Proverbs Chapter 27 Continued
Proverbs 27:14 "He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him."
First of all, he should wait until later in the day. Perhaps his loud voice has awakened the person he is trying to bless. When he blesses in a loud voice instead of quietly indicates that he wants everyone around to know.
Perhaps this is flattery which then raises a suspicion of selfishness.
This is probably because he wants something in return from his “friend”. This very offensive blessing is probably thought of as a curse instead of a blessing by the receiver. Probably this blessing is in word only.
In verses 15 and 16, we see that this type of woman is impossible to restrain or tame.
Proverbs
This "continual dropping" can just drive you crazy, because it never stops. This contentious woman is the same. She never stops nagging, and she too, will drive you crazy; because you can't get her stopped. I really don't believe you could stop her from complaining any more than you could stop the wind from blowing.
The only thing that I can say about this ointment is that it probably smells good, and we know it is of a spiritual blessing because of the right hand. It appears spiritual blessings are withheld from her because of the word "bewrayeth".
Proverbs 27:17 "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."
In this, I see that iron couldn't be sharpened by aluminum or some softer metal. We see in this that friends should choose friends of their same or stronger moral stature. To run around with a fool would not improve you at all. Someone of like beliefs will build you up when you are down.
Good friends keep you on your toes doing your best, because they expect the best of you.
The benefits of intellectual and theological discussion encourage joy through a keener mind and the improvement of good character which the face will reveal.
Proverbs 27:18 "Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored."
We know that those who take really good care of their fig trees can expect a very good crop. We see the comparison here of the one who works hard for the master and does the master’s wishes shall also be honored.
My desire, as the desire of many others who work for God, is that someday we will hear him say, "Well done thy good and faithful servant".
Proverbs 27:19 "As in water face [answereth] to face, so the heart of man to man."
To look into a pool of clear water, man sees his reflection in the water. The feelings of our own heart are the feelings of other man's hearts as well.
One thing television has done is to make us see that even people we classify as our enemies have the same desires of heart that we do, and they hurt the same as we do. When we look into a man's heart, we see our heart as well.
Proverbs 27:20 "Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied."
We see here, that Satan never stops trying to cause men to sin. The lust of the eyes is what caused the sin in the Garden of Eden, and it is still what causes sin.
The Lord Jesus said to lust for a woman in your heart was committing adultery with her in your heart. Lust of the flesh causes sin. Unless you look with your eyes, you will not lust.
Man’s desires are never filled up. They are as insatiable as the place of eternal punishment which never overfills.
Proverbs 27:21 "[As] the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so [is] a man to his praise."
Great temperature melts silver in a pot, and fire melts gold as well. We see in this that heat applied purifies. The trash in the precious metals comes to the top and is skimmed off. We are told that even under great pressure we are to praise God.
Popularity and praise “test” personal character.
Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name."
Proverbs 27:22 "Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, [yet] will not his foolishness depart from him."
"Bray" means butt or pound. I see in this that you can take a fool and force him to be in a group of Christians (wheat), yet he won't learn a thing. To be changed into a Christian, a person has to be willing. God will not force Himself on us.
As we have said before, we must be wise unto salvation. The most foolish thing a person can do is reject the Lord.
This next section contrasts the common shepherd’s labor and God’s provision with the fleeting nature of uncertain riches and power (verse 24). Since all lands reverted to the original owners every 50 years, flocks were the staple wealth. Only by care and diligence could they be perpetuated and profitable. God’s providence aids this effort to properly use the blessings of the land.
Proverbs 27:23 "Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds."
Whatever type of work you do, you should do your very best. In fact, you should do it as unto the Lord. If you neglect your flock, you will not have a flock. If you take care of your flock, they will grow and make you wealthy. No one else will look after your things like you will.
Proverbs 27:24 "For riches [are] not for ever: and doth the crown [endure] to every generation?"
We see here, that just because you have riches doesn't mean that you always will. If you do not take care of what God has entrusted you with, you will find one day that all your wealth has vanished.
The crown endures as long as wise rulers stay aware of the needs of their people. People will overthrow rule if it is cruel or unfair.
Proverbs 27:25 "The hay appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered."
The hay is grass that is seasoned and stored for the winter feeding, the grass springs forth again. At a different time, the herbs of the mountain are gathered. We see the farmer makes preparation to feed his animals all year round.
Proverbs 27:26 "The lambs [are] for thy clothing, and the goats [are] the price of the field."
Lambs grow wool, and they are sheared to make clothing. It appears that the goats are more easily reproduced, and the owner can sell them and pay for the field.
Believers are called sheep, and non- believers are called goats.
Proverbs 27:27 "And [thou shalt have] goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and [for] the maintenance for thy maidens."
It appears that goat's milk is the main stay of the meals there, like cow's milk is in the United States. The young maidens milked these goats.
Goats were not eaten daily, but were cooked and eaten in some of the sacrifices.
Proverbs 27 Continued Questions
1.If a person blesses someone loudly and early in the morning, it is counted as a
________________.
2.What does it indicate when you bless in a loud voice?
3.In verse 15, what is a contentious woman like?
4.What type of blessings are right hand blessings?
5.What sharpens iron?
6.What type of friends does this indicate we should have?
7.What will happen if you take care of your fig tree?
8.What should a person do to receive honor from his master?
9.What is the desire of all Christians?
10.What is meant by "water face answereth to face"?
11.What lesson have we learned about our country's enemies on television?
12.Where are we told is never full in verse 20?
13.In verse 20, what sin is intended in "eyes of man"?
14.What was the cause of the problem in the garden of Eden?
15.What purifies silver and gold?
16.What kind of praise are we to offer in Hebrews 13:15?
17.What does "bray" mean?
18.What does the author see in verse 22?
19.What should a man be diligent about besides God?
20.Riches are not __________.
21.Why would a king be overthrown?
22.What is hay in verse 25?
23.Why is hay, grass, and herbs mentioned in verse 25?
24.Verse 26 tells us lambs are for ____________.
25.What are goats?
26.Who are sheep and goats, spiritually?
27.Who milked the goats?