Tag: Proverbs 22:22-26

Saturday, August 6, 2022

1

22-23 Don’t walk on the poor just because they’re poor,

    and don’t use your position to crush the weak,

Because God will come to their defense;

    the life you took, he’ll take from you and give back to them.

2

24-25 Don’t hang out with angry people;

    don’t keep company with hotheads.

Bad temper is contagious—

    don’t get infected.

3

26-27 Don’t gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,

    pawning your house against a lucky chance.

The time will come when you have to pay up;

    you’ll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back.

-Proverbs 22:22-26 The Message

22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

    or crush the afflicted at the gate,

23 for the Lord will plead their cause

    and rob of life those who rob them.

24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger,

    nor go with a wrathful man,

25 lest you learn his ways

    and entangle yourself in a snare.

26 Be not one of those who give pledges,

    who put up security for debts.

-Proverbs 22:22-26 ESV

Verses 22-23 studies: This is a short instruction explaining the threat of divine retribution. The Lord is the legal advocate of the poor.

These two verses are a message of hope to the people that live and work under unjust authoritarian leaders. It is a warning to anyone who loves ruling with an iron hand. God intervenes and destroys tyrants. God uses other rulers to overthrow them or their own oppressed people to go against them. If you are in a position of authority, remember what can happen to tyrants. Leadership through kindness is more effective and last longer than leadership by force.

Verses 24-25 studies: Understand the dangers of friendships beforehand. People tend to become those ones they hang around. Negative characteristics sometimes rub off. The Bible urges us to be mindful of our choices of companion. Choose the characteristics that you would want to develop in your life.

Verse 24 study: A man that angers quickly is a man that doesn’t have self-control.

Verse 26 study: This verse reminds us to be wise to countersign a note or be liable for another person’s debt.