Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20120916.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Proverbs: Motivating Teens And Adults To Align With God's Fixed Moral Order
Part IV: Proverbs Of Other Godly Men On God's Fixed Moral Order, Proverbs 22:17-24:34
A. Thirty Proverbs Of Other Godly Men, Proverbs 22:17-24:22
3. Studying Proverbs 23:12-25
  1. Introduction
    1. Solomon's Proverbs 10:1-22:16 sayings are followed by those of other men in Proverbs 22:17-24:34 (Bib. Know. Com., O. T., p. 925, 954), and 30 of them are grouped in Proverbs 22:17-24:22, Ibid., p. 954.
    2. In contrast to Solomon's style, many of these proverbs contain a thought that is presented in more than one verse, and we view proverbs eleven to sixteen of this group of 30 in Proverbs 23:12-25 (as follows):
  2. Studying Proverbs 23:12-25.
    1. Proverbs 23:12 "serves as a break . . . and introduces sayings 11-30 much as 22:17-21 introduced sayings 1-10," Ibid., p. 956. It directs one to "diligence . . . for" musar, corrective instruction, by listening, Ibid.
    2. Proverbs 23:13-14 presents the eleventh saying, teaching (13) do not withhold, hold back (mana', B. D. B., A Hebr.-Engl. Lex. of the O. T., p. 586) from a youth ( na'ar, Kittel, Biblia Hebraica, p. 1182; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 654-655) chastening correction (musar, Ibid., p. 416); if you smite (nakah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 645-646) him with the rod ( shebet, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 986-987), he will not die. (14) You (emphatic pron.) smite him with the rod and you will snatch away (nasal, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 664-665; Hiphil = causative) his life principle ( nepesh, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1182 and p. 3 in citing Gen. 2:7 where God made man a nepesh with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual life) from the grave [in this context] ( sheol, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1182; Theol. Wrdbk. of the O. T., v. II, p. 892-893).
    3. Proverbs 23:15-16 presents the twelfth saying, asserting (15) my son, if your heart is wise, it will rejoice my heart, (lit.) surely [even] mine (gam ani, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1183); (16) my (lit.) kidneys ( kilyah, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 480; figurative for "innermost being," Ibid., T. W. O. T., v. I, p. 440-441) will exult (ESV) when your lips speak uprightness, evenness, equity ( meshar, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 449). The greatest joy we can be to our parents is to be wise and upright, for the effects of these virtues in us honor and bless them.
    4. Proverbs 23:17-18 presents the thirteenth saying, claiming (17) do not let your heart be envious (qana', Ibid., p. 888) of sinners, but (ki im, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1183; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 474-475) [remain] in the fear of Jahweh all [your] days; (18) surely ( ki im again, with another meaning) there is a future (aharit, Ibid., p. 31) [for you], and your hope (tiqwah, Ibid., p. 876) will not be cut off ( karat, Ibid., p. 503-504; Niphal = passive). One has a future if he keeps revering God in hope of blessing versus having much now by sin, so he need not be jealous of the wicked who currently possess much, for they will lose it in judgment.
    5. Proverbs 23:19-21 presents the fourteenth saying, teaching (19) You (emphatic pron.) listen, my son, and be wise; and advance straight (ashar, Ibid., p. 80) your heart on the path [defined by the context]; (20) [namely] do not be among those who drink largely ( saba', Ibid., p. 684-685) of wine or who are lavish [gluttonous] with (zalal, Ibid., p. 272-273) meat, (21) for drunkards and gluttons will be dispossessed, come to poverty ( yarash, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 439-440; Niphal = passive), and (lit.) drowsiness [from indulging] (numah, Ibid., p. 630) clothes [one] with rags (qeras , Ibid., p. 902). Excess indulging as in alcoholism and gluttony gives a false sense of security, leading to poverty, so avoid such excesses.
    6. Proverbs 23:22-23 presents the fifteenth saying, asserting (22) listen to your father, this one who begat you (yalad, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 408-409), and do not despise your mother when she becomes old ( zaqen, Ibid., p. 278); (23) buy (qanah, Ibid., p. 888-889) and do not sell (makar, Ibid., p. 569) truth, wisdom, corrective discipline (musar , cf. Pr. 23:13) and understanding. Heeding our parents' insight throughout our lives, even into advanced adulthood, and uncompromisingly sticking to truth, wisdom, corrective discipline and understanding yields blessing and security in living.
    7. Proverbs 23:24-25 presents the sixteenth saying, claiming (24) the father of a righteous man rejoices (gil, Ibid., p. 162) a rejoicing (gil, the noun, Ibid.) [idiomatic for "rejoices greatly"]; he who begets ( yalad, cf. Pr. 23:22) a wise man is glad (samah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 970) in him. (25) May your father and your mother be glad; and let her who bore you ( yalad again) rejoice (gil, the verb again)!
Lesson Application: May we align with God's fixed moral order in each of these realms for blessing.