Peanut Gallery Lessons from The Book of Proverbs

[SpiritPsalmist]

Guide Our Thoughts
Prov 24:13-18


13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and honeycomb is sweet to your taste. 14 Likewise know that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

When I attended a Messianic Synagogue (a real one, not a Gentile instigated fly-by-night make up your own stuff and call it Jewish) for the first time, if I had not been there with my friend Nora explaining the events going on I would have thoroughly misunderstood.

One of the parts of the service is removing the Torah scroll from the Ark (cabinet) and it is carried around the synagogue and the congregents reach out with their hands or Bibles, touching it and then touching their lips. Initially, I thought they were "worhipping" the Torah scroll.

My friend referred me to, Ps 119:103, "How sweet is Your word to my taste—yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" This procession of the Torah was a physical "demonstration" of applying "HIS" word to our lips so that no matter how cutting to our way of living, it is a sweetness to our lips. Something to cherish and grope for because of it's life changing commands that bring peace and comfort when to the best of our ability we live on them.

That's one of the lessons I get from this scripture in Proverbs. This isn't just talking about actual physical honey, but about the Word of God. HIS words, HIS instructions for a happy and healthy spiritual life. Eat. Chew. Ponder. Consider. And like a cow, bring it up and chew, ponder, and consider some more. In God's words we find hope for a future. See Is 55:11. ​

15 Do not lurk like the wicked near the dwelling of the righteous. Do not assault his home. 16 For though the righteous one may fall seven times, he gets up again, but the wicked stumble in adversity.

The wicked lay in wait to be able to attack the righteous for any itty bitty seeming failure. The righteous (those depending on the shed blood of Messiah Yeshua to save them from their sins) are heavily protected and though we may fall many times, we know WHO to run to for the covering of HIS forgiveness and we are able to get up again and continue on. ​

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, or let your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 or Adonai may see it as evil in His eyes, and turn His wrath away from him.

As difficult as it may be at times, we should not celebrate when those who are wicked scheme against us amd stumble in their scheming. We can rejoice at God's deliverance of us from the enemy's wicked ways, but we should not celebrate when they fall. Why? Because it's evil in God's eyes and it may cause Him to not continue His wrath on them causing their evil to continue on us who celebrate their falling.​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Wicked Have No Future
Prov 24:19-22


19 Do not be upset because of evil people, or be envious of the wicked, 20 for the evil person has no future, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

This can be difficult to not fret over what evil doers do. Sometimes we may even envy them because their homes are large and well furnished and they have nice clothes and they get paid a lot of money for basically doing nothing. They are making decisions that involve others and they're making sure they're doing well but don't give a rip about all the others that are affected. Yet, we are told to not be upset about what they do and to not envy them. Why? Because while they're living luxurously here on earth when they stand before God, they will be snuffed out...they have no future as God has promised those who put their faith and trust in Him. ​

21 My son, fear Adonai and the king, and do not associate with rebels. 22 For their destruction will arise suddenly, and who knows the ruin both Adonai and the king can bring?

Fear (rightfull respect) Adonai. Be respectful toward those who have authority over you. Unless the human authority tells you to disobey God there should be civil respect, honor, and political obedience toward them. Why? Because either one can destroy you in a moments notice.​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Honesty
Prov 24:23-29

23 These sayings are also from the wise:
Partiality in judgment is not good. 24 Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent,” people curse him and nations revile him. 25 But for those who convict the guilty there will be delight—good blessing will come upon them.

When we have to decide between who was right and who was wrong we should NEVER show partiality and let the guilty one go free because we personally know them. It falls into those "unbalanced scales" which the Lord hates. (Prov 11:1) We become a participant in the evil deeds by showing favoritism and allowing the guilty one to go unpunished.​

26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

So my friend asks, "Does this dress look ok on me?", and it fits poorly and does not do her any favors at all, how am I to respond? LOL I don't have to be mean, but I should be honest with her. Don't be cruel in an answer that the person may not like, but I think it is best to be honest. I had it happen once and I was too chicken (slang for being a coward) to be honest with her. She'd made it and was so proud of it and it looked terrible on her. It rode up her hind in and showed way more than I'm sure she wanted it to show. Of course there are many more serious situations wher we hem and haw and are not honest as honest as we should be. Again, we don't have to be cruel and brutal and crude, be kind. ​

27 Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready. After that, build your house.

