Proverbs 25
Verse 11:
A word aptly spoken
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
While the simile is a bit ancient, the content is there. A word aptly spoken is golden.
Verse 16:
If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.
An odd verse to be sure. But my question is whether or not this verse is solely about gluttony, or if there’s a deeper meaning here.
Verse 17:
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
too much of you, and he will hate you.
To me, “seldom” means we’re hardly ever doing it, and leads me to a conclusion of being inhospitable. So I’m not sure what to do with this. Frankly, it just seems pretty harsh. Maybe Solomon should have had better neighbors?
Verse 20:
Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on soda,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
I have some musically inclined friends who would find this verse disheartening. My only conclusion is that these “songs” aren’t sympathetic dirges, but inappropriately happy or joyous songs that would only serve to “pour salt in the wound”.
Verses 21-22:
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.
So is God rewarding us for heaping burning coals on someone’s head, or is He rewarding us for serving our enemies? Seems ironic that the Bible advocates this type of action for this particular reason. I’ve heard the phrase “kill them with kindness” but this seems to be advocating wrong motives.
Verse 24:
Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Again, we are given the admonition of Proverbs 21:9.
I guess it’s fair to say that I’m struggling with a lot of the verse in Chapter 25. They don’t seem like conventional wisdom at all, much less biblical wisdom.
What do you think?