Proverbs 25:1-3 (KJV): 1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied

out. 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. 3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. Verse 1 All kings have special privileges and laborers at their disposal. Solomons scribes originally recorded the proverbs and judgments he pronounced in court. Nearly 300 years later, the servants of Solomons descendant, King Hezekiah, found additional proverbs of Solomons not included in his book. Verse 2 This verse begins the collection of Solomons proverbs found by Hezekiahs men. Gods wisdom is concealed from men, but we can search it out, even as Solomon did. However, we must commit our lives to God and study the Bible to avail ourselves of this wisdom. God hides His wisdom from those who will not apply it to their lives, but reveals it to those who search it out. The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 29:29). O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). Verse 3 Solomon was a diligent ruler who had a heart toward God. Because of his unsearchable wealth within, he accomplished many monumental projects and made his kingdom the richest in the world. He was intelligent, observant, and thoughtful. Many of his proverbs show that his father, David, instructed him as a boy and brought him up to serve God and know His ways. This gave Solomon the ability to recognize his limitations and ask God for wisdom to rule Israel. Many hidden treasures are stored within the Bibles pages for us to seek out, even as Solomon did. Studying the Bible and searching out Gods wisdom will sharpen our minds. Men mine for gold and precious stones, but wisdom, mined from Gods Word, is far more precious. We can glimpse Gods glory by seeking Him and learning of His ways. King Solomons proverbs were inspired by the Holy Spirit. They are Gods words, part of our heavenly Fathers instructions to us. The Proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims, and parables) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: That people may know skillful and godly Wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight... (Proverbs 1:1-2 AMP).

4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. 5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. Removing dross from silver in order to form it into a precious vessel, is comparable to removing wicked administrators from positions of authority. Before silver can be fashioned into a beautiful vessel, it must be refined. When melted, the impurities surface and can be removed. A righteous kings administrators represent him throughout his kingdom. His rule will not be righteous until the wicked are removed. This is what will happen when Jesus returns to rule as the King of kings: the wicked will be removed from the earth and the righteous will remain: The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth (Proverbs 10:29-30). Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour (2 Timothy 2:19a, 20). Gods people are likened to two kinds of vessels: gold and silver vessels of honour and wood and clay vessels of dishonour. Gold and silver vessels are durable and beautiful. Clay vessels chip and shatter; wooden vessels warp in water and burn in fire; neither have the strength of gold and silver. God desires that we have a place among His vessels of honor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the masters use, and prepared unto every good work (2 Timothy 2:21). How we respond to lifes trials determines what kind of vessel we become. Trials heat up our circumstances and bring hidden sins to the surface. For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried (Psalm 66:10). Each time we choose to obey God and put to death our old nature or resist the devil, a little more of the dross is removed, until we come forth as pure as silver or gold. Following is a portion of Psalm 119. Its author, knowing that God will remove the wicked like dross, cried out to God to help him keep His commandments. He knew that he could not respect God without respecting His Word. May we be as wise: Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies (Psalm 119:117-119).

6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: 7 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. hese verses advise us not to exalt ourselves in the presence of important people, but to take a humble position. Humility is a virtue that we should strive to develop. Assuming honor for ourselves is unwise. It can cause humiliation in front of the people with whom we expected to impress. It is better to be invited to sit in a special place, than to risk taking a seat reserved for another and then be asked to make way for someone in a position of greater importance. Jesus illustrated this principle in a parable: And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted (Luke 14:7-11). Anyone who attempts to exalt himself in front of others will eventually be humbled. Allowing ourselves to become prideful, sets us up for a fall, according to the Word of God. Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud (Proverbs 16:18-19). Those who think they do not need God are the proudest of all. At some point, all people will come to the end of themselves and face the fact that they are not in control of all of their circumstances. We all need God, since without Him, we face an eternity in hell. The same scriptures that warn against exalting ourselves, tell us that if we humble ourselves we shall be honored in due season, and recognized by others. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up (James 4:10). If we boast of anything, it should be our boast of what the Lord has done for us! Without Him we can do nothing. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad (Psalm 34:2).

8 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. 9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. These verses warn us not to get into a public quarrel, but rather, to try to settle the problem with our neighbor first privately, since he could testify against us and take us to court. The Bible counsels us to avoid strife and lawsuits, if at all possible, since the Lord wants us to walk in peace with all people. It is much better to take a humble position and try to work out our differences with a neighbor. We are not to gossip about the matter, telling secrets to others, as this will only rile the neighbor more and he could cause more trouble. We have no guarantee as to the judge ruling in our favor and we may even be in the wrong to some degree. If we are proven wrong, the Bible tells us to agree with our adversary quickly, because he can deliver us to the judge and the judge can rule that we are to be given over to the officer to lock us in prison. If that should happen, we will not be released until we have paid our penalty in full. God especially desires that we maintain good relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 urges us to lay down our rights rather than become involved in a court case with another believer before unbelievers. However, these scriptures do not preclude a person or company from defending themselves against false charges. As Christians, there is no room to side with people. We are to side with the Word of God. When my actions do not line up with His, I must side against myself and agree with Him. I must acknowledge my sin to God and my brother in Christ. If a brother sins against me, I am to go to him privately, without involving others, since people often take up the offense of the first person they hear instead of listening impartially. If he acknowledges his sin and repents, I have gained a brother. This is only likely to happen if I go to him in love and humility. If he does not repent of an obvious sin, I am then to take two or three more people with me and talk with him again. The goal is to show him his error by speaking the truth in love, so that our fellowship may be restored. If he fails to respond in the presence of witnesses, the matter is to be taken before the entire church. If he fails to take advantage of this last opportunity to repent, he is to be excommunicated from the church without any privileges of fellowship. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican (Matthew 18:15-17). 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. The ability to speak the right thing in a situation is a precious gift, and here it says this kind of word is like golden apples displayed in settings of silver. Solomon compared it to the artistic achievements of the metalworkers who

decorated his palace. The beauty of saying what is good and fitting is more difficult to portray than that of art or music, but it is far more valuable. It can change the course of a life or history. How many times have the words of generals inspired armies to conquer nations. How many times have leaders such as Churchill or Lincoln spoken to the hearts of their people to lead them through the darkness of grave national crises. How beautiful it is to aptly speak words of salvation to the lost! How much more beautiful in heavens sight than a mansion full of the finest works of art it is to speak words of comfort and hope and faith to the ill, the weary, the discouraged, or the weak at the right time. We must always be mindful that death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Because our words are powerful, whether we think we can influence others or not, the Bible instructs us to guard our mouths and to be careful about everything we say. Jesus warned that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matthew 12:36-37). If we want to speak words that edify others, we must make every effort to line up our words and thinking with Gods Word and to speak the truth in love. In this way, we will be able to bless and edify others. One of the most important things we can learn is to speak praises and thanks to God for who He is and all that He has done. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God (Psalm 50:23). We offer praise to the Lord by telling about what He has done for us, as well as singing or speaking praises to Him. As we do this, God frees us from the old habits of sin and brings forth the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. The more we thank and praise Him, the more our hearts will rejoice in Him and love Him; the more we will be centered on what is good and right; the more our conversations will bless people; and the more our words will become acceptable to God. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14). 12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. A wise mans reproof to one who heeds it is likened to a costly earring, and he will regard it as precious gold. If a young scientist were to begin a line of experimentation to prove a theory, he would consider any correction to his work from an established scientist invaluable. The wise among Gods children value the corrections of other saints, knowing that heeding their reproofs will make their character more Christ-like. Most precious of all are the Holy Spirits corrections, Who alone brings to light hidden sin. Gods reproof frees us from death and leads us to abundant life and fellowship with Him. Obedience is a necessary element of wisdom and faith. Faith, without works produced by obedience, is dead (James 2:17-18). The works spoken of here are inspired and empowered by God; the result of walking with Him in faith and obedience. When we obey God, we do the works of the Spirit, which alone are

acceptable to Him. We can do many good works that do not please God. Teaching a childrens Sunday school class is a good work, but not if God is telling us to teach the adult class instead. We must beware of expecting God to accept our way of doing things, as Cain and Abels story in Genesis 4 shows. When each brought an offering to God, God accepted Abels but rejected Cains. Abel came to God Gods way, offering a blood sacrifice in faith and obedience (Hebrews 11:4). Rebellion was in Cains heart. He did not do what God required but came to God in his own way, bringing an offering he thought should be accepted. Many see no answers to their prayers because they refuse to obey when the Lord speaks to them. The Lord does not always require it of us, but we must be willing to be used by God to answer every prayer we pray. If we ask God to meet someones financial needs, we must be willing to be the one through whom He does so. If we ask God to provide someone with a place to stay, we must be ready to open our house. Whatever our request, if God can provide it through us, we must be willing to let Him do so. We must determine to follow God regardless of the cost, and obey even if our flesh resists His ways. Our own efforts produce only the futile works of the flesh. Praying long hours, fasting, and sacrificing in many ways is vain if we do not obey. And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Disobedience is rebellion and rebellion is the same as witchcraft so that is why we must obey. Gods ways are higher than our ways. Our precious Lord would never ask us to do anything that would not bless us, though the blessing may not immediately be seen. If we hold fast and continue to obey Him, we will discover that His plans for us are more fulfilling, exciting, and beautiful than anything we could imagine. Proverbs 25:13 (KJV): 13 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. This verse compares a faithful messenger to the end of harvest time, which brought great relief to the farmer. When the cold weather arrived with its snow, it definitely marked the end of the harvest season. By then, the farmer could rest knowing that the crops were in the barn, and the land had been made ready to lie fallow over the winter. They could now enter a refreshing time after all their toil through the growing season. This same feeling is used to express how the master would feel when his faithful messenger accomplished his mission. In Biblical times, messages had to be sent by servants; and a faithful servant was of great value. His master could rest with the assurance that the message would never be poorly given or fall into the wrong hands. He would not only deliver the message, but convey it correctly and faithfully bring the response. He could not be bribed, and he would not be slack in his duty. If he had to travel a long

distance, he would not be deterred by inclement weather, danger from bandits, darkness of night, sickness in body, or weariness of the journey. As the moral climate of society has deteriorated, lying has become a major problem. The character trait of faithfulness is rare. Married people are unfaithful to their partners; employees and employers cheat one another; family members undermine each other; and people in general seldom keep their word. Businesses are particularly plagued with the problem of faithless employees, company thefts and broken contracts. Lying is now so commonplace that even Christians have become unfaithful in their dealings with others. One of the biggest faults of many Christians is that we over-commit. Overcommitment undermines integrity by making it impossible to faithfully keep ones word. Company owners, motivated by greed, generate more business than they can handle. Rather than risk losing customers, they commit to jobs that they know they cannot meet the deadline for. Many companies consider it normal to have a continual backlog of past-due jobs. Business people must now factor in lengthy delays just to compensate for the general lack of business ethics. People tend to over-commit themselves out of pride or the desire to please, not knowing how to say no when asked for favors. We are called to be like Jesus. God is faithful in all His ways. He is faithful, and keeps His word: every promise in the Bible. Through the empowering of the Holy Spirit, we can also maintain a high level of integrity. We can be good witnesses for Christ to all who know us; keeping our word and refreshing the soul of everyone who depends upon us. Proverbs 25:14 (KJV): Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. During Israels six-month dry season, the ground sometimes becomes so arid that it cracks. Rain is expected when clouds appear. In a drought, clouds without rain are a bitter disappointment. In the same way, people who make empty boasts are likened to clouds without rain. Some mean well, but they forget to keep their word. Some attempt to manipulate others with empty promises. Others seek admiration by pretending to be something they are not. Feigning benevolence or generosity is hypocrisy. Jesus sternly rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. Prideful and legalistic, they were very concerned about their outward appearance, and desired praise for their righteousness. However, Jesus looked into their hearts and saw that they were impure and wicked; full of greed and selfishness. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have

done, and not to leave the other undone. Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets (Luke 11:3943). These Pharisees carefully gave a tithe of every source of income, including their herb crops, and made a big display of doing so. Christ sternly upbraided them for ignoring the greater responsibilities of loving God and practicing righteous and merciful judgment. He directed them to help the poor from their substance, in addition to tithing. He also admonished them for the pride they displayed in taking places of honour and making sure that their deeds were noticed. Although Jesus dealt strongly with hypocrites, He was always kind to those who recognized their sin, no matter how great it was. God listens to honest hearts. He will not deny salvation to even the most wicked and vile person who comes to Him in sincere repentance (Luke 18:9-14). As Christians, we must beware of making empty boasts and promises. As seen in yesterdays study, it is very important to be faithful to keep our word. Whether making business appointments, promising our families a vacation, or agreeing to do something for someone, we should not promise what we cannot perform.

Proverbs 25:15 (KJV): By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Much self-restraint and patience is needed to persuade a ruler or judge to change his mind, but it can be done if one is humble and soft-spoken in ones presentation. How we approach people, especially those in positions of authority, is very important. We must be wise if we want to be heard. If we become angry and cause a scene, we will simply be sent away without having made our point. Arrogant demands and accusations only put people on the defensive. When we would like to see things changed, we must speak with respect and calmness of spirit. Proper preparation fosters calmness. The first step is to pray for wisdom in regard to the situation and person with whom we will be speaking. The next step is to think through how to logically present our case and support it with evidence rather than hearsay. Third, we should remember that speaking calmly with a pleasant manner, and using words that are not accusatory can gain us both an audience and a listening ear. Fourth, we should be prepared to practice forbearance: exercising self-control when provoked. We must hold back from expressing irritation when confronting those in authority on issues we would like to see changed. Even if they are incorrect or abusive towards us, God desires that we respect their office. Losing our tempers does not help others to see our viewpoint. It usually causes them to become angry and argumentative and to cling to their opinions more stubbornly. Finally, we should recognize that some issues simply will not be settled overnight. We must be prepared to present our case patiently and respectfully. A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness (Proverbs 15:1-2).

