TODAY’S READING: PROVERBS 25-28
OVERVIEW:
Similitudes and instructions; warnings and instructions.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
This is the third and final section of the Book of Proverbs (chapters 25-31), as we saw that God neatly “divides” (II Tim.2:15) into three sections for us by the three times He inspired Solomon to pen the words, “The proverbs of Solomon.” The first three chapters in today’s reading (chapters 25-27) are different in structure than we have seen thus far. They are different in that they are in groups of verses on the same topic, often referred to as epigrams (a brief, clever, pointed remark or observation typically marked by an antithesis). The last chapter in today’s reading (chapter 28) goes back to the comparative, completive, or contrastive couplets proverbs. (There will be 55 in all in this section through chapter 29.)
The first part of chapter 25 refers to kings.
- Kings like to “search out a matter.” (vs. 2)
- A king’s heart is “unsearchable.” (vs. 3)
- Kings’ thrones are established by righteousness. (vs. 5)
- Kings reject people who praise themselves. (vs. 6)
- Kings have no patience with pushy people. (vs. 7)
The second part of chapter 25 is sort of a “hobo stew” mix of information concerning communication, relationships, and attitudes (attitudes such as pride, strife, impatience, argumentation, generosity, and backbiting).
In chapter 26:3-12, Solomon gives us a discourse concerning fools.
- The fool requires the rod of correction. (vs. 1-3)
- The “committed” fool will conform you to himself if you converse with him, so don’t! (vs. 4)
- The “simple” fool can be turned from becoming like the “committed” fool, so, answer his questions. Give him wise counsel. (vs. 5)
- The fool is unable to express a proverb clearly. (vs. 7)
- The fool, given honor, is dangerous to himself and others. (vs. 8)
- The parable in a fool’s mouth is as a wound (i.e. he’ll hurt you with it). (vs. 9)
- Any reward a fool receives comes from the God of all creation. (vs. 10)
- The fool always returns to his folly. (vs. 11)
- There is more hope for a fool, than for a self-proclaimed wise man. (vs. 12)
In the next four verses, 26:13-16, Solomon gives us a discourse concerning sluggards.
- The sluggard gives exaggerated reasons for not leaving the house. (vs. 13)
- The sluggard has restless sleep. (vs. 14)
- The sluggard doesn’t even like to exert the energy to feed himself. (vs. 15)
- The sluggard is very skilled in creating ways to avoid work. (vs. 16)
The final two chapters in today’s reading (chapter 27-28) should be read in a way that allows one to ponder the powerful truth in each verse. In so doing it will almost record itself in our memory with little effort. Consider these examples…
- “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips” (27:2).
- “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied” (27:20).
- “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds” (27:20).
- “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” (28:9)
- “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (28:13).
Allow these and other verses to become your meditation; they will be the promptings our Lord will use to lead you in the way today.
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
As the ONE WHO REWARDS THOSE WHO REPAY EVIL WITH GOOD – Prov. 25:21-22. (If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink. Rom.12:20)