Proverbs chapter 28 tonight and I'm going to read from verses 15 through 22 and we'll cover the rest of the chapter next Wednesday night. Now I'm just going to take the title, there's several subjects here, I'm just going to take the title from verse, I believe it's verse 18, I'm going to title it The Security of the Upright. Notice with me as we come here beginning in verse 15. As a roaring lion and a raging bear, so is the wicked ruler over the poor people. The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor, but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit, let no man stay him. Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved, but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. To have respect of persons is not good, for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. Father, we do thank you again for this week that you've given us. We thank you for this privilege. We pray tonight, Lord, for thy blessings to be with us, thy presence to be with us. We pray, Lord, that you help us as we consider these passages here tonight. Lord, we pray for thy, again, thy presence to be with us and thy blessings. We ask all of these things in Christ Jesus' name we pray, amen. Again, there's a variety of subjects here, and many of these we've covered as we've studied, not only throughout the scriptures, but especially throughout the book of Proverbs. And we'll finish this chapter next week from verse 23 through verse 28. Notice in verse 15, And again, we see reoccurring subjects. And sometimes we'll camp out in passages and sometimes we'll move on. Verse 15 and 16, these are subjects that we have covered a number of times in Proverbs. And first of all, you'll notice that he says here in verse 15, as a roaring line, an arranging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. We find here that wicked rulers, they're like wild beasts devouring their prey. In this particular case, we see that we see people who cannot protect themselves, especially the poor. Now, as we come to verse two, we've seen the subject with the leaders. He said in verse two, for the transgression of a land, many of the princes thereof, but by man of understanding and knowledge, the state thereof shall be prolonged. We see in this passage, the sins of a nation brings chaos, constant change of leaders and the overthrow of government many times. What we also see as we read verses 15 and 16, notice in verse 16 he said, The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor, but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. So in verse 2, And in verse 15 and 16, we see bad leaders or rulers, and we also see here a good ruler as well. In verse 15 again we see wicked rulers. A whole nation is affected by the ruthless action of one man. And if you want to, there's many passages but Jeremiah 22 and in verse 13 will give you a good commentary on that. I want to give you an example of this. Hold on here and turn with me. And notice for me as we read in the New Testament in Matthew chapter two, in the book of Matthew in chapter two. I want to come down to about verse 16 and read here. Now we know the story of Matthew chapter two. This is where the wise men came from the east and they came in the days of Herod the king. They came to Jerusalem, and they're following the star. The Lord is leading them. And of course, Herod the king was very troubled about this, as you read through this chapter. And he called together, in verse four, the chief priests, the scribes, the people, and demanded of them where Christ should be born. Well, as the story goes, he sends on the wise men to find the Christ, the King that was to be born, and he wanted them to come back and tell him. He did not have good intentions as we know from reading this text. But I want you to notice as we come down to verse 16, I only need to read really one verse out of this chapter. And we know how the Lord saved Joseph and Mary and the Lord Jesus, and how that they fled into Egypt and later came back after Herod had died. But we're talking about wicked rulers. There's wild beasts devouring their prey, and especially preying upon those who cannot protect themselves. We see this not only throughout the scriptures, but we see it in our society, we see it around the world. We're gonna find here that Herod killed innocent children when he could not get his way. In other words, when he could not destroy the Messiah. And it says here in verse 16, then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked, the wise man was exceeding wrath. and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coast thereof from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. The wise men found the Savior, they brought gifts, but the Lord told them not to go back to Herod. And so they did not go back, and then it made this ruler very mad. And to think about a ruler that would kill this many children. As a matter of fact, we find here that in verse 16, it goes on to speak of this in verse 17 and verse 18, this was a prophecy from the book of Jeremiah. But we find that there were probably hundreds of children that were killed, two years and younger. These are really the first martyrs of the Lord Jesus Christ, when you think about it, they were killed because of the Savior. Well, turn back with me please to our text. By the way, we have two major political parties in our country that condone the killing of the unborn. One is willing to kill them up to three to four months, which is 95% of all abortions, and the other party is willing to kill them up to nine months if they can get by with it. But either