Proverbs 22

PROVERBS 22


"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
The rich and the poor have this in common,
The LORD is the maker of them all.
A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are punished."
(vs 1-3)

"The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,
But the naive go on, and are punished for it."
(vs 3) NAS

Webster's 1828 DIctionary defines one who is prudent as one who is cautious, practically wise; one who is careful of the consequences of enterprises or action; cautious not to act when the end is of doubtful utility. And he quotes Proverbs 22:3 and Proverbs 14:15 to emphasis his definition.

Dear friends, may we always exercise wise discernment, that we may foresee the consequences of our actions, and hide ourselves from that which is evil; that we may turn aside from the paths that lead to pain and sorrow.

The Bible tells us to flee fornication (1 Cor 6:18), flee idolatry (1 Cor 19:14), turn from our wicked ways (Eze 33), flee the love of money and material possessions (1 Tim 6:10-11). God has called us to maturity, to be "conformed not to this world" (Rom 12:2), but rather "be conformed into the image of His Son." (Rom 8:29).

"Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." - 2 Tim 2:22


"By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, " have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.

By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked." - 1 John 2:3-6

I love this song of King David, of whom the Scripture says was a "man after God's own heart" ~

"I will sing of lovingkindness and justice,
To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
I will give heed to the blameless way
When will You come to me?
I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.
I will set no worthless thing before my eyes;
I hate the work of those who fall away;
It shall not fasten its grip on me.
A perverse heart shall depart from me;
I will know no evil."
- Psalm 101:1-4

Sin is a choice. Never do we HAVE to sin. We must choose to flee from temptation and turn away from sinful desires. God will not accept excuses for any willful sinful behavior from His children.

And I pray we would be found teaching these principles, these words of Life, to our children.

"Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it."
(vs 6)


Oh, the wonderful promise to those who heed God's charge to us, to those who keep Christ's commands -

"He who loves purity of heart,
and whose speech is gracious,
will have the King as his friend."
(vs 11)

The King, Himself, desires to be our friend. Christ Jesus, who is, and always be, our Lord and Master, would that we also enter into that deeper relationship with Him. That of friendship.

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you."- John 15:9-14

"The King shall be his friend."

The earthly king David had this hope within him. To have intimate friendship with the Eternal King. Therefore he determined as we read above "I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart. A perverse heart shall depart from me." He set himself to purify his heart. The Apostle John, who got as close to the King as he could, writes -

"Everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." - (1 John 3:3)

May this be our hope as well. To be not only servants of the Most High, but friends of the King as well.

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." - Matt 5:8


Peace & blessings,

Michael