Provérbios 15
H.A. Ironside · Citado em PreceptAustin
Provérbios 15
Ironside - Those who sit on the judicial bench and those who are called as witnesses have always been exposed to the snare of taking bribes. Greed and covetousness have proven the undoing of many in this position. People who have accepted bribes have brought ruin on themselves and shame on all who were associated with them. The hater of gifts—that is, the one who resolutely refuses to be bought—will live. The soldiers who guarded the tomb of our Lord were silenced by bribes, to their eternal dishonor (Matthew 28:11-15). Samuel challenged Israel to testify to his integrity on this subject (1 Samuel 12:3-4). See Proverbs 29:4 Hates (08130)(sane) expresses an emotion ranging from intense "hatred" to much weaker "set against." Lxx translates sane with the verb miseo, (in present tense = as his lifestyle, his general practice). Bribes (04979)(mattanah from nathan = to give) a feminine Hebrew noun which means gift, present (as in Pr 19:6). It could be given as compensation or for support (Ge 25:6; Esther 9:22; Ezek. 46:16, 17), as a gift to the Lord (Ex. 28:38; Lev. 23:38; Nu 18:29; Ps. 68:18, Unacceptable gifts in Ezek 20:26, 31). "“Every man shall give as he is able." (Dt 16:17) Levitical priesthood was given as a gift from God to Israel (Num 18:6-7) Mattanah is used in this verse as giving with a selfish intent (bride) (Pr. 15:27; Eccl 7:7). Webster's definition of bribe - A price, reward, gift or favor bestowed or promised with a view to pervert the judgment, or corrupt the conduct of a judge, witness or other person. A bribe is a consideration given or promised to a person, to induce him to decide a cause, give testimony, or perform some act contrary to what he knows to be truth, justice or rectitude. Waltke on gifts - as when a father gives his son gifts at death (Gen. 25:6; 2 Chr. 21:3; cf. Esth. 9:22; Ezek. 46:16, 17) or when Shechem offers the sons of Jacob “gifts” beyond the bride price in exchange for their sister Dinah (Ge 34:12). In its theological uses, it is God who gives gifts (Nu 18:6, 29; Ps. 68:18). In wisdom literature, however, “gifts” is always used to influence the judgment or conduct of another, such as to open the way into the king’s presence (Prov. 18:16), to “curry favor with a ruler” (Pr 19:6), or to pacify his wrath (Pr 21:14). In Eccl. 7:7 it aims to corrupt the recipient’s judgment and/or conduct. Mattanah NAS Usage: bestowed(1), bribe(1), bribes(1), gift(3), gifts(10), give(1). Mattanah - 17v - Ge 25:6; Ex 28:38; Lev 23:38; Num 18:6-7, 29; Deut 16:17; 2Chr 21:3; Esther 9:22; Ps 68:18; Pr 15:27; Eccl 7:7; Ezek 20:26, 31, 39; 46:16-17 There is a second Hebrew word for Bribe - shochad (07810) (Pr 21:14, 17:8, 23) which means bribe or a gift, but always with "strings attached." Bribery - Holman Bible Dictionary Bribery - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Thoralf Gilbrant - Bribes are a form of violence, since they pervert justice (Pr 17:23; 29:4). Those who hate bribery (and therefore the violence perpetrated by injustice) are safe; they are innocent of anything that might cause them scandal (Pr 10:9) or trouble. John
Provérbios 15
Ironside - The man who walks in the fear of God will weigh his words carefully, lest by a hasty utterance he dishonor his Lord and hinder where he desires to help. The wicked has no such consideration; he speaks whatever comes to his lips, no matter what harm it may do. People often actually pride themselves on being frank and outspoken, when in reality they are simply exhibiting the calloused state of their consciences. If truly aroused to the value of words, they would weigh them well before speaking them and thus avoid much mischief and sorrow. Because a thing is true, it is not necessarily a fit subject to be discussed and passed on from one to another. The righteous will consider carefully the effect of his words before uttering what can never be fully recalled. Contrast Elisha with the sons of the prophets at Jericho (2 Kings 2:15-18). Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. far: Ps 10:1 34:16 73:27 138:6 Mt 25:46 Eph 2:12,13 Hears: Pr 15:8 Ps 34:15-17 66:18,19 145:18,19 Isa 55:8,9 John 9:31 Ro 8:26,27 Jas 5:16-18 1Pe 3:12 Proverbs 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries INTIMACY WITH JEHOVAH Contrasts - Far away from versus hears the prayer; wicked versus righteous. Far away is used figuratively (since God is omnipresent), the idea being that He is "inaccessible" to the wicked man! He is as it were "deaf" to their pleas! The implication is that Jehovah does not hear the prayer of the wicked. You can speak to someone who is near you but not someone who is far from you (Proverbs antedates our technological age!). When the righteous pray they speak to God as a friend (cp Ps 34:15, 17, 1Pe 3:12). The wicked have no such relationship with God. Only the righteous can approach God in prayer (see who righteous are in Pr 15:28). Don't misunderstand -- God is omniscient and He knows the attempts to pray which come from the wicked, but His awareness goes no further . He does not heed (regard with care), act or respond to the "prayers" of the wicked! As Kitchen says "The quality of one’s living affects the effectiveness of one’s praying." That the Lord ‘is far from’ those who do not know Him is often attested to in Scripture (Ps. 18:41; Ps 66:18–19; Ps 138:6; John 9:31). The worship of the ‘wicked’ is an abomination to God (Prov. 15:8, 9, 26). Until they repent, they will not be heard by God (Prov. 1:28). Unconfessed sin is clearly an obstacle, even to a true believer (1Pe 3:7). The psalmist (unnamed) understood this proverb admitting that "If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear." (Ps 66:18) As an aside the truth that Jehovah is far from the wicked is what one would expect because the wicked choose to stay away from Him. Hubbard - The contrast between “the wicked” and “the righteous” is expressed in terms of distance from (“far”) and nearness to (close enough so that He “hears”) “the LORD.” Physical or geographical distance is not the point, though it serves to sharpen the issue. Intimacy or familiarity are what nearness entails. The wicked are so distantly related to God through creation that they have no real claim on His grace or blessing. The righteous, in comparison, are loyal sons and daughters of the covenant. They know God in the intimacy of redemption. They belong to Him as His sheep, His subjects, His children. He hears their prayer and takes great delight in doing so. Ironside - The wicked have no right to expect anything from Jehovah; He makes no promise to heed their cry. When the day of their distress comes they find no one on whom to call. When idolatrous Israel turned to God in their troubles, He refused to be entreated of them. He referred them to the gods they had served, in order that they might realize what it meant to have turned their backs on Him. But He has pledged Himself to hear the prayer of the righteous; and with Him to hear is to answer. The man who delights himself in God when all is bright will find Him a Friend close at hand when darkness enshrouds the soul. Let us not forget that it is written, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7). See Joshua at Gibeon (Joshua 10:12-14). But - Strong contrast. Two ways. Two destinies - See Ps 1:6!