"Loving favor" is grace, the loving favor from God. Gold and silver will never make you happy for very long, but the grace that God gives is eternal. If you have a good name, it is not hard to get the gold and silver when it is needed, and you use wisdom. The key is to follow Father's Word, for there is wisdom.

Proverbs 22:2 "The rich and poor meet together: The Lord is the Maker of them all."

"the rich and needy.." both of these people love the Lord and the rich because of God's blessing. The rich person has already been well blessed and the needy strive from paycheck to paycheck and should not envy the rich man; but both should approach each other as equal in the body of Christ. That rich person is a good person, and he is rich because of God blessing him. This rich man will have no problem in entering God's kingdom if those riches are from God's blessings, for it is the ill gotten gains from this world that will give trouble. Both of these rich and poor are brothers and sisters that must learn to live together with the same Father.

Proverbs 22:3 "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: But the simple pass on, and are punished."

"A prudent man" is shrewd in the management of his practical affairs, cautious, and discreet. He uses common sense in all his actions and words. The prudent man will look ahead and protect himself from those things that might come to pass. However the simple or unsuspecting will charge straight ahead, right into the trouble without any defense. He doesn't think far enough ahead to those hidden things that can bring him down. He is usually too wrapped up in himself, to see those problems heading his way. He can't sense trouble far enough ahead to avoid it. But the prudent man senses those problems and protects himself from them, and prepares himself to go through them.

In the spiritual sense, we are not to be ignorant of prophecy and the events going on around us. For we are to be prudent, and try to foresee events and prepare ourselves the best we can for the future using wisdom.

Proverbs 22:4 "By humility and the fear of the Lord, are riches, and honour, and life."

By humility and revere of the Lord, riches, honor, and eternal life are yours because He promised them in His Word. If you have the faith to take those promises, God is going to make those good things happen to you.

Proverbs 22:5 "Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: He that doth keep his soul shall be far from them."

To those that love the Lord and use wisdom following His Word can get though any problem ahead of them. However though those that are crooked and deceitful, have thorns and snares waiting at every corner.

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it."

"Train up a child in the way that he should go: and when he is old, he will not desire to depart from it." 

His mind is set on those ways, and he will not go against those teachings.

Proverbs 22:7 "The rich ruleth over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender."

Once you take another man's money, you become a servant to that man. The point here is don't borrow from a man that you do not intend to be a servant of. Don't get all tied up in usury, for as the interest builds, it will bring you and your household down. Today the thing that brings people down the easiest are credit cards, for they are used so rapidly that you lose count of the balance in the account. Take it easy, and use it for only what is necessary. Get used to paying the balance off at the end of the month. When you get to the point of only paying the minimum, you are in too deep.

Proverbs 22:8 "He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: And the rod of his anger shall fail."

If plan to do evil trickery or harm to someone, it will boomerang back on you, and bring calamity to you.

Proverbs 22:9 "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor."

The Hebrew word for "poor" is "dal" and it means "handicap". This verse is dealing with the rich man giving of what God has blessed him to the handicap. It is nothing to do with a ministry or preacher begging for money and forcing an obligation or vow from a person. So what this is saying is that if a rich person blessed by God gives of his substance to the handicap [feeble], God will continue to bless him. This is using wisdom and causing your blessings to continue.

Proverbs 22:10 "Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; Yea, strife and reproach shall cease."

The point here is "Never put up with a troublemaker". This "scorner" is one that is a scorner of God, that mocks and makes light of spiritual things from God's holy Word. He puts down other Christians and turns serious things into a joke. When he leaves, good riddance to him and his kind. Stay away from the scorner.

Proverbs 22:11 "He that loveth pureness of heart, For the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend."

One that uses honesty with courtesy in all his words, will be welcomed even in the courts of a king or in the courts of any land. That is just the nature of things in mankind from a primitive society, to a government in an advanced society. This does not exclude us for making a stand against something that is evil; we are not to show courtesy for anything evil. Christians are not a walking mat for evil minds anywhere. We are to take the stand wherever something needs to be said against evil acts and words.

Proverbs 22:12 "The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the transgressor."

God will confuse the mind of the transgressor, or anyone that would come against one that has the wisdom of God. That is "knowledge and wisdom" that only God can give, for all true wisdom is from our Father. That wisdom alerts us as to the events of the day, and to what is and is not important. We receive that discernment which comes from the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 22:13 "The slothful man saith, "There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets."

This verse is pointing out that a lazy person will always make excuses for not doing what should be done. In Solomon's day it was the lion in the streets might get them, whereas today it might be a plane would crash and hit him, or any of a number of stupid excuses. God simply cannot use a lazy person.

Proverbs 22:14 "The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein."

