Proverbs 28 - The Park Forum

March 9, 2026March 7, 2026

Poverty, Policy, and Posture

Links for today’s readings:

Mar 9 Read: Proverbs 28 Listen: (3:07) Read: Psalm 44 Listen: (2:44)

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 28.6-11

6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless

than the rich whose ways are perverse.

7 A discerning son heeds instruction,

but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor

amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,

even their prayers are detestable.

10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path

will fall into their own trap,

but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;

one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

Reflection: Poverty, Policy, and Posture

By John Tillman

Proverbs says piety with poverty is better than wealth with wickedness.

The English word “poverty” appears 21 times in the NIV translation of the Bible. In these verses, poverty can be the result of an individual’s foolishness or of affliction by others. Poverty can be a judgment sent by the Lord or a condition perpetuated by human greed.

Proverbs says the wealthy think themselves wise but the poor see the dupes behind wealth’s disguise.

A false non-biblical cultural proverb claims the wealthy can’t be bribed or tempted with money. Proverbs says people “will do wrong for a piece of bread,” (Pr 28.21) however, it has become obvious that no leader or company has enough “bread” that they can’t be duped with a bribe. Especially if that bribe is disguised as a gift, a business deal, a favor, a donation, or a tax cut.

Proverbs says the wealth of those who profit off of the poor will be redistributed by those who treat the poor with kindness. Those who close their eyes to the poor (Pr 28.27), stingy, and eager to build wealth (Pr 28.22), are cursed.

The English word “ poor” appears 171 times and “needy” appears 56 times. (With 16 overlaps in the phrase “poor and needy.”) The poor are targeted and oppressed by the powerful. The wealthy reap profits from the poor. Those who help the poor, whether kings (governments), communities, or individuals, are blessed.

The biblical causes of poverty are many. The biblical response to poverty is not. God expects compassion and action on behalf of the poor. God’s people are commanded to aid and provide for them.

Many ways that scripture dictates to help the poor aren’t applicable to our economy or aren’t workable solutions. People like Elon Musk and Bill Gates aren’t going to redistribute their wealth every 50 years (Leviticus 25.8-12, 25-28, 39-43, 54-55; Deuteronomy 15.1-11). Even if Monsanto or other Big Ag companies forced America’s farmers to leave ten percent of their fields unharvested for the poor, (Leviticus 19.9-10; 23.22; Deuteronomy 24.19-22) our inner city poor couldn’t travel to a corn field to pick any.

It is up to us to apply scripture’s principles in new ways. This is not just an individual mandate. We must work together as faith communities and a country to lift up the poor if we want our economy to reflect our commitment to scripture.

No specific modern economic anti-poverty policy is scripturally commended, but a heart posture of generosity toward the poor is commanded.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

“Because the needy are oppressed, and the poor cry out in misery, I will rise up,” says the Lord, “And give them the help they long for.” — Psalm 12.5

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

The Church Underground

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 28.12, 28
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;
but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.

28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Reflection: The Church Underground
By Erin Newton

This is written a week in advance. By the time this is published, the war in Ukraine may be drastically different.

When we read verses about power, our minds will quickly spawn the images of this war. For some, it includes the memories of past conflicts. Corrupt leadership can come in the form of local leaders, bad bosses, or abusive parents. It is not difficult to imagine someone who fits the role of a wicked leader.

These two proverbs tell a story. When the righteous are leaders, celebration and joy fill the air. Their righteousness is a means of safety and security for everyone because this type of person is filled with mercy and justice. There is the sense of freedom to live one’s life in a carefree manner because of this leader.

But the wicked leader creates a suffocating atmosphere where hiding is necessary. Emotions are suddenly guarded. There is no freedom in expression because the leader creates a sense of danger.

The Israelites were accustomed to living under the rule of wicked leaders. Some were domestic kings: Rehoboam, Ahab, Manasseh, etc. Some were foreigners who invaded the land and subjugated the people: Sennacherib of Assyria and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

During these wicked reigns, some Israelites went into hiding. Prophets hid in a cave from the threat of Ahab. David fled to the wilderness to escape Saul. Jeremiah hid as Jehoiakim burned the prophet’s scroll.

