Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl Proverbs 28:26-28 Beware of Wicked People, Part 4

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Proverbs 28:26–28

[26] Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

[27] Whoever gives to the poor will not want,

but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

[28] When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,

but when they perish, the righteous increase. (ESV)

Beware of Wicked People, Part 4

v.26 When one trusts in his own mental faculties rather than God, he is a fool. We run into trouble and eventually mortal peril when we trust in our own way rather than the Divine Wisdom of the Lord as revealed in His Word.

v.27 This proverb promises that those who have compassion for the poor will be rewarded (see Matthew 5:7; 19:21; 26:11; Luke 14:13–14). Likewise, this proverb threatens those who ignore the plight of the needy around them and can expect many curses. The text does not say from whom the curses are expected—they may come from the poor themselves, but more likely from our compassionate God who expects compassion.

v.28 This verse compares the righteous to the wicked, a juxtaposition we have seen before. It warns that with wicked rulers comes corruption and inequitable justice. In these circumstances, society's stability is compromised, and the righteous are not able to contribute much to the common good (see Proverbs 28:12). When a wicked ruler is ousted from office, the righteous can flourish since the threat of injustice has passed.

"The advice in this section is aptly summarized by Paul in a quotation from Menander: "bad company ruins good morals." Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, Christians are encouraged to seek the company of believers and avoid those whose influence could lead them into sin, idolatry, apostasy, and eternal death. Instead, they are to walk with the Triune God, who graciously comes into their presence through his Word and Sacraments, Baptism, and Holy Communion, to make his people his temple, with the promise of everlasting life. The apostle Paul attests this exhortation and promise with a catena of OT citations:

‘Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what communion has light with darkness? What agreement is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said, “I will tabernacle in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’ (2 Cor 6:14–18).”[1]

[1]Steinmann, Andrew E. 2009. Proverbs. Concordia Commentary. Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House.