For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
Salient points:
- Notice how much shorter the proverbs in this chapter are! Sometimes pithy and punchy gets the message across just as well as elongated and eloquent.
- There is a point of no return (v.1). It it tempting to equate this with the "falling away" referred to in the N.T. (Heb 6:4-6; 2 Peter 2:20-22). (Not to be confused with stumbling.)
- Re: v.6, see comments on 28:1 in previous podcast.
- The wicked don't care about the poverty of others (v.7). They are the stars of their show and have no intent to give the limelight, let alone their wealth, to others. Yet even among those who seem to care -- perhaps serving in a soup kitchen -- one wonders whether the goal is to assuage one's conscience or to truly make a dent in poverty. Many young people could, through disciplined study, become doctors, nurses, engineers -- people whose careers magnify their impact many times. Yet they may prefer to work low-paying jobs and invest their free time in recreation.
- Certain arguments are to be avoided at all costs (v.9) -- or else there'll be two fools arguing!
- Venting may feel good, but if the occasion is inappropriate such an action can be harmful (v.11).
- When someone won't face reality, but persists in delusional thinking, all those he influences are in danger of being pulled into the vortex (v.12).
- In v.15, the emphasis isn't so much on discipline as on involvement. For more on biblical parenting principles, please check out our Principle Centered Parenting (formerly The Quiver).
- The vision of v.18 is prophetic (see Numbers 12, Joel 2, Acts 2). The prophetic vision is from God. It has little if anything to do with "getting a vision/dream" for your life.
- V.19 is an important principle for counselors, preachers, parents, teachers, et al.
Challenge:
- Stay inspired!
- Let the Lord reveal his will to you through the word (as in v.18). The resulting inspiration serves to take away our desire to throw off moral restraint.
- A key to long-term changes in our personal discipline is continual interaction with and humility before the word of God. The limpid truths of God's word will keep us fueled -- and on track.
- This means that, after you're finished listening to this series, you should have a plan for continued study.
- Maybe it's time to finish reading through the entire Bible, esp. if it has been a few years since the last time you did that.
- There are many podcast series at this website, some 10 lessons in length, others 30 or more.
- You may also want to read through a book of the N.T., comparing your findings to the N.T. chapter studies.
- Don't devise a plan that binds you too tight; it's hard to be inspired when we're suffocating. And yet don't be too loose in your plan, either, or time will be wasted and you will regret what could have been.
Versions: First we heard from the NIV, then from the Jerusalem Bible.
Next: Proverbs 30.