WEEK 29, DAY 5; TODAY’S READING: PROVERBS 25-28

July 20, 2018 by ·

OVERVIEW:

Similitudes and instructions; warnings and instructions.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Today we enter the third and final section of the book of Proverbs, chapters 25–31. Keep in mind that God neatly “divides” (2nd Timothy 2:15) the Proverbs into three sections that are clearly identified by the three times He inspired Solomon to pen the words, “The proverbs of Solomon.” (1:1; 10:1; 25:1) The first three chapters in today’s reading (chapters 25-27) are different in structure than what we have encountered thus far in this book. The difference is that the proverbs in this section are presented in groups of verses on the same topic, rather than individual verses that present a specific proverbial truth. Literary truths presented in this fashion are often referred to as an “epigram” which is defined as “a brief, clever, pointed remark or observation typically marked by an antithesis”. The last chapter in today’s reading (chapter 28) shifts back to the comparative, completive, or contrastive couplets type of proverbs as in the previous sections of the book.

The first part of chapter 25 refers to KINGS (or, monarchs, rulers, or presidents of nations). Solomon reveals to us that:

  1. Kings like to “search out a matter.” (25:2)
  2. A king’s heart is “unsearchable.” (25:3)
  3. Kings’ thrones are “established in righteousness.” (25:5)
  4. Kings reject people who praise themselves. (25:6)
  5. Kings have no patience with people who vaunt themselves. (25:7)

The second part of chapter 25 is sort of a conglomerate of information concerning interpersonal communication and human relationships.

In chapter 26, Solomon gives us a discourse concerning FOOLS. He reveals that:

  1. What fools really need is the rod of correction. (26:1–3)
  2. The “committed” fool will conform you to himself if you attempt to answer him, so don’t! (26:4)
  3. The “simple” fool can be turned from becoming like the “committed” fool, so answer his questions, providing him with wise counsel. (26:5)
  4. The fool is unable to articulate the truth of a proverb. (26:7)
  5. When a fool is given honor, it is dangerous to himself and to others. (26:8)
  6. A parable in a fool’s mouth is as a wound, i.e. he’ll hurt you with it! (26:9)
  7. Any reward a fool receives comes from the God of all creation. (26:10)
  8. The fool will inevitably return to his folly. (26:11)
  9. There is more hope for a fool than for a self-proclaimed “wise man”. (26:12)

Because of the “apparent contradiction” concerning “answering a fool according to his folly” in verses 4 and 5 in chapter 26, perhaps a little more explanation can provide clarity. Notice that verse 4 instructs us not to answer a fool according to his folly, lest we become like him. Then, in the very next verse he instructs us to answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own conceit. So, which is it?  Are we supposed to answer a fool in his folly or not?

Note that the key is the difference between the two types of fools with whom we may potentially be dealing. The first type of fool (verse 4) is what might be called a “committed” fool. He is already “wise in his own conceit”. He has accepted that wrong is right, and is committed to persuade others to believe the same. To answer this type of fool doesn’t do anything to convince him otherwise but only drives him deeper into his folly. He is argumentative and will twist our words to negatively influence new and/or immature Christians, or twist our words to convince a “simple” fool that the truths we’re communicating are wrong. Verse 4 lets us know that we are to ignore this type of fool.

The second fool, is what might be called a “simple” fool. As mentioned above, he is reachable and teachable. He says foolish things and is involved in foolish behavior mainly because he has lacked the proper influences in his life to teach him about God’s wisdom. He is looking for a role model, and inevitably will find one! He is a perfect candidate for those in gangs to initiate into their criminal activity on one hand (1:10–19), and yet, on the other hand, he is a perfect candidate for those of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ to reach him with the gospel of salvation, introducing him to the ultimate Role Model, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (1st John 2:6), and providing him a human role model ourselves, by entering into a discipling relationship with him. (1st Corinthians 11:1)

In the next group of verses, 26:13-16, Solomon gives us a discourse concerning SLUGGARDS.

