Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25:1-28

These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.

It is the glory of God to conceal things,

but the glory of kings is to search things out.

As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,

so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

• "secret things belong unto the Lord our God.” — Deuteronomy 29:28
• There are many things that are hidden and are known only to God.  This fact forces us to acknowledge our limitations … and His greatness.  
• There is a reason why He makes only certain things knowable to us.  Why?  No idea, but it’s Truth.  This started in the Garden of Eden with the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
• Do we simply trust Him?  Or do we need proof (to touch the wounds in His sides, so to speak) before we believe?  Blessed are those who believe without seeing.

Take away the dross from the silver,

and the smith has material for a vessel;

take away the wicked from the presence of the king,

and his throne will be established in righteousness.

• Dross = Something regarded as worthless, rubbish, junk.
• I’ve read no less than three studies lately about removing distractions from your life – especially evil or worthless distractions that take us away from God.  
• We are flooded with such distractions.  “Satan does not need to temp or deceive us to win.  All he needs to do is keep us busy.”
• But if we can simplify (something my sister did a while back), we can start to focus on what matters:  God, family, those in need … well, that’s about it.
• The more the silversmith can cook out the impurities … the more a king can eradicate wicked and distracting influences … the more righteousness, the more holiness, the more of God’s plan for us can shine like a star in this dark world.  
• So, don’t do more.  Do less.  But make that less all about God.

Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence

or stand in the place of the great,

for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”

than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

• Ever hear someone tooting their own horn?  Feels awkward and wrong, doesn’t it?  Ever see a pro athlete do something incredible, then ruin it by acting boastful, demanding adoration from the fans?  Ick.  
• Now compare that to someone who shines, but doesn’t gloat about it.  No matter what they do, they still act in humility.  Wow.  Now that is something that just looks right and good, doesn’t it?
• Showing that you expect to be glorified only results in the opposite reaction.  And God’s reaction is no different.  He calls us to be humble.  To excel with the blessings He’s given us, but to give it all up to Him, the One who made us that way.  
• What are we, if not what God made us to be?  So act accordingly, in acknowledgement of “from whom all blessings flow”.

What your eyes have seen

do not hastily bring into court,

for what will you do in the end,

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

• Hasty = Acting with excessive speed or insufficient consideration.  
• “I know what I saw!”  Did you?  Have you thought it through?  If it’s absolutely clear after solid, thorough personal deliberation, then okay.  But don’t be hasty when bringing a claim against your neighbor.
• We are quick to react as a species, aren’t we?  Especially when we feel we’ve been wronged.  But keep in mind the word I just used … feel.  Feelings can’t be trusted in seeing things clearly.  Take a breath.  Count to 10.  Think about it, consider it, look at it from all perspectives (even from your aggressor’s perspective), and compare your intended response to God’s word on the matter.  Then act accordingly.

Argue your case with your neighbor himself,

and do not reveal another's secret,

lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,

and your ill repute have no end.

• Don’t fly off the handle, running to the courts for blood, screaming “I demand justice!”  If we start with the idea that intentions were good, but maybe execution was poor, we can save a lot of grief.
• Address the issue with the one who allegedly wronged you.  Talk it through.  If that neighbor’s intentions were pure, you will likely resolve the matter to your satisfaction, and maybe even strengthen your relationship with that neighbor.  
• Seemingly unrelated … keep a secret.  Don’t be that guy who no one can trust to keep your confidence.  

A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold

is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

• "Lord please teach me to speak the right words at the right time with the right tone, that I may live peaceable with my neighbors.  Amen."
• That WORD comes from Him, either through memorization of scripture, so it pops out at the right time and in the right situation … or it comes from the Holy Spirit within a believer.  Either way, it’s from God.

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest

is a faithful messenger to those who send him;

he refreshes the soul of his masters.

• Putting this verse in context of the time, snow from mountains was used to cool drinks.  Refreshing.
• “… so refreshing is a faithful messenger.”  Proverbs 13:17
• Delivery of the word of God by a faithful messenger is refreshing to our souls.  Bring it and bring it often!

