Discipline and Justice
Proverbs • Sermon • Submitted
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· 12 viewsDiscipline in a household often has the effects of how justice is served in society
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Discipline (or the lack of it) in the home can have an effect on justice in the public forum...
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
When a child is not disciplined or instructed in a Godly way, one should not be surprised when they take their wrong doing into the world.
And when they enter the world and continue their wrong, they literally bring shame on the mother…
When a child is not brought up to know the difference in right and wrong int the home, he will not recognize the difference in the world.
This is how God can say he will judge the sins of the father even unto the third and fourth generation… each generation adds consecutively on to the previous generations sins.
Discipline Can Bring Joy
Discipline Can Bring Joy
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.
What parent does not take joy in seeing their child do right?
Or what parent does not take joy in seeing their children become well respected in their community?
18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.
You may have it heard it more in this version
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
The first part has to do with a prophet vision (or revelation) which is often withheld in times of apostacy (which is a complete abandonment of religious beliefs) or crisis.
1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
The second part is for those who keep the law and promises of blessing upon that person.
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Proverbs 19 and 21 seem to go together
19 By mere words a servant is not disciplined, for though he understands, he will not respond.
21 Whoever pampers his servant from childhood will in the end find him his heir.
Verse 19 tells of a servant that is unprincipled and foolish… to the point that they will be unresponsive and irresponsible to his commands.
In verse 21, what we see is a servant who overindulged. Who is treated as family… who will eventually be treated as a heir.
the Hebrew word for heir is has an uncertain meaning
see him as a son (NKJV)
the servant will become insolent (NIV)
the servant will become arrogant (HCSB)
And then 20 and 22 seem to go together
20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
22 A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.
We’ve looked a lot at the danger of words and the tongue throughout our look at the Proverbs but again… this is very important and why this subject is broached over and over...
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
A person who ignores such advice causes much transgression (V. 22) both against his neighbor and against God.
Now, as we said at the start, 19-22 do not seems to go together but notice the need to maintain discipline not just to those under authority but also in our own lives.
23 One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
God will bring the arrogant down… but those who are thought of in this world as last will be first
The Hebrew word for pride is used in psalm 46:4 to give the picture of a swelling wave that comes crashing down
Honor is something that must be bestowed by another… you cannot take honor, it can only be earned.
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him,
9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.
10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.
24 The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
Partner of a thief?
1 “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;
Such a person brings a curse upon his own head… not a curse as in bad luck but literally a curse from God.
25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
Here, we see a contrast between trust in the world (man) and trust in God (Yahweh).
We see a lot of trouble today in the possibility of losing ones job because of their faith… Proverbs (in the fact the whole of scripture) tells us to trust in the LORD.
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
quoted in Heb 13:5
And repeated in at least 7 other places throughout the Bible
26 Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (16) Seek Deliverance from God (29:25–26)
Verse 26 does not forbid seeking relief from injustice through the legal system, but it does state that one should place more faith in Yahweh than in human institutions. These two verses, coming near the end of so many proverbs on corruption and injustice in society, call the reader back to the reality that the Bible after all is not a book about social reform but calls for committed faith in Yahweh.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.
Our last proverb this evening shows the exclusivity of both righteousness and immorality. They do not mix… you cannot walk both roads.
16 Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
Jesus is the only path. We do not follow it because of our own personal righteousness but because of Jesus righteousness that has been bestowed upon us.