Proverbs Chapter 20 by Mark Dunagan

PROVERBS Chapter 20

Under The Influence 20:1 Some argue that they need such beverages to relax or get in the right mood. Often the world argues that one’s personality is improved by a couple of drinks. It helps a person come out of their shell. It gives them confidence and courage. God doesn’t see courage as coming from a bottle, rather He sees sinful aggressiveness, and the attitude and type of language which is found among scoffers. If it gives a man or woman courage, it gives them the courage to mock God and His standards. “Whoever is intoxicated”: Side reference, “errs”. The word “strong drink”, was most frequently employed of any intoxicating drink not made from grapes, e.g., palm-wine, beer, and so on. Let us be impressed that such a warning is given against beverages which weren’t fortified with alcohol, like our present day wines. How much more is such a warning needed against the far more potent alcoholic beverages in our society!

Tactlessness 20:2 There were men who encountered Solomon’s wrath, and rightly so (1 Kings 2). Some say the proverb is teaching us to stay clear of any angry person, king or commoner. The proverb could also be teaching that the power a king wields tends to keep people in line (Romans 13:4). In addition, before we take on such a powerful person, we need to be aware of the risks involved. Unless you are willing to forfeit your life, opposing a unjust government is a waste of time.

Not Easily Provoked 20:3 While there are battles and arguments that we need to fight (Ephesians 5:11), the wise man picks those which are essential and which a godly man must not avoid. One cannot avoid strife entirely but should avoid every unnecessary confrontation. The wise man tries to have peace with all men (Heb. 12:14; Romans 12:18), and seeks to convert the enemy with persuasive and winsome 1

arguments (2 Timothy 2:24). “Almost anyone can start an argument, but it takes a truly wise man to resolve issues, avoid strife, and make friends out of enemies” (Alden p. 148).

Missed Opportunities 20:4 The right time for planting in Palestine was the rainy season. It was cold, wet, and unpleasant. This verse is typical of all those who want excellence without putting forth the effort. Let us be impressed that as long as one is infected by laziness, they will find all the excuses they need for not working or improving themselves. Yes, planting was cold, messy, muddy and hard work, but that isn’t an excuse for not doing it. Looking for excuses, and trying to justify getting out of a hard task is one of the qualities which leads to being a sluggard. Note that the sluggard never blames himself, rather he begs and expects others to support him. It is interesting that often ungodly people appeal to godly principles (mercy, compassion, benevolence, etc…), when it suits their needs. I remember years ago a vagrant was arguing with me that it was my job as a preacher to give him money.

Fathoming One’s Fellow Men 20:5 “It is foreign to the thought of Proverbs to gather from this that every man has an inner reservoir of wisdom, and the wise man is simply the man who can draw upon it” (Kidner p. 137). (14:12; 16:25; Jeremiah 10:23). “To say that a person’s purposes are ‘deep’ does not mean that they are necessarily profound…Thus a person’s real motives are ‘deep’ in that they are difficult to extract; one must be wary of the pretenses of others” (Garrett pp. 175-176). The verse seems to be saying that a wise counselor knows how to ask the right questions. “Some things buried deep inside a person ought to be left there; dredging up old hates and prejudices may only cause more problems. Other thoughts, however, ought to be brought to the surface so they can be examined and dealt with. It takes truly a wise man to know which memories (motives, purposes) ought to be urged to the surface and which ones should be left alone” (Alden p. 149).

Faithfully Yours 20:6 Here is a contrast between profession and reality (Matthew 7:21). The verse reminds us that truly faithful friends are going to be few and far between. 2

“It is rare to find one on whom you may actually depend” (Gaebelein p. 1041). Here we also learn that people tend to tell those things that are personally commendable. Many who claim to have these virtues are guilty of false advertising.

A Father’s Best Legacy 20:7 This verse reveals the foolishness of fathers and parents who argue that bending the rules is justified for the sake of gaining material possessions for their children. “It answers the temptation to ‘get on’ at all costs for the children’s sake” (Kidner p. 137). “Children who have parents they can’t respect are to be pitied” (Alden p. 149). Compare with Psalms 37:25-26; 112:2. “The line describes a parent who believes in the Lord and lives out the claims of his faith” (Gaebelein p. 1042). This is a wonderful verse for it notes that some people do conduct themselves with integrity and leave behind a solid family heritage. “This text provides reason to hope for good in future generations, something the cynic never has” (Garrett p. 176). We must reject the cynic’s argument that all religious parents are hypocrites, or that the more religious you are the better the chances that your children will reject Christianity.