Like clouds and wind without rain

is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.

• People who promise gifts that they never ultimately give, or just generally promise anything upon which they don’t follow through, are like clouds without rain (in a time when rain is desperately needed).

With patience a ruler may be persuaded,

and a soft tongue will break a bone.

• Patient persistence pierces through indifference.
• A judge, seeing someone who has patiently put up with injustice without complaint, will look more favorably upon that person.
• Gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.
• A calm, reasonable delivery of your case will more likely convince someone.   Forcing it down their throat does not work.  

If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,

lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

• There is such a concept as "too much of a good thing”.
• Moderation in all things.

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house,

lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

• Same as above, to an extent.  Too much of a good thing … assuming your presence was considered a "good thing" in the first place ;)
• Don’t wear out your welcome by dropping by too often.  If you are wanted more often, you will be invited.

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor

is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

• Lies (false witness) are as destructive to a reputation as a club, a sword or an arrow are to the body.  

Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble

is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

• Why did my mind go directly to our current President?  So many trust in him, despite what seems so obvious to me.  Perhaps it’s not so obvious, or people are just that easily fooled.
• Treachery annoys as well as deceives.  — From “Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"
• Confidence in an unfaithful man is painful … — From "Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible"

Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart

is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,

and like vinegar on soda.

• “Come on!  Cheer up!”  Ever hear that when you are feeling low?  It doesn’t help – it hurts.  It’s like being squirted in the face with cold water on a cold day.  
• Instead, try sympathy.  Stop trying to cheer up the heavy hearted and just love them, be with them.  

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

for you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

• We are terrified of ISIS and want to eradicate them.  Why not – instead – love them?  Radical thinking, I know.  Crazy to some, I know.  But we must not lean on our own understanding, but on His.
• How about, instead of dropping bombs on ISIS camps, we drop food and medicine?  Like heaping coals on metal will soften/melt the metal, kindness softens/melts the heart.
• Suffocating them with kindness.  What would this seemingly crazy approach result in?  A hardening or a softening of their resolve to kill the infidels?  Food for thought.
• God says that he will reward us for loving our enemies.  I – for one – believe Him.

The north wind brings forth rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

• Slanders would not be so readily spoken, if they were not readily heard. — From “Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible"
• Gossiping causes anger.  Why start?  What do you expect to gain?  Control yourself and do not gossip.

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

• Contentious, quarrelsome, nagging, biting … this is not just about wives, but about dealing with anyone that is difficult and always picking fights.
• It’s better to just stay away … to not take part or response to biting, quarrelsome comments.  
• “It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.” Proverbs 21:19

Like cold water to a thirsty soul,

so is good news from a far country.

• This speaks right to my newly found drive to deliver the Good News to far away countries who don’t know His name or about His free Gift.
• We have to remember, we are tainted here in America.  People tend to respond with scoffing or annoyance at the good news here.  Over there, they are thirsty for it.  When they hear it, they drink it up because they have extremely thirsty souls.

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain

is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

• I’ve been guilty of this before.  My desire to be seen as “reasonable” turns into a muddying of the water of Truth when confronted strongly by unbelievers.  
• We try to compromise on God’s truth when nothing but the whole, unadulterated, unaltered Truth will do.
• I say this to myself:  Stand firm in the Truth, Greg.  Do not falter.  Do not muddy or pollute the waters in the name of “tolerance”.  People need the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth.

It is not good to eat much honey,

nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.

• We are to seek God’s glory, not our own.  
• Pair this with “If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.”
• Seeking your own glory, like eating too much honey, will leave you feeling nauseous eventually.  It is not fulfilling, and it’s not good for you.

A man without self-control

is like a city broken into and left without walls.

• "Ancient cities like Babylon or Jerusalem were protected from their enemies by fortified walls. One whose walls were broken down was a city inviting attack and plunder. In the same way, human beings without self-control are in danger of being ruined and humiliated by the blind pursuit of egocentric, self-indulgent, and forbidden desires.” — From Self-control and City Walls by Rubel Shelly
• I couldn’t have said it better.  This is an area of improvement for us all … until the end.