Proverbs 25:16 (KJV): Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. od desires that we enjoy the good things that He created for us to eat (Psalm 103:5), but we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirits guidance in all our ways,

including eating. Honey and sweet things ought to be taken in moderation, lest overindulgence make us ill. The Bible teaches moderation and temperance in all things (Galatians 5:22-23). Overindulgence opens the door to gluttony, which has become one of the most widespread sins in Western culture andAmerica. Food is the god of millions. Obesity is now a common problem. To maintain Gods blessings, we must obey His Word regarding both spiritual and physical matters. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand (Philippians 4:5). The world has set the standard when it comes to eating, rather than the Word of God. Here is another area where we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirits guidance. First, we need to make sure that we are receiving proper spiritual food; however, the Lord is also emphasizing to His people that they need to make changes in their physical diets and receive the proper natural foods. Most of Gods people have experienced His healing in their bodies, but one problem that seems to be prevalent is that after receiving healing, the devil comes back to rob them of Gods gift of healing. However, if we exercise our faith and rebuke the enemy in the name of Jesus, he will flee. If you have done this and are still experiencing illness, perhaps the problem is one of maintaining the gift God has given you. By this I mean we must not only obey and keep spiritual laws, but also we must keep physical laws if we expect to walk in Gods blessings. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are each a caretaker of our body, but many of us do not honor the God of glory who lives within us. Rather than keep His temple in good shape, we neglect it and fill it with garbage foods. We ought to assess our eating habits to bring them in line with Biblical guidelines. Many are tired and sick because a large part of their diet consists of highlyrefined, nutritionally-dead foods. A good rule is to eat the living foods God created: fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, legumes and dairy. Gods guidelines for meats are given in Leviticus 11. In ourselves, we may not be able to overcome old eating habits, but through prayer and with His help, we can (Philippians 4:13). If we seek God on this important subject, He will direct us to a solution. Ultimately, it is faith and obedience to God that gives us victory. While it is good to emphasize proper eating and physical exercise, we must beware of extremes. Our spiritual health should always be given top priority, since it determines the quality of our lives on earth and in eternity (1 Timothy 4:8). Many people have become unbalanced by putting too much emphasis on the physical man, while neglecting the spiritual man. We must not neglect our physical health, but we should avoid becoming overly concerned about it and allowing it to absorb too much of our time. God desires that we learn selfdiscipline and temperance in all things. I appreciate a book that I read years ago on dieting: More of Jesus, Less of Me. Submitting to Christs Lordship is the key to a proper balance between the care of our spiritual man and physical bodies. We should make Jesus Lord of the Fork. Proverbs 25:17 (KJV): Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

We are admonished not to over-extend our visits to the homes of others. Frequent visits can become an invasion of privacy and destroy friendships. Some who are guilty of this are also prone to gossip and laziness. When I was young, I had a neighbor who would bring her children over to my house when she came for a visit. At first it was enjoyable, but then she started dropping by every day, wanting to talk. I soon found her to be as undisciplined as her children were. She was so intent on telling me the next thing on her mind, that she was oblivious to her children who were making a mess of my house. Eventually, I had to ask her to limit her visits, since she was preventing me from getting my work done. She ignored my request, and I was soon praying about how to deal with her intrusion into my life. If I did not have the Lord in my life, I could have ended up disliking her immensely. Paul warned Timothy of a similar problem that developed with young widows in the early Church: Moreover, as they go about from house to house, they learn to be idlers, and not only idlers, but gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not say and talking of things they should not mention (1 Timothy 5:12 AMP). A busybody is someone who is always interfering in other peoples affairs. My neighbor fell into that category. When she could no longer come to my house every day, she found other women who would entertain her, and she made the rounds with her gossip. Her own house was never clean because she was never home to do any work. I invited her to attend church with me, but she found it too difficult to get up on Sundays and dress her children. Eventually, she not only lost many friends, but also her husband. He grew tired of a dirty house, a wandering wife, neglected children, and not having his meals cooked on time. The Bible admonishes against being idle busybodies: For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). If we take care of our own homes and businesses, it shuts the door for the devil having opportunity to lead us astray. I have known many women who destroyed their marriages because they would not heed this advice. Because they would not work quietly at home, they fell into sin with some seemingly godly man who was full of deceit. The Bible says to turn away from such people. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts (1 Timothy 3:5-6). Proverbs 25:18 (KJV): A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Todays proverb emphasizes how hurtful a false testimony can be. This form of lying under formal witness is forbidden in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16). A false witness damages you and your reputation or career. One can do as much damage to your intangible possessions by lying about you as he can do to your car with a sledgehammer. He also wounds your soul with a gash as real as a stab to the body. To hear a neighbor bear false witness, you feel just as much attacked as if he had come at you with a drawn sword. If you are not present when he speaks, its affect is like an arrow fired without your knowing. Suddenly, without warning, it strikes and injures you deeply. We all know it is a crime to give false testimony in court, but we should be aware that in a sense we give a positive or negative witness every time we say something about a person. Repeating damaging rumors or negative gossip is akin to bearing false witness. People are always judging each other. When we talk about someone, it is like testifying in an informal, social courtroom. The informal judgments that society makes, whether that society is the populace of a large city, small town, or a circle of friends, can be just as damaging to someone as the formal judgments of a court of law. God will not hold us guiltless for this. Davids cry to God regarding his enemies is very insightful: My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword (Psalm 57:4). When the Holy Spirit comes in our heart, He begins to cleanse us from unrighteousness and remove those things in us that do not look like Jesus. Years ago, when I made a total commitment and surrender to God, the first thing He dealt within my life was the sin of gossip. He revealed that my critical words were bringing destruction to my life, as well as others. Scripture makes many references to the tongue. Because the power of life and death is in the tongue, we are to guard them very carefully. Our words will make or break us; give us victory or destroy us according to Proverbs 18:20-21: A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. When we lie or gossip, our negative words go out into the spiritual dimension to unleash destructive power. We must learn to speak what is good and pray for everyone, even our enemies, so that our words release blessing. Proverbs 25:19 (KJV): Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. Relying on an undependable person is as fruitless and painful as eating with a broken tooth or walking on a foot that is out of joint. We need to be careful where we place our confidence. If a man has been proven to be unfaithful, we should never expect to depend on him when trouble comes. It is important to develop our friendships with people upon whom we can rely. How do we know if a person will be trustworthy or not? One way to determine a persons reliability is to observe the things they do. Even children are known by their actions according to Proverbs 20:11: Even a child is known by his doings, whether his

work be pure, and whether it be right. Jesus also spoke of three areas of responsibility that reveal faithfulness or a lack of it. The first test is to see how they handle the small matters of life. Second, we can observe how they handle their money, and finally, how they take care of another persons property or affairs. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own (Luke 16:10-12). Tithing may seem a small matter, but it reveals a great deal about a persons reliability. During our many years of pastoring our church, my husband and I noticed that people who never tithed because they did not have enough money; didnt give when they had more. They never gave when they got a raise, sold something, came into an inheritance, or the like. Conversely, those who gave out of small incomes always gave more when God blessed them with more. How people handle their money in other ways also reveals responsibilityif they are a faithful person or not; such as paying bills on time and living within their means. The Bible says if we are not faithful with unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money and possessions), we will not be faithful with the things of God. According to todays verse, it would be wise not to trust in those who are unfaithful, and especially not to call on them when you are in trouble. Choose a faithful friend instead. Dependable friends are invaluable, but even they are limited and can fail us. God, however, never fails or forsakes us. He is always able to help us through natural or supernatural means. He is the most faithful friend anyone can have and He will stand with us even if all others forsake us. As His children, we also need to be good and faithful people, helping others in need and glorifying our Father. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). Proverbs 25:20 (KJV): 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. Relating to those who are experiencing great sorrow requires sensitivity. To sing songs or to behave light-heartedly is insensitive; to make light of their predicament is like pouring salt on a wound. It is as likely to bring discomfort as taking someones coat from him in cold weather, or as bad as mixing vinegar with soda, which causes a bubbling chemical reaction. There is an appropriate time and season for everything, including mourning and laughter (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4). The New Testament also admonishes us along these same lines. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep (Romans 12:15). Even unbelievers understand this concept; no one needs to be told to celebrate at weddings or mourn at funerals. As Christians, however, we are to share as deeply in the sorrows as well as joys of our brethren. When they rejoice over

their blessings, we should rejoice with them. When they are hurting, we should do all that we can to bring them comfort and hope. We ought also to remember our Christian brethren throughout our country and abroad. We should be the first to help in practical ways when people suffer in the wake of natural disasters. We ought daily to remember those suffering persecution for their faith in Christ in other countries, supporting them in prayer as if we were in prison with them (Hebrews 13:3). And we should give generously to Christian organizations, through which we can support their needs and those of their families. We are to be known for our love for one another (John 13:34-35). The Bible tells us that there is a time and season for everything; weeping, as well as laughing. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4). In suffering, as in all things, Christians have many advantages unknown to those who do not trust in Christ. Our weeping will be turned into joy. Jesus will remove all grief from our souls if we ask Him to do it for us. In exchange for our sorrow, He gives us a peace that is beyond our understanding (Philippians 4:6-7; John 16:33). Unlike those who are lost, our sorrow is only temporal. When we enter heaven, our bodies will be changed, and there will be no more pain or death; this is Gods promise to all that make Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives (Revelation 21:3-4). Another advantage is that we do not grieve as those who are without Christ and without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We shall be reunited with our loved ones who knew Christ. We shall see them again and together rejoice in Him forever. Until then, we must be alert and sensitive to those who are hurting. 21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
We can overcome evil from an enemy by helping him, but we can do this only with Gods enabling power, through the impartation of His love for others to our hearts. This is the kind of love that Jesus demonstrated by coming to earth in order to die on the cross in our place for our sins. He was raised from the dead by Father God. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him... Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:33-34a). We are called to follow in His steps and demonstrate that same kind of love to those who persecute us. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously... (1 Peter 2:21-23). I have often wondered what the expression, heaping coals of fire upon his head meant, since it sounded like a hostile action. However, I discovered that it was referring to the way fires were started in Biblical times. The general populace used small clay ovens for cooking and heating their homes, and they used wood or grass in them. Most of the ovens were easily portable and women would carry them on their

heads. The ovens were stoked at night so that there would be live coals left in the morning by which to start a fire for breakfast. If the coals died out in the night, the practice was to find a neighbor who had some live coals, and borrow from them. A woman would go to her neighbor, carrying her clay oven on her head. Therefore, the reference about heaping coals of fire on their head, would be an act of kindness. As children of God, we are called to overcome evil with good, to go the second mile, to bless those who persecute us and to do good to our enemies (Romans 12:17-21). By doing these things, we will not only demonstrate Gods love but also conquer evil. When we help our enemies, it pleases God our Father, who treats His enemies in the same way. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:44-48).

23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. 24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
Verse 23 As surely as the north wind brings rain after the long dry season, speaking evil of someone in their absence produces anger; if not in those listening, in the slandered person when he hears it. Backbiters expect others to agree with them. In mixed company, they can address the friends, as well as the enemies of the person they attack, bringing trouble upon themselves. No one wants to be around a backbiter except other backbiters. Their talk is spiteful and unpleasant. Common sense tells you that anyone who will talk to you about others will also talk about you. There is a danger of being drawn into their sin, if you listen to them and happen not to like the person of whom they complain. That is one reason we should not give an ear to people like that. However, the main reason that we should avoid gossip and backbiting is because it will drive us from Gods presence. Hearing someone slander others behind their backs should be as unpleasant to Gods children as being caught in a heavy rain driven by a cold, blasting wind. We should let it be known, by our expressions if nothing else, that we disapprove of such talk. Notice in Psalm 15:1-3, the qualities of those who abide in Gods presence: LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. Verse 24 This is a repeat of Proverbs 21:9, which we looked at on Day 203. We noted earlier that when Scripture repeats something, it is like a red flag; it should draw our attention. God intends marriage to be a life-long commitment. We must choose the one with whom we will spend our lives with great care. Any character flaws that we notice in someone (including ourselves) before marriage will be amplified afterward. Contentious people make life miserable for those around them. Continual nagging can, in time, destroy friendships and even marriages. We must guard what we say, as well as what we give an ear to. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it (Psalm 34:12-14).

