Read Proverbs 19:24–20:1
Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of man does what to his hand (Proverbs 19:24a)? Then, what doesn’t he do (verse 24b)? What action, with whom, has what result in Proverbs 19:25a? And what action, with whom else, has what result in verse 25b? What does the son in Proverbs 19:26 do? With what result? What might the son in Proverbs 19:27 stop doing? With what result? What kind of witness does what in Proverbs 19:28a? Whose mouth does what in verse 28b? What is prepared, for whom, in Proverbs 19:29a? And what, for whom, in verse 29b? What do win and strong drink do to whom (Proverbs 20:1)?
What happens without discipline and instruction? Proverbs 19:24–20:1 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, without discipline and heeded instruction, a fool comes to harm himself, his household, and his society.
While the one who fears the Lord abides in satisfaction (Proverbs 19:23b), the lazy man is not benefited by the availability of food. He even loses his hand, which comes to be hidden in the bowl (Proverbs 19:24).
For the one who is a scoffer out of ignorance (Proverbs 19:25a), it is not yet too late. By flogging, he may gain awareness of his danger. And the one who has understanding can benefit even from just a word of rebuke (verse 25b).
Apart from this effect of discipline, however, things get worse. In Proverbs 19:26, the laziness of the son has taken its full effect. He is described as plundering (more literal than “mistreats”) his father and chasing his mother. The idea is that the unchecked fool does harm to more than himself.
As with Proverbs 19:20, Proverbs 19:27 inserts word directly to the son: always continue to listen to instruction, lest you end up on the path being described in the rest of this passage.
In Proverbs 19:28–20:1, the circle of harm broadens past the household into the society. The breakdown of justice (Proverbs 19:28a) and proliferation of crimes (verse 28b) comes to necessitate public civil punishment (Proverbs 19:29), and the chaos and destruction of one who loses all self-control, in this case, accelerated by drunkenness (Proverbs 20:1).
How fools, and others, will suffer, if the fool is suffered to be foolish! How necessary is parental discipline, and the son’s receptiveness to it!
How receptive are you to instruction? Whom are you responsible for discipling and instructing?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for warning us about the harm that our folly may do to ourselves and others. Forgive us our sins, and give us soft and repentant hearts. Make us a blessing to ourselves and to others through Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP7B “God Is My Shield” or TPH141 “O LORD, to You I Call”
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