chapter25
Significance of Proverbs
These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out (Proverbs 25:1).
According to Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, there is a Fourth Collection of Proverbs, Chaps. 25–29 and "this title is interesting as affording a proof that a revival of literary activity accompanied the revival of religion and of national prosperity which marked the reign of Hezekiah. Hezekiah himself was a poet of no mean order (Isaiah 38:9 ); and “the men of Hezekiah” were doubtless a body of scribes engaged under the direction of the king in literary labours.
God and king
(Verses 2 and 3 are clubbed).
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter (Proverbs 25:2).
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable (Proverbs 25:3).
The glory of God, meaning the manifested presence of God, conceals a thing. In other words, God conceals a thing. But it is for the honour of kings in authorithy to search out a matter. For this purpose, the king concerned engages the services of a prophet. If the king himself is a prophet, he interprets the hidden truth. The Old Testament books with prophetic insights were written by prophets of the God of Israel in the kingdoms of Israel. We need to interpret the same with divine wisdom to find out hidden truths in these books. Nowadays, false prophets add to what has been recorded by the prophets of the Old Testament saying, "Thus saith the Lord God". New Testament prophets are required to interpret the prophecies of the Old Testament and should not add to or delete any part thereof.
" God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds (Heb.1:1-2).
In these last days, God has already spoken in Christ Jesus. Let us not add to or delete what God has spoken in Jesus Christ.
A godly king, who fears God, has the requisite wisdom to rule his nation. His heart is full of wonderful ideas and plans to govern his people. No human being who is not associated with his governance can fathom his heart in a similar manner as no man upon earth can exactly discover the height of heaven, or the depth of earth, or discern what is contained in them. The godly king is guided by counsellors who are also filled with wisdom. If the king is wicked, then his heart is full of unrighteousness and we can easily find out what is in his heart.
Removing wicked
(Verses 4 and 5 are clubbed).
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer (Proverbs 25:4).
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness (Proverbs 25:5).
If we remove the dross (the scum or unwanted material that forms on the surface of molten metal from the silver) from the silver, we will get a finer vessel for our use. This example is used for purging the wicked from a kingdom so that the throne of the king shall be established in righteousness. When the wicked people under the authority of a king rule us, we will suffer in their hands due to unrighteousness and injustice. The corrupt, unjust authorities must be identified and weeded out of the governance system.
King and great men
(Verses 6 and 7 are clubbed).
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: (Proverbs 25:6)
For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen (Proverbs 25:7).
Do not strive to meet the ruler (who is righteous with a heart to listen) personally by occupying seats of honour in his darbar. Choose a seat among the audience where the king or the prince meets the public. The king or the prince will call you to his presence to accept your petition. Similarly, do not present yourself in the place of great men. Humbly choose a lowly place in the house of intellectuals. You will be asked to share your views with them. Great men or intellectuals seek the humble people. Humility exalts you.
Strife and litigation
(Verses 8 to 10 are clubbed).
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame (Proverbs 25:8).
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: (Proverbs 25:9)
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away (Proverbs 25:10).
Whenever there is a strife, do not go forth hastily to partake in it. You should understand the causes for such a strife, hear the views of the contenders concerned and then give your views or judgment. It takes a lot of patience and understanding for ending the strife peacefully. Otherwise, you will be put to shame by your neighbour who adjudicates the dispute.
While joining hands with your neighbour in adjucating the dispute, you should debate your views with your neighbour without revealing your mind to him. If he knows about your solution or your judgment, he will try to repudiate your views and make your views or judgement irrelevant so that your infamy may be known to all. You have to play your cards wisely keeping the same close to your chest.
Word fitly spoken
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Proverbs 25:11).
Apples of gold are kept in pictures of silver in a royal palace. The words of your mouth are like applies of gold and you have to speak a right word to a person or a group which will edify the hearer.
Wise approver
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear (Proverbs 25:12).
You should listen to a wise reprover who rebukes you for your good. His reproof is like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold. Do not seek flattery for the good things in your life but reproof for correction.
Faithful messenger
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters (Proverbs 25:13).
The cold of snow as a drink is preferred in the time of harvest. This was used in the summer palace of Solomon and especially in the east during harvest season. It refreshes the soul of the masters of a faithful messenger. A messenger or a news reporter has to be faithful in his reporting. The messenger is likened to the cold drink that refreshes the heart of those engaged in harvesting.
Boasting of false gift
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain (Proverbs 25:14).