An Eye For Character 20:8 The word “disperses”, means to sift (side reference) or winnow. A wise king will acquire the ability to sift out matters, and discern between good and evil. In a very real sense, such an ability is necessary in the life of every Christian (Hebrews 5:14; 1 Thess. 5:21-22). We have an example of this type of discerning judgment in the life of Solomon (1 Kings 3:16-27). From the political angle, the verse is saying that evil men won’t find a safe haven in the administration of a righteous king. Rather, such a king will remove evil men from his court. “Certainly the principle stands that a just government roots out the evils of society” (Gaebelein p. 1042).

Where Self-Help Fails 20:9 This proverb should keep us humble. The verse isn’t teaching total depravity, for all men are sinners because they eventually choose to sin (Romans 5:12). Neither is the verse teaching that moral purity or being righteous before God is an impossibility (Romans 4:3). The verse is teaching that on our own, apart from Divine revelation and Divine forgiveness, such purity 3

is an impossibility (Titus 3:5; Jeremiah 10:23). Apart from the Bible, all the counseling in the world won’t bring about a cleansed heart. And yet, with the Scriptures and a love for God, God exhorts us to have clean motives and a pure heart (1 Peter 1:14; 2:1ff; 2 Cor. 7:1). “The verse, therefore, offers a stern corrective of two grievous spiritual errors----presumption and apathy” (P.P. Comm. p. 385).

Short Weight 20:10 Compare with 20:23; 16:11 and 11:1. It seems rather obvious that dishonesty in business practices has always plagued mankind. God detests dishonesty in business (Deut. 25:13-16), and is not impressed by the person who tries to argue that religion and business don’t mix.

A Child’s Character 20:11 God is intensely interested in the moral development of children and we often tend to forget that the Bible contains commands which are directly aimed at children (Ephesians 6:1-2). In a society which seems to dismiss actions as inconsequential this proverb is quite a rebuke. What a child does, reveals his or her character. Doing always takes precedence over feeling or saying. We can know what a person is really like on the inside by what he or she does (Matthew 7:16; 12:35; 1 John 3:10). Appearances and words can be deceiving, behavior is a better criterion of judgment. Which means that the rebellious child shouldn’t be trusted until they begin to prove themselves.

Eyes And Ears From God, For God 20:12 I believe it would be proper to say that hearing and seeing in this verse would include all the senses. “The verse not only credits the Lord with creating these senses but reminds everyone of their spiritual use in God’s service” (Gaebelein p. 1043). Seeing that God made these senses, it makes perfect sense to accept the fact that God has the right to tell me what to do with these senses. God gave me the ability to hear, therefore I should only listen to the truth. God gave me the ability to think, therefore I should never use my intellect to undermine the credibility of His laws. This verse also seriously undermines the idea that God created the universe, but that evolution took over after that. Solomon knew that these human senses weren’t the product of chance. Please note that if God is the author of our human senses, then such senses can be used accurately. The human mind doesn’t have to accept error, the senses

don’t have to be deceived. The Bible that God gave can be understood by the human mind that God also created.

Early To Rise 20:13 Even something as simple as “sleep” can be abused. The love of sleeping refers to laziness, but one can also be lazy and sleep very little. Compare with 23:21. The verse stresses human responsibility, and that people often fail not because of huge obstacles, but because they misuse some of God’s most basic blessings and instruction. What often stands between a person and success is simply getting up and putting forth some effort. We tend to want to blame all sorts of factors for why we can’t succeed, without realizing that where we fail is where did we didn’t put forth any real or serious effort.

The Bargain-Driver 20:14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer”: On the one hand we are given a humorous exchange that happens in the market. “Stores which advertise ‘seconds’ or ‘irregulars’ at ‘half price’ or ‘greatly reduced prices’ know exactly what they’re doing. Buyers may brag about the bargains they got, but as a rule sellers are sharper than buyers” (Alden p. 150). The verse is a warning to the naïve about how business is often handled in the world. “Shrewdness is one thing, but deceitful misrepresentation in the deal in order to buy under value becomes unethical” (Gaebelein p. 1044). The verse reminds me of such modern day expressions as, “If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is”, “you can’t get something for nothing”, and, “ you get what you pay for”. “People will say what is to their advantage at the moment” (Garrett p. 177). It is one thing to find a flaw in a product and for the buyer and seller to agree on a discounted price. It is quite another to deliberately ridicule a fine product in the hopes of getting the best possible price. Christians should be honest in their dealing and be willing to pay a fair price for good merchandise.