way, it's murder and it's wickedness. Now notice as we come back here to our text in verse 15 again, He says, as a roaring lion and a raging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. Again, we've seen this subject. I'm not gonna say in every chapter, but with rulers, good rulers, bad rulers, but we've seen it in many of the chapters. We've got at least three or four sermons in the book of Proverbs just on rulers. But now in verse 16, he says, the prince that wanteth understanding, that is, lacketh understanding, is also a great oppressor. Now there's those that who do not know the scripture, who do not care anything about the Word of God, they're going to be oppressors. He says, but He that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. That's one of the problems with many in our society is covetousness. It's one of the problems also with leaders. And I want you to notice two passages on this. I want you to turn with me to Exodus chapter 18. In the book of Exodus in chapter 18, first of all, then we're going to turn to 2 Samuel. And Exodus chapter 18, again, I wanna take one verse from this chapter. Now, this is a chapter where the children of Israel have came out of Egypt and Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, he's carrying Moses' wife to him. He comes and visits with Moses, but he also sees that Moses has a great burden that's placed upon him. And this burden is he's standing most of the day dealing with issues and problems with the people, answering questions, teaching them the things of the word of God. And Jethro encourages him to train others to take care of the smaller matters and that he would take care of the larger matters and just give him a break. He said that it would wear him out. Well, here's the suggestion that was given, and Moses did this. In verse 21, it says, moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people able man, such as fear God, men of truth, and what's the next two words? Hating covetous, just what we see in the book of Proverbs. Then he goes on and says, and place such over them to be rulers of thousands and rulers of hundreds and rulers of fifties and rulers of tens. It's almost like looking at our government, the federal, the county, the local. In other words, he's to divide this up and he would take care of the larger matters that would come up. Well notice again as we come to 2 Samuel chapter 23, 2 Samuel chapter 23, and I'm going to read verses 1 through about 4 or 5. We find that godly rulers hate covetousness. And to hate covetousness is a good qualification of a civil magistrate. It's a good qualification of anyone. But notice as we come here, some of David's last words. Beginning in verse 1, 2nd Samuel 23. Now these be the last words of David, David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high the anointed of the God of Jacob and the sweet psalmist of Israel said, the Spirit of the Lord spake by me and his word was in my tongue. The Lord God of Israel said, the rock of Israel spake to me and He that ruleth over man must be just ruling in the fear of God. Again, this ties in with our Proverbs text, showing what rulers are to be. He said in verse four, and he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds, as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant. In other words, we find here in this passage that David knew his failures even with his family, and still yet the same time David is saying by the voice of God that this is the way that rulers should be. So go back with me to our text in verse 16, and again we've looked at this subject of rulers and Proverbs several times. We spent a whole message out of chapter 28 in verse 2. But notice with me now, I think we titled that, if I'm not mistaken, National Sins, when we were in verse 2. But notice in verse 16 again, there's the prince that lacketh understanding. But then there is the godly prince that hated covetousness and he shall prolong his days. One writer put it this way, said, covetousness is the chief cause of all oppressions and unjust practices. And there is a connection between the two. Now, notice as we come to verse 17, again, there's several different subjects in these verses as it is mostly through the book of Proverbs. He says here in verse 17, he said, a man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit, let no man stay him. In other words, this man is gonna be punished. And he's saying, let no man aid him or help him. Those that deserve punishment, they should have to go through that punishment or that would be prison or whatever the case may be. And let me give you an example of this. Turn with me to Genesis 9. In the book of Genesis chapter 9, I'm reading one verse again from this passage. If you're taking notes, Romans 13, four, Romans 13, four. So we find that we are not to attempt to rescue the one who deserves to be punished for their crime of violence. I've seen many times families try to get their children out of trouble. I've seen that many times. I could name a few names, and some of you say, yes, I know that person that spent thousands upon thousands of dollars trying to free a son that was very guilty of a crime. And I've seen this happen many, many times. If you're taking notes besides the one we're gonna read, Ecclesiastes 8, verse 11, and then Numbers 35, verse 33, and there's many, many of these passages. But notice here in Genesis 9, this is after the flood and Noah's days. And we find here in verse 6, now you can read the context, this is where most believe that civil government was instituted and I agree with that. And notice he said in verse 6, whoso sheddeth man's blood By man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made he man. In other words, it appears that human government is established here in this text. We have the institution of marriage in Genesis chapter 2. We have the institution of human government here and also the institution of the church in Matthew chapter 16, the three major institutions that we find in our society. But here what we see in this passage to destroy the image of God and taking a life is a sin against God himself. Now we never have the right to take another life. But we're talking about government that was instituted. They had that right. And so that's what he's talking about here. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made he him. So to destroy the image of God and taking a life is a sin against God himself. Turn back with me to Proverbs. Notice as we come back, this time verse 18. In verse 18. He said here in verse 18, another subject, he said, whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved, but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. In other words, he would be destroyed. He begins the verse by saying, whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved. We find, and there's several examples of this, we're told in Matthew 6 in verse 33, that if we will seek God's kingdom and seek his righteousness, he tells us there'd be certain things that would be added to us. The necessities of life would be added to us. We also find, I should have kept you in Genesis, but I'll just give you the verses. In Genesis 1, in verse 7, after building the ark and all that went into that, we find that God saved Noah and his family. As a matter of fact, the Bible tells us, in the book of Genesis, that in chapter 6, and I'll just give these to you, in Genesis chapter 6, the Bible tells us, beginning in verse 5, that God saw the wickedness of man, was great in the earth, and in every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, and repented the Lord that had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart, And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast and creeping thing, and the fowls of the air, for it repented me that I have made man. But, verse eight, but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations. And Noah walked with God. The reason I mentioned Genesis 7-1, it says, The Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house unto the ark, for thee have I seen righteousness before me in this generation. So our text is telling us in Proverbs 28 and verse 18, Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved. That could be saved physically or spiritually or both, but we see that Noah and his family was saved. Noah walked righteously before the Lord, And I just give you a couple other verses, the same can be said about Abraham. We could go through a list of people. But with Abraham, God told Abraham in Genesis 15 and 1, He said, After these sayings, the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward. When God tells you that, He's telling you that He's going to take care of you and protect you and will never leave you nor forsake you. But He tells Abraham this many times. He makes prediction of his seed becoming a great nation. The Messiah, Genesis 12 verse 1, 2, and 3, the Messiah would come through Abraham. So God had to keep him alive because He made promises unto him. and told him they would have a son. That son was Isaac, and he was quite old when he had that son. Again, we find in Genesis 17, if you're taking note, verses one through verse eight, God again tells Abraham to walk before him. He made a covenant with Abraham, and he told Abraham, he said he's gonna make an everlasting covenant that he would be a God to Abraham and to his seed. And so these are promises. When God makes these kind of promises, and promised him a son, that he would have a son. He had a son at 100 years of age. And so we find that the faithful man As we find in our text, he says, whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved. God saved Noah. God saved Abraham and performed every promise. The faithful man is the man that keeps the kingdom of God in focus and keeps God's righteousness in focus. We would see this truth again over and over. We would see it with even Jacob as Jacob had fled from his family from Esau. You read about that in Genesis chapter 28 in verse 10 through 16. God met with Jacob and God confirmed unto him the promises he made to Abraham and Isaac. He confirmed that and he told Jacob they would never leave him nor forsake him, but God also told Joseph the same thing. Joseph is sold into slavery, Joseph is later put into prison, and we find as we read Genesis chapter 39 verse 2 and 21, the Bible says that the Lord was with Joseph. And as we read in Genesis chapter 15 verse 20 again, we see that God kept Joseph alive for many reasons, but also to save his own family when some of his own brothers had turned against him. So we see that the upright shall be saved. We see the security of the righteous. No one can take our life or do harm unto us unless God allows it to be so, and if He allows it, then it's His will that it happen. We do not have to fear someone taking our lives or destroying us until God says it's time for us to go home. We need to keep those things in mind. As a matter of fact, Genesis 31, 29, when God told Jacob to leave Laban. Remember this story. Laban chased him and called him. And it's an interesting passage. I think I'll just read it to you and tell you what it says. But in Genesis chapter 39 and in verse 