Pearls From Proverbs – Chapter Twenty Eight
Proverbs 28:1 (NASB) The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion.
Benson has said, (The wicked flee) "Because a consciousness of their guilt excites in them a continual expectation and dread of God’s judgments; but the righteous are bold as a lion — Are courageous and resolute, having the testimony of a good conscience, and assurance of the divine favour and protection, and the supports and consolations of the Holy Ghost."
Proverbs 28:2 (NASB) By the transgression of a land many are its princes, But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
For a government or a society to endure, it needs wise, informed leaders—and these are hard to find. Each person's selfishness quickly affects others. A selfish employee who steals from his company ruins its productivity. A selfish driver who drinks before taking the wheel makes the state highways unsafe. A selfish spouse who has an adulterous affair often breaks up several families. When people live for themselves with little concern for how their actions affect others, the resulting moral rot contaminates the entire nation. Are you part of the problem or the solution?
Proverbs 28:3 (NASB) A poor man who oppresses the lowly Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.
Poole has said, "When a poor man being advanced into a place of authority, abuseth it to oppress those that are poor and unable to resist him, he is like a violent rain or flood, which washeth away the very seeds which are in the earth, and spoileth the corn and fruits which are upon it. He is the worst of all oppressors, because as he is of a base mind, which also is made much worse by a sudden change and elevation into a high condition; so his own necessities inflame his desires, and make him greedy to take all, yea, even the small, advantages of enriching himself; which the ancients expressed by the similitude of an empty horseleech, which sucketh much more strongly than that which is already filled; and of a dry sponge, which licks up far more water than that which was wet before."
Proverbs 28:4 (NASB) Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them.
Those who forsake the law praise those who break the law and have become wicked. They cry, "Look at their freedom. Look at them following their natural desires. Isn't that a great thing?" But here is the tension - those who strive to keep the law - strive with them. Where there is no law - lawlessness will abound.
Proverbs 28:5 (NASB) Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all things.
Because justice is part of God's character, a person who follows God treats others justly. Justice begins with concern for what is happening to others. A Christian cannot be indifferent to human suffering because God isn't. And we certainly must not contribute to human suffering through selfish business practices or unfair government policies. Be sure you are more concerned for justice than merely your own interests. You can't claim to follow God and ignore your neighbor.
Proverbs 28:6 (NASB) Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
Matthew Henry has said, "An honest, godly, poor man, is better than a wicked, ungodly, rich man; he has more comfort in himself, and is a greater blessing to the world."
Proverbs 28:7 (NASB) He who keeps the law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
You are known by the company you keep. Do you think that your behavior only affects you? Think again. It affects those who are around you and brings honor or shame to a person's family.
Proverbs 28:8 (NASB) He who increases his wealth by interest and usury Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.
John N. Norton has said, "When greed of gain has secured a lodgment in the heart, it imperiously demands satisfaction. ....... The rude robber stops his victim on the highway, and holds midnight revels on the spoil; and the cunning accountant defrauds his creditors, and rides in his carriage. Does a just God see much difference between them? Christian integrity will, in the end, always receive its merited reward. Instead of worldly maxims, based on low and unworthy principles, let the solemn question of our Lord keep us from evil ways—“What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”
Proverbs 28:9 (NASB) He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
If you will not listen to God's law or follow His instruction - do you think He will hear your prayers? God does not listen to our prayers if we intend to go back to our sin as soon as we get off our knees. When we forsake our sin and follow him, however, he willingly listens—no matter how bad our sin has been. What closes his ears is not the depth of our sin but our secret intention to do it again. God hears our intentions as clearly as he hears our words.
Proverbs 28:10 (NASB) He who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will himself fall into his own pit, But the blameless will inherit good.
Barnes has said, "When the wicked succeed in tempting the righteous, Vice seems to win a triumph. But the triumph is suicidal. The tempter will suffer the punishment he deserves, and the blameless, if true to themselves, will be strengthened and ennobled by the temptation."
Proverbs 28:11 (NASB) The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him.
Rich people often think they are wonderful; depending on no one, they take credit for all they do. But that's a hollow self-esteem. Through dependence on God in their struggles, the poor may develop a richness of spirit that no amount of wealth can provide. The rich person can lose all his material wealth, while no one can take away the poor person's character. Don't be jealous of the rich; money may be all they will ever have.
Proverbs 28:12 (NASB) When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
It is great to have righteous leaders - everyone can rejoice. But when a wicked leader becomes in power - you can expect wickedness to follow. No one want to be in the path of a wicked man.
Proverbs 28:13 (NASB) He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
Something in each of us strongly resists admitting we are wrong. That is why we admire people who openly and graciously admit their mistakes and sins. These people have a strong self-image. They do not always have to be right to feel good about themselves. Be willing to reconsider—to admit you are wrong and to change your plans when necessary. Remember, the first step toward forgiveness is confession.
