Lesson 10 for
March 7, 2015
This section in Proverbs helps us
to discover what is found
“behind the mask”. That is, the
reality behind appearances,
what our eyes cannot see.
The inscrutable God. Proverbs 25:2-3.
The fool as wise. Proverbs 26:11-12.
The sluggard who thinks he’s wise. Proverbs 26:13-16.
The enemy as friend. Proverbs 26:18-25.
The friend as enemy. Proverbs 27:5-6, 17.
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to
search out a matter. As the heavens for height and the earth for
depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.” (Proverbs 25:2-3)
“It is a glory for God to be infinite and therefore
to conceal much from the finite and sindarkened minds of men.” (SDA Bible
Commentary, on Pr. 25:2).
“Oh, the depth of the riches
both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! How
unsearchable are His judgments
and His ways past finding out!”
(Romans 11:33)
It is a glory for leaders to study the
difficult things God has hidden in His
Word with spirit. They will finally be
understood.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are
revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the
words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)
“There are deep mysteries in the word of
God, which will never be discovered by
minds that are unaided by the Spirit of
God. There are also unsearchable
mysteries in the plan of redemption,
which finite minds can never
comprehend. Inexperienced youth might
better tax their minds and exercise their
ability to gain an understanding of
matters that are revealed… When they
have cherished the light they already
have, and made a practical use of it, they
will be able to take a step forward… None
are too young, and none too old, to learn
in this school by paying diligent heed to
the lessons taught by the divine Teacher.”
E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, cp. 39, p. 444)
“As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool
repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own
eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
(Proverbs 26:11-12)
Why does the fool come back to his foolishness?
Why do we repeat our mistakes all over again?
Sometimes we repeat our mistakes again because of
our weakness. Nevertheless, this verse refers to
those who know the right thing but we do wrong.
They are spiritually blind.
The only way to avoid returning to our own “vomit”
is to study the Word. The Holy Spirit will then show
us when we are wrong and when we are acting
right.
We must leave our pride behind in order to learn.
We must not be wise “in our own eyes.” Those who
think their selves wise will never learn. The fool
won’t be fool anymore if he’s willing to learn.
“The lazy man says, ‘There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!’ As
a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed. The lazy man buries
his hand in the bowl; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. The lazy man is
wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.” (Proverbs 26:13-16)
Let’s review the attributes of the sluggard:
COWARDLINESS
INDOLENCE
LAZINESS
CONCEIT
He doesn’t do
anything
because a lion
may be in the
road.
He is like the
door that moves
but doesn’t go
anywhere. He
moves on his
bed but he never
gets up to work.
He doesn’t
exert himself;
not even to
satisfy his own
needs.
He is content with
his own
preconceived
opinions. He is
too lazy to
research or study
anything.
“Like a madman who throws
firebrands, arrows, and death,
is the man who deceives his
neighbor, and says, ‘I was only
joking!’” (Proverbs 26:18-19)
“Where there is no wood, the
fire goes out; and where there is
no talebearer, strife ceases. As
charcoal is to burning coals, and
wood to fire, so is a contentious
man to kindle strife.”
Sometimes a “friend” may
want to deceive you but you
finally reveal his intention.
He then apologizes by saying
“I was only joking!”
If your “friend” is speaking
badly of a friend of his, he
may speak badly of you
too.
(Proverbs 26:20-21)
“Fervent lips with a wicked heart
are like earthenware covered with
silver dross. He who hates,
disguises it with his lips, and lays
up deceit within himself; when he
speaks kindly, do not believe him,
for there are seven abominations in
his heart.” (Proverbs 26:23-25)
There are “friends” who
speak nice words to you
but they actually
despise you in their
hearts. They are
enemies in disguise.
“Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the
wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Proverbs 27:5-6)
What are “the wounds of a friend”?
A friend may lovely reprimand you by showing
your mistakes. That may sound like an enemy
talking and you may feel wounded.
But those wounds are beneficial, “faithful”—
from the Hebrew word “Amen”, so be it— and
capable of saving the soul. The friendship will
become stronger once the wound is healed.
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the
countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)
The iron of the file or the hammer can
sharpen an iron blade. Friendship
becomes stronger by helping and
confronting one another.
“It would blot out the distinction between
right and wrong, by agreeing with the
transgressor instead of faithfully showing
him his errors. Such a course never springs
from real friendship.”
E.G.W. (Lift Him Up, October 26)