Proverbs 29 – Live out the Revived Life 箴言29 – 活出復興的生命
Wednesday, 28th June 2023
Sister Joanna Liu
Section One V1-15 Stand in the Right Post 站對位置
V1 ‘He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.’
V1 ‘人屢次受責罰，仍然硬著頸項，他必頃刻敗壞，無法可治。’
In the very beginning of Proverbs 29, we are reminded that the Truth may not always sound encouraging, but only with a wiling heart then we are able to be healed and saved. So before we started sharing Proverbs 29, let us pray and examine ourselves, am I a teachable person? Do I only listen to the things I want to listen to? God may send different people to speak into my life today, but what is my attitude and my response?
V2-6 ‘When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, but a companion of harlots wastes his wealth. The king establishes the land by justice, but he who receives bribes overthrows it. A man who flatters his neighbour spreads a net for his feet. By transgression an evil man is snared, but the righteous sings and rejoices.’
V2-6 ‘義人增多，民就喜樂；惡人掌權，民就嘆息。 愛慕智慧的使父親喜樂，與妓女結交的卻浪費錢財。 王藉公平使國堅定，索要賄賂使國傾敗。 諂媚鄰舍的，就是設網羅絆他的腳。 惡人犯罪自陷網羅，唯獨義人歡呼喜樂。’
The people will know if their leaders are good leaders or not, and in the same way, a leader (a father) will also be greatly affected by the behaviour of those under their covering. So it’s so easy to complain about one another yet what we must do is to do our part, to stand in the right place. Like what Shimu shared on Sunday, when you complain, you remain, when you praise, you will be raised.
As a follower, I used to have a lot of complaints about my leaders, I always see things they can do better, and I complained to others about the things not done right. Gradually I realised that those around me also started to see out leaders the same way, and even though a lot of time after I complained, I felt better, but bitter root was growing inside those who I complained to and at the end they had more complaints about the leaders and eventually left the church.
V7-9 ‘The righteous considers the cause of the poor, but the wicked does not understand such knowledge. Scoffers set a city aflame, but wise men turn away wrath. If a wise man contends with a foolish man, whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.’
V7-9 ‘義人知道查明窮人的案，惡人沒有聰明就不得而知。 褻慢人煽惑通城，智慧人止息眾怒。 智慧人與愚妄人相爭，或怒，或笑，總不能使他止息。’
As a leader, I also noticed that those who I look after affected a lot of my emotions and my decisions, who they are with and what they do can easily stir up within me. After many failures I started to learn to let it go to God, I prayed for my leaders and for those who are following me. My colleagues who were enemies before became best friends; my cell member’s decision to make friends with negative influence was changed due to the storm, at the same time, when I turned to my leaders and supported their every decision, I started to see their decisions as wise and godly.
V10-11 ‘The bloodthirsty hate the blameless, but the upright seek his well-being. A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.’
V10-11 ‘好流人血的，恨惡完全人，索取正直人的性命。愚妄人怒氣全發，智慧人忍氣含怒。’
Again it talks about how we should express ourselves. The path of Christian life is never about living happily after, because as long as we live in this world one day, we will still come across challenges, but this path is easy because we have the Holy Spirit to help us to respond to every situation. As I shared last week, we must know surely if we have the Holy Spirit, it’s not about all the supernatural activities around us, but this peace inside of us. This true joy and freedom that we can feel within us. The Holy Spirit will help us to hold our emotions and release them in godly manners. Jesus also got angry, but He was being angry at the right time, which was influential to the people.
I know I don’t do well when I’m tired and unwell, it’s not always I can have a rest when I’m not in a good state, a flatmate I had always hide herself in the room when she’s not in a good state and sometimes more than a week I couldn’t see her. But as the ones being called by God we don’t always have the privilege to do that. However we can always call for help, we must be alert and know our status.
V12-13 ‘If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked. The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.’
V12-13 ‘君王若聽謊言，他一切臣僕都是奸惡。 貧窮人強暴人在世相遇，他們的眼目都蒙耶和華光照。’
So don’t think that as a follower we cannot make any changes, on the other hand, also don’t think that as a leader, we cannot do anything without people supporting us. If everyone stands in the right position, then we can break this vicious cycle. David was a good leader, but throughout his life, he had many followers turning against him. When he was in the Adulaum cave, those who followed him were people who had nowhere else to go. On the other hand, Joseph was a slave, a prisoner, but he came to become the prime minister of Egypt, under the leadership of Pharaoh. It will not be easy to be the only one trying to make changes, but when we press on, relying on God, and stand in the right position, then we will see the day when the sun comes out from the dark clouds.
V14-15 ‘The king who judges the poor with truth, his throne will be established forever. The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.’
V14-15 ‘君王憑誠實判斷窮人，他的國位必永遠堅立。 杖打和責備能加增智慧，放縱的兒子使母親羞愧。’
Section Two V16-24 Know Ourselves and Know Others 知己知彼
V16 ‘When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases; but the righteous will see their fall.’
V16 ‘惡人加多，過犯也加多，義人必看見他們跌倒。’
Can we stand firm to see the day of victory? Do we believe that God has put us in the right place right now? He will tell us when it’s time to move. Can we stand post?
V17-18 ‘Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.’
V17-18 ‘管教你的兒子，他就使你得安息，也必使你心裡喜樂。 沒有異象，民就放肆；唯遵守律法的，便為有福。’
When we stand in the right post, then we must see from God’s perspective, from His binoculars in our position, do we know who we are? Do we know who God created us to be? God will also reveal to us the true images of those who He gives us to guide and lead. We can pray for them and make prophecies.
V19-21 ‘A servant will not be corrected by mere words; for though he understands, he will not respond. Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. He who pampers his servant from childhood will have him as a son in the end.’
V19-21 ‘只用言語，僕人不肯受管教，他雖然明白也不留意。 你見言語急躁的人嗎？愚昧人比他更有指望。 人將僕人從小嬌養，這僕人終久必成了他的兒子。’
V22-24 ‘An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression. A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honour. Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life; he swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.’
V22-24 ‘好氣的人挑起爭端，暴怒的人多多犯罪。 人的高傲必使他卑下，心裡謙遜的必得尊榮。人與盜賊分贓是恨惡自己的性命，他聽見叫人發誓的聲音，卻不言語。’
Section Three V25-27 Trust in the Lord and be Safe 靠主得安穩
V25-26 ‘The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. Many seek the ruler’s favour, but justice for man comes from the Lord.’
V25-26 ‘懼怕人的陷入網羅，唯有倚靠耶和華的必得安穩。 求王恩的人多，定人事乃在耶和華。’
V27 ‘An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.’
V27 ‘為非作歹的被義人憎嫌，行事正直的被惡人憎惡。’