The Sayings of the Wise – Part 2

THIRTY SAYINGS OF THE WISE

SAYING NUMBER ONE

“Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life.” (Proverbs 22:22–23, NIV)

COMMENTARY

Wisdom ... the skill of living life includes this reality: God avenges the poor if they are exploited.  Poverty usually renders people defenceless and one of the axioms of life is this: You don't kick a man when he is down!  There is always a higher court in session.  The civic order of industry and government, including the private dealings of citizens may seem to go disregarded – but not by God.

Deuteronomy 15:4 gives us the most basic principle in regard to the poor. The New Testament gives us similar instruction.  In the providence of God He has not ordained that all people are wealthy.  Perhaps His purpose is to expose the poor to the community of people who have the means to share.  We see that principle lived out in the early Church.   

"The word 'exploit' is translated “rob” … in its other contexts, suggesting that exploitation is one way to take what belongs to another."^[1]  So the crime appears to be taking instead of sharing.  The context in this Proverb is the courtroom.  "The gate was the place of legal transactions; i.e., one should not use the courts to deprive the poor of their property.”^[2]  "The oppression pictured here may be in bounds legally, but it is out of bounds morally (e.g., similar to modern business ethics)."[3]

APPLICATION

Exploitation can take on various forms.  In our society where litigation is prevalent and where legal counsel is costly, the poor may indeed be exploited not only in direct ways, but indirect.  They may simply be unable to defend themselves fairly. "God is offended when we take advantage of those people who cannot help themselves."[4]

"Whatever our venue of service and employment, we are called to serve the neediest and weakest persons, not only refusing to abuse them but also doing all we can to protect them from those who would."^[5]

"If the ways of justice are perverted, let that man by whom oppression comes beware."^[6]

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^[1] Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (p. 535). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

^[2] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1173). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[3] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Proverbs/Exposition of Proverbs/IV. The Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:34)/A. Thirty Precepts of the Sages (22:17-24:22), Book Version: 4.0.2

[4] Anders, Max. Holman Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs: 13 (p. 282). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

^[5] Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (p. 537). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

^[6] Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 1239). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.