A Precious Jewel 20:15 “The rarest and finest treasure is a person who has sound judgment and can give good advice” (Garrett p. 177). In this realm, the ability to tell the difference between what is cheap and what is valuable can mean even more than money in the pocket.

Lending/Fulfilling Obligations 20:16 Proverbs warns against careless cosigning and obligating yourself to the debts of others (6:1-5). The Israelites were told that they could not hold the cloak of a debtor as collateral on a loan (Exodus 22:26-27). Yet, this verse seems to command such a procedure. Kidner says, “Take his garment means, ‘Don’t lend to him without security…he is a bad risk!’” (p. 139). That is, if someone has a bad habit of carelessly cosigning (“for a stranger”), you better get all the collateral you can. “The message is that one should be wary of dealing with people who lack sound judgment” (Garrett p. 177). Chapter 27:13 infers that this debtor has cosigned for a strange woman. “If a man is so weak and foolish as to become security for any one, and is unable to make good his engaged payment, let him lose his garment which the creditor would seize” (P.P. Comm. p. 386). It seems that God is saying, that when foolish people start to suffer the consequences of their actions, we shouldn’t try to bail them out. By hitting rock bottom maybe such a person will learn their lesson.

Sin’s Aftertaste 20:17 The pleasure of something forbidden is merely temporary. In fact, often the temptation is far more appealing than the actual event. “One thinks immediately of the bitterness after eating the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3)” (Gaebelein p. 1045). Forbidden pleasures ultimately fail to satisfy and are often very disappointing. “Achan enjoyed much more the stealing of the forbidden from the spoils of Jericho than he did the ‘afterwards’ (Joshua 7:20-25)” (Hunt p. 261). Let us learn to look beyond the devil’s hype and false advertising. Compare with Hebrews 11:25.

Be Open To Advice 20:18 “Effective plans incorporate sound advice” (Gaebelein p. 1045). Compare with Luke 14:31. How often do we tackle large tasks or assume huge responsibilities without seeking such advice? To the young this proverb says, “You don’t know everything, get all the good advice you can!” “To enter into so serious an undertaking as a war without carefully considering the matter is the ultimate in superficial judgments” (Garrett p. 177).

Beware Of Gossip

20:19 Do not associate with a gossip, because he or she will probably reveal all your secrets as well. The verse infers that a gossip can be spotted. “Don’t tell secrets to anyone you don’t trust” (Alden p. 151). The word “slander” infers that a person prone to gossip often gets his or her information wrong and in the process destroys the reputations of the innocent. This verse might be connected with the previous verse. “The former advises the king to make war only after seeking wise counsel, and that the latter advises the reader not to share plans and ideas with those who talk too much. One must discern whether another is worthy of trust” (Garrett p. 177). In an age that tells us to be completely open with our feelings, Solomon reminds us that we need to pick our close friends wisely.

Cursing Brings A Curse 20:20 The law of Moses provided the execution of those who curse parents (Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9). While such an execution isn’t administered today, it is clear that God hates the foul mouth and disrespectful child (Romans 1:31). “His lamp will go out in time of darkness”: His lamp will be snuffed out and he will be left in pitch darkness. “That image may be more gentle than the one used in 30:17 (where children who curse parents are eaten by vultures or have their eyes pecked out by ravens), but the point is the same” (Alden p. 151).

The Final Audit 20:21 Once again we are reminded of the instability of easy money (13:11). “The easily gained money is here not necessarily dishonestly gained, but even so, those who have amassed wealth slowly know better how to keep it” (Garrett p. 178). In addition, money quickly gained can end up cursing those who inherit it. Such prosperity can destroy personal initiative and stunts growth. “Sudden prosperity may not prove satisfying” (Gaebelein p. 1046). This verse is a sober reminder when we are tempted to envy the person who just won the lottery. Instead of longing for an inheritance, pray that you are wise enough to use it when it arrives.

