Proverbs 29

Read Proverbs 29

“He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.” It is pitiful to watch someone who refuses to listen to sound words. We have a God who is so patient. He is full of wisdom and compassion and He is willing to teach us.

It is such a senseless waste of passion to be unmovable in the pursuit of error. A stubborn man not only hurts himself, he makes life difficult for those around him. A man who will turn from sin and serves the Lord with the gifts that he has been given can bring great blessing even to an entire city. “Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.”

Even a perfectly righteous man will not make everyone happy. Many people who imagine that they are right with God on their own terms will be full of criticism or even malice when they meet a man who seeks to rejoice in the Lord and serve Him according to His Word. “Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright.” Consider the envy of the Pharisees when the sinless Son of God came to save the ungodly. They were indignant. They hated Him.

Christ continued in His love for the weak despite the violent opposition He faced from powerful religious men. Instead of being defeated by evil, He overcame evil with good. (Romans 12:21) Jesus brought forth a kingdom that will never end. “If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever.”

In this fallen world the wicked may seem to be unstoppable, but a time is coming when our Righteous King will return. On that great day His victory will be manifestly complete. “When the wicked increase, transgression increases, but the righteous will look upon their downfall.”

Our great Leader is with us even now by His Holy Spirit. We do well to consider the Word that He brings to us and to observe everything that He has commanded. When He disciplines us we can remember that His purposes are full of grace toward His children. We need to reject any remaining stubbornness and receive His guidance with an eager heart. “Whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Father God, we must not stiffen our necks against You. There are dangers all around us. Only by Your wisdom will we escape the traps that seem to be on every side. When we fall, Your Son is still near, and He will rescue us. Teach us to remember the day of discipline and to learn from our trials. Your Son has kept the Law. We are blessed in Him. We should be the most gentle people, for we have been saved by Your grace. We trust You, O Lord, and we find abundant safety in You.