Proverbs 28:14 (NASB) How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
A godly respect (fear) for God is a blessing. Many today have no fear of God in them - perhaps because they do not believe He exists or they do not care. Or perhaps they have harden their hearts against Him. But here is the deadly promise - "he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Proverbs 28:15 (NASB) Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
Benson has said. "(A bear and a lion) are - Always cruel and greedy in their natures, and especially so when they are hungry and want prey; in which case the lions roar, and bears range about for it; so is a wicked ruler — Instead of being a nursing father, and a faithful and tender shepherd, as he ought to be, he is a cruel and insatiable oppressor of his subjects; over the poor people — Whom he particularly mentions to aggravate this wicked ruler’s sin, in devouring them whom the laws of God and common humanity bound him to relieve and protect; or to express the effect of his bad government, in making the people poor by his frauds and rapines."
Matthew Henry says, "A wicked ruler, whatever we may call him, this scripture calls a roaring lion, and a ranging bear."
Proverbs 28:16 (NASB) A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
Clarke has said, "A weak prince will generally have wicked ministers, for his weakness prevents him from making a proper choice; and he is apt to prefer them who flatter him, and minister most to his pleasures. The quantum of the king’s intellect may be always appreciated by the mildness or oppressiveness of his government. He who plunges his people into expensive wars, to support which they are burdened with taxes, is a prince without understanding. He does not know his own interest, and does not regard that of his people."
But on the positive side - a leader who hates unjust gain will have longer days.
Proverbs 28:17 (NASB) A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.
A sinner's conscience will drive him into either guilt, resulting in repentance, or to death itself because of a refusal to repent. It is no act of kindness to try to make him feel better; the more guilt he feels, the more likely he is to turn to God and repent. If we interfere with the natural consequences of his act, we may make it easier for him to continue in sin.
Matthew Henry has said, "The doom of the shedder of blood. He that has committed murder, though he flees for his life, shall be continually haunted with terrors, shall himself flee to the pit, betray himself, and torment himself, like Cain, who, when he had killed his brother, became a fugitive and a vagabond, and trembled continually."
Proverbs 28:18 (NASB) He who walks blamelessly will be delivered, But he who is crooked will fall all at once.
Uprightness will give men holy security in the worst times; but the false and dishonest men are never safe.
Proverbs 28:19 (NASB) He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.
Here is the principle of - you will reap what you sow. If you sow nothing you will get nothing. Work will benefit you - if you keep at it. But if all you do is follow empty dreams you will come up empty handed.
Proverbs 28:20 (NASB) A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
Faithfulness is a quality that we will be judged on. How many of us would like to hear the Lord say, "Well done - good and faithful servant."
Proverbs 28:21 (NASB) To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
Benson has said, "It is a fundamental error in the administration of justice, and that which will lead men to many transgressions, to consider the quality of the parties concerned more than the merits of the cause. — When a man hath once accustomed himself to take bribes, a very small advantage will make him sell justice, and his own soul into the bargain. The design of this proverb is to warn men to take heed of the beginnings of that sin, and consequently of all other sins.
Proverbs 28:22 (NASB) A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth And does not know that want will come upon him.
Matthew Henry has said, "He that hastens to be rich, never seriously thinks how quickly God may take his wealth from him, and leave him in poverty."
Proverbs 28:23 (NASB) He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who flatters with the tongue.
None of us like to be rebuked - but if the rebuke is to help us - is it not of great benefit? Ellicott has said, "When the man reproved comes to his senses, he finds how true a friend the reprover has been to him."
Proverbs 28:24 (NASB) He who robs his father or his mother And says, "It is not a transgression," Is the companion of a man who destroys.
To steal from those who are closest to you - is a great sin - especially if he says, "It is no sin at all." It may be true that one day the item may be theirs by inheritance - yet it is not theirs before the proper time.
Proverbs 28:25 (NASB) An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
An arrogant person is one who is full of themselves - there is no room for others many times not even God. But the person who has faith and trust in the Lord - will prosper.
Proverbs 28:26 (NASB) He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
For many people, the rugged individualist is a hero. We admire the bold, self-directed men and women who know what they want and fight for it. They are self-reliant, neither giving nor asking advice. What a contrast to God's way. A person can't know the future or predict the consequences of his or her choices with certainty. And so the totally self-reliant person is doomed to failure. The wise person depends on God.
Proverbs 28:27 (NASB) He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
This is not the way we normally think - to give something away - "I will never be in want". But this is the economics of God. God wants us to identify with the needy, not ignore them. The second part of this proverb could be restated positively: "Those who open their eyes to poor people will be blessed." If we help others when they are in trouble, they will do whatever they can to return the favor. Paul promises that God will supply all our needs (Php. 4:19); he usually does this through other people. What can you do today to help God supply someone's need?
Proverbs 28:28 (NASB) When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.
Matthew Henry has said, "When power is put into the hands of the wicked, men hide themselves; wise men retire into privacy, and decline public business, not caring to be employed under them; rich men get out of the way, for fear of being squeezed for what they have; and, which is worst of all, good men abscond, despairing to do good and fearing to be persecuted and ill-treated.