Water the land, feed and water the stock, mend the fences, etc. Tend to what is needed outside first, then work on what is needed inside. See also notes from Albert Barnes, I found them interesting:

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible
i. e., Get an estate into good order before erecting a house on it. To “build a house” may, however, be equivalent (compare Exodus 1:21; Deuteronomy 25:9; Rth 4:11 ) to “founding a family;” and the words a warning against a hasty and imprudent marriage. The young man is taught to cultivate his land before he has to bear the burdens of a family. Further, in a spiritual sense, the “field” may be the man‘s outer common work, the “house” the dwelling-place of his higher life. He must do the former faithfully in order to attain the latter. Neglect in one is fatal to the other. Compare Luke 16:10-11.​

28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. 29 Do not say, “I will do to him what he has done to me; I will pay him back for his deed!”

Don't get into a mood and for no reason rise up against your neighbor/friend/aquaintance, etc.. Also, don't repay evil for evil. So basically we are not to do "any evil against our neighbor, even if he does deserve it. We're to have no part at all in doing evil of any kind. Especially when the person we're doing it against is innocent.​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Slackers are Failures
Prov 24:30-34


30 I passed by the field of the slacker, by the vineyard of one lacking judgment. 31 Surprisingly, it was all overgrown with thorns, the ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down. 32 Then I took to heart what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: 33 “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,” 34 then your poverty comes tramping in, and your need like an armed soldier.

Here is a parable of sorts. Being a slacker in anything good is devestating for the slackerd. Don't allow your walk with God to become tainted and covered with weeds and choke out the good that God has done in you. Don't allow ourselves to become discouraged and give up on the righteous way of our God. We should always guard our minds and our hearts and not alow the weeds to take over and kill our harvest within us. Yes, God is faithful to make sure He finishes what He starts in us (Phil 1:6) but that does not mean we sit back and just go with the flow of our human nature.

Observe your own life and take stock of yourself. " Nip it in the bud" as some might say. Catch any wearyness and lazyness and and sin and get it out before it brings you down. See 1 Cor 9:24-27.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible
The chapter ends with an apologue, which may be taken as a parable of something yet deeper. The field and the vineyard are more than the man‘s earthly possessions. His neglect brings barrenness or desolation to the garden of the soul. The “thorns” are evil habits that choke the good seed, and the “nettles” are those that are actually hurtful and offensive to others. The “wall” is the defense which laws and rules give to the inward life, and which the sluggard learns to disregard, and the “poverty” is the loss of the true riches of the soul, tranquility, and peace, and righteousness.​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Joy of Searching
Prov 25:1-5


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

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.

So much for those who think if God wants us to know it He would have written it. LOL God does not spell it all out for us. He gives us clues and it's up to us to find them, and then search out where the clues take us. There is joy in searching, not only for God, but for us.
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3 As high as heaven and deep as earth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

To put it simply, A wise ruler does not give away his plans and stratigies. Some people easily show their plans and actions by the imaturity in which they speak and act. Thus, their enemy gets ahead of them.
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4 Remove impurities from silver and out comes material for the refiner. 5 Remove the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

To have pure silver, all the impurities must be removed. So it is with our lives in all respects. If we want to offer God "pure silver" life, we must work at allowing God to remove the impurities from our life. It won't be fun, but will be worth it.

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Honoring and Dishonoring
Prov 25:6-10


6 Do not honor yourself in the king’s presence, and do not stand in the place of great men. 7 Better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for you to be humiliated before a nobleman.

Don't enter the party and seat yourself in the seat of honor. If that seat is for you, the host will have you sit in it. Don't assume that you're such a special person that you automatically take the position that when the party starts the host will have to ask you in front of everyone to move, because it's for someone else.​

What your eyes have seen, 8 do not bring hastily to court, or what will you do afterward, when your neighbor puts you to shame?

Don't be quick to be a tattletale. The person in charge may have instructed the person to do what they are doing and you will be shamed by running and tattling. Or telling secrets about someone else that are nobody else business. You don't know the situation and even if you do, you should not be telling others that have nothing to do with it nor the fixing of it.