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. When we are far from home and hear good news, it is like a drink of cold water when one is crossing the desert. Every living thing needs water for health and survival. Even slight dehydration causes impaired function and drowsiness. What water is to our bodies, God is to our spirit and soul. Without God, our

spirits are dead and our souls parched. The good news of Jesus Christ from that distant land of heaven, truly refreshes the soul parched by separation from God. The Bible contains many allegories in which water symbolizes spiritual truths. Jesus Himself described the Holy Spirit as the living water which He gives to men. John 4:7-15 recounts Jesus giving this living water to a Samaritan woman whom he met at the well: ...whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. When the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we have access to the Source of life; to all that we will ever need. His presence is a well that never runs dry. Many of our Christian songs have expressions about coming to Jesus when we are spiritually thirsty and receiving that wonderful drink of living water that quenches our thirst. We are commanded to be baptized in water once we have received Christ. However, John spoke of another baptism that Jesus Himself would perform, the baptism in the Holy Spirit. In this baptism, rivers of living water flow out of us, as Jesus declared (John 7:37-39). Many Christians know the reality of the Holy Spirit, but have never received the baptism in the Holy Spirit which gives us the power needed to overcome in Christ. This gift of God is available to whoever asks for it. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13, also Acts 1:8). There were Christians in Pauls day who did not know that the Holy Spirit was available to them. Paul said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost... And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:2,6). Many people have been born again and have the Holy Spirit working in their lives, but they have never received the Baptism in the Holy Ghost which equips them for service and gives them the power needed to overcome in Christ. This gift of God is available to us, if we ask for it. If, as a Christian, you know that the Holy Spirit dwells within you but you have not known Gods power to overcome sin, to witness, or to know God in His fullness, you can ask Him to baptize you in the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 25:26 (KJV): A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. We should be as springs of living water to people who are thirsting for God. A spring polluted by bacteria brings disease instead of life. It is unfit to drink from. If we yield to compromise, our Christian witness becomes muddied, thus allowing unbelievers to mock us. The Old Testament relates that the people of Judah became like polluted springs

and were led away to exile in Babylon because of their sins. Jerusalem lay in ruins for many years and became a picture of a Christian whose life is wasted by the enemy. Nehemiah was a Jewish exile in Persia who became the kings cupbearer. This position enabled him to obtain permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild it. Because of his uncompromised integrity, God chose him to lead in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. When he met with ridicule and threats of attack, he resorted to prayer. When he was confronted with discouragement, he leaned on God and overcame it. When he discovered corruption and greed inJerusalems rulers, he confronted them in a godly manner. Through his example of unselfishness, during his 12-year term as governor, he rebuilt the moral, civil, and physical walls of Jerusalem. To rebuild the churchs reputation and morality of our nations, we must be people of integrity. Too many Christians have become polluted springs. How does this happen? Many fall into sin because they accept leadership too soon. Integrity takes time to establish. Early promotion leads to pride, which precedes a fall. One who has not learned to withstand Satans common attacks that come upon all believers cannot bear his crushing attacks that are aimed at leaders. Look carefully at the qualifications for leaders listed in 1 Timothy 3:2-7, An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine, or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil (NASB). Whether or not we become church leaders, we all must walk in integrity. A good place to begin that walk is by watching what we say (James 3:9-13). By allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us of any sin, we can keep our words and heart attitudes pure. By guarding our hearts, we can keep from becoming a polluted spring.

Proverbs 25:27-28 (KJV): 27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. 28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Verse 27 Honor and glory are sweet to the soul like honey is to the tongue, but eating too much honey is unhealthy. It is good to receive honor and glory from others when one is deserving of it, but we should not do something simply to enjoy mens praises. Seeking ones own glory can range from boasting or showing

off to seeking admiration for deeds or possessions. It is motivated by pride, which precedes a fall (Proverbs 16:18). The desire for glory is part of the pride of life. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (1 John 2:16-17). At times it is fitting to honor people for their accomplishments. However, if we are the recipient of those honors, they should be received with a humble heart. We should also remember to give praise to the others who helped us in the accomplishments. We need to acknowledge that if we are able to accomplish anything, it is because God has gifted us with the ability, strength, and desire to achieve those things. The best and brightest of us are prone to weakness and error. Confidence in ones own abilities is a poor foundation upon which to build ones life. It is like the sand upon which the foolish man built his house (Matthew 7:24-27). If we rely on self instead of building upon a foundation of faith in God, we will at some point in life face a situation we cannot handle by ourselves. If our own confidence does not crumble under the attack of the devil in this life, it will crumble in the day of judgment. Only God can defeat the devils attacks. Verse 28 In Biblical times, cities were protected by thick walls. Huge gates were open in the day, allowing for tradesmen to come and go, and shut at night against intruders. Spiritually, each Christian is like a city and our faith in Christ like a strong wall. Our faith will protect us if we practice Gods Word. Scripture instructs us to rule our spirits; to exercise self-control. Being undisciplined makes us as vulnerable to temptation as a broken city wall is to an army. We need to strengthen our walls so that our cities (our inner beings) can grow in Christ. Self-control includes guarding our gates and not permitting ungodliness to enter. If we allow sin to enter, the enemy can torment us. Jesus Christ is an impenetrable fortress and high tower of safety to which we can run (2 Samuel 22:1-4). He is the one who keeps our hearts sound and steady so that we are able to resist the enemies attacks. In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:1-4).

v2 Mysteries prove that God is great. But a king is great if he understands a mystery. v3 The skies are high. The earth is deep. And nobody can know the heart of a king. v4 Remove the dirt from the silver! And the skilled workman will make a beautiful object. v5 Remove evil people from the government!

And the king will rule well. v6 Do not try to be important. Do not sit with the great men. v7 Then the king will say to you, Come here! You are important! But otherwise, he will say, Go away! Other men are more important than you. Verse 2 Mysteries show one way that kings differ from God. We know that God is great. We see many mysteries that are the works of God. We see plants and animals. But we do not know how God made them. We do not even know how our own bodies work. These things are mysteries to us. But they are the works of God. Because of such mysteries, we realise that God is great. But a king is great if he understands mysteries. The king needs to realise if his people are unhappy. And he has to decide what he should do. The solution to the problem might be a mystery. The decision may be difficult. The king needs the best advisers. But if the kings decision is right, then he is a great king. Verse 3 We cannot see all the stars, because the sky is too high. And we cannot know a kings emotions or secret thoughts. In public, the king might seem bold. But in private, he might be afraid. Verses 4-5 The workman cannot make a beautiful object with dirty silver. And the king cannot rule well if his government is evil. Paul taught us to pray for kings and governments (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Verses 6-7 This is similar to Jesus words in Luke 14:7-11. We should be humble. Then God will give honour to us. v8 When you see something, do not argue too quickly. Perhaps you are wrong about your neighbour. Then you will be ashamed. v9 Instead, discuss the matter with your neighbour himself. Do not tell his secrets to other people. v10 Otherwise, someone may hear, who can make you ashamed. And everyone will blame you. v11 The right words are like gold apples on a silver tray. v12 A wise man corrects someone who listens. The wise mans words are beautiful and valuable, like gold. v13 Choose a man whom you can trust to deliver your message. He will please you. He is like cool snow during the harvest. v14 Sometimes there are clouds and winds, but no rain falls. And sometimes a man promises gifts, but he gives nothing.

v15 A patient man can convince a ruler. A gentle word is like a hammer that can break a bone! Verses 8-10 If you are unhappy with someone, you should discuss the matter with that person first. You should not gossip. Verse 11 We should always want to say the right words. The right words are beautiful, like gold. The right words are valuable, like silver. But the right words are also rare, like silver or gold. People do not often say the right words. Instead, they say the wrong words. For example, people speak their own ideas. Or they make evil plans. Or they gossip. Or they insult people. Or they lie, or they argue. And these words are the wrong words. But the right words are wise. The right words teach us about God. The right words help us. They comfort us. Let us speak the right words! Verse 12 Many people do not like correction. These people do not want to know that their actions are wrong. But when someone accepts correction, that person is glad. That person is glad because he will not continue to do the wrong things. So that person praises the wise man. The wise person has taught a beautiful lesson to the other person. And the other person thinks that the lesson was valuable, like gold. Verse 13 You can trust this man. He does the things that he promises. He will deliver your letter. And you will be as happy as a man who finds snow on a hot day. As Christians, we should do the things that we have promised to do. Then other people will be able to trust us. And these people will learn from us that they can also trust God. Verse 14 Solomon lived in a dry country. His people needed rain for their crops. So the people were sad when the clouds did not bring rain. This man behaved like these clouds. He did not do the things that he promised. His promises seemed genuine. But he never gave the gifts that he promised. He should not have promised these things. Jesus said, Yes means yes. And no means no. Any other ideas are from the devil. (Matthew 5:37. See also James 5:12.) Verse 15

A patient person can achieve great things. His gentle words may not seem as impressive as other peoples words. But the patient person will continue until he succeeds. And, in the end, his gentle words are very powerful. See James 5:7-11. v16 If you eat too much honey, then you will be sick. v17 If you visit your neighbour too often, then he will hate you. Verses 16-17 Honey is good. But too much honey will make you sick. Friendship is good. And visits to your neighbour are good. But you must be careful. Your neighbour needs to meet other people. And your neighbour needs to do other things. If you visit your neighbour too often, then you will upset your neighbour. We must learn how to control our own behaviour. v18 Some people use a whip, a sword, or an arrow. Other people lie about their neighbour. v19 Some people have a bad tooth or a bad foot. Other people trust a fool when they are in trouble. v20 Some people will steal a coat on a cold day. Or, they will pour acid on soap. Other people sing when someone is sad. Verse 18 There are many cruel people who want to attack their neighbour. They could hurt their neighbour with a whip. Or they might use a sword. But you can also hurt your neighbour if you lie about him. You might argue, My lie is merely words. Words do not hurt. But your neighbour will suffer because of your evil words (Exodus 20:16). Verse 19 A bad tooth causes pain. And it continues to cause pain. A fool is an evil man who hates wisdom. You cannot trust this evil man. He will not help you when you are in trouble. Instead, he will cause you to suffer. His advice will be evil. And his actions will be evil. So you will continue to suffer. Verse 20 These people are all cruel. If someone steals a coat on a cold day, then that thief is very cruel. If someone pours acid on soap, that person is cruel. He spoils the soap. Now, nobody can use the soap. A singer might not seem cruel. But this singer is cruel also. Someone is sad. But this singer is happy. The singer does not think about the sad man. And the singer does not try to help the sad man. Instead, the singer continues

to sing. And this upsets the sad man. So the sad man becomes sadder. And the singer does not even realise that his actions are cruel. v21 If your enemy is hungry, then give food to him. If your enemy needs a drink, then give water to him. v22 He will feel as if burning coal is on his head. But God will reward you. Verses 21-22 Do not attack your enemy! Do not fight him! Instead, trust God! God will protect you. Pray for your enemy! Love your enemy! Jesus taught this lesson in Matthew 5:43-48. While Jesus was dying, he prayed for his enemies (Luke 23:34). And Jesus forgave a criminal who insulted him (Mark 15:32 and Luke 23:39-43). Your enemy might be upset when you help him. He does not want to accept your kind gifts. He might continue to insult you. But God sees that your actions are right. And God will reward you. v23 The wind brings rain. A secret whisper brings an angry reaction. v24 One man lives on the corner of his roof. His life is better than the man who lives with an arguing wife. v25 Good news from abroad is like a cool drink. Both comfort a tired person. Verse 23 Perhaps you do not want a friend to hear your words. So you whisper. Your friend might not hear your actual words. But he knows that you are whispering. So your friend guesses that your words are not good. Or he guesses that you are gossiping. And he is angry. If you whisper about another person, someone else may repeat your words to that person. Then you can expect an angry reaction from that person. As the wind brings rain, your whisper will cause this angry reaction. Verse 24 If your husband or wife always argues, life is hard. This man has escaped. He has gone to his roof, to avoid the argument. We should try not to argue. Forgive other peoples errors! Learn to be calm! Do not be like this mans wife who continues to argue. Verse 25

We wait for news about our friends and relatives. They may be distant, but we still care about them. And we are glad to hear their good news. We ourselves may have many troubles. But their good news comforts us. v26 Muddy water is more useful than the good man who supports a wicked mans plan. v27 Too much honey is not a good meal. And a man, who tries to be great, is not a great man. v28 A man who has no discipline is like a city without walls. Verse 26 This is terrible. This good man is helping a wicked man with an evil plan. The good man is not trying to do evil things. But he has not realised that he must oppose the plan. He has not realised the evil effects of the wicked mans plan. He did not know that a wicked mans plans are always evil. You should not drink muddy water. It is not safe. But even muddy water is more useful than that good man. The good man ought to be useful. So he ought to oppose the evil plan. Verse 27 You might like honey. But you cannot eat only honey. So you make a mistake if there is too much honey in your meal. This man also has made a mistake. He wants to be a great man. So he pretends that he is already a great man. But he is not a great man. Instead, he is stupid. This man ought to be humble. Then other people will decide whether the man is really great. Verse 28 When Solomons workmen built a city, they built strong walls round that city (1 Kings 9:15-19). The walls were important defences. They protected the city from attack. We ought to learn discipline. Discipline is like the city walls, because discipline makes us strong. We may have many problems. But we shall act wisely if we have discipline.

