Proverbs – Lesson 16 – Proverbs 3.21-35 (August 19, 2026)

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PROVERBS

God’s Handbook for His Image Bearers

Wisdom Images God’s Character  •  Proverbs 3:21–35

Wisdom is our most valuable possession because it teaches us how to use everything else God gives us.

Review

• Proverbs is God’s Handbook for His Image Bearers.
• God created us in His image and gave us a life to live in His world.
• Proverbs teaches us the wisdom we need to live that life according to His design.

Lesson 16

In Lesson 15 we discussed a working definition of Wisdom:

• Wisdom is the skill to take what we know about God and build a life that images Him.

That is what we want you to think of when we talk about WISDOM. This lesson is going to look more into how God’s character becomes the pattern we use to build our own character and life.

Proverbs 3:21–26 (KJV)

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. 24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Solomon has spent much of this chapter teaching his son to trust the LORD and exercise wisdom. We now know that means take what we know about God’s character and build a life that lives that way. In verses 21–26, he describes the benefits of modeling our life after God’s character.

Proverbs 3:21 (KJV)

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

• Sound wisdom describes the ability that brings continued advancement. It is clear thinking that results in desired results.
• Discretion is the ability to think carefully and make sound judgments.

Solomon instructs his son to be intentional about making wise decisions about life.

Consider

The choices we make about our life are choices about our character. Choices about our character are choices about our eternity.

Next, Solomon describes what a life shaped by wisdom enjoys:

Walking Safely

Proverbs 3:23 (KJV)

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

Imaging God keeps us from the fear of destroying the things we value in life. When we pattern our life after God’s character, we will never fear losing the life we built due to bad decisions. Example: when we are honest people, we never fear our lies or deception will catch up to us.

• God is true. When we imitate God’s truthfulness, we never worry about our lies being discovered.
• God is faithful. When we imitate God’s faithfulness, the people who trust us do not wonder whether we will betray them.
• God is righteous. When we imitate God’s righteousness, we never fear that a sinful decision will eventually catch up with us.

Example of Joseph

In Genesis 39, Joseph had been sold into Egypt and eventually became the trusted servant of Potiphar. Potiphar placed everything he owned under Joseph’s authority. When Potiphar’s wife repeatedly tried to persuade Joseph to commit adultery with her, Joseph refused.

Genesis 39:9 …how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Joseph knew what God was like, and he refused to commit adultery because it does not imitate God’s character.

Question: What is the definition of sin?

Sin means to miss the mark, or a failure to hit the target.

Romans 3:23 (KJV)

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

This is a way of saying God’s holy character is the target. Anything that falls short of God’s holy character is sin. The same book of the Bible teaches that the penalty of sin is death — eternal death and separation from God.

Romans 6:23 (KJV)

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Joseph knew that having sex with a woman who was not his wife was falling short of God’s holy character. To have a sexual relationship with another man’s wife was adultery and falls short of God’s holy character. So Joseph refused to sin because he was intentional to pattern his character and behavior after God.

Genesis 39:9 (KJV)

9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Joseph still suffered when Potiphar’s wife lied about him, but he did not suffer because his own sin had finally caught up with him.

David gives us the opposite example.

Years later, when David was king, he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then arranged the death of her husband Uriah to cover what he had done. For a time, it appeared that David had gotten away with his sin. Then God sent a prophet named Nathan to tell David two things: God knew exactly what he had done, and there would be consequences for his sin.

• David’s son Amnon raped his sister Tamar.
• Absalom murdered Amnon.
• Later Absalom rebelled against David, took control of Jerusalem, and forced David to flee the city.

David could have avoided the consequences that came from his sinful choices. That is part of what Solomon means when he says, “Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.”

Following God’s pattern keeps us from ruining our lives with the consequences of sin — falling short of God’s character. We cannot avoid having problems and tragedy in life, but we can avoid the consequences of sins when we refuse to act contrary to God’s character.

Peaceful Sleep

Consider

Proverbs 3:24 (KJV)

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

A life that is not built on lies, deception, and hidden sin can rest:

• An honest person does not lie awake wondering which lie will be discovered tomorrow.
• A faithful person does not have to worry about being exposed as unfaithful.
• A person who has dealt fairly with others does not fear being found out.

David described the opposite experience of peaceful rest while he tried to conceal his sin:

Psalm 32:3–4 (KJV)

3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

Sin had robbed David of peace.

Confidence in Sudden Fear

But Solomon also knows that fear can come from trouble we did not create.

Proverbs 3:25–26 (KJV)

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

“Sudden fear” is trouble we did not see coming. When we cannot control what is happening around us, our confidence rests in what we know about God:

Deuteronomy 7:9 calls Him “the faithful God.”

Psalm 121:3 “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.”

Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

David experienced exactly what Solomon describes. Psalm 3 was written while David was fleeing from his son Absalom. Absalom had taken control of Jerusalem, David had fled the city, and an army was pursuing him. Yet David wrote:

Psalm 3:5–6 (KJV)

5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

David could sleep while an army was hunting him because “the LORD sustained me.”

Saul experienced the opposite of what David did.

He faced an enemy army on the night before his death:

1 Samuel 28:5 (KJV)

5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

• Saul had spent years neglecting to imitate and image God.
• When God did not answer him, Saul went to the witch at Endor seeking guidance, something God had strictly forbidden.
• Before the night was over, Saul collapsed to the ground in fear.
• The next day he died in battle.

