Read Proverbs 23
Saying 7
23 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what 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.
“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.
Saying 16
19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Saying 17
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful!
Saying 18
26 My son, give me your heart
and let your eyes delight in my ways,
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Like a bandit she lies in wait
and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
Saying 19
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,
who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
lying on top of the rigging.
35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
so I can find another drink?”
Go Deeper
Proverbs 23:10 tells us, “Do not move an ancient boundary stone.” What does it mean in that we are not to remove an “ancient boundary stone” or “landmark”? What were ancient landmarks? Why were they not to be moved? This is addressed twice in Proverbs (also in Proverbs 22:28), but the context of this command goes back to the books of Deuteronomy and Joshua. In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses is giving the Israelities a review of what has taken place so far. He goes over the history of the Israelites, a review of the law, and calls them to obedience as they are about to enter into the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 19:14, Moses tells them, “Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess.”
A landmark was a stone pillar or a pile of stones that marked a property line. They told the people how far they could go, and were a means to establish order. These boundaries were pretty strict, and a person was considered cursed if they were to move them or go beyond them (Deuteronomy 27:17). In Mosaic Law, removing a boundary marker was a huge violation, and was considered theft. A person could slowly move a landmark, which might not be noticeable each individual time, but could make a significant change over time. When the Israelities conquered and divided the land in the book of Joshua, each tribe was given a specific amount of land to be their inheritance that was marked by a landmark (Joshua 13-19). These landmarks were to remain not only for the conquest generation, but for generations to come.
The eternal truth we take away from this command is that we are to maintain honesty in all areas of our life. However, we are prone to do the opposite. We can make small compromises that seem insignificant in the moment, but could make a significant impact over time. These small compromises can grow into bigger compromises, and lead us to get to a place where we ask the question: “How did I get here?” These small compromises could look like driving over the speed limit, putting soda in a water cup at a restaurant, using sarcasm as a banner to say hurtful things, lying on time cards at work, or submitting someone else’s work in school.
There are countless examples of this. We are tempted to make these decisions when we slowly move away from the truth of God’s Word, and forget that everything He commands us to do is for our good. As new creations, we are to live our lives above reproach walking with the utmost integrity in everything we do.
Questions
- Where are you tempted to make small compromises that you know are dishonest?
- What does this command in verse 10 teach you about the character of God?
- Do you believe that God’s Word is authoritative in your life? What in your life would point towards it being authoritative?
Keep Digging
If you want to learn more about this command to not move ancient landmarks, check out this article!
3 responses to “Proverbs 23”
Very interesting points about moving boundary stones!
2 and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
Lots of good counsel regarding gluttony and drunkenness. Challenges that we face to this day!
Overindulgence and greed, those are two words I struggle with. That is hard to say and put into writing. As life has continued all these minutes, and through Regen, I have seen the error of my ways but I still struggle today in these minutes with these and more. God has given us, me, His Word for such a time as this. He shines His light on what I need to work on in my life so that I can glorify Him better. Self control with food, buying stuff, and sometimes dangers of alcohol. Instead of chasing what I think is pleasure or short-term gratification in the moment, pulling a scripture, calling a mentor, praying for someone who is on my mind these are the things to be doing.
God thank You for Your word and it bringing me back to You. Thank You that I do not have to be ashamed. Thank You that You do help me see my life differently and that Your Word gives me the answers to how to change those thoughts or actions. I am to study to show myself approved to You. I am to not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind to Your Word. I am to focus my thoughts on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. God you keep me in perfect peace when I stay my mind on You. Thank You for those words that I can lean on and trust. God thank You for today, these minutes of this day that I turn constantly towards these truths in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!
Saying 12, “Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge” (v12).
The ultimate way this happens is embracing biblical truth contained on the pages of scripture. Hebrews 4:12 instructs, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”