Now this does not mean that if you see someone committing a crime or that you hear them planning a crime, that you just let it happen. Do what is reasonable with what you believe you're seeing and/or hearing. ​

9 Argue your case with your associate, without betraying another’s confidence, 10 or the one who hears it will shame you, and you will never lose your bad reputation.

Keep the confidences of others who have trusted you. Again, I do not believe this applies to a crime where an innocent person is hurt. Use common sense.​

​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Speaking The Right Words At The Right Times
Prov 25:11-15


11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word aptly spoken.

We are not to sugarcoat things, yet we also must deliver our words in the best way possible. If we speak above the heads of those we are talking to, we lose them, if we insult them we lose them, if we talk to an educated person like they are a child, we lose them. Our words and how we deliver them, are important.

"Apples of gold in settings of silver". Now some people, like me, don't have silver settings, so my fruit bowl is plastic. While the plastic serves it's purpose, it does not give the same feeling of specialness nor the same visual like a pure silver bowl beautifully decorated by a skillful artisan.

Carefully delivering our words is important. ​

12 Like a gold earring or a gold ornament is a wise reproof to a receptive ear.

To a person who is receptive to correction, a "wise" reproof (not just anyone who's a nitpicker but someone who is actually trying to help and has the position to do so). That person is like a gold earring or a gold ornament.

Again, carefully delivering our words is important. ​

13 Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a faithful messenger to those who send him for he refreshes his master’s soul.

Like the adding of ice to the warm/hot drink during the heat of summer is refreshing, being a faithful messenger is refreshing to the one who sends the message. Not adding or taking away. We are messengers of Yeshua, make sure we're not adding or taking away from his message.​

14 Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts about a gift not given.

A braggart who does not produce is full of hot air.​

"A bragging man, who does not fulfill his promises," is like clouds which appear to be laden with vapor, and like the wind which, though it blow from a rainy quarter, brings no moistness with it. So the vain boaster; he is big with promise, but performs nothing. ~Adam Clarke Commentary~​

15 Through patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone.

Being artful and gentle in speech will change the heart and mind of a headstrong person easier than yelling insults at them.

​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Be A Good Friend
Proverbs 25:16-20


16 When you find honey, eat just enough, lest you are stuffed and vomit it.

Honey is a symbol of pleasure and the Bible most certaintly does not forbid being joyful and having fun. It can become overload though. We can become neglectful of important things always seeking fun. See here the notes of
The Biblical Illustrator.​

17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he become weary of you and loathe you.

Don't become a pest to your neighbors. It's good to be neighborly and friendly, but too much is too much can be wearing to your neighbor. ​

18 Like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow is one who bears false witness against his neighbor.

A person who talks falsely about their neighbor/aquaintance/friend is like a club being used to beat someone, or a sword to stab them, or an arrow to shoot them. Even if the story is true, we should not be passing such information along to others. How would you like it if someone was telling your business good or bad to others?​

19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is confidence in the unfaithful in time of trouble.

You know that feeling you get when someone you had total confidence in during a time of need to be the one to help you but they didn't? A sinking feeling, like you've been dropped into a well with no rope to climb out. Like trying to eat with a broken tooth or a foot that isn't working correctly. Be a faithful friend. If you cannot help in the way being asked, maybe you can find another way to help. Be a faithful friend. ​

20 Like taking off a garment on a cold day or like vinegar poured on soda,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

We need to be sinsitive to what is happening around us. I don't think this means that I must keep my joy under wraps when someone else is sad, but I should use wisdom in the way I act around others in very different situations. If I know that someone has just had a tramatic experience it's very insensitive of me to go on and on and on with "I'm too blessed to be stressed". Don't allow their sadness to bring you down, but don't you be that person who, "pulls their coat off and shoves them out in the snow". Be sinsitive and don't be cruel. ​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Treatment of Others
Prov 25:21-24

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21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head (see also, Rom 12:19-21) and Adonai will reward you.

Whatever food you have available in your house, share it with those that you meet that are hungry...even when it is your enemy. In doing so, it says, we will be heaping burning coals upon their heads. This is not a "getting even" technique.

