Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20120415.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Proverbs: Motivating Teens And Adults To Align With God's Fixed Moral Order
Part III: Solomon's Proverbs Reflecting God's Fixed Moral Order For Blessing, Proverbs 10:1-22:16
B. Proverbs With Directions On Righteous Living, Proverbs 16:1-22:16
7. Studying Proverbs 17:22-18:2
  1. Introduction
    1. Where Proverbs 10:1-15:33 contrasts wise, upright lives with foolish, wicked ones, Proverbs 16:1-22:16 focuses mainly on the upright life, guiding us on how to live righteously in many realms of experience.
    2. We thus view each proverb in this section to draw out its deeper insight that Proverbs 1:5-6 implies exists:
  2. Studying Proverbs 17:22-18:2.
    1. Proverbs 17:22 teaches that a merry (sameha, B. D. B., A Hebr.-Engl. Lex. of the O. T., p. 970) heart makes good (yatab, Kittel, Biblia Hebraica , p. 1175; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 405-406; Hiphil = causative) a cure, healing (gehah, Ibid., p. 155), but a smitten, scourged (nake', Ibid., p. 644) spirit makes dry ( yabesh, Ibid., p. 386; Piel = intensive) the bones (representing the whole body, Z. P. E. B., v. I, p. 637). The inner man must be nurtured and not abused for one's general health. (cf. Proverbs 4:23)
    2. Proverbs 17:23 claims that an evil man takes, accepts (laqah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 542-544) a bribe in the bosom [in secret] (hes, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 300) to pervert, thrust aside ( natah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 639-641; Hiphil = causative) the paths (oreh, Ibid., p. 73) of justice. Secretly yielding to wrong for personal gain contributes toward the distortion of the paths of justice for society in general.
    3. Proverbs 17:24 asserts one with understanding (bin, Ibid., p. 106-107; Hiphil = causative) is close by the face [is focused] (et-pene, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 816) of [on] wisdom, but the eyes of the dull, close-minded ( kesil, Ibid., Kittel; Bib. Know. Com., O. T., p. 908) [are focused] on the ends (b + qaseh, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 892) of the earth. Understanding folk are focused on wisdom where dull, close-minded folk indiscriminately look to everything the world offers for insight to their eventual failure.
    4. Proverbs 17:25 teaches a dull, close-minded (kesil, cf. Prov. 17:24) son is a vexation (na'am, Ibid., p. 495) to his father, and bitterness (memer, Ibid., p. 601) to her who bore him. We need to stay teachable.
    5. Proverbs 17:26 claims, "Yea [surely] (gam, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 168-169) it is not wholesome (tob, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1176 and 2 in referring to Genesis 1:31 on God's "wholesome" universe) to fine ( anash, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 778-779) a righteous man, nor to smite [flog] (nakah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 645-646) the noble in mind, character (nadib , Ibid., p. 622) for [their] uprightness (yosher, Ibid., p. 449). Wrongly punishing the upright who under gird society's institutions harms society in general.
    6. Proverbs 17:27 asserts he who restrains (hasak, Ibid., p. 362) his words knows knowledge, discernment (da'at, Ibid., p. 395-396), and he who is cool (qar , Ibid., p. 903) of temperament (ruah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 924-926) is a nobleman (ish, Ibid., Kittel; Robert B. Girdlestone, Synonyms of the O. T. , 1973, p. 45-50) of understanding (tebunah, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 108). Self-restraint in word and attitude is the mark of an understanding person of noble character, so we must strive for self-restraint in such realms.
    7. Proverbs 17:28 teaches, "Yea [even] (gam, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 168-169) an arrogant, flippant man (ewil, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. K. C., O. T. ) who keeps himself silent (haresh, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 361; Hiphil = causative) is regarded (hashab, Ibid., p. 362-363; Niphal = passive) wise; shutting (otem , Ibid., p. 31-32) his speech (sapah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 973-974) [he is considered] discerning (bin, Ibid., p. 106-107; Niphal = passive). Restraining one's words and attitude also benefits one's own self!
    8. Proverbs 18:1 claims he who separates himself (parad, Ibid., p. 825) seeks (baqash, Ibid., p. 134-135) his own selfish desire (ta'aweh, Ibid., p. 16); he breaks out in contention ( gala', Ibid., p. 166; Hithpael = intensive reflexive) against all sound wisdom (tushiyah, Ibid., p. 444). Those who habitually separate from others are selfish and contentious where the wise habitually try to be cooperative, cf. Romans 12:18.
    9. Proverbs 18:2 asserts that a dull, close-minded man (kesil, Ibid., Kittel; cf. Pr. 17:25) does not delight in (hapes, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 342-343) understanding (tebunah , Ibid., p. 108), but only (ki im-, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 474-475) that his heart may reveal itself (galah, Ibid., p. 162-163; Hithpael = intensive reflexive). People who delight only to air own their opinions are not wise versus those who are teachable.
Lesson Application: May we align with God's fixed moral order in each of these realms for blessing.