Secure in the Lord

October 2, 2011

Lesson: Proverbs 29:16-27

Key Verse: Proverbs 29:25

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Introduction

Scripture teaches us: “Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with all things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13:5–6). Proverbs 29:25 puts it this way: “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.” We could say that when we put our trust in ourselves or man, we have an insecure foundation upon which we build relationships.

Our security as children of God is found in Christ our Lord: “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth” (Psa. 119:90). Charles Spurgeon wrote: “This is an additional glory: God is not affected by the lapse of ages; he is not only faithful to one man throughout his lifetime, but to his children’s children after him, yea, and to all generations so long as they keep his covenant and remember his commandments to do them. The promises are ancient things, yet they are not worn out by centuries of use, for the divine faithfulness endureth forever. He who succoured his servants thousands of years ago still shows himself strong on the behalf of all them that trust in him.”

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Transgression and Hope—Proverbs 19:16–19

When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases around the righteous. The wicked, in their corruption, corrupt others. It is as a plague which sweeps through society, leading men astray in their words and actions. They are those who say that they are the best teachers of our children, seeking to remove God from their thinking. They claim that the killing of babies in the womb is to be protected as a right. Hopelessness creeps into the life of the righteous. However, Christ does not have a kingdom that fails; there is victory: “but the righteous shall see their fall.” King David testified, “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed” (Psa. 37:1–3). We shall see their destruction as we follow Christ as He advances His kingdom here on earth. Claim (have dominion) the earth as belonging to Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. We have this promise from God: “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched: and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh” (Isa. 66:2–24).

The wicked will not win. Though we may not see its complete destruction, it will come at length in the will of God. Until then, “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest’ yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” Matthew Henry wrote that “It is a pleasure to parents, which none know but those that are blessed with it, to see the happy fruit of the good education they have given their children, and to have a prospect of their well-doing for both worlds; it gives delight proportional to the many thoughts of heart that have been concerning them.” The wicked, in opposition to good words, need to be dealt with as those who are unprofitable: “A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.”

However, the Lord has given us a hope of victory over the transgression that surrounds us: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” The Lord has given us a ‘vision,’ a revelation from heaven. Without the Word of the Lord, we would perish. We are therefore able to go to God’s Word, and by the Spirit to keep His law. “Blessed (how happy) are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6); Christ continues, speaking of the law, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be great in the kingdom of heaven” (5:19).

Discussion: How is our hope in Christ shown in the above passages?

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Pride of Man—Proverbs 29:20–23

Stick and stones may hurt our bones, but words can hurt us even more. Wisdom says, “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.” Pride brings words of deceit that desires others to bow to their will. The fool (stupid) has more hope than the one who presses his lies upon another. There are those whose words come from an empty head, refusing to spend time in the study of the Word of God, thinking their own thoughts are better. M. Henry wrote, “that is of a light desultory wit, that seems to take a thing quickly, but takes it by the halves, gallops over a book or science, but takes no time to digest it, no time to pause or muse upon a business?”

Wisdom continues: “He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at length.” When a man, with diligence and patience, brings up a servant, in the wisdom of the Word of God, or sharpening his talents and gifts that he may become useful in the trade; the servant will become as a son bearing the skills of the master. Opposite to such a master there is “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” Here is the man that stirs up trouble in the home, and even with his friends. He has a quarrelsome nature, “blows the coals, and even forces those to fall out with him that would live peaceable and quietly by him” (M. Henry). His disposition is to do evil, dishonoring God in all his actions.

The pride of man brings him down, “but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.” Pride is man’s arrogance. His nose stares at heaven while his eyes look down at others. He cannot see that he is being humiliated; shame and dishonor will soon be his fall. Humility is the recognition that his strength comes from the Lord and His Word: “their humility is their honour, and that shall make them truly and safely great, and recommend them to the esteem of all that are wise and good” (M. Henry).

Discussion: What are the hope of the proud and the hope of the righteous?

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Trust in the Lord—Proverbs 29:24–27

To whom do we attach ourselves to, following their lead in what we believe and do? Wisdom teaches, “Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and betrayeth it not.” Scripture teaches us, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Psa. 1:1). This is a picture of a man who first feels it’s ok to listen to the counsel of the wicked; then finding his ears tickling he stands to listen more closely; soon finding himself captured by the words of the wicked that the sits with them, attaching himself to them. However, Scripture reveals that the man who is truly blessed is he whose “delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psa. 1:2). The Christian attaches himself to the Word of the Lord, by the Spirit of the Lord meditating and learning of its truths that give life. Thus “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.”

There is always before us the ungodly and the godly, the unjust and the just, those are not merciful and those who practice mercy, those who are unrighteous and those who are righteous. In other words, those who are ungodly perish, but those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ find life in Him alone; who alone “shall be like a tree of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psa. 1:3). Therefore, do not “seek the ruler’s favor; but every man’s judgment cometh from the Lord.” Our victory is in Christ. For “An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.” Our faith, our trust, is in the Lord Jesus Christ: The redemption of our soul is precious; knowing that our confidence in our Redeemer is not in vain: “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine” (Isa. 43:1).

Discussion: How is our trust in the Lord expressed in our everyday life?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2011 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.