It seems at first glance that it means to incite anger in the person you are doing a kindness to, and perhaps that is the meaning in Proverbs. However, Paul is here speaking about a kind of sincere pure love, where even earlier in the passage (verse 9) he says "Love must be sincere." It doesn't seem that love that would have the goal of inciting anger by means of good deeds to be very sincere. Perhaps it means that by doing them good you are adding to the eventual punishment that God will enact upon your enemy. Again, that does not sound like a very sincere kind of love.~Biblical Hermeneutics~​

We are to love.​

23 A north wind brings rain, and a backbiting tongue angry faces.

Backbiter.

Here see, 1. How we must discourage sin and witness against it, and particularly the sin of slandering and backbiting; we must frown upon it, and, by giving it an angry countenance, endeavour to put it out of countenance. Slanders would not be so readily spoken as they are if they were not readily heard; but good manners would silence the slanderer if he saw that his tales displeased the company. We should show ourselves uneasy if we heard a dear friend, whom we value, evil-spoken of; the same dislike we should show of evil-speaking in general. If we cannot otherwise reprove, we may do it by our looks. 2. The good effect which this might probably have; who knows but it may silence and drive away a backbiting tongue? Sin, if it be countenanced, becomes daring, but, if it receive any check, it is so conscious of its own shame that it becomes cowardly, and this sin in particular, for many abuse those they speak of only in hopes to curry favour with those they speak to.~Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible~
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24 Better to dwell in a corner of a roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

I grew up in a household with a very quarrelsome mother, I know all too well that it indeed would have been more peaceful to have lived on the roof. LOL

Now I know it's not always the ladies fault however, a woman who is always arguing, finding fault with her husband and kids, who is always comparing them with someone else's husband and kids, who is ungrateful and disrespectful of her family, etc., just makes the home a misrable place to be. Get with God and repent and allow HIM to change you. ​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Good and Bad Behavior
Prov 25:25-28


25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.

It's a happy event when we receive good news from anywhere, so much more I think when one has not seen or heard from someone in a long time. Of course in Solomons time, news did not really get anywhere very quickly. They had to depend on the "reporters" to return from long distances on horses, camels, elephants, ships, carts, etc.. In today's world we get new news instantly.​

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous person who yields before the wicked.

To witness a strong and righteous person fall before the wicked and give way to their enemy's is very sad. According to the proverb, it's like wandering in the desert for days without water and coming upon a spring to find only muddy and polluted water. We are to draw our strength from our relationship with God and having done all we know to do remain standing and know that HE is God and will never fail us. See Eph 6:10-20.​

27 It is not good to eat too much honey, or honorable to seek one’s own honor.

While eating too much honey can be problamatic, this verse is not just about eating honey. It's about any of our "appetites" that we go overboard on. I don't believe we can go overboard on sincere desire and searching for God, but we can do it in the wrong ways. We can have wrong motives. Are we really seeking to know God or do we want everyone to think we are most spiritual? It's that way with anything in life I think.​

Man is a creature of manifold desires. These desires may be divided into two grand classes--

1. Those that can never go too far. Such are the desires for knowledge, holiness, assimilation to God.

2. Those that often run too far. Such are the desires for wealth; the desire for power, which often runs into tyranny; the desire for pleasure, which often runs into licentiousness. ~The Biblical Illustrator~​

28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is one with no control over his temper.

Controlling our temper is important. As the proverb says, i'ts like a city with a breach in the wall and everyone and their neighbors enter without any "crowd controll" and noone knows who's entering. Are those entering honorable? Are they there to help improve? Or are they there to pillage and destroy?. Are what we about to say going to destroy or bring life? ​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Comparisons of a Fool
Prov 26:1-6

The dictionary defines a fool as used in the following verses as: a silly or stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense.

Basically, I think this would be a person who does not consider the things they are about to do, they don't use common sense. They don't see it as important nor do they care. They put themselves and others in danger, they say whatever pops into their heads. In today's society some sluff off this type of behavior by saying, "they're just being themselves", "they're being real". Uh-huh. Well, scripture calls it foolishness. ​

1 Like snow in summer or rain at harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

Imagine being at the beach on a nice warm, sunny day. You're laying there enjoying the rays and the sound of ocean waves and it starts snowing. Or, you are harvesting your crops in the fields and it starts raining. It's the wrong season for snow or rain. The snow and rain at that point in time is not normal and while laying on the beach soaking up rays, is unwelcome. These are like giving a peace award to a person who started the attacks on others and started wars. ​

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a flying swallow, so an undeserved curse does not land.