The word women in the Hebrew text is "zur", one of our own kind, a Christian that is an apostate. This deals with both men or women that have gone over to the traditions of men. When these people speak they sound so good peddling their trot, and God is saying that if anyone is so stupid to listen to them, God will allow them to fall into their pit. They are "abhorred" because they are ignorant of what they are doing, they don't know what is of God, or what is tradition; but they are determined to do something, even if it is in ignorance.

Proverbs 22:15 "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."

Discipline in a malicious sense against a child will drive that child in the opposite direction from what it was intended to do. It will drive him away from the teachings of the bible and to the pitfalls of this world. When the word "rod" is used, it is in reference to giving discipline. Never punish a child in anger, and be sure that the child understands what the punishment is for. Make sure they understand why it was necessary, for the child will learn fast.

Proverbs 22:16 "He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want."

This deals with those that try to rip off the feeble and the elderly, for God is against them and they will pay the price for their deeds. God doesn't like it when someone takes advantage of those that can't help themselves. If you see this going on, report it and take a stand against those that do such a thing.

Proverbs 22:17 "Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thine heart unto my knowledge."

Now from verses 17 through 21, is like a reporting by a second party as reporting to Solomon sitting in his court. It then is a summary of the last few chapter to give a second witness to what was said. Sure there is repetition, but that is necessary to stress those points of interest.

So listen to the words of the wise, and pay attention to the voice of wisdom. Listen to the knowledge to what is about to be said. We are going from the subject of "Personal Character, to "a Call to Hear". So listen to the counsel of God's Word.

Proverbs 22:18 "For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; They shall withal be fitted in thy lips."

It will be a lot better for you if you keep this counsel fresh in your mind. When you put that wisdom from God's Word in your mind, then when you need them in your conversation, God will bring them to your memory [your lips]. Then what you say and do will be from the common sense stored in your mind.

Proverbs 22:19 "That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee."

It is your trusting in the Lord, that causes Father to grant you his blessings and favor. It just doesn't matter who you are or on what level of understanding you are on, God will grant you the level of wisdom that you are able to handle. It is to make you successful in whatever task you are in, from your job, to your family life. Father wants to bless you when you seek His wisdom.

Proverbs 22:20 "Have not I written to thee excellent things In counsels and knowledge,"

Here again you will be successful when you seek the councils from God through the wisdom of His Word.

Proverbs 22:21 "That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; That thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?"

This then is the purpose of those that seek the truths from God's Word. So that the wisdom that has been revealed to you can be passed on to someone else that is in need of that same truth that were given to you before. Just as you needed that instruction, there are others that need the same guidance. Each time you pass on a truth, and it is passed on again by another person, that truth will stay alive in the minds of those hearing the truth.

Proverbs 22:22 "Rob not the poor, because he is poor: Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:"

The poor here is the needy person. Don't rob or take advantage of the handicap or needy person. Forget about pressing charges against those that are in dire need.

Proverbs 22:23 "For the Lord will plead their cause, And spoil the soul of those that spoiled them."

This is a warning to those that would oppress the needy and handicap. God is saying that if you do, He will personally see to it that you will be "spoiled". Friend, that puts you at war with God, and you will lose. Get it? The needy and the handicap are under God's eye, and when you mess with them, God messes with you.

Proverbs 22:24 "Make no friendship with an angry man; And with a furious man thou shalt not go:"

In the Hebrew this "angry man", is a lord, or master of anger. That anger exist to the point of insanity. Stay away with those people that go around with a chip on their shoulder, and don't even try to assist someone like this, for they will turn against you. Don't socialize with them, or hang around such a person close in friendship with your family. He will bring you nothing but trouble.

Proverbs 22:25 "Lest thou learn his ways, And get a snare to thy soul."

If you hang around this angry man, in time you will become just like he is, and it will be a snare to cause you to lose your soul.

Proverbs 22:26 "Be not thou one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts."

This goes right into the next verse.

Proverbs 22:27 "If thou hast nothing to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?"

This is saying that you should be very careful as to who you sign a note with. When you sign their note, it becomes your note when they default. If you sign and he runs, it is your bed that the banker comes to get. Got it? No co-signing notes with anyone, except family.

Proverbs 22:28 "Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set."

"The ancient landmarks" deal with the migrations of our forefathers. It tells us a great deal about our past. Those land markings lead us directly to our heritage with our heavenly Father. If that thread of evidence is broken that marks you of the tribes, it causes you to lose sight of the heritage you have in the promises of God. It also reminds us that we are responsible to our Father to do certain requirements according to His Word.

Proverbs 22:29 "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men."

This verse is telling us that a man diligent to his business affairs is going places. His business will be a success. If you are in business, make sure that you give all the respect due your customers and clients. This verse is only using common sense in dealing with the public. If someone comes in with a complaint, he is ready for battle, so to speak, but with a soft voice and respectful attitude, that person will come to a point of reason. Give the service that you promise in your business.