:26) Being Honest - People often think that they should bend the truth to avoid hurting a friend. But true friends give honest and straightforward answers. People who tell us the truth, even at the risk of offending us, show us real affection and give us a sign of high honor. 

(24:27) Godly Balance - We should carry out our work in its proper order. A farmer who builds his house in the spring will miss the planting season and go a year without food. A businesswoman who invests her money in a house while her business is struggling to grow may lose both. We can work hard and still lose everything if we disregard proper timing or if we don't have the resources to carry out our plans. 

(24:28-29) Avoid Revenge - This kind of thinking runs counter to the Golden Rule (see Luke 6:31). Revenge may be the way the world operates, but God doesn't approve of it. Payback and getting even start the beginning of anger and retaliation that can last for generations. Followers of Christ should seek to break those cycles (Matthew 5:38-48).


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Diligence


Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue with the Book of Proverbs with Chapter 24. In our text today, we continue in words of Wisdom from proverbs; what catches my eye is the theme in this chapter of sowing and reaping and how the Lord allows those who work hard to be blessed while those who are slothful will end up in poverty. In applying, we see a pattern for diligence that will produce a fruitful life. As we learned yesterday, we are not to place our trust in riches, but at the same time, we are to be diligent in all we do. How about you? Are you diligent? Let us learn from our text today to remember not to place our trust in riches but also to be dillagent in all we do to receive the blessings of the Lord. 

 

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Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24

 1Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

 2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

 3Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

 4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

 5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

 6For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

 7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

 8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

 9The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

 10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

 11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

 12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

 13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

 14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

 15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

 16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

 17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

 18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

 19Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked:

 20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

 21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

 22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

 23These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

 24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

 25But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

 26Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

 27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

 28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

 29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

 30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

 31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

 32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

 33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

 34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.