Speaking badly about someone in a manner they do not deserve comes back to rest on your own head. Watch your words. Watch for your own words spoken over someone else to come back to you. ​

3 A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.

A wicked and foolish person is compared to an unruley horse and donkey. They do not respond to correction or restraint. Don't give this type of person any power, they will be abusive with it. ​

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, else you also will be like him.

The Amplified puts it this way: "Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly,
Otherwise you, even you, will be like him".​

A good example would be when Donald Trump (before he was President) was recorded inappropriately responding to inappropriate comments about women. His response to the comments were in jest with the other mans inappropriate comments and in the end made Trump come off just as foolish as the other man. ​

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, else he will be wise in his own eyes.

Now this seems to contradict the previous verse doesn't it? The Amplified Bible puts it this way:

"Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly, Otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him]".
​

Not answering at all generally gives the appearance of "agreement" Answering in kind is agreement, even if you don't actually believe such a thing, so answering according to what you, as a righteous person knows to be correct is the better way. Not in selfrighteousness, but in sincerety and respect for others.​

6 Like cutting off one’s feet or drinking violence is sending a message by a fool’s hand.

A foolish person cannot be trusted to even take a message to someone. It will have the same results as if you cut off your own feet and drank poison, ruining your own reputation.​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Violence and Ruin of The Wicked
Prov 21:7-12


7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to act justly.

The violent and wicked person is swept away by their own violence and wickedness. Remember when Yeshua told Peter that "all who take up the sword, would die by the sword"? (Matt 26:51-52) There may be a time when violence is necessary and required for just action. Yeshua did not tell Peter to get rid of his sword, however, for the sword to be the first thing Peter went for, was not good.​

8 The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright.

The nature of a person who loves God and honors Him and His word is righteous. When we see unrighteous thoughts and actions in ourselves it is a sign that we need to draw closer to God. It's a never-ending quest I think.​

9 It is better to live on a corner of a roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

If you're a quarrelsome woman who is always fussing at her husband and children, and anyone else, stop it. Later in life you'll find yourself alone because nobody wants to be around you. Of course this also applies to a quarrelsome man. Quarrelsome people period are misarable to be around.​

10 A wicked soul craves evil—his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

When a soul is wicked, it craves evil. They find fault with everyone and everything. ​

11 When a mocker is punished, the naïve become wise. When a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge. 12 The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, throwing the wicked down to their ruin.

We can learn from watching what happens in the lives of those who mock God. Unhappy marriages, violent and disrespectful children, misrable lives where they may be surrounded by riches but in their inner persons, they are quite unhappy. It is better to learn from watching those who've done it all wrong than to participate in it and suffer the same regrets and consequences as they.​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Ways of The Lazy
Prov 26:13-16


13 A slacker says, “There’s a lion on the road! A lion is in the streets!” 14 As a door turns on its hinges so a slacker turns on his bed. 15 The slacker plunges his hand in the dish—he is too tired to bring it back to his mouth. 16 A slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer sensibly.

The Amplified Bible tramslates the word slacker as: The lazy person [who is self-indulgent and relies on lame excuses.
​

Now there are some people who put reliance on their own abilities and work, work, work to make things happen, and sometimes the Lord steps in the way and blocks their efforts in order to grab their attention to dependence on HIM and not their own efforts or the help of others. I say this in order to caution one to not be quick to judge others as slackerds when they aren't.

Then there are others who really are lazy and do not want to work for a living. They have many an excuse as to why they can't do something to help earn their way, or even help out a little. As in the verses above, "there might be a lion in the street, so I'll just stay in bed today" A slackerd is like a person who puts his hand in the candy dish but then is too lazy to put the candy into his mouth...they expect someone else to do that for them. The slackerd thinks he's being smarter than all the other people he knows who are successful and work hard for all they get.

If you are actually trying and nothing is working out for you, first I would suggest that you get before God and ask Him what is going on. Ask Him to show you what the problem is and walk in the direction that He sends you. In this situation I encourage you to not give up. It may take weeks, months, years to see changes in some areas, others oon the sidelines may be judging you and even say cruel things, but if you're depending on God and you truely are not being a slackerd, HE will guide you out and you'll be wiser for it.

