THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik
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the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
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COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
PROVERBS
CHAPTER 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
The words "copied out" in the Hebrew are from a Hebrew word ('athak) which has several meanings. The word can mean transfer, grow old, leave off, or even remove.
There is much discussion about whether these proverbs might have been altered. However, Hezekiah was a diligent man of God, and instructed the Levites and priests directly (see 2Chronicles 29).
I rather believe that the sense of the word 'athak here means to transfer BECAUSE it was on old writings and needed to be copied to newer paper.
1Kings 4:32 says that Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. These were dutifully copied, and obviously some of them have been lost. But THESE have been retained.
We should thank God that He saw fit to keep these in tact for our benefit and instruction.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
What God has revealed, we have received - and gladly so. What God has kept concealed we are not to try and determine (Deuteronomy 29:29). God's GLORY is greater than we can imagine, and much greater than we can stand in our earthly condition. It is to God's GLORY to conceal what He does not want us to know until it is time.
God's glory was not fully revealed to the people of Israel. God's glory was more fully revealed in the person of Christ. But one day, we shall stand before Almighty God in His FULL GLORY! And at that day, ALL will be revealed unto His children. (1Corinthians 13:12).
However, it is the nature of kings to determine all they can about a matter in order to obtain help for their kingdom and people. An honorable king will do all he can to be sure of a matter before he makes a decision. It is his responsibility to care for his people meticulously.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Rulers, leaders and kings have many more things to consider than us ordinary folk. Their thoughts must be reflective of good judgment, impartiality and integrity. There are things in the affairs of the country which need not be revealed to ALL the citizens in the country. But the king must be aware of all those things.
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.
The more impurity is removed from silver ( or gold ), the more worthy is the metal, and the more beautiful any "vessel" made from it.
The less wickedness there is in a kingdom, the more worthy the country, and the more useful to common citizens.
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.
At kings banquets, many people were invited. Seating arrangements were not always determined until the king himself came in. Someone who might have "pushed" his way to the front, might be asked to move and another person (by the king's choice) be put in his place.
Jesus made reference to the use of this wisdom (Luke 14:7-11). It is better not to forge one's way to where he will be close to the king unless he has been specifically asked to occupy that place.
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.
When we hear "on the grapevine" about a neighbor who perhaps has a quarrel with us, we should not allow ourselves to be angry. We should go directly and speak with the neighbor and determine if there is a genuine problem.
To speak of "hearsay" before we determine truth will certainly bring shame and reproof.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. 12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
To put the right word into a conversation requires thinking. To encourage someone just at the right time requires not only thinking, but a genuine desire to help our neighbor.
An earring of gold "dresses up" a person. And a wise word of kind reproof will be received as an ornament of beauty.
Mother used to say, "Son, do YOU think that is the right thing to do?" She placed the emphasis upon ME making the right decision. That kind of reproof causes a person to think and try and do what is RIGHT.
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.
An "ambassador" is a person who is chosen to represent the king and present the exact views of the king. The king needs FAITHFUL messengers who will not change what he has specifically stated.
Jesus is THE KING! He needs faithful messengers who will tell what He has revealed in the Word with preciseness.
14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Clouds without rain are accompanied by wind, and sometimes by lightning. Actually, clouds without rain are DESTRUCTIVE at times. So is the man who claims to be what he is not!
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
It requires patience to wait until a ruler is in such a position that he will willingly listen to a proposal. To get the ruler to see our point of view, we must "forbear," until such time as he willingly listens.
When given an opportunity, we should speak in a manner which goes BEYOND the bone and to the HEART.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
A little bit of some things is ENOUGH. Too much will cause damage. All of us tend to partake TOO MUCH of those things which are interesting or special to us. Let us exercise diligent control over our desires.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
People need privacy. Visits too frequently to a close neighbor invade that privacy. Soon the visitor becomes more of an inconvenience than a neighbor.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
"False witness" is telling a lie. Gossip is the same. Gossip is speaking about someone when the facts are not fully known. It is as bad as outrightly inventing a lie about someone.
The words spoken in "false witness" (or in gossip) do as much, if not more, harm than weapons.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
When we place confidence in someone, we EXPECT them to be faithful. When they are UNfaithful, it is as bad as having broken a tooth or twisting the foot "out of joint." It is PAINFUL!
20 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.
There is a time for "cheering up" people, and there is a time for just giving them a hug and helping them cry. One should not be mistaken for the other.
Mom and Dad were talking about "Mr. Jim," the next door neighbor. His wife had just died. He was very sad, they told little Billy, their son who asked about it. The little boy went next door and came back after a while. Mr. Jim called and thanked the Mom and Dad for letting Billy come over. He said it had really made him feel better. So they asked Billy what he said to Mr. Jim. He answered, "I didn't say nuthin'. I just climbed up in his lap, hugged him, and cried with him."
Now there was a boy sensitive to the situation!
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.
To show kindness to an enemy is a mind-boggling thing. He cannot comprehend WHY! It confuses him. And it HURTS him within because he has not acted in the same way.
To show kindness to an enemy is to be LIKE our LORD! And He will reward in kindness and grace.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
I remember that LOOK! OH! How Dad could send messages completely across the church with just a LOOK!
So it is with a "backbiting tongue." The backbiting tongue speaks deceitfully and secretly. In 20th and 21st century language it's called "talking behind someone's back." And then intent is to impune the character of the person discussed.
Therefore, when a Christian is approached by a "backbiting tongue" he should give the person one of those LOOKS! That look like Dad used to give me when I did something wrong.
If more Christians would learn and apply this, a lot of gossip would be stopped before it got started!
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
See the discussion of Proverbs 21:9.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
When we were kids, we spent a week or so on vacation in the mountains of North Carolina where I was born almost every year. Several times some of my cousins would lead me in a hike up the mountain along the creek to fish in a pool at the bottom of a waterfall. I remember after that long hike, some of the cool water from the creek was VERY REFRESHING!
Hearing GOOD NEWS from a far country is refreshing like the cool water from that mountain creek. It's always a JOY to hear from our brothers and sisters overseas about how God is working in and through their lives. It's always wonderful news to hear about people coming to know Christ and churches being built. It's refreshing to the SOUL!
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
A "troubled fountain" and a "corrupt spring" are both UNdrinkable. And a righteous man cow-towing to a wicked man is UNthinkable!
And when the righteous people of God are "run over" by the wickedness of men it is CORRUPTION in society! It ruins society for all people.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
If a person eats too much honey, he will become ill. And if a person feeds on his own goodness he will become ill in heart. He who compliments himself corrupts his own soul.
28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
If a person has no self-control he has no self-defense! He who cannot govern his appetites and lusts will destroy himself.
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.