Day 168.  Reading Proverbs 25-26

Proverbs 25.

The following four chapters of Proverbs (137 in all) are by Solomon, but the caption says that they were copied into the book by “the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.  This would be 200 years later!  It was during a time of revival in Judah.

Solomon’s wise advice in verses 6-7 about not putting yourself forward in the king’s presence reminds me of Jesus’ words in Luke 14:8-10 and James’s words in James 4:6b and 10.

• Solomon: “Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.”
• Jesus: “Do not sit down in a place of honor, let someone more distinguished than you be invited, and he who invited you both will say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and you will begin with shame to take the lower place.  Instead, go and sit in the lowest place. so when your host comes, he may say, ‘Friend, move up higher.’  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
• James: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

Solomon’s admonition to “Argue your case with your neighbor himself,” is expanded by Jesus in Matthew 18:15. “If your brother has anything against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him.”

Solomon’s words about being kind to your enemies, feeding them, and giving them water are “seconded” by Jesus in Matthew 5:43-48.  And, the king’s words about the kindness of feeding and giving drink to enemies as “heaping coals on your enemies head, and the Lord rewarding you,” are picked up by Paul in Romans 12:20.

It looks like Jesus, James, and Paul did some reading in the Proverbs now and then.  We should, too!

Don’t you love good news from people you haven’t heard from in a while? 

• “Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.”
• “Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”

What was the last good news you got from a distant relative or friend?

.

Proverbs 26,

Verses 4 and 5 are a conundrum!  Think about Solomon’s words.  What do YOU think he’s trying to say?

• “ANSWER NOT A FOOL ACCORDING TO HIS FOLLY, lest you be like him yourself.”
• “ANSWER A FOOL ACCORDING TO HIS FOLLY, lest he be wise in his own eyes.”

Then, in verses 6-12, Solomon continues on and on comparing what awful things are like the mouth, or words, of a fool!  (actually, some of them are funny)

After fools, he rants on sluggards, or the lazy. (Verses 13-16)

Then, busy-bodies, jokesters, gossipers, and liars.  Whew!  Get it all out, Solomon!!

And he’s fair:

• “It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.”
• “As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.”

.

(From the example of Jesus and the writers of the NT letters, I find I need to take some of the wisdom from Proverbs for myself – think on them, and ask the Holy Spirit to apply them to my life and my heart.)