If you're not trying though, and you're depending on others for everything you need, stop it. Get yourself out of your laziness and do something.

​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Foolishness of Meddling
Prov 26:17-20


17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own. 18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows 19 so is one who deceives his friend, and says, “I was only joking.” 20 Without wood a fire goes out;
without gossip quarrels cease.

Meddle: To involve oneself in a matter without right or invitation; interfere officiously and unwantedly​

Basically, if you are not part of the problem or the requested fixer of it, stay out of it. I've gotten involved in things that were none of my business too many times, and I've regretted it. If you were not asked for your help and/or opinion don't give it.

This is regarding people's personal lives. Things that don't involve "life danger" to the person. Like if you just got home and know that the road out of town fell into the sea let people know. If the forrest next to your neighborhood is on fire, let peple know. If the man your friend is seeing looks like the guy they showed on TV who has murdered several women, let your friend know.

But don't get involved in their bickerings with each other. Don't tell them how to dress, or where to go to school, or where they should and shouldn't work. Don't be a gossip and slanderer. Don't tell people's business to other people. In doing so, the proverb says, you're like a crazy person shooting firey arrows at everyone. Don't crudely jest with insults and then say "I'm only joking".

Without wood the fire goes out, meaning if the argument is not added to, it will eventually go out. Without gossip, quarrels cease. So, whatever you know and have an opinion about, keep it to yourself.​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

A Stirrer of Trouble
Prov 26:21-24


21 As coals are to embers and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindling strife.

A contentious person stirs up trouble with and between other people. They disagree just to disagree. Solomon described such as being like coals and embers and wood being added to a fire. The flames grow larger and envelope the situation. It can ruin someones life with all the contention.​

22 A gossip’s words are like tasty morsels—they slide down into the innermost parts of the body. 23 Like silver glaze overlaying earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.

Our world is so caught up in gossip, some of it true and much of it false. There are magazines that make all their money, and lot's of it by just making stuff up about celebrities and our government and business people...and the public cannot seem to get enough of it. It may seem harmless, however, I think we become busybody's and nosey and into things that are none of our business weather petty or not. Even knowing that what is written is not likely true many are still drawn to it and pass the stories on. Gossip injures three people, the person who gossips, the person who listenns and the persons being gossipped about. Remember Phil 4:8.​

24 One who hates, disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him.

Sometimes we pretend to like someone else when we actually dislike them very much. Sometimes people pretend to be a friend or they are holding unforgiveness for wrongs (intentional and unintentional), done and when they are not around they say mean and untrue things about them. They do things behind their back to cause trouble for them. Sometimes the things said are true and we have not forgien them...even if they are not sorry.

In keeping hold of these emotions and/or hateful actions toward them, we are storing up within ourselves all that hatred and someday it will come back upon the person who keeps hold of it. See Toxic Emotions Can Lead To Serious Health Problems.

Allow God to heal you emotionally so that you can let go of any hate you have stored up within you. We must forgive. Remember the Lord's prayer, "forgive us our debts AS we forgive those who have tresspassed against us". See Matt 6:12.​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Lying Tongue
Prov 26:25-28


25 When he speaks favorably, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit, his evil will be exposed before the assembly.

This is a continuation of yestersdays verse 24 "One who hates, disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him". Someone who pretends to be your friend and they're hiding that they don't like you.

To me, the statement that "there are seven abominations in his heart" is referencing the list of seven abominations that God hates that we are told in Prov 6:16-19. Through what we've read to this point, we have learned that a person who is deceitful is in their own eyes better than others, they lie, they are cabable of harming innocent people, whether it be physically or emotionally, they plot ways to get even with people, they run quickly to evil, they tell false things about the people they hate, and they stir up strife between those they hate and others.

If you see these things in yourself, you don't have to remain in this condition.

You can admit your hatred and unforgiveness to Yeshua and ask for forgiveness. Seek him in giving all your hurt and hatred to Him and allow him to change your heart. We all are in need of this change in our heart. It may take awhile for the pain to totally go away but when you put your faith and trust in Him, and you are attempting to put it all in His hand, it will.

