December 19, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Open-Eyed Wonder

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Mighty God, Your strength and Your awesome presence, Your love and grace, are with me all of my days. Thanks and praise to You.

Read Proverbs 25:1-28

[1] These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: [2] It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. [3] As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. [4] Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; [5] remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. [6] Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; [7] it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. What you have seen with your eyes [8] do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame? [9] If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence, [10] or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand. [11] Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. [12] Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear. [13] Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master. [14] Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given. [15] Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. [16] If you find honey, eat just enough- too much of it, and you will vomit. [17] Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house- too much of you, and they will hate you. [18] Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor. [19] Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble. [20] Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. [21] If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. [22] In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. [23] Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue-which provokes a horrified look. [24] Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. [25] Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. [26] Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked. [27] It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep. [28] Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

Without overtly stressing the great prophetic themes (e.g., the covenant), the proverbs show how Israel’s distinctive faith affected daily life. The book of Proverbs is a guidebook for successful living, not only for the Israelites, but for us as well.

 

I revel in the (over 20) cascading metaphors of this chapter: the sprained ankle, vinegar on soda, coals on an enemy’s head, the muddied spring, the broken wall, the bone-breaking tongue (a surprise!), apples, skies, clouds, honey! Slow me down, Lord! Help me not just to see—but to observe, to gaze, to stare, and to notice. Help me not just to surf, to scroll, to tweet through life. Make me a person with my senses awake, fully alive to everyday things. I do not need to go to exotic places with staggering panoramas; I can just observe a single geranium flower, its five finely marked sky-blue petals, its filigree pistil and stamens and a busy bee at work… I thank you, Lord, for the vivacity of these proverbs. Make me a person who sees with my ears and hears with my eyes, who finds windows into your work and wisdom everywhere.
Not every saying in this chapter yields its meaning easily. Does the north wind bring rain (23a)? An alternative to the NIV translation of verse 27b is “to research heavy things is good.” So I sit with those sayings I do understand: Don’t push your luck with your neighbor! Don’t push in front of others in a line! Listen to a wise rebuke: one of those rare situations where it is more blessed to receive than to give! Many of the sayings are about relationships—to important people, your neighbor, your adversary, the message-bringer, the heavy-hearted, family members. I ask for grace and wisdom. It seems Jesus pondered verses 6, 7 and 9 (Luke 14:7–10; Matt. 18:15). Paul clearly knew verses 21 and 22 (Rom. 12:20,21).

I revel in the (over 20) cascading metaphors of this chapter: the sprained ankle, vinegar on soda, coals on an enemy’s head, the muddied spring, the broken wall, the bone-breaking tongue (a surprise!), apples, skies, clouds, honey! Slow me down, Lord! Help me not just to see—but to observe, to gaze, to stare, and to notice. Help me not just to surf, to scroll, to tweet through life. Make me a person with my senses awake, fully alive to everyday things. I do not need to go to exotic places with staggering panoramas; I can just observe a single geranium flower, its five finely marked sky-blue petals, its filigree pistil and stamens and a busy bee at work… I thank you, Lord, for the vivacity of these proverbs. Make me a person who sees with my ears and hears with my eyes, who finds windows into your work and wisdom everywhere.
Not every saying in this chapter yields its meaning easily. Does the north wind bring rain (23a)? An alternative to the NIV translation of verse 27b is “to research heavy things is good.” So I sit with those sayings I do understand: Don’t push your luck with your neighbor! Don’t push in front of others in a line! Listen to a wise rebuke: one of those rare situations where it is more blessed to receive than to give! Many of the sayings are about relationships—to important people, your neighbor, your adversary, the message-bringer, the heavy-hearted, family members. I ask for grace and wisdom. It seems Jesus pondered verses 6, 7 and 9 (Luke 14:7–10; Matt. 18:15). Paul clearly knew verses 21 and 22 (Rom. 12:20,21).

 

Apply

What do the repeated themes in Proverbs do for you?

Closing prayer

Lord, out of my careful, ardent listening and observing, give me golden, soul-refreshing words, crafted to the particular hearer before me, mending or breaking bones as the need arises.

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