Proverbs 25:1
These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Here is a reminder we are studying the proverbs of Solomon. We have the personal counsel of a king, whom the LORD inspired with His wisdom. And the proverbs we have were selected from many by the careful work of men appointed by Hezekiah the king. There is value in this verse of Scripture, or the LORD would not have given it to us. There are two intermissions in the book of Proverbs, one at 10:1 and one here. He is giving us a break to consider again what special words we are reading. Let us consider it closely, and we will see that here also is wisdom for our learning. God gave Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, much wisdom and a large heart (I Kgs 3:10-15). He immediately showed Israel his great sense of judgment by dealing with two harlots in a wonderful way (I Kgs 3:16-28). He was wiser than all men, and wise men and kings came from all nations to hear him speak on any subject (I Kgs 4:29-34). God also gave Solomon the other things needed for a full experiment in discovering the purpose and pleasure for life. He was a very attractive man (I Sam 16:12; II Sam 11:2); he had unlimited capital (Eccl 2:10), he had no wars or disturbances (I Kgs 4:24-25), and he was an absolute ruler at the height of the power of the Israelite nation (I Kgs 4:20-21)! Consider! He was incredibly skilled and desirable socially; he could afford anything he wanted; he had no opposition or wars to distract him; and everyone would do exactly what he wanted. His great laboratory for experimenting about life was exceptional. No man or group of men, before or since, can even approach his research opportunities or ability in analyzing and summarizing the results. Surveying the homeless doesn't cut it! Solomon committed his life to discovering man's purpose and pleasure in life (Eccl 1:3,12-13). He tried it all, and then some. Wealth? Silver was as common as gravel (I Kgs 10:14-29)! Women? He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, many of whom he loved with his extra large heart (I Kgs 11:1-3)! Entertainment? He tried everything there was to try, in staggering excess (Eccl 2:1-10)! Prestige? The wise men and kings of the earth came with presents annually to hear him talk (I Kgs 10:1-25)! At the end of his grand and glorious experiment of life, he carefully sought out good words to teach his people the truth about what he had learned. He summarized his vast learning in 3000 meticulously devised and acceptable proverbs - short, substantial, and powerful sayings of truth and wisdom for the people to learn his knowledge (Eccl 12:9-10). And the proverbs were further refined by divine inspiration (Eccl 12:11)! Can you hear from heaven, "These are the true sayings of God" (Rev 19:9)? Where does Hezekiah fit in? He was a glorious king in his own right, a descendant of David and Solomon (II Chron 32:27-30). He was exceptionally wise and zealous in the reformation and revival of true religion in Israel, like in the days of David and Solomon (II Chron 29:2; 30:21-27; 31:1-21). He appointed men, under the direct guidance of God, to select the proverbs used from this point to the end of the book of Proverbs. What an incredible gift! Can you believe it? You have a book of about 500 of the choicest proverbs of Solomon's learning, revised to perfection by the Creator God, and carefully selected by the appointment of another great king. Here is the wisdom of the greatest king and of God Himself for you to live prosperously. Glory! Thank you, Lord.

Now, dear reader, what will you do with these short, pithy statements of wisdom called proverbs? Will you read them as quaint sayings of ancient religious literature? Will you marvel at their brevity and variety? Or will you humble yourself before them with a trembling heart and beg the Lord to teach you in your soul all the wisdom each contains? All the wisdom of all authors, even with our information and learning explosion, cannot compare to one of his proverbs (II Tim 3:7). Why read the tome on anthropology of a God-hating, marijuanasmoking, same-sex-loving professor who teaches classes about deviant sexual behavior of one-legged penguins in Madagascar? The verse does have value! It serves as the second intermission, after 10:1, for us to realize once again that we are reading the most glorious words in the universe (along with the rest of Scripture). See the comments on 1:1. Dear reader, you are very blessed! What will you do with this book? How can you put it down for anything else? Can you see the Lord Jesus Christ in this verse? You must, for all of Scripture testifies of Him (John 5:39), especially those parts written by another son of David! The Holy Spirit designed the verse to further whet our appetite for Solomon's proverbs, but with the words of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ we must say, "A greater than Solomon is here"!

Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
God has infinite wisdom of all things. He gloriously acts without revealing His purpose, seeking counsel, or exposing matters to public scrutiny. Kings are much different. Since they understand very little in comparison, they should act only after diligent examination and deliberate consideration. It would be folly for them to act in an arbitrary way, pretending to be wise as God. And all human rulers should follow their prudent example. The world moves according to God's secret will, of which we know little (Deut 29:29). He does not seek counsel or reveal these matters (Job 26:14; Rom 11:33), and there are many such things with Him (Job 23:14; Ps 139:17-18). Only by revelation of Scripture and passage of time do we learn this will. But we have been given His revealed will, the Word of God, by which we are to govern our lives and verify all decisions (Deut 29:29). The LORD deals privately with men, in their souls, and only rarely exposes them to the judgment of others. He often afflicts men in their beds and chastens them in their thoughts (Job 33:14-33). He told Abimelech during the night not to touch Sarah (Gen 20:3), and He told Laban to be gentle with Jacob (Gen 31:24). David knew to use these private times with the Lord (Ps 4:4; 42:8; 63:6; 77:6; 119:147148; 139:17-18). He forgives us daily, of sins large and small, without exposing them to any. For this we should be very thankful, and we should also see His great glory in such gracious concealment. And when we have opportunity to overlook and conceal personal offences against ourselves, it is also our glory (Pr 17:9; 19:11). But it is our duty, with the authority He may have given us in a particular role, to search out matters and deal with them according to the wisdom of Scripture. A noble king must gather all the facts, call wise counselors, examine witnesses, review precedents, consider consequences, and deliberate before drawing a conclusion and making a judgment. Solomon did very wisely in dealing with the two harlots (I Kings 3:9-28). Ahasuerus did so regarding Vashti's rebellion (Esther 1:12-21), but he failed in hastily approving Haman's personal vendetta against the Jews (Esther 3:8-15). God told Moses how authority should deal with hearsay (Deut 13:12-18). They should inquire about it, make search, and ask diligently. If their investigation showed the matter to be true and certain, then

they were to execute the appropriate judgment. The same procedure was to be followed in matters of conflicting testimony (Deut 19:15-21). Job, the perfect and righteous man that he was, followed this godly procedure (Job 29:16). Every authority should copy the noble king. Parents should search out matters regarding their children. Children do not have rights; they have responsibilities and privileges. If there is reason to be suspicious, or even if there is not, wise parents will make diligent inquisition and search to confirm or convict. A sin nipped in the bud, before it is a full grown poisonous plant, is much easier to correct for both parent and child. The father who does not search out things, but hides his head in the sand, is no father worthy of the name. And He will be brought to painful shame (Pr 29:15,17). The father who believes all that he hears without careful investigation exalts simplicity (Pr 14:15). David foolishly let Adonijah go so far in rebellion without questioning him that it cost him his life (I Kgs 1:6; 2:10-25). Let every father reading this proverb be a noble inquisitor. The purpose and wisdom of human rulers is to examine all matters carefully, in order to properly rule and protect their subjects. God never intended careless and/or overbearing rule when He ordained the five spheres of human authority. Rule was not given just for the pleasure of the one reigning, but also for the protection and perfection of those under the reign. Righteous Job even considered the contentions of his servants (Job 31:13-15). It is this honorable aspect of Christian authority that every magistrate, master, father, husband, and pastor should also include in the discharge of their office. While the degree of service to those under authority varies from position to position, it is an important part of using your God-given authority in a holy way. For example, masters rule in employment situations for the profit of the company and themselves; but they are also bound to use that rule equitably and fairly (Eph 6:9; Col 4:1). Our Lord Jesus operates at a level we cannot explain or even define. He divides between the joints and the marrow, and between the soul and the spirit (Heb 4:12-14). All things are naked and opened to Him, but He Himself dwells in a light that no man can approach unto (I Tim 6:16). He searches our reins and hearts (Rev 2:23). Rather than have Him discover our secret sins while trying to hide them, let us open our hearts before Him and beg Him to make merciful examination (Job 34:31-32; Ps 26:2; 139:23-24).

Proverbs 25:3
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Heaven is higher than you can know, and the earth deeper than you can explore. Neither can you know and explore a true king's heart. He has in his soul - classified information, burdens, plans, threats, knowledge, and wisdom you cannot discover. It is folly and presumption to judge him based on your very limited perspective of national matters. Solomon was a king, and the son of a king. He was the wisest politician in earth's history. Having exalted a king's honor to search out matters (Pr 25:2), he contrasted the inability of citizens to search out and understand their king's decisions or actions. Here is wisdom from God to teach you respect for civil rulers (Ex 22:28; Rom 13:1-7; Titus 3:1). How high is high? How high is the sky? How far to the edge of the universe? How deep is deep? What is in the center of the earth? These are questions men only speculate about. They cannot truly know or understand them. The inspired comparison shows man's inferiority in various matters - here the questioning of civil rulers (Ps 103:11; Is 55:9). Many gasped in Solomon's court, when he asked for a sword to cut an infant in two. They were outraged! Kill a baby? Give half to each woman? What callousness! Why was he so impulsive? Why

not ask more questions? Solve a death by another death? Why not select a jury of peers? Why not pay for a public defender and take six months to learn nothing? Why not pay for jail time? The king had wisdom in his heart (I Kings 3:16-28)! Solomon broke a strong promise to his mother, when she asked for Abishag on behalf of Adonijah (I Kgs 2:12-25). And he killed his brother for even asking! Solomon protected his God-given rule from a usurper (I Kgs 1:5-7). A promise to his mother was nothing. It might look like a lie and murder to you, but the king's heart was unsearchable! Some of the harshest language of the New Testament is for those who criticize civil rulers (II Pet 2:1012; Jude 1:8-10). God ridiculed their ignorance of government and declared they ought to be destroyed like brute beasts. He revealed that even angels do not speak disrespectfully against rulers. He condemned them as presumptuous and selfwilled. They are guilty of one of the sins He hates most disrespect of those in authority. Your president deals daily with more information than you and your ten smartest friends could analyze in a month! He faces enormous pressure from many directions for every decision. It is truly folly and selfwilled presumption to criticize his actions, when you do not have a clue about what is happening. And a few anti-government newsletters or websites do not add to your wisdom or ability, because they do not know anything either! While true of kings and presidents, the wisdom of this proverb applies to all authority. Fathers make decisions for families that children do not understand. Business owners do things that employees cannot understand, for they have duties and knowledge in their hearts greater than coffee breaks and punching a time clock. Pastors oversee the flock of God with burdens, convictions, knowledge, and goals unknown to most of the members. If you criticize leaders for things you cannot even learn, it is only fair and right that those under your authority rise up in rebellion and reject your decisions. It is only fair and right they disrespect you. It is only fair and right things do not work out in your life, because you accused or criticized a Godappointed ruler knowing more than you could be taught. How can you apply the proverb? Honor leaders, even in your thoughts, even when their decisions look terrible (Eccl 10:20; I Kgs 12:1-4; I Pet 2:13-17)! Honor your parents by respecting their rules and desires, even in facial expressions (Pr 30:17; Deut 27:16; Eph 6:1-3). Serve your masters as serving Christ, even when they are unfair (Eph 6:5-8; I Pet 2:18-23). Obey your pastor as one who has a deep, holy duty for your soul (Heb 13:7,17). If you are concerned about the decisions being made and the future of your nation, then pray for your rulers! Don't berate or criticize them! Pray for them! This is the will of God for you, even when the rulers are oppressive pagans (I Tim 2:1-3; Jer 29:4-7; Ezra 6:10). What difference does it make, since God is totally in charge (Dan 2:20-22)! There is one King you will never search out! He is the King of kings! "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Dan 4:35.) Dear reader, do you honor this King? Do you trust Him? Do you obey His every request, even when you do not understand them? You will never search this King out, but He will search out every detail of your soul. You will give a complete account of your life to Him, right down to every idle word (Rom 14:10-12; II Cor 5:9-11; Matt 12:36)! Everything you have thought, said, and done is written in His books, which will be opened to examine your sorry case (Rev 20:11-15). If you are one of His, He will inexplicably declare you as His own child to the whole universe and give you an unspeakable eternal inheritance. You will be accepted into heaven's bliss, while the wicked drop down into hell, all through the righteousness and merit of a substitute He provided, which is Jesus Christ. The king's heart is unsearchable! Paul wrote of Him in light of salvation, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge

of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen" (Rom 11:33-36).

