Proverbs 28 Commentary (non exhaustive)

Verse 1 – The unrighteous because they are so accustomed to doing dirt are always watching their back as if someone is after them. Even if someone isn’t.  That is the definition of paranoia.

Verse 2: Land in Rebellion – I liken the U.S. like this with the current impeachment proceedings of Donald Trump.  It shows with all the partisan politics, no one can agree on anything. It also shows the rest of the world how divided our government is. I see this as very dangerous because it breeds distrust between our executive and legislative branches of government in particular. It also reveals to the rest of the nations of the world how unstable our “leaders” are.

Verse 4: Haters of the law - Our laws were providentially given by God through men to protect the righteous and punish the wicked.  Those who break the law show their hatred for civil order and ultimately are enemies of God who instituted human law.

Verse 5 - Wicked people do not understand or respect what is right. However, godly people understanding everything. Why? They look at life through the lens of scripture – divine truth. Biblical insight puts life in perspective. It allows a person to understanding WHY things are the way they are in this world. God’s word shines the light on darkness and reveals the wicked intentions of men’s hearts.

Verse 18: There is help for those who are honest - Today, honesty is rarely the best policy. A lie is more appealing. A person obviously lies to conceal the truth they are ashamed to reveal.  People tell lies to others because they believe the truth may hurt them so bad that it will damage or terminate the relationship. Let’s be honest, do you feel better living with a lie, or telling the truth? A lie keeps one in bondage, whereas the truth no matter how painful, liberates the soul of the deliverer and recipient of the message.

Verse 23: Rebuking one another – The writer believes proper rebuke is an art form. It should be done both privately and publicly. Rebuking someone is not publicly putting someone on blast to humiliate them. But rather pulling them to the side, and lovingly reasoning with them regarding what you see as currently wrong in their lives. You want to help them. Rebuking someone has to be direct so it most likely will hurt the recipient but is necessary if they are to repent and be restored by God. Public rebuke is mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:20 in the case of elders who are in sin. Paul instructs Timothy to rebuke publicly elders-pastors who are in sin so that all may fear.  No one is exempt from correction, not even leaders in the church. The key was that it had to be at least two or three witnesses that were aware of the sin in order to confront the offender publicly. Open rebuke is better than flattery which is usually disingenuous to a person – making them feel a false sense of confidence about themselves.