Courage is rightly applauded and admired, but we learn from history that there are times in which removing oneself from danger is the best option.

We can learn how to persevere under the leadership of a wicked ruler by looking at those who went into hiding. David spent years in the wilderness wrestling with his frustrations about God and his circumstance. He expressed the depths of his pain. Yet, songs of praise were penned to help buoy his faith in God.

Already, word of churches going underground has circulated. Orthodox priests travel to air-raid shelters to commune with believers. This has been the way of God’s people for millennia.

Churches in intolerant nations go underground. Believers may hide their faith from wicked rulers, but within each heart, a greater depth of faith can be found.

May we pray for the time to come that the righteous may thrive and that the power of wicked leaders will perish. Come, Lord Jesus.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
“Be still, then, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.” — Psalm 46.11

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Proverbs 28 (Listen – 3:07)
Psalm 95-96 (Listen – 2:37)

Read more about Praying for the Persecuted
May we hold up before God’s throne in prayer, members of God’s church threatened by the state, by religious militias, and by other dangerous forces.

Praying for the Persecuted

Read more about A Hymn of the Oppressed
History might be very different if rather than idolizing the martyrs, we could study how not to become the oppressors.

A Hymn of the Oppressed—Throwback Thursday

April 10, 2020April 10, 2020

Cry, Creator, Cry!

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 53.10
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

Proverbs 28.13-14
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

Luke 29.41-43
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Reflection: Cry, Creator, Cry!
By John Tillman

The cross is not necessarily the only way Jesus might have died. As an exercise of theological hypothesis, one can entertain the question, “What if Jesus had died another way?”

In his moving epic poem, The Singer, author, pastor, and professor, Dr. Calvin Miller reimagined Jesus as The Singer, who sang the song of Earthmaker, the Father-Spirit. During his trial, The Singer’s lyre and his hands with which he played Earthmaker’s song are crushed by a mallet. Then, with his musical hands crushed into inoperability and unrecognizable form, he is stretched by a machine of death built into the wall of the city.

The people of the city toss into a hopper great stones representing the sins and crimes The Singer is accused of and the weight of them turns the great, geared, machine which, through cogs and levers, tightens the cables, stretching The Singer’s body until he dies.

The World Hater, Miller’s analogue for Satan, dances on the cables of the machine, crying out to the Creator with mockery:

“Look how he dies. Cry, Creator, Cry!
This is my day to stand upon the
breast of God and claim my victory
over love. You lost the gamble. In
but an hour your lover will be pulp
upon the gallows. Did you tell him
when his fingers formed the world,
that he would die on Terra, groaning
with his hands crushed and whimpering
in my great machine?”

Today on Good Friday, the crosshairs of the cross seemed to be centered on Jesus. Sin’s weight is heavy upon him as the hammer of God’s wrath comes down. But the target of God’s wrath is Sin. Sin dies in the crosshairs of the cross. Yes, Jesus dies, too. But for Jesus and for us, Sunday is coming. Resurrection Day. The Eighth Day. The first day of the New Creation.

But until that day comes, we sit mourning in the chaos and darkness. What we mourn, if we do so with proper understanding, is not a man’s death or a failed rebellion. What we mourn is our own participation in his trial. We mourn our own sin upon his back. We mourn our hands upon the nails and the hammer and our hands forcing bitter drink into his mouth.

What is coming is the most important morning since God first said, “let there be light.”
So, let us mourn tonight. For joy comes in the morning.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress? — Psalm 22.1

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Proverbs 28 (Listen 3:07)
2 Thessalonians 2 (Listen -2:32)

This Weekend’s Readings
Proverbs 29 (Listen 2:44), 2 Thessalonians 3 (Listen -2:16)
Proverbs 30 (Listen 3:51), 1 Timothy 1 (Listen -2:59)

Read more about The Prayer From the Cross
So, on this Good Friday, we will join Christ in his suffering, praying excerpts from this psalm prayed on the cross.

The Prayer From the Cross

Read more about Choose to Hope in the Cross
The two thieves represent two choices…These choices stand as constant reminders that the cross of Christ demands a response.

Choose to Hope in the Cross

Tag: Proverbs 28