I don't personally believe that harboring unforgiveness means your faith and trust in the blood of Yeshua is not sufficient for you, but do remember that all of our works will be tested by fire (1 Cor 3:10-16) and the works of hatred and deceipt will burn up. The works of love will withstand the fire.​

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall in it, and whoever rolls a stone—it will come back upon him.

The person who plans evil for others, will themselves have evil come on them. Like a boomerang, you throw it out, it comes back to you.

Whatever you sow, you will reap.

Remember Haman in the Book of Esther.​

28 A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

A person who hurts others with lies is showing their hatred of them. It is much the same regarding flattery...giving a person praise when they do not deserve it.

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible
There are two sorts of lies equally detestable: - 1. A slandering lie, which avowedly hates those it is spoken of: A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it; it afflicts them by calumnies and reproaches because it hates them, and can thus smite them secretly where they are without defence; and it hates them because it has afflicted them and made them its enemies. The mischief of this is open and obvious; it afflicts, it hates, and owns it, and every body sees it. 2. A flattering lie, which secretly works the ruin of those it is spoken to. In the former the mischief is plain, and men guard against it as well as they can, but in this it is little suspected, and men betray themselves by being credulous of their own praises and the compliments that are passed upon them. A wise man therefore will be more afraid of a flatterer that kisses and kills than of a slanderer that proclaims war.​

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Do Not Boast
Prov 27:1-4


1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Tomorrow is not promised to us. We do not know what will happen to impede our plans from the moment we make them to the time of the hopes of it. Don't put off until tomorrow what can be done today.

Boast not thyself of to-morrow - See note on James 4:13, etc. Do not depend on any future moment for spiritual good which at present thou needest, and God is willing to give, and without which, should death surprise thee, thou must be eternally lost; such as repentance, faith in Christ, the pardon of sin, the witness of the Holy Spirit, and complete renovation of soul. Be incessant in thy application to God for these blessings. Adam Clarke Commentary​

2 Let another praise you and not your own mouth, a stranger and not your own lips.

This is a contrary statement in much of todays thinking. We have so many who encourage others to brag about their own abilities in order to build up their own self-esteem. According to this verse though, we should not tout our own skills and talents. That's not to degrade ourselves either. Let's say that if someone asks if you can sing, that saying, "yes" is wrong. It's not wrong to admit a skill, but being a braggart about it, is. If someone asks, "Do you study your Bible" and you answer with, "I've read that book 50 times and continue to read the whole book every day and I spend 5 hours every day reading and studying", etc, etc., that is called "over-tell". Basically on the same level as TMI (too much information). In mybook, you have just shown yourself to not really be as spiritual as you want others to think.

Let other people brag on your talents and accomplishments...preferably without you paying them ahead of time to do so. LOL

Self-boasting is always a source of weakness as well as a revelation of vanity. The Biblical Illustrator​

3 A stone is heavy and sand a burden,but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.

Stones and sand can be very heavy to carry, but more so is harassment, Like that constant dripping that cam drive you mad. Don't do that to others. Just don't do it. It makes you no better than the termite that constantly chews away at the wood until eventually the building crumbles down.​

4 Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

Jealousy brings a person down. Especially the person who's holding it.

The rabbins have a curious story on this subject, and it has been formed by the moderns into a fable. There were two persons, one covetous and the other envious, to whom a certain person promised to grant whatever they should ask; but double to him who should ask last. The covetous man would not ask first, because he wished to get the double portion, and the envious man would not make the first request because he could not bear the thoughts of thus benefiting his neighbor. However, at last he requested that one of his eyes should be taken out, in order that his neighbor might lose both. Adam Clarke Commentary​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Prov 27:5-8


5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
but excessive the kisses of an enemy.

A true friend, someone who really cares about you will tell you the truth. If someone is afraid to tell you the truth for fear you will stop being friends with them, they are not really a friend. Your enemy though will be constantly telling you whatever they think you want to hear, how wonderful you are and won't ever tell you anything that you need to hear in order to change whatever you may need to change.​

7 One who is full loathes honeycomb, but to one who is hungry every bitter thing is sweet.

This verse I believe can be applied to both physically and spiritually. We easily lose our taste for things which we have plenty of. If we love ice cream and we always have plenty around, the crave for it soon disappears. The same spiritually. We have so much "spiritual frivality" available to us that we become satisfied and then lose our hunger and thirst for the finest of them all...Yeshua. See Ps 19:10-11. ​

8 Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man that wanders from his home.

