Tuesday, October 8 – Proverbs 25-26, Additional Reading, “The Book of Proverbs”, 2015 Sabbath School Quarterly Lesson 10. https://www.ssnet.org/lessons/15a/less10.html

1. What teaching of Jesus in Luke 14:10 is originally found in Proverbs? Proverbs 25:6-7

2. What teaching of Paul in Romans 12:20 is originally found in Proverbs? Proverbs 25:21-22

3. What teaching of Peter in 2 Peter 2:22 is originally found in Proverbs? Proverbs 26:11

Commentary and Reflection:

You may have realized by now the advantages of reading Proverbs in several different translations to study the heart of each Proverb’s meaning. While I am a fan of the NKJV, I am also a fan of the NLT, especially when reading Proverbs. Other translations are available, and I hope you have found one that helps you get the most out of each proverb.

Proverbs 25 begins with an apparent theme of kings, royalty, and wisdom, while Proverbs 26 addresses fools and their foolish behavior. If you are like me, there is wisdom we can glean from both chapters; in some ways, I may be as wise as a king, but in other ways, I can still be foolish and have a lot to learn. It would be good for us to consider the teaching of Jesus in Luke 14:10 and the words of Solomon in Proverbs 25:6-7, and not think too highly of ourselves in the presence of others, but rather come ready to learn and not just to teach. After all, when Jesus was 12 years old at the Temple, Luke 2:46 says He was sitting, listening to religious rulers, and asking them questions. While being God, Jesus was not a “know-it-all.”  He was humble in the presence of others. How much more should we be humble in the presence of others? Even more humble as we study the Proverbs as well as all Scripture.

Much in Proverbs gives both kings and paupers wisdom in dealing with difficult people. In Romans 12:20, Paul notes the wisdom in Proverbs 25:21-22. In Romans 12:21, Paul tells us to overcome evil with good. But right before that, he tells us to do so by being kind to our enemies, thus “heaping coals of fire on their heads.” Of course, we are reading this in English, and the term “heap coals of fire” on someone’s head is an old British term that means to cause someone to be remorseful. Earlier in Romans 2:4, Paul tells us that God’s goodness leads us to repentance and salvation. This teaching is not new to the New Testament. Proverbs, as well as all of the Old Testament, proclaim the goodness and love of God, which has always led sinners to be remorseful and repentant of their sins and to turn and follow God. For those of us taking the Gospel to what may be the last generation, how much more should we be proclaiming and demonstrating the goodness of God? While we may try various tactics in the last days to win people to Jesus, showing others the goodness of God has worked in every generation throughout earth’s history.

Once we have experienced the goodness of God and become wise in the Lord, 2 Peter 2:22 tells us we do not want to go back to our foolish ways like a dog returning to its vomit-gross! Peter is re-echoing the words of Solomon, and I pray as I write this that after humbly learning these proverbs and experiencing the goodness of God, we will not keep returning to our former foolish ways like a dog returns to its vomit. Unfortunately, I have done this, and fortunately, I have found God’s love and mercy greater than my “vomit” every time. God’s grace is making us wiser each day so that one day we may hear the words, “You are forgiven,” and the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”