Proverbs 20 — Tyndale Study Notes
Pr.20.1
Too much alcohol clouds a person’s judgment. The Old Testament is not against drinking wine in moderation (3:10; 9:5; Ps 104:14-15), but it adamantly opposes excessive drinking (Prov 21:17; 23:29-35; 31:4-5).
Pr.20.2
Queen Esther was willing to rouse the king’s anger and risk her life (Esth 7).
Pr.20.6
True friends are reliable even in difficulties.
Pr.20.8
The king should be the epitome of wisdom and justice.
Pr.20.9
Wise people recognize their own weaknesses. Pride prohibits people from seeing their faults (6:17-18; 11:2; 13:10; 15:33; 16:18; 18:12; see also 1 Jn 1:8-10).
Pr.20.10
False weights and unequal measures: Merchants, for example, should not cheat their customers by using false weights to weigh out grain (cp. 11:1; 16:11; 20:23).
Pr.20.12
The ability to observe and learn from experience is a divine gift.
Pr.20.13
Laziness generally leads to poverty (see 10:4-6, 26; 12:11; 13:4; 14:4; 15:19; 18:9; 19:15, 24; 20:4).
Pr.20.14
Sellers must see past a buyer’s words to avoid being cheated.
Pr.20.16
// A wise lender gets security or a deposit on a loan. A stranger was an Israelite unknown to a lender, who required security. Proverbs warns the wise to avoid borrowing altogether (see 6:1-2).
The message of this proverb is repeated in 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 22:26.
Pr.20.19
This perspective on the gossip is repeated in 11:13.
Pr.20.21
An inheritance gained early in life is likely to be spent long before death, leaving nothing to live on.
Pr.20.22
See also Rom 12:17-21.
Pr.20.23
The message of this proverb is presented in three other proverbs (cp. 11:1; 16:11; 20:10).
Pr.20.24
God’s role in guiding our steps is clear (see 16:1, 9, 33). We do not need to understand why things happen, but we should not lose hope, for God is in control.
Pr.20.25
Counting the cost is particularly important when making a promise to God (see Judg 11:29-40; Eccl 5:4-6).
Pr.20.26
A king represents God on earth, so he should support the godly and punish the wicked.
Pr.20.27
The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit: God sees deep into people’s hearts (see 16:2).
Pr.20.28
God’s unfailing love and faithfulness are closely connected to his covenant with his people (see Exod 34:5-7; Deut 7:7-9). The king represents God on earth, so God will protect him (see 2 Sam 7).
Pr.20.30
Physical punishment cleanses away evil: See 13:24; 22:15; 23:13-14.