  1. The sluggard gives exaggerated reasons for not leaving his house. (26:13)
  2. The sluggard has restless sleep. (26:14)
  3. The sluggard doesn’t even like to exert the energy to feed himself. (26:15)
  4. The sluggard is very skilled in creating ways to avoid work. (26:16)

The final two chapters in today’s reading (chapter 27–28) are full of extremely practical proverbial truths for living. I’ve chosen to highlight a few of them below, but recognize, God may want to highlight different ones as you make your way through these chapters today.

  • Proverbs 27:1 is a verse that every believer should commit to memory. Not only is it a very vivid reminder not to presume upon the future, it is a verse that we will find ourselves repeatedly able to use as we witness to lost people.
  • One would think that the wisdom presented in Proverbs 27:2 would be a no-brainer, but it isn’t! The “pride of life” that causes us to want others to recognize our “greatness” can either blatantly or subtly be evidenced in our speech. The key to not praising oneself, of course, is not in controlling our tongue, but in recognizing our own “nothingness”! (Galatians 6:3)
  • As Proverbs 27:6 suggests, having a friend who loves us enough to speak hard truths to us, even at the risk of hurting our feelings, is a great treasure. Being the kind of person who is willing to receive the rebuke of a friend should be our aim.
  • Proverbs 27:10a lets us know that relationships with family friends, that cross generational lines, is something that we should work very hard to maintain!
  • There is the obvious practical wisdom we all can glean from the teaching of Proverbs 27:12, but it is important not to miss the prophetic application, especially for those of us living in the last days. The “day of evil”, that the Bible refers to as the “tribulation”, is fast approaching. God has provided a hiding place “in Christ” (Colossians 3:3), and those who are prudent will enter that refuge. Those who are “simple” will see all of the warning signs around us and continue headlong into the punishment that awaits the lost.
  • Proverbs 27:17 makes very clear that having friendships that result in mutual spiritual stimulation and edification are imperative for our spiritual well-being.
  • May Proverbs 27:23 admonish every father, as well as every pastor, to constantly have the spiritual pulse of what is happening, or not happening, in the lives of those under our watch care, and may it challenge us to provide even greater loving oversight.
  • Proverbs 27:26a lets us know what kind of animal it was that God used to clothe Adam and Eve after they sinned in the garden. As you might expect, notice that this verse reveals that to clothe them required the shedding of blood and the death of a sacrificial lamb! (John 1:29; Revelation 4:4)
  • Proverbs 28:6 tells us that we would be much better off to have absolutely no material possessions, and yet, possess great character than to have great possessions, and possess no character.
  • God certainly wants all of us to pray, but Proverbs 28:9 lets us know that if our lives reflect the fact that we disregard God’s word, God will neither be blessed or impressed by our prayers to Him. Much to the contrary, if we are not listening to Him, it is an abomination to assume that He will listen to us! Perhaps we could say it this way: if we disregard how God has chosen to communicate to us, He will choose to disregard how we communicate to Him.
  • Proverbs 28:13 implores us to always take full ownership and responsibility for our sin. As we consider this verse, recognize that sometimes we try to “cover our sins” from God, but most often, we tend to “cover our sins” from people with whom we have wronged and refuse to own our wrong with them. Getting right with people is imperative to being right with God!
  • Proverbs 28:21 lets us know that we must be certain to treat every person with the same respect, regardless of their physical comeliness, their position or stature in the community, their material wealth, or any other standard of measurement we may tend to use to elevate one person above another. This proverb teaches us that if we have respect of persons, we will inevitably make compromises over the simplest matters of life.
  • In Proverbs 28:20 and 22, God lets us know that being rich is not wrong in and of itself. It is wrong, however, to desire to be rich! The desire to be rich will leave us impoverished in other key areas of our life!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

  • As the ONE WHO REWARDS THOSE WHO REPAY EVIL WITH GOOD — Proverbs 25:21–22. (If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he’s thirsty, give him a drink. —  Romans 12:20)
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