Proverbs 25

1. ¶ These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

King Hezekiah was known for being a king who was right with God. Compiling Solomon’s proverbs was one of his greatest achievements.

2. ¶ It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

Man is continually faced with the fact that God is so great but a search to know God is a noble exercise.

A couple of verses to consider with this verse and verse 4:

Ps. 145: 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

Deut. 29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

3. As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is Just as we try to figure out what makes a man great we should be desiring to understand the heart of God.
4. ¶ Take away the dross from silver, And it will go to the silversmith for
5. Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in

Solomon liked to use familiar images to teach and here is compares a king’s authority with that of silver- for silver to be valuable it has to be free of dross – (think dirt). The dross obviously makes the silver impure but it also makes it weak.  When a king (one in authority) have wicked people in their administration they will be corrupt and corruption weakens their leadership. Just as dross is meticulously removed a leader must weed out the wicked from his/her administration.

I greatly encourage you to read Ps. 101 to see how David established his administration.

6. ¶ Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great;
7. For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have ”

*All of us should be living humble lives – humility is a great characteristic to have. Now humility is not thinking less of yourself – it is not thinking of yourself. Here we find a person who is promoting one self and Solomon says DO NOT do this. Wait for the invitation to come to a seat up front. Jesus taught this. Luke 14:7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 “and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.

10 “But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

8. Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, when your neighbor has put you to shame?

9.   Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another;

10. Lest he who hears it expose your shame, And your reputation be

NOTE THESE THREE VERSES as you work with people in conflicts.  People have a huge tendency to forget that while they are pointing out someone else’s faults that the other person will be pointing out their faults. Inside of running to someone else about the disagreement they need to TAKE IT UP WITH THE PERSON in PRIVATE.

The Bible is clear here as well as in Matt. 18: 15 ( “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.) If you have a problem with at person you are to TAKE IT UP WITH THEM.

11. ¶ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear

*Notice again the images that Solomon uses – how beautiful is the right word spoken at the right time – the right way to right person by the right person.

Don’t miss the key word in rebuking – a WISE rebuker!

13. ¶ Like the cold of snow in time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters

*There is nothing like a cool glass of water when you have been working under that hot sun – that is the image Solomon has given to compare what a faithful person is like. One who is faithful is so refreshing – so enjoyable. Dependability may just be the greatest ability you can have!

14. ¶ Whoever falsely boasts of giving Is like clouds and wind without rain.

Watch out for those who brag! We saw this in Prov. 20:6. If you decide to hire them you will be greatly disappointed.

15. ¶ By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

There is a right way to get your idea to be acted upon. It takes timing and tact.

16. ¶ Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, lest you be filled with it and

Too much of a good thing will become a bad thing. Learn moderation.

17. ¶ Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, Lest he become weary of you and hate

IS ANYONE LISTENING?   Too much of YOU may be a bad thing.

18. ¶ A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.

The imagery here is powerful – when someone lies about you it like they have hit you with a hammer – stabbed you with a knife and shot you with an arrow.

19. ¶ Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint. We show the joy of a faithful man in verse 13 – we read now of the agony of an unfaithful
20. ¶ Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, And like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a heavy

Verse 20 reveals a person who is insensitive. We should be sensitive to other people – there is a time for joy –and there is a time for sorrow. The image is insensitivity stings!!

21. ¶ If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22. For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward

This is taking the high road. To return evil for evil only means that they will in turn return evil for evil and things will get worse. Someone has to step up and forgive – someone has to step up and show kindness. We should be seeking to resolve conflicts, not dissolve relationships.

23. ¶ The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry

Slander always creates a storm.

24. It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious A home needs to be a peaceful place.

25. ¶ As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country

26.  ¶ A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a polluted well.

The image is so rich – what was to be fulfilling is not to be disappointing.

Here we have a man that we thought would make a difference but he gave into peer pressure and chose to sin – Paul pictures this man in I Cor. 9:27 as one who is now shipwrecked – and like a spring that was to give refreshing life giving water that has been trampled in – this person is now a great disappointment.

27. ¶ It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one’s own glory is not glory

Again  self-control is so crucial. Don’t be seeking glory for self.

28.  ¶ Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

The first person you should be leading in you.