Do not boast of a false gift which you pretend to possess. Many people boast themselves of possessing gifts or natural abilities but in their real lives, they fail to operate such talents. Political leaders boast of their talents to solve the problems of people but they do not possess these. It is like clouds and wind without rain. We see them as clouds and wind but they do not give us rain. What they speak do not get translated into actions.
Nowadays, many evangelists boast of the gifts of the Holy Spirit but they do not reveal the compassion and love of Jesus Christ. Spiritual gifts would not operate in the absence of compassion and love.
Long forbearing
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone (Proverbs 25:15).
You can persuade a prince to do you a favour by long forbearing or patient entreaties with humility. Your soft tongue breaks the bone. When you convince the prince with your nice entreaties by long forbearing, his hard heart is softened.
Enjoying honey
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it (Proverbs 25:16).
In your life, enjoyment of every material blessing likened to honey has to be within its limits. Do not aspire to have much but sufficient for you and your family. If you overeat honey, you will vomit it. Anything in excess is a poison for your body. If you have too many material possessions, then you may not be able to maintain them but in due course, you may have to sell some of them. When you are unable to supervise them, those who are in possession of these material things or assets on tenancy may try to misappropriate the same behind your back.
Neighbour's house
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee (Proverbs 25:17).
You should not frequent the houses of people who are your neighbours in the society in which you live, not friends or relatives. When you visit them, you may talk to them on issues that they do not like. They may become weary of you and ultimately they may hate you without any reason. Visit your neighbours when they are in trouble just to help them.
False witness
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow (Proverbs 25:18).
Bearing false witness against your neighbour is a great sin which is likened to a maul, and a sword and a sharp arrow.
Confidence in man
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint (Proverbs 25:19).
Do not have confidence in any man becomes who remains unfaithful in time of trouble. Do not visit him for any favour. He is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint. But have confidence in the Lord who will make the unfaithful man turn his heart toward you. At times, we look to men who are in position of authority to help us by hanging around them. If we believe in the Lord and trust Him with all our heart, we need not go to those authorities for favour. Just be content after giving your petitions to them. God will work in their hearts for your petition to be granted.
Songs to heavy heart
As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart (Proverbs 25:20).
According to Bible dictionary, "nitre or natron," is a substance so called because, rising from the bottom of the Lake Natron in Egypt, it becomes dry and hard in the sun, and is the soda which effervesces when vinegar is poured on it. It is a carbonate of soda, not saltpetre, which the word generally denotes (Jer. 2:22).
Normally, we think if we sing songs to those with an heavy heart, it will soothe their pain. But, according to Solomon, we should not do so. If we do so, it is like taking a garment in cold weather and like vinegar upon nitre. Nitre is a chemical used in vinegar. It harms our body. Likewise, songs to an heavy heart will not heal the wounds in the heart. Prayer for the afflicted or words of comfort are the right medicine for the wounded heart.
Feeding enemy
(Verses 21 and 22 are clubbed).
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: (Proverbs 25:21)
For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee (Proverbs 25:22).
Even in the Old testament book of Proverbs, we are taught to love our enemies. If your enemy is hungry or in want, you have to minister to him. in doing so, you shall heap coals of fire upon his head and the Lord shal reward you.
Even, children of God want to take revenge upon their enemies. Pastors of one denomination hate their brethren in other denominations treating them as enemies. Will the Lord reward them for their hatred towards the other denominations?
Backbiting tongue
The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue (Proverbs 25:23).
A backbiting tonque is very dangerous. An angry countenance drives away the one who uses his backbiting tongue. Anger is justified to counter the sin of backbiting.
Brawling woman
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house (Proverbs 25:24).
A brawling woman divides a home. The members of the household can peacefully stay in the corner of the housetop than living with her in the chambers of the house. A godly woman has to be humble by controlling her tongue.
Good news
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country (Proverbs 25:25).
When you receive a good news from your loved ones in a strife or war torn nation, it will be like cold waters to a thirsty soul.
Fighting wickedness
A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring (Proverbs 25:26).
A righteous man should not fall down before the wicked for justice or for escaping the unjust punishment. The righteous man should resist and fight against wickedness wherever it raises its ugly head.
Eating much honey
It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory (Proverbs 25:27).
It is not good for the body to eat much honey because it will harm it. Similarly, men should not seek their own fame nor do they promote their own personalities. If they seek their own glory, then it is not their glory but a delusion.
Nowadays, ministers of God seek their own glory by promoting their cult like personalities. Their own glory does not reveal their true personalities but images larger than their real lives.
Control over own spirit
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls (Proverbs 25:28).
One should have control over his own spirit. He should control his emotions like anger. If he does not do so, it is like a city that is broken down and without walls.
Next....Chapter 26
