Chapter 28

Curiously, many of us seek wisdom – but most usually, we seek it when things have already reached such a serious underpass that we’d give anything for the problem to be fixed.

Sometimes our cries for wisdom may mean locking the gate after the horse has bolted . . .

In any case, Proverbs 28 is looking at the wisdom needed when things are tough. Let’s give it a once-over.

Some of the themes covered include:
• The connection between confidence and having nothing to hide (v1,17,18)
• The goodness of God’s law (vs 4, 5)
• The connection between God’s law and wisdom (v7)
• The need for a leader to fight crime and corruption (boy, could some leaders learn a thing or two here! v2, 16)


Then we have verses 19-28. And here we find something quite interesting – it’s a number of statements that serve to underline what Philip Yancey calls “The atrocious mathematics of Grace”.

God thinks differently from us, and his thought patterns are characterized by grace. This means that sometimes what God asks is counter-intuitive.

For example:
• Humans are always on the lookout for an easy way. “Get-rich-quick” schemes and attempts to get something for nothing are almost de rigeur. But God wants us to work for our living (and let’s face it, this is part of being made in His image. He is a God who works, and it is natural for Him to want us to do the same.
• We would automatically assume that the best way to get what you want is to be tightfisted, only spending your money on things that you really want. In contrast, God’s way is for us to be generous. This is counter-intuitive, but it really works.

Being Christ like is often a process of unlearning the things that we have learned. Society teaches us the wrong way very often; God teaches us a more difficult way; but in the end it’s also the best way.