Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Reflections on Proverbs 25

 
    Proverbs 25 (Contemporary English Version)

  1. Here are more of Solomon's proverbs. They were copied by the officials of King Hezekiah of Judah.
  2. God is praised for being mysterious; rulers are praised for explaining mysteries.
  3. Who can fully understand the thoughts of a ruler? They reach beyond the sky and go deep in the earth.
  4. Silver must be purified before it can be used to make something of value.
  5. Evil people must be removed before anyone can rule with justice.
  6. Don't try to seem important in the court of a ruler.
  7. It's better for the ruler to give you a high position than for you to be embarrassed in front of royal officials. Be sure you are right
  8. before you sue someone, or you might lose your case and be embarrassed.
  9. When you and someone else can't get along, don't gossip about it.
  10. Others will find out, and your reputation will then be ruined.
  11. The right word at the right time is like precious gold set in silver.
  12. Listening to good advice is worth much more than jewelry made of gold.
  13. A messenger you can trust is just as refreshing as cool water in summer.
  14. Broken promises are worse than rain clouds that don't bring rain.
  15. Patience and gentle talk can convince a ruler and overcome any problem.
  16. Eating too much honey can make you sick.
  17. Don't visit friends too often, or they will get tired of it and start hating you.
  18. Telling lies about friends is like attacking them with clubs and swords and sharp arrows.
  19. A friend you can't trust in times of trouble is like having a toothache or a sore foot.
  20. Singing to someone in deep sorrow is like pouring vinegar in an open cut.
  21. If your enemies are hungry, give them something to eat. And if they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
  22. This will be the same as piling burning coals on their heads. And the LORD will reward you.
  23. As surely as rain blows in from the north, anger is caused by cruel words.
  24. It's better to stay outside on the roof of your house than to live inside with a nagging wife.
  25. Good news from far away refreshes like cold water when you are thirsty.
  26. When a good person gives in to the wicked, it's like dumping garbage in a stream of clear water.
  27. Don't eat too much honey or always want praise.
  28. Losing self-control leaves you as helpless as a city without a wall.


Chapter 25 offers more of Solomon's proverbs. Prior to chapter 22 Solomon was offering his advise to his son. The added proverbs since then, however, are more general in nature, some coming from other sources. These in this chapter are said to be from Solomon, though. The first three verses of the chapter speak of God concealing and kings investigating, and also of the difficulty of knowing the depths of a king's heart. Wisdom does not come without effort. As kings are prone to investigate to keep informed, we must be inclined to seek so we may have wisdom and understanding. Nothing of value comes easily, nor does the easy route produce the greatest rewards. We must determine what we want and what brings the greatest value to life, then make the effort and go for it. For me, the wisdom of God is of greater value than great wealth. To seek His wisdom will bring greater value to my life and who knows what else may come with it?

As with other chapters there are too many proverbs to address individually so I will reflect on only one subject - that of Relationships.  On this subject we are told that to wear out our welcome at a neighbor's house is like too much honey - it can cause one to vomit. That's putting it plain, isn't it? He says, "Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house." It literally means to "make precious." In other words, make your visits valuable by making them rare. But also visit enough that the visits are valued.

Further on the subject of relationships, how can we best be a friend to those we care about? Well, we should consider both the timing and the way we offer advise. We may have good counsel to offer, but if offered at the wrong time or in the wrong manner it loses its value. Solomon says, "A word spoken at the right time is like golden apples on a silver tray." Also, "A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold." In a similar vein, give thought to how you try to cheer up a troubled friend. It is unkind, says Solomon, to try to do so by singing to them. Specifically he says, "Singing songs to a troubled heart is like taking off clothing on a cold day, or like pouring vinegar on soda." He is blunter, isn't he? It is more than unkind, it is excruciating.

I especially like the proverb about patience and a gentle tongue in verse 15. Why? Because I have experienced it on both sides and discovered the value of the gentle tongue. I have lost patience and gone storming in with absolutely no gentleness of tongue and I have exercised patience and spoken with gentleness. Which has been the most effective? Hands down, it is the later. As soon as I start speaking in a demanding way I can see or hear the other person's defenses going up. Rather than seeking a way to resolve my problem they have become defensive. However, when I speak gently and pleasantly I see or hear the other person trying to work with me and solve the issue. As I have tried to analyze my actions when I am impatient and gruff, I have decided I am acting out of insecurity and fear when I do that. I am afraid someone is going to take advantage of me. When I set that aside and with gentleness and kindness explain my problem and seek the other person's help, I usually get it. Now, there are always a few jerks out there who will not respond to gentleness and for them I reserve my ire. But Solomon says, "a gentle tongue can break a bone." He is right.

Finally, still on the subject of relationships, Solomon tells us to exercise kindness to our enemies. I suspect his reasons for saying this are similar to his advise in using a gentle tongue - it disarms people. Be kind to your enemy. Give him food if he is hungry or water if he is thirsty. Solomon says it will heap coals on his head. It is not completely clear what he means by this. It could mean an act of kindness such as sharing your live coals with a neighbor who carries them home in a pan on his head to restart his fire. It could also mean that that being kind to your enemy could result in repentance on his part as in the ancient practice of carry burning coals in a pan on one's head as a sign of repentance. Whatever the outcome with the enemy, the Lord will reward us for our kindness to an enemy.

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