Proverbs 25:4
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Silver is mined from the earth with other metals and isolated by refining processes. Silver must be refined numerous times in order to remove all the dross - scum or foreign matter that corrupts the purity of the metal (Pr 17:3; Ps 12:6). After all the dross has been removed, the pure silver can be formed into a fine vessel of beauty with the right characteristics. Here is a wonderful proverb - an obscure and pithy saying carrying a valuable lesson of human experience or wisdom. The proverb does not intend to teach or warn metallurgists or refiners, but it instead borrows a lesson from their work to apply to civil government in particular, and all units of society in general. See the immediate context (Pr 25:5). What is the specific lesson? As refining scum and foreign metals corrupt silver and make it unfit for forming a beautiful vessel, so the scum and foreign matter of wicked persons corrupt a government. For a king to have a glorious and prosperous reign for the benefit of his people, he must purge away all the dross of ambitious, evil, and foolish men (Pr 25:5). A king or other civil ruler must choose noble and wise counselors for his cabinet. Once a covetous, dishonest, or wicked person is detected, at any level of government, he must be quickly put out. By this holy example to the nation, which preserves the government's maximum integrity, the nation can be a beautiful and righteous thing (Pr 14:34). The power and riches of civil government attract sycophants, covetous men, lazy fools, seditious men, traitors, and unprincipled tyrants. If they are allowed to remain in office, the trustworthiness of the ruler and his delegated authority is compromised. What God intended for the safety and prosperity of men becomes their enemy and destroyer. The rule applies to all parts of society. For a marriage to have love and peace, odious women must be rejected (Pr 27:15-16; 30:21-23). For a family to have unity, the scorner should be cast out (Pr 22:10; Deut 21:18-21). For a church to please God and benefit its members, hypocrites must be identified and excluded (Ps 144:11-15; I Cor 5:1-13). If this refining process is neglected, the resulting entity will never amount to its potential. Jethro gave Moses excellent qualifications for rulers under him (Ex 18:21). And King Jehoshaphat strictly charged the judges in his day (II Chron 19:5-11). Both administrations were beautiful things, and the nation prospered in both cases. It is the duty of every leader, from a husband/father to a president, to maintain the peace and righteousness of both family and nation by eliminating scornful or seditious elements. Ahasuerus saved the integrity of marriage throughout the Persian Empire by divorcing Queen Vashti, lest the women of the kingdom turn against their husbands (Esth 1:10-22). David sacrificed the integrity of his reign by retaining his nephew Joab as captain of the army, which cost him and the nation several seditions (II Sam 3:28-39). And he did this, in spite of strongly committing to follow the wisdom of the proverb (Ps 101:1-8). He saved Solomon from the same mistake by instructing him to kill Joab (I Kgs 2:5-6). The Lord Jesus Christ is a perfect King and Refiner! He loves righteousness and hates iniquity (Ps 45:6-7; Heb 1:8-9). He will not allow the foolish in His sight (Ps 5:5; Matt 7:21-23). He has purified all the elect by His blood to be kings and priests unto God and offer perfect sacrifices (Mal 3:1-5; Rev 1:5-

6). The day is coming in which He will purge the universe of all offending persons (Matt 13:37-52; 25:31-46). Reader, repent today!

Proverbs 25:5
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Wise rulers have counselors to assist in decisions. They cannot know all the details of every part of the kingdom or nation, so they rely on counselors for help. But if these advisors are wicked, a good ruler will be corrupted by evil influence and deceit. These evil men must be removed, so the kingdom or nation can prosper in righteousness. The context adds further weight to this proverb (Pr 25:4). A good ruler is silver, and wicked advisors are the dross. If the dross is taken away, the purified ruler will be able to lead his kingdom to wonderful prosperity. Righteousness exalts a nation, therefore wickedness must be publicly crushed to obtain God's blessing (Pr 14:34; 20:26). Dross is a good term for the scum that gathers in high places to siphon a living from legitimate rulers. But a great leader will drive them away with the refiner's fire (Pr 20:8). Wise and faithful counselors are crucial for successful government. The longevity of a ruler is dependent on righteousness (Pr 16:12; 29:14). The grave concern facing every leader is to find wise and faithful counselors. King David rejected evil men from his service and company (Ps 101:3-8; 119:63). And he gave deathbed instructions for Solomon to kill two of them, even though one was his nephew and had served as general of the army his entire reign (I Kgs 2:5-10). Asa removed his mother from being queen in a national revival of righteousness (I Kgs 15:13). Jethro told Moses, "Thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them" (Ex 18:21). And King Jehoshaphat charged the judges in his day, "Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts" (II Chron 19:6-7). What glorious wisdom! Dear reader, give God the glory! In addition to making us wise unto salvation, the Bible is also a political manual of no mean proportions. Read the following examples of bad and good counselors, and then consider our nation's plight. Rehoboam could have followed his father, Solomon, as king of Israel. Because Solomon had heavily taxed the nation, the people offered to serve Rehoboam forever, if he would ease their burden a little. Instead of listening to the wise advice of his father's counselors and reducing taxes, he followed the advice of his young friends and harshly threatened the nation with higher taxes. Ten tribes revolted and left Rehoboam only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (I Kings 12:1-19). Rehoboam never ruled his father's expansive nation a single day, for wicked counselors cost him most of it. Haman was a wicked counselor of King Ahasuerus of the Persian Empire. Hating the Jews, because of Mordecai's lack of public worship, he slandered them to the king and enticed the King to authorize their extermination. It was only by the intervention of Esther the queen that she, Mordecai, and the rest of her people were saved. Haman was justly hanged with his sons at Esther's request. A whole book of the Bible is written to describe this wicked intrigue and God's protection of His people, in spite of a wicked counselor who had the ear of the king. Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, was tetrarch of Galilee from 4 BC - AD 39. He married his brother Philip's wife, Herodias, contrary to the law, for which John the Baptist rebuked him. Herod feared John, knew he was just and holy, and heard him gladly. But Herodias used a subtle ploy to trap Herod into beheading him against his will, for she hated John for his criticism of her marriage (Mark 6:17-29). Herodias should have been cooking supper instead of a plot to destroy the prophet. After assisting in the punishment and crucifixion of our blessed Lord, both Herod and Herodias were exiled

to Spain by the emperor Caligula. However, when Pharaoh needed a man to oversee the largest food storage and distribution plan in the history of the world, where embezzlement and fraud could have been rife, he chose Joseph. He said to his servants regarding him, "Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" And he made him the highest ruler in Egypt because "there is none so discreet and wise as thou art." Daniel, a Jewish captive, served Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius the Mede, Cyrus the Persian, and several other kings over a period of seventy-five years. As it was often customary to kill previous counselors for concern of loyalty when an empire changed hands, this tenure is phenomenal. How and why did it occur? Daniel was a glorious and righteous counselor by faithfulness and God's great blessings (Dan 1:19-21; 2:48-49; 5:11; 6:25-28). When Daniel was intensely scrutinized and investigated by jealous peers, "they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him" (Dan 6:4). The lesson is simple. Paul taught it as well. "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (I Cor 15:33). False information and wicked influence destroys truth and justice. Men of evil character must be avoided or removed. The consequences of breaking this rule are much greater for a king than just a single citizen. A whole nation can suffer greatly, if wicked men corrupt a ruler with wicked advice and deceit. Our great nation is cursed with a Legion of men and women who are not fit to counsel a daycare, and yet our highest rulers are often subject to their subtle and dangerous influence. They include lobbyists, news analysts, public relations specialists, speechwriters, pollsters, interns, special interest groups, party donors, aides, and other sycophants who prey on the legitimate work of qualified men. This bureaucratic bloat is a national judgment for our sins (Pr 28:2). Saints must pray for God to deliver our elected and appointed rulers from them (I Tim 2:1-2). Every man must keep his rule as husband, father, employer, or pastor pure from corruption. The only perfect counsel for these offices is found in the Word of God, which is superior to the opinions of all men and able to make the man of God perfect (Ps 119:98-100; II Tim 3:16-17). Let every man beware of false teachers who creep into houses and lead captive silly women through family radio and seminar notebooks (II Tim 3:6-7). You soon may have your own Herodias to control! Let every employer examine the character of his assistants; and let every pastor carefully measure any elders. There is one King for Whom we need not worry. There are no evil advisors in His presence. The wicked shall not stand in His sight - He hates all workers of iniquity (Ps 5:5). No one without perfectly sanctified character shall ever enter His kingdom (Rev 21:27). There are no angels, princes, popes, priests, or pastors to reign with him, for He reigns alone without assistance (Is 59:16-21; 63:1-6; I Tim 6:15; Rev 12:5-9). God has ordained His throne forever, and of the increase of his government there shall be no end (Ps 45:6; 89:4,29,36; Is 9:7; Heb 1:8). It is established in perfect righteousness (Ps 45:6-7; Heb 1:8-9). This is the throne and kingdom of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. You may trust His reign absolutely! Trust and serve Him today!

Proverbs 25:6
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Here is wisdom to advance in approval with God and men. Wisdom includes discretion; discretion includes humility; humility includes reservation; and reservation is holding yourself back from speaking or interacting with important people. A wise man will never put himself forward in the presence of other persons unless it is absolutely necessary. The proverb continues, "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" (Pr 25:7). It is better to let others ask you to speak or sit with them than to be told to shut up or turned out from their company. Leave it to others to invite or praise you (Pr 25:27; 27:2). Jesus also taught this rule, by saying, "When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee." A wise man is never shamed by presuming on the affection or acceptance of others. He knows that silence often leaves a better impression than speaking, remaining detached and distant better than flaunting oneself (Pr 17:27-28). He knows that thinking too highly of himself is foolish self-deception and offensive vainglory (Rom 12:3; Phil 2:3-4). A wise man knows that even when a group of persons does not tell him to shut up or leave, they are often thinking those very things! He would rather have those same persons earnestly desiring his presence or counsel rather than wishing he would go elsewhere. It is to the great shame of many men and women that they presume others are infatuated with their presence or mesmerized by their stories and words. Diotrophes, a presumptuous man, who loved the preeminence in a church, proved he was not of God (III John 1:9-11). Such a spirit and conduct cannot be tolerated in a ministerial candidate, for he must be a servant, not a lord (Luke 22:24-27; I Tim 3:6; I Pet 5:1-4). If you would be wise, you must hold yourself back from intruding into group discussions or activities where you were not invited, especially when the persons in the group are your superiors in any measure. If you have any value to them, they will soon request your presence or advice. Until then, it is better to be withdrawn and silent, safe from shame.

Proverbs 25:7
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.
Humility will win the favor of God and men. Humility is crucial to be a great Christian, a successful leader, a gracious person, or a man with friends. True humility never presumes upon the activities or presence of others. It is far better to be invited than to invite yourself, because you may and should be rejected on the basis of your own presumption! Let others make you important rather than trying to do so yourself (Pr 25:27; 27:2). Only half of the proverb is here. These words are the explanation and reward for taking a humble approach in public gatherings. The first half declares, "Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men..." Solomon taught humility by explaining good manners in public assemblies. It is better to take a back seat and be invited forward than to take a front seat and be asked to move back before those present. The Lord Jesus Christ used the same illustration for humility, when He saw proud guests at a meal choosing the better seats (Luke 14:7-10). With greater detail than Solomon, as a parable is more detailed than a proverb, Jesus described the public shame of being asked to move lower versus the public honor of being asked to move higher! He concluded by declaring that He would reward humility and punish pride (Luke 14:11). Beware! While the shame of public dishonor and rejection makes the proverb potent and valuable, the pride of

your soul is what must be identified and eliminated. Proud actions that offend others are merely the symptoms of an arrogant spirit and haughty heart. True humility begins in the soul, where you admit your worthlessness before God and commit yourself to serving others rather than expecting and demanding them to honor and serve you. How are you in group discussions? Can you calmly and patiently listen to others speak, or are you agitated with the need to talk? What about one-on-one conversations? Must you respond to every statement with one of your own? Why is it crucial for you to speak? Why do you feel the need? You are violating the principle of humility taught by this proverb. You should remain silent in most cases until your opinion is specifically sought. Your future success requires humility. God Himself will surely bring you down, if you do not hate pride and arrogancy (Pr 8:13; 15:25; 16:5; Job 40:9-14). Men will reject you for friendship or business, for most men resent a haughty spirit (Pr 13:10; 26:12,16; 28:11). And you will make costly mistakes, for pride is blinding and deceitful (Pr 11:2; 16:18; 29:23).

Proverbs 25:8
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.
Slow down! Haste makes waste! And haste can put you to shame! Slow down! If you are in a conflict with another person, do not react hastily. Do not rush to any action. Calm down; sit down; slow down. Think through every angle carefully, or you will miss the obvious and be put to shame by your enemy and not know what to do. Slow down! Conflict and strife are regular parts of life in a sinful world. They evoke strong passions, which cause men to rush to action. They want to rectify the situation immediately, but such haste in a conflict can easily leave a man exposed to the wiser reaction of his opponent. The human heart and its demand for haste must be ruled (Pr 16:32). A passionate response is usually a poor one. It is better to let passions cool before planning any action. The mind is usually not fully engaged, when the heart is pounding and the emotions are raging. Cool off first, before you do anything or even plan anything. "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (Jas 1:19-20). A multitude of counselors makes for safety in war (Pr 20:18; 24:6)! What blessed wisdom! And they cannot be just any counselors; they must be wise, experienced, and sober. They should be uninvolved third parties, who can think objectively and wisely. They should have experience in battle, and they do not need to be close friends. Friendship blinds eyes and stops ears, so seek counselors who will not become inflamed with you. Unless you are very careful, small conflicts will escalate quickly into much larger wars (Pr 17:14). Responding foolishly without due deliberation is the mark of a fool, and such a reaction usually deserves punishment (Pr 18:6). Forcing wrath will bring forth more strife, just as surely as the churning of milk brings forth butter (Pr 30:33). Slow down! Kings go to battle slowly. Jesus said, "Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace" (Luke 14:31-32). If you have ever slept on a conflict, with a mind toward fearing God and loving wisdom, you woke in the morning with a very different perspective than what you went to bed with. This is wisdom. By

allowing some time to pass, your passions cooled, your mind had time to clear foolish emotions, and the Holy Spirit could direct you. Lord, help us.

