20:1 Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever goes astray by them is not wise.
The Hebrew word for “wine” is יָ֫יִן (yayin), which usually (but not always) meant fermented grape juice. The Hebrew word for “strong drink” is שֵׁכָ֑ר (shakar), meaning drinks made from barley, dates, or pomegranates. Wine and beer were intoxicating and forbidden for priests, Nazarites, and some others (Isaiah 5:11). Wine and beer can lead people astray, causing them to do foolish things which they normally would not do. In this proverb, wine and beer are personified as people of low character. Wine mocks the one who drinks it. Beer makes one aggressive.
20:2 The king’s terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against himself.
It is dangerous to make a king angry, because he may take one’s life.
20:3 It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.
Those with strong Bible doctrine will avoid strife. Those without strong Bible doctrine will argue over foolish issues.
20:4 The sluggard will not plow during the planting season, so at harvest time he looks for the crop but has nothing.
In the Middle East, the time for plowing and planting is the winter time. Lazy people will not want to get out in the cold and plant their crops. However, they will still expect to have a crop in the spring, but they will have nothing.
20:5 Counsel in a person’s heart is like deep water, but an understanding person draws it out.
A counselor with strong Bible doctrine can help another person examine his true motives.
20:6 Many people profess their loyalty, but a faithful person—who can find?
Not everyone who professes faith is truly a believer. There are many professing Christians who are mixed in with the confessing Christians of the modern local churches. Jesus taught that the church was a mixture of wheat (true believers) and tares (professing believers). During the last days, the Laodicean church will be filled with professing believers.
20:7 The righteous person behaves in integrity; blessed are his children after him.
A person with sound Bible doctrine will behave with integrity. His children will learn from his example.
20:8 A king sitting on the throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes.
The kings of Israel had absolute power to enforce the Mosaic Law. A king with strong Bible doctrine would possess the skills to discern good and evil.
20:9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am pure from my sin”?
No one can claim that they are pure from sin, except for the Lord Jesus Christ.
20:10 Diverse weights and diverse measures— the Lord abhors both of them.
God hates those who are dishonest in business practices.
20:11 Even a young man is known by his actions, whether his activity is pure and whether it is right.
A person must be judged by what he does and not by what he says.
20:12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees— the Lord has made them both.
God has given man ears and eyes so that he can listen to others words and watch their actions. The Apostle Paul takes this proverb to a higher level. Man was given ears to hear Bible doctrine, eyes to read Bible doctrine, a mouth to teach others Bible doctrine, feet to carry Bible doctrine to others, and hands to apply Bible doctrine.
20:13 Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished; open your eyes so that you might be satisfied with food.
Laziness leads to poverty.
20:14 “It’s worthless! It’s worthless!” says the buyer, but when he goes on his way, he boasts.
Sellers need to beware of shrewd buyers who belittle the seler's product in order to receive a great deal.
20:15 There is gold, and an abundance of rubies, but words of knowledge are like a precious jewel.
The words of one who has mastered Bible doctrine are much more valuable than gold, rubies, and precious jewels.
20:16 Take a man’s garment when he has given security for a stranger, and when he gives surety for strangers, hold him in pledge.
Solomon often advised not to co-sign a loan for a stranger. A creditor was commanded to take the garment of a person who co-signs for a stranger.
20:17 Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
The bread gained by dishonest means at first tastes sweet, but it will turn bitter in their stomachs. Satan gives the world poison coated in sugar and chocolate.
20:18 Plans are established by counsel, so make war with guidance.
When making war on an enemy, it is wise to gain counsel from others who understand Bible doctrine.
20:19 The one who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with someone who is always opening his mouth.
Do not associate with gossipers, because they will divulge your secrets to others.
20:20 The one who curses his father and his mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the blackest darkness.
Under the Mosaic Law, dishonoring one’s parents was a capital offense.
20:21 An inheritance gained easily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
The Prodigal son received his inheritance early and squandered it.
20:22 Do not say, “I will pay back evil!” Wait for the Lord, so that he may vindicate you.
It is wrong for a man to seek revenge. He needs to turn revenge over to the Lord. The Lord will vindicate the one who was wronged at just the perfect time and with just the perfect punishment.
20:23 The Lord abhors differing weights, and dishonest scales are wicked.
The Lord hates dishonest business practices.
20:24 The steps of a person are ordained by the Lord— so how can anyone understand his own way?
Man’s destiny is controlled by the Lord’s sovereignty. Since man is not holy and omniscient, he sometimes does not understand the Lord’s ways.
20:25 It is a snare for a person to rashly cry, “Holy!” and only afterward to consider what he has vowed.
It is dangerous to make rash promises without thinking them through to the end result. It is like stepping into an animal trap.
20:26 A wise king separates out the wicked; he turns the threshing wheel over them.
It is the duty of political leaders to protect their people by administering capital punishment against evil men. It is foolish for political leaders to remove capital punishment, because they place their citizens at risk.
20:27 The human spirit is like the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.
Just as a lamp exposes what is in the darkness, the Lord exposes what is in the heart.
20:28 Loyal love and truth preserve a king, and his throne is upheld by loyal love.
The Hebrew word for “loyal love” is חָ֫סֶד (hesed), meaning divine love. Only believers can possess divine love. Divine love comes from the study and application of Bible doctrine. Truth comes only from the written Word of God (and not from the words of modern charismatic prophets or popes). A political leader with strong Bible doctrine remains in power by his application of Bible doctrine. A political leader without strong Bible doctrine will eventually be removed. God will give political leaders the opportunity to rule in a godly manner. If they fail to do so, then they may die early in office, be removed forcibly by the people, or be removed by the election process. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Saddam Hussein, and many others have been divinely removed from power in one way or another. Modern politicians are not exempt from this divine removal process. Liberal politicians who elevate their human opinion above the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God are placing themselves in a dangerous position against God.
20:29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair.
Young men take pride in their physical strength. Old man take pride in their wisdom and experience. Wisdom does not come with age, but with years of studying the Scriptures at the deepest level.
20:30 Beatings and wounds cleanse away evil, and floggings cleanse the innermost being.
The purpose of corporal punishment is to veer one’s conduct away from sin. Those who possess strong Bible doctrine may only need a sharp rebuke. Those without strong Bible doctrine will not listen to a rebuke, so they need physical pain to remind them that their sin is hurting others. When political leaders pass laws to eliminate corporal punishment, then the sinners rejoice. They can continue in their dark ways. These types of foolish laws place a nation at great risk.