Proverbs: Chapter 25

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Salient points:

• Note on v.1: the compilation of sayings in Hezekiah's day (c.700 BC) was made many generations after the time of Solomon (who died about 970 BC). The book of Proverbs took centuries to reach its final (present) form.
• Research (v.2) is glorious. The disciple should rejoice in new discoveries, exploration, and science. Yet research is qualified (v.27).
• "If your enemy is hungry..." (v.21) is taken up in the N.T. in Romans 12. Such love appears here and there in the O.T., though it is the rule in the N.T. (e.g. Jesus' words in Matt 5). To take this advice literally would be to have nothing to do with war. For further thought, listen to the War Prayer.
• Lack of personal discipline renders us vulnerable -- without any protection against chaos, temptation, unwise companions, poor judgment, etc. (v.28). We need to guard our thoughts and actions.
• Self-awareness and empathy towards others will prevent us from being too pushy (v.6), making promises that disappoint (v.14), violating others' boundaries (v.16), and hurting those who are already in pain (v.20). See also 26:14.

Daily challenge:

• Discipline in interpersonal interactions.
• Discipline extends to how we interact with others. We need to develop awareness of how they perceive us. Often they won't tell us directly, but they may leave subtle clues which the observant person will pick up on.
• Empathy is a matter not only of wisdom (understanding others), but of caring.

Translations: First I read the NIV, and at the end of the podcast the RSV.

Tomorrow: Proverbs 26