Wise Up: Proverbs 25
Proverbs 25 (NIV)
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established through righteousness.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
and do not claim a place among his great men;
7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
What you have seen with your eyes
8 do not bring hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 If you take your neighbor to court,
do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
and the charge against you will stand.
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver
is a ruling rightly given.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
too much of you, and they will hate you.
18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on a wound,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control.
Verse 20. Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day or like vinegar poured on a wound is one who sing songs to a heavy heart.
I think this is so important for us as Christians. I know I use to think the Christian experience was suppose to be only joy all the time but as I walk though life and as I study His Word I see that even Jesus wept and was a man well acquainted with sorrow. For me joy sometimes is that He is with me when I am experiencing sorrow. And then it isn’t that smiling, laughing joy but like a secure comforting wrap around my heart and knowing He is right there sharing my suffering. I don’t have to do it alone, He says.
A good example of this was when my husband passed away. Shortly after he had died a well meaning friend wanted me to sing and dance and it just wasn’t time yet, it was my time to grieve. It did feel like vinegar poured in a wound. After I was finished grieving my heart was ready to sing and dance and celebrate that my husband was at home with the Lord fully experiencing Abba and His amazing love. But that took some time. There is a time for everything, isn’t there?
Well said. We experienced grief and went through the same stages. In our case we lost a child and my wife and I both had different time lines in dealing with the grief. Started out mad, hurt (vinegar in a wound) and dismayed. Eventually we realized God loved us and our daughter was in heaven with him for eternity. We came to realize that God takes our loved ones as an act of grace to ease their suffering. We still miss her but we are joyfull she is with Him.
Vs. 11
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Aptly means “suitable or appropriate”. I want to be someone who carefully chooses my words.
Lord, give me wisdom when choosing my words. Help me to encourage and lift up with my words that are appropriate for the situation.
Amen
Fwd: Fwd: Fwd:AS YOU LISTEN to birds calling to one another, hear also My Love-call to you. I speak to you continually: through sights, sounds, thoughts, impressions, scriptures. There is no limit to the variety of ways I can communicate with you. Your part is to be attentive to My messages, in whatever form they come. When you set out to find Me in a day, you discover that the world is vibrantly alive with My Presence. You can find Me not only in beauty and birdcalls, but also in tragedy and faces filled with grief. I can take the deepest sorrow and weave it into a pattern for good. Search for Me and My messages, as you go through this day. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with your whole being. JOHN 10:27; ROMANS 8:28 ( AMP ); JERIMIAH 29:13. This may not apply to today’s passage, just thought it might give someone some encouragement, realizing This text sent to me by a cancer patient, trusting in the Lord!
13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.
I know this is talking about the one who sends the messenger, but it reminds me of when I am with certain friends and how I can feel refreshed by the news or information they share with me. It makes me want to cause others to feel refreshed when they are in my presence.
So my prayer is this: Lord please use me for your glory today and help me to cause others to feel refreshed by news or messages that I share with them.
Love that Juanita!
Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.
This is who I want to be for my Lord.
Please give me courage and humility, and by your Spirit, make me faithful as gravity.