A bird straying from her nest would put herself and her young ones in great danger. So many of us seperate ourselves from our families and go wandering to find something better.

Note, 1. There are many that do not know when they are well off, but are uneasy with their present condition, and given to change. God, in his providence, has appointed them a place fit for them and has made it comfortable to them; but they affect unsettledness; they love to wander; they are glad of a pretence to go abroad, and do not care for staying long at a place; they needlessly absent themselves from their own work and care, and meddle with that which belongs not to them. 2. Those that thus desert the post assigned to them are like a bird that wanders from her nest. It is an instance of their folly; they are like a silly bird; they are always wavering, like the wandering bird that hops from bough to bough and rests nowhere. It is unsafe; the bird that wanders is exposed; a man's place is his castle; he that quits it makes himself an easy prey to the fowler. When the bird wanders from her nest the eggs and young ones there are neglected. Those that love to be abroad leave their work at home undone. Let every man therefore, in the calling wherein he is called, therein abide, therein abide with God.
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible
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[SpiritPsalmist]

Being Wise
Prov 27:9-12


9 As ointment and perfume gladden the heart, so the sweetness of one’s friend comes from his sincere counsel.

In the Eastern culture it was common that when a guest left, the host sprinkled rose water or some other scent on the guest as a refreshing scent when they left, uplifting their senses and sending them out with sweetnes...much like the sweetness of a close friendship where friends encourage each other in God's wisdom and ways.​

10 Do not forsake your friend, or your father’s friend, nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster—better a neighbor nearby than a brother far off.

Be a faithful friend, don't forsake your friend in their time of need. Also don't forsake anyone who was close to your parents and was a faithful friend to them. When disaster hits your home it is more often than not the faithful friend who is there to help over a family member who keeps themselves at a distance.​

11 Be wise, my son, make my heart glad, so I may answer anyone who taunts me.

The son/daughter reflecting wisdom makes the heart of a good parent glad. The wise words/actions of a son/daughter cast a good reflection on the parent. I see this as an honoring of sorts of our parents, being honorabe even if the parent was not all that good.​

12 The prudent see danger and hide, but the naïve keep going and pay the penalty.

Being prepared is good. We all experience bad times, therfore, it is good to be as prepared as our resources and circumstances allow us to be. Don't put all your trust in what you've stored up, however, don't ignore the ability to be prepared. ​

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Being Kind
Prov 27:13-16


13 Take a man’s garment, who puts up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge, as security for a seductive woman.

Don't be a co-signer for anyone you do not know. Don't just throw your money to the wind at all who ask. Help where you can, but don't put yourself into poverty. While we are to help those in need when they need it, we are not to foolishly lend. Especially when the one we're lending to is manifesting hugely that they are wasting the money they do have.

Now that's not to say that we should consider ourselves a judge of what others do with what they have...we can always assume a lot of things that are not true and end up unfairly judging them. I remember being judged because someone who knew I was financially struggling saw me purchase an item that was my only sourse of intertainment...a 97 cent magazine or a $1.00 bag of bird food watch the birds eat while I drank coffee.

When you know someone who is always in need though and you see they talk of how they just bought new clothes, or a new TV or whatever and not buying the food and things they need or paying their bills, that's totally different. Be wise in giving, not stingy, but generous and wise. ​

14 If someone blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.

Be cautious of the person who is always flattering and boasting and doing it loudly for all to hear, making themselves annoying and embarrassing those they are flattering. The one who's always rushing ahead of others to be the one seen and heard. These are not really blessings but curses. ​

15 Continual dripping on a day of steady rain and a contentious wife are alike—16 hiding her is like hiding the wind or grasping oil with the right hand.

Solomon has basically said the same thing several times. A nagging and contentious woman will make life misarable, for everyone in the household. Of course men can be naggy and contentious too and are not leading the way in being like Christ and the way he loved the church. Being naggy and contious is like the annoying dripping faucet.​