Proverbs 25:9
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Prove your character. Measure your nobility. Check your virtue. Here is a key rule of wisdom that most violate daily. Distinguish yourself before God and men. Are you discreet? Can you be trusted? The choice and discipline of great character is here. Noble men handle personal matters privately to protect reputations and minimize trouble. Personal and private matters should stay personal and private. If you have an issue with a person, resolve it with them. No one else needs to know. Telling anyone else about it are the sins of backbiting, whispering, and talebearing. Not only should you keep this rule of wisdom yourself, you should diligently help others keep it as well (Pr 25:23). Here is rich wisdom. Solomon condemned a common fault. Most people love themselves and hate others, so they share private controversies with others not involved, rather than settle them personally and quietly. Much of the dissension and fighting among men is caused by the frequent violation of this simple proverb (Pr 26:20-22; 16:28; 18:8). Exposing private information about a person is to rape their reputation. It is a serious offence. It is summarized in the Ten Commandments by the sixth article, Thou shalt not kill, for any hateful activity toward another breaks this law (Matt 5:21-22). Only foolish or wicked people have no regard for the character or reputations of others. The quantity and severity of Bible warnings against this sin prove how much God hates it. The sin is addressed in both testaments several times (Lev 19:16; Ps 15:3; Rom 1:29-30). Solomon frequently condemned it in these Proverbs (Pr 11:13; 20:19; 26:22). If you love your neighbor, as in the second great commandment of God, you will deal privately. It is easiest to violate this rule with spouse or family. Most will say things to a spouse they would not say to others; but the damage has been done anothers reputation has been damaged, and they have soured their spouses view of that person. Families should only discuss faults or offences among themselves if absolutely necessary for godly ends. Guard against influences toward this sin. Cell phones allow a quick call, email, text, or tweet. Ease of communication anywhere at any time allows quick venting of irritation against others. But once the hasty or passionate words are out, you are a fool. News media and celebrities do it daily, creating a false impression such conduct is acceptable. Reject them! Show the loving choice and noble discipline of character they lack! There are two kinds of causes with your neighbor. Either they have offended you by an action of theirs, or you have offended them by an action of yours. In either case, the rule is the same: settle the matter directly with them. Do not spread any knowledge of the issue to anyone else. Both kindness and wisdom will keep the matter secret between you. Jesus expanded this proverb beautifully. He clearly taught your course of action when someone has offended you. He said, Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother (Matt 18:15). Note His careful wording to keep the matter private. He also applied it to when you offend someone. He said, Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift (Matt 5:23-24).

Again, the matter is limited to the person offended. Most personal offences should be resolved by overlooking and forgetting them (Pr 19:11). Great men forgive and ignore such petty things (Matt 18:21-35; Eph 4:31-32; Col 3:12-15; I Cor 13:4-7). But if you cannot gloriously pass over the matter, at least show some integrity and righteousness by keeping it private between them and you (Pr 17:9). The wisdom of this proverb and these noble practices should be taught to children, as they once were. Tattling or gossip must be strictly condemned and punished. Love of others and high regard for their reputations should be explained and enforced. Nip in the bud any tendencies toward carelessness or revenge in sharing information about others. Christianity requires careful love for others the world does not know. Two commands govern all of life love of God and love of others (Mark 12:28-31). Loving others ranks higher than being an apostle (I Cor 12:28-31; 13:1-3) and is defined above imagination (I Cor 13:4-7). Even loving enemies is expected as evidence of salvation (Matt 5:43-48). Protecting reputations of others is not only wise, it is love that shows one a child of God.

Proverbs 25:10
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Gossip will ruin your reputation. Yet gossip is terribly easy. Wise men will know you are wicked and will rebuke you, and you will be disgraced and shamed. The lesson is simple: do not talk critically or negatively about others, do not spread news or rumors, and do not slander anyone. Gossip is a heinous sin, and it will permanently stain your reputation. This is half of a proverb. The first half reads, "Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another" (Pr 25:9). Good men only discuss differences or offences with the party involved, not with others. If you tell others about a controversy you have with someone, those others will know you are hateful, malicious, and wicked. Jesus Christ taught the same rule of godliness and wisdom. He said, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone" (Matt 18:15). If you cannot ignore the offence of another, go tell him his fault. Instead of telling others about the problem, tell him alone. The rule is clear and definite. When you have a problem with someone, it is cruel and malicious to tell others about it. You do so in order to defame and injure the other party and obtain sympathy for your cause. You seek to hurt another person's reputation and exalt your own. The holy God of heaven considers such intentions and actions to be murder (Matt 5:21-26). Beware! You should keep controversies and offences between you and your adversary. If you tell others about them, it is called gossip. In the Bible, it was called backbiting, talebearing, tattling, and whispering, if you told the truth. These are terrible sins that God hates. If you lied about the matter, then it was also called slander. It does not matter that these sins are popular today and no longer preached against: they are heinous in God's sight. Godly men despise this evil treatment of others, and they will despise the person doing it. They will angrily rebuke those who gossip about others. It is a duty to do so. Solomon wrote, "The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue" (Pr 25:23). It is terrible that more wise men do not put backbiters, talebearers, whisperers, slanderers, and gossips to shame by angry rebukes (Lev 19:17; I Thess 5:14). If you have a problem with someone, and you cannot gloriously overlook it, go to him alone and settle it through Christian charity. Put a guard on your heart, and do not even think about telling others. Only

say complimentary and kind things about other people. Let your reputation be glorious and gracious, always edifying others (Eph 4:29; Col 4:6).

Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
How beautiful is your speech? Would hearers compare it to a beautiful painting or sculpture? Solomon praised good speech here by comparing it to an exquisite scene. In your city are many paintings or sculptures of fruit in bowls and other settings, and apples are commonly used. Fine homes are decorated with such lovely art. Here is a simple simile, a figure of speech of comparison. It is known by the word "like." Apples, gold, pictures, or silver are not the subject. They only have comparative value taken together. Proper speech is commended by likening it to their combined beauty. But some dream it proves an important rule of hermeneutics, or Bible interpretation - single words are more important than their context. They imagine a single word is like gold and its context like silver, and since gold has always been worth more than silver, then a single word is more important than its context. Incredible! Such wisdom is too high for us (Ps 131:1), as the Spirit never imagined hermeneutics here. Lord, help us. What are pictures, especially before photography? Since the other uses do not define the word (Num 33:52; Is 2:16), let us give a dictionary summary of this English word. Picture. A painting, drawing, sculpture, statute or other symbolic representation of some thing as a work of art. Can you visualize apples of gold in a painting or sculpture of silver? As in a silver basket or bowl? What a beautiful combination of color and images! So are words well spoken! As the next verse shows, Solomon is using similes to praise good speech (Pr 25:12), though there he uses "as" to indicate the simile. Still using gold, he compares it to fine jewelry. Right words used the right way at the right time are wonderful. They deserve a kiss on the lips (Pr 24:26)! They are wonderful (Pr 15:23,26; 16:13,24; 22:11; Eccl 12:10; Col 4:6)! A single word is not the point! Paul said more than one word when giving a word of exhortation (Acts 13:15)? And he called Hebrews a word (Heb 13:22)? Solomon and we use "word" this way, as something said, often (Pr 12:25; 13:13; 14:15; 15:23; Eccl 8:4). How did our Lord speak? Most beautifully! The assembly at Nazareth could not believe it (Luke 4:22); Mary could not get enough of it (Luke 10:39); His enemies praised it (John 7:46); His beautiful tongue and choice of words were foretold long before (Is 50:4).

Proverbs 25:12

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
It takes two to fight! It takes two to tango! Human relationships require at least two people. If neither will forfeit or forgive, there will be strife. If neither is bitter or selfish, there will be love. It also takes two to make beautiful jewelry! If a wise reprover corrects and instructs a submissive hearer, a beautiful combination occurs with the certain result of growth in wisdom. Are you both of these? A simile compares two similar things by using "as" or "like." A wise reprover giving correction to a submissive hearer is like a beautiful gold earring on an attractive ear or like a piece of decorative jewelry or art made from fine gold. Gold earrings are beautiful, and so are creative works of jewelry or art done in fine gold. Likewise, a careful reprover speaking faithfully and kindly to an obedient hearer is similarly a beautiful thing. A wise reprover knows how to rebuke and warn those out of the way of righteousness. He is discreet and prudent. He chooses the occasion and his words carefully. He is neither too harsh nor too lenient. He does not enforce personal preferences, but he does apply and defend the Word of God. He approaches the encounter with humility and affection, truly desiring the best for the other (Lev 19:17; Gal 6:1-3; I Thess 5:14; II Tim 2:24-26). An obedient ear is a submissive and ready hearer - ear being synecdoche for a person who hears obediently with their ears. As the noble Bereans, they willing receive reproof and instruction with ready minds (Acts 17:11). As Cornelius, they want to know what they can do differently to please God and men (Acts 10:33). They are exceptional persons in that they appreciate the value of wise rebukes and teaching (Pr 9:9; 27:5-6; Ps 141:5). Nathan the prophet and David the king were beautiful! David was guilty of aggravated adultery and murder. Nathan, an inspired wise reprover, came discreetly with a sad and provoking story of cruel oppression by a rich man over a poor man. David, an obedient ear, was righteously indignant at the oppression and confessed his sin (II Sam 12:1-14). The Day of Pentecost was beautiful! Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, was a wise reprover indeed, as he rebuked the Jews for crucifying the Lord and Christ of Israel (Acts 2:14-36)! Three thousand hearers, pricked in their hearts by this glorious message, were obedient ears indeed, as they immediately wanted to know how to repent (Acts 2:37-41)! Wise reprovers are often frustrated by disobedient ears! There is no beauty when haughty, stubborn, or rebellious hearers reject wise and skilled reprovers. Though they approach the offender with care and love, they are rebuffed and hated for daring to correct them (Pr 9:7-8; 23:9; 29:1; Matt 7:6). Our Lord, ever the wise reprover, was rejected by His hometown, in spite of being overwhelmingly gracious (Luke 4:14-30). Obedient ears are often frustrated by foolish and lazy reprovers. Sometimes the reproof is poorly given, so the hearers are offended (I Kgs 12:1-19). Other times the reproof is not given at all, so the needy hearers, craving correction and instruction in righteousness, go their way without any help (Jer 23:22; Ezek 33:7-9; Matt 9:37-38). Faithful pastors have labored hard with little fruit due to stubborn and rebellious hearers - disobedient ears that refuse to obey (Jer 25:4; 29:19; Ezek 33:30-33). The blood of the hearers will be on their heads. And submissive hearers have starved due to foolish and lazy pastors (Jer 23:25-32; I Tim 4:16). The hearers' blood will be on the pastors' heads! Reader, are you both? Are you both a wise reprover and a submissive hearer? You must be both to be wise. Wisdom is first and foremost measured by your ability to receive a rebuke and warning and learn from them (Pr 1:5; 8:33-36; 2:1; 15:5,31-32). But wisdom is also measured by your ability to carefully give a reproof to those needing it (Pr 24:26; 25:11; Rom 15:1; Gal 6:1; Eph 4:29). Are you a piece of fine gold in God's sight? Or a stench in his nostrils? Let every man take heed how

he hears and speaks! You will give an account for every word of reproof you have heard and every word of reproof you have given! You have been warned!

Proverbs 25:13
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.
Are you a breath of fresh air to all who trust you? Do you refresh the spirits of those who depend on you like a cool drink on a hot fall day? Are you especially a source of joy to your employer? Faithfulness is a great thing, but it is a rare thing today. There are people trusting you and depending on you, and you are a relief and pleasure to them based on the degree of your faithfulness. The lesson of the proverb is the joy created by a faithful man. Harvest occurred in the fall in Israel. After a hot summer and all the hard work of bringing a harvest into the barns and garners, the reapers, threshers, and other workers were parched and weary. The arrival of cool weather was a wonderful relief and pleasure, and so was a drink cooled by snow preserved from nearby mountains (Pr 25:25). Snow itself in harvest was not good; it was the cool weather or cooling effect of snow that was good. Solomon used this refreshing effect of cool weather or a cool drink for his simile. Solomon used a messenger, or ambassador, for the lesson, though it applies to all jobs and duties. Rather than working under constant supervision, a messenger would be sent with news, covenants, or ultimatums to other places. It would be easy to delay departure, linger on the way, get sidetracked, forget details of the message, present it in the wrong way, say more than needed, misperceive the response, or fail in other ways (Pr 13:17). Faithfulness is a great measure of a man's character (Pr 11:13; 14:5; 27:6; 28:20). Most men claim to be faithful! Just read their resumes or listen to them talk! But there are only a very few truly faithful men in any generation (Pr 20:6). A faithful man meticulously fulfills every duty to equal or exceed the expectations of those trusting or depending on him. How faithful are you? Are you early to work and appointments? Are you known for punctuality? Do you pace yourself on projects? Do you procrastinate? Do you always hit deadlines? Are you easily sidetracked? Are you distracted quickly? Do you always finish projects? Do you get the details others need? Are you a great communicator so that all parties know all that is needed? Are your quality and quantity greater than expected? Faithful men are rare. You can separate yourself from the crowd by faithfulness in your assignments (Pr 22:29; Luke 2:52). Do your duties in such a way that those trusting you and depending on you are filled with excitement at your outstanding performance. And this applies from the President of the United States to being a great student in kindergarten! God's messengers should be the most faithful men. Only very faithful men tested by real duties should ever be ordained (I Tim 3:1-7). He should be the most diligent and faithful man in the church and focused on his God-given duties without distraction (Phil 2:19-22; I Tim 4:12-16; II Tim 2:3-4; Titus 1:5-11). It is a disgusting shame when the ministry is referred to as a "nonprofit profession" due to the dereliction of duty of most ministers. The rest of your life begins now! Who is trusting you and depending on you that needs a refreshing drink of cool water or the relief of a cool breeze? Get to your duties and fulfill each one better than expected! Child, make your bed and clean your room perfectly! Wife, have a real meal for your family tonight! Husband, do not relax or sleep tonight without training your family! Mr. President, provide fully for our national success!