At different times, both Saul and David faced enemies who wanted them dead. David could say, “I laid me down and slept.” Saul “was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.” David trusted God because after confessing his sin, he lived imitating God’s character. Saul had repeatedly rejected God’s character and had no peace.

Withhold Not Good

Solomon now applies God’s character to the way we treat other people.

Proverbs 3:27–28 (KJV)

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

The words “to whom it is due” are important. The idea is stronger than simply, “If you have an opportunity to do something nice, do it.” Solomon is talking about something another person has a legitimate reason to receive from us:

• If I owe someone money, I pay them.
• If I borrowed something, I return it.
• If someone worked for me, I pay them what we agreed.
• If I promised someone something, I keep my promise.
• If someone has done something good or beneficial for me and I have the opportunity to return that generosity, I do not conveniently forget what they did for me.

Verse 28 pictures someone saying, “Come back tomorrow,” even though he already has what he should give: “when thou hast it by thee.” He has the money. He has the borrowed item. He has the ability to keep his word. He simply makes the other person wait.

Returning something we borrowed does not seem like a great spiritual accomplishment, but it reveals character. God does not cheat people, take what belongs to others, forget His promises, or promise one thing and then do another. When we deal honestly with other people’s belongings, keep our word, and fulfill our responsibilities to others, our character is following the pattern of God.

After Israel entered the Promised Land, Joshua looked back at everything God had promised them and said:

Joshua 21:45 (KJV)

45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

God did what He said He would do.

Laban

Laban gives us a picture of what it looks like when that image is distorted. Jacob agreed to work seven years for Rachel.

Genesis 29:20 (KJV)

20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

Jacob completed his part of the agreement, but Laban gave him Leah instead and required another seven years of service for Rachel. Years later Jacob said:

Genesis 31:7 (KJV)

7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

Laban’s character could not be trusted. When keeping an agreement benefited him, he kept it. When changing the agreement benefited him, he changed it.

Each of us makes small agreements all the time:

• “I’ll bring that back.”
• “I’ll pay you Friday.”
• “I’ll take care of that.”
• “You help me with this, and I’ll help you with that.”

We can follow God’s character and become people who can be trusted to do what is right, or we can become people whose word means very little. Even something as ordinary as returning what we borrowed can image the character of God.

Guarding Others’ Trust

The next verse warns against mistreating people who trust us.

Proverbs 3:29 (KJV)

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

Solomon describes a neighbor who feels safe around you because he trusts you. A wise person does not use another person’s trust as an opportunity to take advantage of him. God can be trusted, and the way we handle another person’s trust can either reflect His character or distort it.

Jonathan

Jonathan gives us a good picture of this. David trusted Jonathan even though Jonathan was Saul’s son and David was the man Saul wanted dead. Jonathan could have used David’s trust to help his father capture him. Instead, Jonathan warned David and helped him escape Saul (1 Samuel 20:12–23).

Judas

Judas gives us the opposite picture. He lived among the disciples as one of the Twelve and then used his access to Jesus to betray Him.

Luke 22:48 (KJV)

48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

Judas used an expression of friendship to betray Jesus. His character distorted the image of the God who can always be trusted.

Strive Not Without Cause

The next verse warns us not to enter a conflict with someone for no legitimate reason:

Proverbs 3:30 (KJV)

30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

Solomon is not forbidding us from confronting someone who has done wrong. He says, “without cause” and “if he have done thee no harm.” God is just. He does not treat innocent people as though they are guilty, and an image bearer should not either.

Saul and David

Saul did exactly the opposite with David:

• David played music to comfort Saul,
• fought Israel’s enemies,
• defeated Goliath, and
• served Saul faithfully.

After the women celebrated David’s victories, Saul became jealous.

1 Samuel 18:9 (KJV)

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

David had done Saul no harm, but Saul began treating him like an enemy. He threw a spear at David and eventually spent years trying to kill him. Saul’s jealousy created a conflict that David had not caused.

Envy Not the Oppressor

The next two verses warn us about envying people who get ahead through sinful practices instead of godly character:

Proverbs 3:31–32 (KJV)

31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. 32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

The oppressor gets what he wants through violence, intimidation, or mistreating others. He appears successful. He may have the money, position, power, or advantage that he wanted, and someone looking only at the present can begin to envy him.

Asaph

A man named Asaph struggled with this, and wrote about it in the Psalms.

Psalm 73:3 (KJV)

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Asaph saw their prosperity and was jealous, but later he saw the consequences of their choices.

Psalm 73:17–18 (KJV)

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

The foolish person sees what a choice gets him now. The wise person sees where that choice will eventually take him.

Solomon finishes Proverbs 3 by showing his son the same thing.

Proverbs 3:32–35 (KJV)

32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. 33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. 34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. 35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

The oppressor of verse 31 may appear to be getting ahead, but:

• his way is an abomination to the LORD.
• God’s curse is upon the house of the wicked.
• God scorns the scorner.
• the fool eventually inherits shame.

The righteous person may appear to be giving something up by refusing those ways, but he enjoys fellowship with God, God’s blessing, God’s grace, and eventually honor.

Conclusion

That brings us back to the definition we began with:

Wisdom is the skill to take what we know about God and build a life that images Him.

Proverbs makes that practical. We image God when we:

• tell the truth,
• keep our word,
• return what we borrow,
• honor someone’s trust,
• deal justly with people, and
• refuse sinful ways of getting what we want.

The wise person sees beyond what appears successful today, imitates God’s character, and trusts God with the outcome.