ZEALOUS FOR THE FEAR OF THE LORD

Proverbs 23:1-18 / Keywords 23:17

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.

Saying 7

23:1 When you sit to dine with a ruler,

    note well what[a] is before you,

2 and put a knife to your throat

    if you are given to gluttony.

3 Do not crave his delicacies,

    for that food is deceptive.

Saying 8

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;

    do not trust your own cleverness.

5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,

    for they will surely sprout wings

    and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Saying 9

6 Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,

    do not crave his delicacies;

7 for he is the kind of person

    who is always thinking about the cost.[b]

“Eat and drink,” he says to you,

    but his heart is not with you.

8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten

    and will have wasted your compliments.

Saying 10

9 Do not speak to fools,

    for they will scorn your prudent words.

Saying 11

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone

    or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

11 for their Defender is strong;

    he will take up their case against you.

Saying 12

12 Apply your heart to instruction

    and your ears to words of knowledge.

Saying 13

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;

    if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.

14 Punish them with the rod

    and save them from death.

Saying 14

15 My son, if your heart is wise,

    then my heart will be glad indeed;

16 my inmost being will rejoice

    when your lips speak what is right.

Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,

    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

18 There is surely a future hope for you,

    and your hope will not be cut off.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 23:1 Or who

b. Proverbs 23:7 Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he is

1. Sayings 7 and 9 warn about eating with the rich and being alert to their hidden stinginess. Saying 8 warns us not to chase after riches. Money seems to be the end all, but it leads to many kinds of troubles, and our wealth flies away. 

2. Sayings 10-14 offer serious practical advice about having wisdom (12). Wisdom protects us from wasting time talking to a fool (10), encroaching on others’ property lines (11), and spoiling our children (13). Those who live and speak wisely bring great joy to their family (14). 

3. Saying 15 cautions us not to envy sinners. How often we envy the wrong people! Rather than envying others for their gifts, abilities, pleasures, and possessions, verse 17 says we should always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. This means that more than anything we want to honor God and do what is right before God. Then, there is hope for us. In Numbers 25:10, God said that Phineas was as zealous as God was for his honor. Because of Phineas’ zeal, God held back his wrath against his people. There was hope for the people because of Phineas’ zeal for the fear of the Lord. 

Prayer Father, thank you for teaching me not to chase after riches, but to always be zealous for the fear of the Lord and be a source of hope. 

One Word Always be zealous for the fear of the Lord and be a source of hope