Proverbs 25:14
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Does your giving exceed your talking? Or does your talking exceed your giving? Have you kept all your promises to give? Or have you disappointed some by not performing? It is much easier to talk about helping than to actually do it. It is much easier to boast of generosity than to actually be generous. If you have opened your mouth, it is time to pay! In a dry location like Israel, where Solomon lived, clouds and wind brought great hope of rain for a people dependent on agriculture for their survival (Pr 3:20; 16:15; Lev 26:3-5; Deut 11:10-15; I Kgs 18:41-46; Job 36:26-28; Ps 68:9; 147:8; Jer 5:24; Zech 10:1). The joy would have been great at the sight of clouds on the horizon and the feeling of wind. But it was a terrible disappointment when the clouds and wind did not produce any rain. This proverb is a simile, where the comparison drives the interpretation. You must identify the boaster and the false gift to understand the lesson. Is the false gift a bribe, and the boaster the giver or receiver of it? Is the false gift a worthless trinket, and the boaster the giver or receiver of it? Is the false gift a token of insincere love, and the boaster the giver or receiver of it? No, in all three cases! The comparison shows it is a promised gift that is never given, and the boaster is the pompous man pretending to be a benefactor. Clouds and wind brought the expectation of rain, which caused gladness and hope in those needing it. When the clouds and wind did not produce the desired and needed rain, there was great disappointment and grief. A man promising to give without performing is just as disappointing and frustrating. The lesson? Keep your commitments of helping others! Never let your offers or promises of giving exceed your actual performance. Job's righteousness included his great care of the expectations of the needy (Job 29:13; 31:16). When Pharaoh's butler was released from prison and restored to his job on Pharaoh's birthday, he fervently agreed with Joseph that he would put in a good word to Pharaoh to seek his release as well. But the butler forgot all about the agreement for two long years (Gen 40:1-23)! Can you imagine Joseph's disappointment, as days and weeks went by without a word from the butler or Pharaoh? The clouds and wind had brought no rain! Most men love to talk the talk - they will tell you with little prompting about how kind and generous they are; but it is hard to find a faithful man that walks the walk (Pr 20:6). The Law of Moses called it defrauding to hold back day wages even one day (Lev 19:13; Deut 24:14-15). And Solomon had condemned both holding back help from your neighbor and/or promising to help him but postponing the actual giving of help (Pr 3:27-28). These talkers promise the moon or more, because it is easy and effective to buy the praise of men this way. But these liars either do not intend to perform, are unable to perform, or forget about the commitment when other matters take their attention. In all three cases, the promised expectation becomes a vain lie. Those that boast about such lies are terrible! Righteous men never mislead where the expectations and hopes of the needy are at stake. Consider politicians! Solomon wrote this proverb in the midst of several about kings and governing (Pr 25:2-7,15). Rulers want desperately to be popular rulers, so they are sorely tempted to offer incredible future favors to secure their popularity. It is so very easy to promise special benefits to each group of constituents. In democracies and republics, where leaders are elected by the masses, the unkept promises are Legion! If you are a leader of any sort, make sure that you fulfill all your promises without fail. Consider the devil! He promised your first mother she would become as a god, if she ate the forbidden fruit (Gen 3:1-7). Rather than become as a god, she damned herself, her husband, and all her children

to death and an eternity in hell. The devil has been lying ever since; and when you sin, you are betting on his lying promise to make you happy in spite of God's condemnation of that sin. He is a deceiver and destroyer of men by lying about the pleasures of sin, just ask Amnon or Judas (II Sam 13:1-29; Acts 1:18)! Consider ministers! Many are liars for the devil, promising blessings that will not come (I Kgs 22:1923; John 8:44; II Cor 11:1-4,13-15; I Tim 4:1-3). Many promise fantastic miracles and riches for taxdeductible donations! The gospel of compromise of seeker sensitive ministers that promises liberty without repentance and holiness is a false gift (II Pet 2:14-19)! Measure these imposters by their fruits, not their promises (Matt 7:15-20)! Consider men! How often have they seduced women by promising things they could not or would not do? Consider husbands! How often have wives had expectations dashed by husbands that did not perform their word? Consider fathers! How often have children been disappointed and discouraged by fathers that did not keep their promises? Many of these liars boasted of their generosity, based only on promises! There is only one Father that always gives as much as promised (Rom 8:32; I Cor 2:9; Eph 3:20; I Pet 4:19)! The gospel of Jesus Christ, the only pure truth on earth, strongly condemns those that talk about helping the poor but do not keep their commitments (Jas 2:15-16; I John 3:16-19). The real measure of charity and generosity is performance, not comforting words or promises! Paul wrote the church at Corinth and told them to make sure they performed what they had committed to give to the poor saints in Jerusalem (II Cor 8:1-15). Have you ever said, "Do not worry, I will take care of it," but then failed to keep your obligation? Have you ever said, "I will be checking on you to see if you need anything else," but forgot your commitment? Have you ever told a group, "Do not give it another thought, for I have already promised to take care of that," but knew you were stretching your ability to perform? The proverb condemns this kind of pompous lying about gifts. It is your duty to restrain your words and expand your giving, lest any be disappointed! The best kind of giving does not involve your mouth but rather your money. Instead of cheap and easy talk that gets hopes high in those needing help, quietly give a generous gift or provide a significant service that ends their need for help. Now that is rain without a cloud! God loves considerate people who creatively think of liberal gifts for the needy, but He has no use for those who speak of doing much but pay little (Isaiah 32:8). God Himself promised the greatest gift ever, and He most surely paid in full, right on time! He promised eternal life to His elect before the world began (Titus 1:2), and He sent His only begotten Son to die a cruel death on a Roman cross at the exact time He had planned (Dan 9:24-27; Gal 4:4-5). The clouds of God's mercy are full of rain! He has saved His people from their sins, and they rejoice now and shall praise Him for eternity!

Proverbs 25:15
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Wisdom includes ability to persuade those in authority, which is very useful knowledge. The main authorities in life are parents, husbands, employers, government, and pastors. They are moved more by patient reverence than by bold debate. Though your cause might be important and right, wisdom calls for careful and respectful intreaties. Here is great wisdom for dealing with authority. You will need to persuade an authority of your cause

or dissuade one from punishing your offences. Our proverb here deals with persuasion, but the same wisdom serves in dissuasion as well (Eccl 10:4). This rule, learned and remembered, will give great and peaceful skill for dealing with authority. Our society teaches the opposite of this wisdom, and the results are horrible. Demanding your rights and expecting an authority to cater to your needs and opinions is proud rebellion and creates anarchy. Rather than moving the one in authority toward your cause, it will force him to solidify his position and punish your insolent insubordination. Human nature is proud, rebellious, and selfish. It assumes all men are created equal and possessing great rights. But the Bible rejects such arrogant rebellion. No two men are created equal, and they are put in the five offices already listed that give them power over other men. God created the offices of authority, and exalting them makes a society great. Disrespect of authority is a widespread problem in our profane and rebellious nation. Solomon wrote as a monarch, where a king and his princes had great authority. They had the power of life and death, and there was no threat of a hung jury or other limitation to their ruling. The example in our proverb is a prince. Solomon gives divine wisdom to help you persuade a powerful authority to consider your person and cause. Glory! Forbearing is putting up with disagreement or poor treatment. It is patient longsuffering in the face of adversity. It is used here to describe a patient approach with authority. If you seek to persuade an authority to change, you must wait for them to consider your cause. Impatiently demanding their change will totally work against you. Wait for them. A soft tongue is a metonym for gentle and respectful speech (Pr 15:1). It is so effective that it is described as having the power to break the bones of a prince! Rather than arguing or debating your case, a meek and reverent appeal works far better. Aggressive and harsh words ignore their important office and attack the integrity of their authority. Instead of soberly considering your cause, they will defend their position and rank by rejecting you. The lower you go in humility, and the higher you lift their person and rank, the greater leverage you have with them. To the degree you protect yourself and dilute this reverent, gentle, and patient approach, you give up leverage. Wisdom is profitable to direct! David skillfully used this wisdom appealing to King Saul for mercy (I Sam 24:1-22; 26:1-25). And Abigail, a beautiful woman with great understanding, used it to persuade David against revenge, when he was passionately angry against her husband (I Sam 25:1-42). Read these three chapters and focus on the choice of words of David and Abigail. Child, a respectful and kind letter to parents will work far better than arguing or pouting. Both of these actions indicate you are a spoiled brat and deserve nothing. Thank your parents for their goodness to you, and declare your love and obedience to them. Humbly state your request. Remember to patiently wait for their answer! They do not owe you! Wife, a reverent and submissive appeal to your husband, carefully chosen for timing and location, will work far better than haughty demands, presumed rights, or sexual deprivation. Remember, he owes you nothing on the spot. Patiently wait for him to consider your request. Sarah and Bathsheba called their husbands lord, and they obtained great requests from powerful men. Godly women give up their "rights" to gain freedom! Employers and government should be treated the same way. A grievance for working conditions or an assignment is received much better when made with respect and patience than with demands, insubordination, or threats. Everyone knows state troopers respond better to respectful and submissive answers than arrogant and disgusted ones! The godly application of this wisdom will bring peace and prosperity into your life, and it will exalt godly authority in the earth by its careful and patient respect for their offices. May the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of princes, be given all the honor due unto Him!

Proverbs 25:16
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
God created honey as a sweet gift to our taste, and it is healthful nutrition for our bodies. Yet too much of it overwhelms our senses and makes us sick. When we find something pleasant, it is our wisdom to use it prudently for its intended purpose, lest it becomes a snare to our souls, and we end up despising it. Every man's honey is something different, and it is our duty to identify those pleasures and be temperate with them (I Cor 9:25). Honey and honeycomb are good and pleasant (Pr 16:24; 24:13). See the comments on 16:24. Honey is not forbidden; it is a gift from God. Be thankful for it. But too much is not good (Pr 25:27). How can something so good make you vomit? By proving the definition of excess! Excess, which is too much, shows that good things have limited uses. The lesson is to use them as is sufficient, to their intended purpose, and not beyond. God richly gives His children all things to enjoy (I Tim 6:17), but all those things must be used in moderation (Phil 4:5). He is not watching from a distance to see how we treat His gifts, as many imagine. The Lord is at hand. He made man upright and gave him gifts, but he has sought out many inventions (Eccl 7:29). And one such invention is excess! We live in a generation given to excess - it is one of their idols. They are proud of being X-treme! Saints will be careful to avoid immoderation in any matter. God's innocent gifts of food and drink have been corrupted to the destruction of souls. Gluttony and drunkenness overcharge men's stomachs and hearts (Luke 21:34). Young men gorge until they vomit; drunkards do the same, and then sleep in it. Both sinfully fulfill this proverb. The wisdom here is mainly moral and spiritual, yet it also contains nutritional advice. Honey and other simple or refined carbohydrates are a principal cause of obesity and other maladies affecting health. With prosperity supplying an endless variety and amount of sugars and carbohydrates, an excessive society can gorge to a diabetes epidemic! Consider other pleasant gifts of God to grasp the lesson. God gave bread to make hearts strong (Ps 104:15), but overeating bread, cereal, pasta, cookies, cake, chips, crackers, and other grain products destroys the heart. God gave wine to make our hearts glad (Ps 104:15), but drunkenness is a sin and causes horrible heartache and grief (Eph 5:18). Solomon commended eating and drinking for strength, rather than pleasure. There is pleasure in eating, but it cannot dominate. And he commended a nation with policies and examples of temperance (Eccl 10:16-17). Our all-you-can-eat buffets are a wonderful blessing for variety, but they are a curse for the man given to appetite. You should eat to satisfy hunger and promote health. Can you believe, "Enough is as good as a feast"? What about marriage? It is a great gift, but you should live without it consuming your life (I Cor 7:2835; Ps 73:25-26). What about hobbies and entertainment? They can be pleasant diversions, but too much emphasis and they bring poverty (Pr 21:17). What about bodily exercise? It has a little profit, but extremes will cost you your soul (I Tim 4:8). What about righteousness and wisdom? Can you have too much? Yes, indeed! The Preacher warned against haughty excesses of either, like the Pharisees of old (Eccl 7:16). Consider sex. It is one of life's sweetest pleasures - tasted and enjoyed in marriage only and within godly constraints only. If it is emphasized out of place, it will consume the single person, and it will distort a marriage into painful practices. The wonderfully pleasant expression of love can easily become a painful ritual of bitterness. The proverb may also be applied to friends, as 25:17 teaches. If you are obsessive in relationships, you

will lose friends. The good gift of friendship pressed to excess will turn to hatred, and then you have ruined another precious blessing by your overindulgence. Consider also that excessive indulgence in any pleasure dulls the appetite and enjoyment of that thing, so that you need increasingly greater amounts to give you the same original pleasure. The more fine food you eat, the less you enjoy that special dinner out. The more you travel for business, the less you enjoy the getaway with your wife. It is a simple lesson of experience that too much of anything steals much of its pleasure (Pr 27:7). Viewing women other than your wife, which is a sin, will reduce pleasure from your wife. It will not enhance her or your appreciation of her. Once you start this sin, you will need greater stimulation to get the same pleasure you once easily had with her. Having dulled your senses and enjoyment, you must then dip deeper into the well of excess and drink longer to find the original sinful pleasure. Sin lies, as it takes you down to hell. Christian reader, what is your honey? In moderation it is good, but in excess it is sinful? Is it eating, family, drinking, working, marriage, hobbies, exercise, sex, or something else? What is it? You will have the greatest temptations to be intemperate with those things that are sweet and pleasant to you. What is your honey? You must identify these weights or sins, so you can lay them aside to successfully run your race (Heb 12:1-4). Once you identify your honey in life, how much pleasure should you seek in using it? Enjoy it until you are sick? Oh no, you have gone way too far. Godly temperance and moderation avoid any excess, so you must stay safely back from the sinful line. In fact, zealous persons will consider cutting their throats, cutting off practical things, or plucking out precious things in order to avoid even the temptation to excess (Pr 23:2; Matt 18:8-9). There is honey for the spiritual person that has no limits, and it is free (Is 55:1-5)! Lady wisdom offers bread, wine, and a furnished table (Pr 9:1-5), and there you will not be sick or disappointed by eating as much as you can. We should also seek to be filled with all the fullness of God, in which there is great blessing (Eph 3:14-19). Here you can in good conscience consume all you can and yet desire more (I Cor 12:31)! O Lord, fill me with your Spirit, until I am filled to overflowing, and then give me a little more. Please, Lord!

