Solomon continues with his thirty sayings of the wise, which all relate to the heart, they begin in Proverbs 22:17 and continue to Proverbs 24:24.
Wisdom teachers wanted their students to know that manners are logically linked to character, discipline, self-respect and upbringing. It appears that manners are not considered so important in our society today. How sad!
We could say, do not ‘make a pig of yourself’, because it will make a bad impression. We may be under an examination, or there may be an ulterior motive.
These verses appear to be telling us to be careful when we eat with important people because they want something from us.
There have always been and will continue to be those who are obsessed with wealth. There is a saying which says, ‘easy come, easy go’ which would apply here. Many people have won millions on the lottery or as part of an inheritance but sadly many of those people have blown it all away and their life has come to ruin, Hebrews 13:5.
Here this hospitality is described as grudgingly given. We would be better off not being there. Eat and drink implies that the host is counting the cost with each of the bites he takes. They don’t really want to give us anything, because their heart isn’t right towards us.
It is as if we would say, ‘this is very good’, but then we vomit up the food. There are two possible meanings to this phrase.
1. It is sickening to be in the company of such people, or
2. Everything will be lost when you vomit their expensive food.
Some things are a complete waste of time and speaking to fools is one of them. they scorn our words simply because they don’t want to understand.
Boundaries were put in place for a reason, to stop people from going into the fields to steal crops. This was the sin of coveting more land and more crops, Deuteronomy 19:14 / Deuteronomy 27:17. God is the One who does the defending.
We must learn not only to listen to what God says in His Word but we must remember to apply what we learn from His Word to our lives, James 1:22.
A wayward child is sometimes ‘straightened out’ by being ‘bent over’ even though all of their yelling and screaming may sound as if they are dying.
The implication is that the son will not only survive but that he will survive because of the discipline. These verses show that people were afraid to discipline for fear of hurting the child. Caution and control have to be exercised with the discipline, Proverbs 23:14, because it will show that the teacher succeeded in their job.
It’s easy to envy sinners because they have so much but we must remember that we’re not living our lives to please others or ourselves, we’re to live a life which pleases God, Ecclesiastes 12:9.
Solomon says there is only one way and that is the right way. Notice that there are crowds involved with eating, Philippians 3:19, and drinking, Ephesians 5:18, why is this the wrong crowd? The answer is obvious, we become like them.
Children should always try to please their parents. Truth, wisdom, instruction and insight are all priceless and all should be taught by parents to their children. These are all invaluable treasures to help us through life.
The teacher, that is the parent again, calls for their son’s undivided attention. The parents are also offering themselves as examples, 1 Corinthians 11:1 / Ephesians 5:1. A deep pit is a place where you might become stuck firmly in its mud. This is the consequence of neglecting God’s ways.
Notice that they mixed wine with water and honey, this implies that they didn’t intend to become drunk. The wine was red, which implies it’s attractive to the eye, it’s also smooth, which implies it’s attractive to the taste. The truth about those who are drunk is that they often say things they wouldn’t normally say.
Notice that the drunk person ‘feels no pain’. Even in those days, alcohol easily became an addiction, hence why it’s the first thing on their mind when they wake up.
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."