Sweeter Than Revenge 20:22 The truth that God is Savior and Judge is the answer to selfish hate. Compare with Romans 12:19 and Deut. 32:35. This verse assures the reader that God does see those occasions when someone has cheated or wronged another. This verse also infers that the law concerning an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth was never meant as a law condoning personal retaliation.

Rather, such a law governed the retaliation which was to be exercised by the state. If we are tempted to take justice into our own hands, let us remember that God will repay the sinner far more than anything we would be comfortable repaying! Do you really want to see your enemy suffering in hell forever?

Fraud 20:23 The fact that such a verse is repeated, even in this chapter should inform us that dishonestly in business is a common temptation.

Providence 20:24 The verse isn’t teaching that God overrules our freewill, for the entire book of Proverbs stresses making the choice between good and evil, wisdom and folly. The verse is teaching that God’s providential workings are beyond human comprehension, and God is involved in the life of every human being. We can either respect and cooperate with this providence (Genesis 50:20), or rebel against it. In addition, as Christians we must believe that God is providentially doing all He can to see that sinners come into contact with the truth. Are we prepared to teach them? The verse is an extreme comfort to the faithful. We know that we can’t anticipate every change in the future, we can’t prepare for everything, but we can live with confidence, for God remains in control of this universe. To the wicked, the verse reminds them that they cannot escape God’s judgment, and that they will eventually be caught in their own craftiness.

Count The Cost 20:25 To pronounce a thing sacred (holy) is to dedicate it. “Here, then, is an impulsive man, pledging more than he seriously intends” (Kidner p. 140). Compare with Ecclesiastes 5:5. The enthusiasm of the moment doesn’t make up for failing to keep our promises. Faith is not expressed in promising what you can’t deliver. “Too many people will make promises under the inspiration of the hour only later to realize that they have strapped themselves; they then try to go back on their word” (Gaebelein p. 1047). Our society tends to excuse such rash vows by saying, “I least they want to do something”, or, “it is the thought that counts”.

Strong Government

20:26 The same metaphor is used of Jesus (Matthew 3:12). The threshingwheel was a wooden frame with three or four rollers under it armed with iron teeth. It was drawn by two oxen, and was aided by the weight of the driver, who had his seat upon it, it crushed out the grain, and cut up the straw. Not only will a righteous ruler make a clear distinction between the good and the evil, but he will punish evildoers with severity. The metaphor implies that a righteous king can identify and rightly judge evildoers. “It is neither in the king’s interest nor that of his country to treat criminals gently” (Garrett p. 178).

Conscience 20:27 “The figure is of a lamp carried from room to room, and flashed into the darkest corners” (Kidner p. 140). The soul of man, his spirit is like a lamp. Since the spirit of man is in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), it shouldn’t surprise us that people have a sense of right and morality. Hopefully this spirit will prevent the inside of man from getting too dark and thus becoming too evil. But this lamp can be extinguished (1 Timothy 4:2). Every man or woman is born with the capacity of doing the right thing, of serving God and of being excited about spiritual things. The spirit also enables a man to know himself. With the Scriptures, such a spirit can increasingly avoid self-deception (Hebrews 4:12).

Stability In Government 20:28 The king who tries to rule or remain in power by sheer force or intrigue will fail. Be impressed that such a king is not viewed as “kind” by those who want to do evil. Loyalty (lovingkindness, mercy, steadfast love) always must be kept in context. Such love is also defined as obedience to the will of God and promoting His standards.

Beauty Of Youth And Age 20:29 “A proverb to lift the reader above the unfruitful attitudes of envy, impatience and contempt which the old and the young may adopt towards each other. Each age has its appointed excellence, to be respected and enjoyed in its time” (Kidner pp. 140-141). In addition, the aged have a different kind of strength, but it is still strength none the less. Gray hair says, “they have survived youth (an accomplishment in itself), they have reached the age of rest and relaxation, and they have acquired the wisdom of old age” (Alden p. 153).

A Good Beating

20:30 “Shows that where conscience is sluggish it may need such a spur” (Kidner p. 141). Physical punishment may prove to be spiritually valuable, for some people seem determined to learn by no other method. “The only language that some people can get anything out of at all is that of severe discipline” (Hunt p. 266).