31, rather, chapter 31, verse 29 is gonna be a verse. There's much more here. But I want you to listen to chapter 31, verse 29. This is Laban. He said, it is in the power of my hand to do you hurt. That's what he said to Jacob. But he goes on to say, but the God of your father spake unto me yesterday night, saying, take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. In other words, you're not gonna harm this man, because this man is to become a head of a nation. And so these are promises that God has made to his people. Now coming back to verse 18 again of chapter 28 of Proverbs, And by the way, you'll find all through the scripture, Hebrews 13, God never forsake us nor leave us. In Revelation 17, 14, the followers of the Lamb. You'll also find in 2 Timothy 3, 4, the lovers of God. Those are the ones that God protects. So now as we come to verse 18 again, whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved. but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. In other words, they will be destroyed. Verse 19, here's a subject we've seen all through Proverbs and all through the Bible. He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. This passage is simply saying that God will bless those that do right, in verse 19. He speaks of diligence in our work. Again, I'm gonna give you two verses, chapter 10 and verse 4, and also chapter 12 and verse 11, and there's many. We see this nearly in every chapter. So notice with me, as we come to verse 19 again, he says in verse 19, he that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. Verse 20. A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. In other words, he shall not be unpunished. A faithful man, again, a man that keeps his focus on the kingdom of God and upon the righteousness of God. And he shall be blessed. That could mean physically or spiritually or both. Ephesians 1, 3, we preached about spiritual blessings Sunday morning. And again, we see, I just mentioned how that God protected Jacob from Laban. That was a physical blessing that he was given there. But notice in the passage, the latter part of the passage, but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. In other words, that is to have a hunger for more and more and never to be satisfied. It could also include riches gotten by unjust gain. It could include both of those thoughts. And again, verse 22, we're gonna see here again in just a moment, he says something very similar. Could also write down chapter 1311. I'm just gonna give you a few verses. This is a subject that keeps coming up in Proverbs, and I think God has done this for a reason. Chapter 1311 speaks of wealth gotten by vanity. Chapter 20 and in verse 21, and also speaks of this as well, 20 and verse 21, chapter 23 verse 4 and 5 says labor not to be rich cease from thine own wisdom will thou set thine eyes upon that which is not for riches certainly make themselves wings they fly away as an eagle toward heaven you can have them one day and they can be gone the next now we have to have riches to live It's the only way we can buy food and gas and clothing, but we better keep our eyes on the Lord because those riches can be here one day and they can be like a bird, they can fly away. Notice he says now as we come to verse 23. And by the way, it's not a sin to be rich, have riches, it's a sin when the riches have you. And in 1 Timothy 6, I believe it's verse 10 or, Maybe closer to verse 17 in that passage because much of the passage is dealing with riches, but God warns the rich and tells them how to use their money wisely. Notice with me now as we come to verse 21. This is a subject that we just covered in chapter 24, verse 23. He said, to have respect of persons is not good for a piece of bread that man will transgress. You can write down Ezekiel 13, 19 in reference to the transgression, which is a sin against God. To have respect of persons. Again, chapter 24, verse 23, and chapter 18 in verse five, One of the greatest commentaries on this is James 2, verses 1 through 10. Christ Jesus did not have respect of persons. He treated all the same, whether they were rich or poor, He treated them the same. And He says, we must do the same and we will be judged by the royal law. and it's also called the Law of Liberty. I have people say, we're not under law today. Well, the book says that we're under the Royal Law, under the King's Law, the Lord Jesus. It's called the Law of Liberty and the Royal Law. Now, the last one we'll look at will be in verse 20. Again, we'll finish up the chapter next week. He said here in verse 22, very similar to verse 20, He said, verse 22, he that hasteneth to be rich hath an evil eye. Think about that, has an evil eye. Envies others' prosperity. This is a warning given here. As in 1 John 2, 16, sin of the lust of the flesh. Also mentioned again in Luke chapter 12 and verse 15, the rich man that kept building bigger barns. Ahab had an evil eye and envied Naboth's vineyard, always wanting more and more and wanting something that someone else has. These are grave sins against God and his word. Verse 22, He that hastens to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him." That poverty will come, and if it doesn't come in this life, which it does many times, it'll come when they end up in a devil's hell. Would you stand with me, please? Father, again, we thank you for this day, for your love, for your mercy to us. I thank you for each and every one that came out in the rainy weather tonight. Pray your blessings upon each and every one here, those that couldn't be here. For in Christ Jesus' name we pray, amen.