Proverbs 28:1-9 – The importance of heeding God’s instruction

The Bible is God’s instruction for us. In it we find specific revelation of God, His relationship with us and how to live a great life in Him and for Him. Hence, we must not only need to read it frequently, but also to study, meditate, memorise, contemplate, assimilate and make it part of our life. Concerning the practical issues of life, the book of Proverbs is very instructive. In it we are given many of life principles learned by the author. They are all gleaned from the experiences or the observation from life that he had, over the course of his life. These first nine verses of Proverbs 28 tell us that instruction has a place in our life and we need to be open to it. It is important for us to be well instructed in life.

Proverbs 28:1 suggests that we should cultivate a good conscience. A godly conscience needs to be rightly instructed with the value found in the Word of God. When we believe right, we will act right, by heeding the guidance of our conscience. This will make us secure in God. Nothing can destabilize us when we are strong in God. We will live life righteously by acting boldly. A person who has not trained his conscience to be godly, feel insecure for fear that he may not have acted rightly. He will be petrified for no reason. A person whose conscience is educated will rest securely because he knows he had acted with godly value.   

Essentially Proverbs 18:2 tells us leadership creates stability or uncertainty. When there is a frequent change in leadership, the organization or country will be destabilized. It will be worst when the wrong or unrighteous person holds the helm. It will be plagued by many indiscretion and wrongdoing. Verse 3 says that a godly man in a position of leadership brings hope, whereas a wrong man in leadership, like a torrential rain, devastates instead of bringing refreshing. To prove a point, the first part of verse 3 uses a poor man starved of power as an illustration. When such a man takes on leadership, the condition of the organization may be chaotic.  

Proverbs 28:4 shows that knowing and keeping the law leads to a disciplined and orderly life. Without the law we cannot expect to have an orderly society. Wickedness and chaos will prevail when there is no consideration of the law. Lawlessness prevails when there is no fear for the law and morality. It is because those who have regard for the law will strife to keep them but those who have no consideration for the law will embrace wickedness. Verse 5 shows that people who adopt a lawless mentality cannot differentiate between what’s right and what’s wrong nor justice and injustice. Their contorted moral compass and conception will make them judicially blind resulting in a messy life. On the other hand, those who have consideration for the law and seek the Lord know what’s upright and endeavour to live out the Lord’s instruction.

Proverbs 28:6 tells us that a poor man who walks in integrity is better than one who’s rich but act deviously. Honesty is to be preferred over riches dishonestly gained. This verse instructs us to abhor double dealing. If we want others to trust us, we must first be trustworthy. Character precedes riches. Proverbs 28:7 shows that a son who keeps the law and its instruction shows obedience. The law is referring to the teaching of God. Such a person will be discerning. On the opposite end, we find one who pays no attention to the law and runs with the wrong crowd. It says he mixed with “gluttons,” a picture of bad companions. In so doing he lives a riotous life and squanders his wealth.  

Proverbs 28:8 warns us against exploitation. This displeases the Lord and He will deal with the exploiter. Here the verse illustrates with a well to do person lending to a poor with exorbitant interest. It is almost like an extortion. What he doesn’t realise is that God will not allow him to benefit from the interest he had illegally obtained. God will divert what he had gained to someone more in need of the money.

Proverbs 28:9 tells us that listening and obeying the instruction of God’s Word is important. If we are to strengthen our relationship with God, knowing and obeying His Word are imperatives. These exercises will strengthen our relationship with Him and He will enjoy our conversation. When we neglect and have scan respect for God, we will find Him turning a deaf ear to our prayers. Let us take the instruction of God seriously.