Proverbs 25:17
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
Overstaying a visit is rude and offensive. Noble men avoid it, for it shows a lack of courtesy, decorum, etiquette, and manners. It is inconsiderate and selfish, and it can cost you good friends. Part of wisdom is learning to be acceptable and pleasing to others. Gods children should not be offensive, for the divine library includes practical advice like this proverb. Those who think the Bible a book of irrelevant and impractical history and theology have never read it. Praise God for it, and hope your neighbor reads it! Friendliness includes visits and communication. But too much of either can burden and spoil friendships, like too much honey can make you vomit (Pr 25:16). Excess may cause contempt or hatred, so Solomon urged temperance and moderation even with friends. Common courtesy is not as common as you wish! But it should be for Christians, who must be without offence to all men, especially other saints (I Cor 10:32). In this selfish generation, etiquette and decorum are ignored or despised to this generations shame. There are two common variations of this proverbs wisdom, one negative and one positive. It is said, Familiarity breeds contempt, to warn against excessive time with friends. Other than exceptional

friends, the more time with another often leads to dislike. It is also said, Absence makes the heart grow fonder, to state the need for space and time even among friends. Valuable friends will be revealed by an absence, for affection and desire to see the other party will increase. Do you know and observe both rules? It is easy to overstay a visit, visit too frequently, call too often, talk too long, email too often, or text too frequently. These intrusions can be a burden and lead to resentment and hatred. What you would never do to a stranger, you might easily do to a friend. Beware! The Scriptures can make you wise unto salvation (II Tim 3:15) and provide everything needed for ministers (II Tim 3:16-17), but they also teach wonderful practical wisdom. Here is good advice to help you grow in favor with men, as Jesus Christ did (Luke 2:52). Much of education today is quite worthless. Instead of studying who discovered Bolivia in school, classes on etiquette, social ethics, and practical wisdom should be restored. Solomons Proverbs should be the textbook! But this book from the finger of God is the treasure of His saints. They should learn it, outshine the world in nobility, and rejoice! The wisdom in these few words equals Solomons solution of cutting a baby in half (I Kgs 3:25)! Appreciate it! What great advice in plain words! The fool thinks frequent calls and many words are friendship, but wonders why he has few friends. Here is an answer! Effeminate and politically correct people mumble with vague generalities, but Solomon called the offence here a weariness and cause of hatred. Love the plain book of Proverbs and this individual proverb. God wants you gracious, polite, courteous, and successful. Ease of communication makes this proverb more needful than ever. A three-mile walk to your neighbors farm in the past discouraged excessive visitation. But with cars, phones, email, text messages, and more leisure time, limiting factors have been removed. Today, people in their cars with a cell phone assume everyone else is waiting to hear from them! Ah, dear reader, do not deceive yourself. You are no exception to this rule, though your heart thinks so. Your calls and visits are no more precious than those of others, and to grasp this firmly is to save yourself from hatred! And you will increase your friends! Be wise and err on the side of restraint, rather than run the risk of incurring their contempt! Is there greater pain than to invite guests for supper and have them stay too late without regard for your need to clean up and get an early start the next day? You wonder why they stay, but the answer is simple. They are selfish and presume you want them all night. What can you do as a guest? Simply suggest you should leave while the night is young, and let your host dictate how long you stay. If they agree with your request, leave and know you are wise. If they beg you to stay, do so and graciously try it again an hour later! A related proverb crushes pride and teaches nobility. When invited to an event, sit in the least important seat. It is better to be asked to move upward than to be asked to move down (Pr 25:6-7; Luk 14:8-10). Applying this wisdom to visiting neighbors it is better to be asked to stay longer by your host than to be asked to leave by him! True friends remember time is precious. They are conscious of time constraints on the other party. You may be bored with nothing to do, but others are not sitting around waiting for the phone to ring! Discretion requires you to be conscious of others and their time limitations or needs. Do not presume on others, just because you do not have a life. Life is short, and there is never enough time. To get everything done takes time urgency. A five-minute phone call once a week is a precious reminder of friendship. An hour phone call twice a week is a burden no man can bear. Keep the conversation moving, and get off the line quickly. Be a true friend, and preserve your friends love for you!

Two are better than one, and friendship is a great blessing (Eccl 4:9-12). Hearty counsel from a friend rejoices the heart like ointment and perfume, and friends should be kept carefully (Pr 27:9-10). One way you can do this is to not presume on their time. The proverb neither constrains nor minimizes friendship, but rather perfects and protects it! Here is no condemnation of warm and friendly discourse, but the abuse of time by presumptuous and unconscious friends. The Bible exalts friends and being truly friendly. Do you still need social guidance? Do not arrive early to a private function, as the host is likely finishing preparations. Bring a small gift, but do not expect them to open it or make a big deal over it. Send a thank-you card after the event. If eating out, attempt to pay, lest your host think you presume on him. Dress at least equal to the occasion for the event. If you are overcome by the urge to communicate, get down on your knees and pray. The LORD has a multi-tasking switchboard open just for you, but your mere mortal friends do not. Walking and talking with the LORD will do you much more good as well. If you cannot think of what to pray, and your friend is on your mind, then pray for your friend! There is no need for caution or reserve in coming boldly and repeatedly to Gods throne in prayer and staying there as long as you need or desire, for Jesus lives forever as your High Priest. God requests your importunity, which is bothering and irritating Him enough by your repetitions to get Him to comply, which Jesus taught (Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-7)! God is never weary of your coming, and He will draw ever closer to you by your much coming. There is no better time than now to approach His throne, for He neither slumbers nor sleeps. Go to your eternal Friend always, dear reader, and there be comforted forever.

Proverbs 25:18
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Do you smash, slash, or pierce others? Do you crush them? Cut and wound them? Pierce them deeply? If you ever exaggerate, lie, or remain silent to put a person in a bad light, you are guilty. You are like a maul a large and heavy hammer. You are like a sword. You are like a sharp arrow. You hurt others painfully. Destroy these weapons today! Similes and metaphors are figures of speech that make a comparison between things to explain or illustrate one of them. A simile admits the comparison by using comparative words such as like or as. A metaphor assumes the comparison without identifying it. This proverb is a metaphor. If it were a simile, it would read, A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor is LIKE a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Noble and righteous men always tell the truth, especially when a reputation or life is at stake. When they are witnesses in any matter, they are careful to say all they should, as accurately as they can recall it. They do not remain silent, when their word would shed light on a situation. This matter is important enough to God that the ninth commandment reads, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour (Ex 20:16). This is no light matter. When God writes a nations laws, perjury in court will get you the same punishment as the crime being tried, even if it is death (Deut 19:16-21). Such a wise law would help witnesses tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth! Memories would improve and consciences would be much more active. God hates all lying, but especially when another party is at risk (6:16-19; 19:5,9; Ex 23:1-9; Lev 5:1; 19:11-18). You can smash a persons hopes, reputation, or life, if you testify falsely against him or do not tell the whole truth. You can cut him deeply, as with a sword, if you fail to deliver him from trouble, when you

know the truth about a matter. And you can fatally wound him from a distance, if you were a witness to some event, but you withhold the truth from those adjudicating the crime. A false witness is a hateful and terrible enemy to men. You would never lie in court? Good. Would you tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth, without exaggeration or bias, about everything you know? Good. Remember that stretching the facts or remaining silent when you know more is also being a false witness. What is your reputation? Is it always and only to tell the truth about others? Are you known for never backbiting, never slandering, never talebearing, and never whispering? Do you always put the actions of others in the best light possible? If not, start today!

Proverbs 25:19
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
A broken tooth or a foot out of joint is painful, dysfunctional, and irritating. You cannot chew or walk as you should. Running is out of the question! Trusting an unfaithful person when you really need him is just as painful, dysfunctional, and irritating. Do you have faithful friends? Are you a faithful friend? Do you know how to identify and keep them? Here is a proverb with hidden lessons. The simile, a stated comparison by the word "like," compares the pain and trouble of an unfaithful person to a broken tooth or a foot out of joint. The lessons are implied, without being expressly declared, for proverbs are dark sayings of the wise needing interpretation (Pr 1:8; John 16:29). Faithful men are hard to find, even though many men will tell you they are faithful (Pr 20:6; Ps 12:1). Fair weather friends and men with little integrity, fearful hearts, and selfish interests are the norm. True friends are born for adversity, and they will never disappoint you in time of trouble, but they are very hard to find and keep (Pr 17:17; 18:24; 27:10). There are three issues in this proverb that lead to seven lessons. There are unfaithful men, who do not fulfill their duties. There are times of trouble, when all men have their character put to the test. And there are those who imprudently put their confidence in an unfaithful man. The combination results in disappointment, failure, and trouble. What are the seven lessons? (Pr 1) Unfaithful men cause pain and trouble. (Pr 2) They ruin the efforts and reputations of those trusting them. (Pr 3) They should be avoided as much as possible. (Pr 4) Times of trouble prove whether a man is faithful or not. (Pr 5) Wise men only put their confidence in faithful men. (Pr 6) Faithful men are identified by the fear of the Lord. (Pr 7) Are you a faithful man fearing the Lord and worthy of the confidence of others? The fear of the Lord is the criterion by which to find faithful men. These are the kind of men God told Moses and David would make good rulers (Ex 18:21; II Sam 23:3). And Jehoshaphat appointed such men to be judges (II Chron 19:5-10). A man that fears God will do what is right, without regard for popularity, payoffs, or personal advantage. The Bible describes unfaithful men. Job's three friends were miserable comforters (Job 16:1-5), and his wife was worse (Job 2:9). David could not trust his nephew Joab or his sons. Jesus was betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, and forsaken by all His disciples. Aaron compromised horribly, while Moses was in the mount of God (Ex 32:1-6,21-28), and John Mark deserted Paul on an evangelistic trip (Acts 13:13; 15:36-41). True friends are a great blessing, and they gloriously fulfill their role in times of trouble (Pr 17:17; Eccl 4:9-12). Any society of men is only as great as its weakest link. Therefore, confidence of a group should never be put in an unfaithful man. Only the very qualified should ever be made leaders,

teachers, or rulers (I Tim 3:1-13). The greatness of a man or a society of men depends on avoiding confidence in unfaithful men. Wise men study the book of Proverbs and learn to discern faithful men, fools, scorners, and enemies. They take efforts to avoid fools that will cause them grief and let them down in time of trouble (Pr 9:6; 13:20; 14:7; Ps 101:3-8). They choose as friends only those that fear God and keep His commandments (Ps 101:6; 119:63,79,115; Titus 1:8). Are you a faithful man yourself? Do you keep all your commitments? Are you always early to appointments? Do you avoid exaggeration? Do you fulfill your duties no matter how hard or expensive they might be? Is your word as good as gold? Do you finish tasks, even when you lose focus and pleasure in them? Are you there to help, when a friend needs you, even if they do not ask? Do you shy away from problems that will take work? Do you pay bills on time? Do you communicate as soon as you know you cannot keep an obligation? Do you remember the little things you agreed to do? Do you make notes, if you have a weak memory or busy life? Is faithfulness more important to you than friendliness? If you are a talker, do you restrain yourself from promises you cannot or will not keep? Do you do every job the right way and finish it? The church of Jesus Christ should provide your most faithful friends, for there you find those who fear the Lord, keep His commandments, and make choices by the Spirit. The bond is not mere friendship or family, but the blood of Christ. There you find those you can trust, and who will serve your best interests (Eph 4:16; I Thes 5:14; Heb 3:12-13). There is only one truly faithful friend for any man or woman - the Lord Himself! He is a very present help in trouble (Ps 46:1). "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up" (Ps 27:10). "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:16). "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man" (Ps 118:8).

To be continue Proverb 20