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Scrutinize praise proverbs 27

Wednesday 1/14/26

Thru the Bible: Proverbs 27

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It is Wisdom to scrutinize Praise!

Well tonight’s chapter in Proverbs is one of the simplest we have yet encountered. Its wisdom ranges from just solid common sense and good advice to instruction which is both practical and well thought through.

Nearly the whole chapter is worded so clearly, that other than some simple commentary on a per verse basis, there are only two verses which I felt needed any real study. These are verses 9 and 21.

Verse 9 is just a simple clarification and personal disclaimer whereas verse 21 does offer more than one possible meaning. So I felt as if we would benefit from spending a little time on it.

So, with that having been said, let’s dive in…

Proverbs 27:1-27,

“(1) Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

(2) Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.

(3) A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but vexation by a fool is more burdensome than the two of them.

(4) Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

(5) Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

(6) Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive. (deceitful)

(7) The one whose appetite is satisfied loathes honey, but to the hungry mouth every bitter thing is sweet.

(8) Like a bird that wanders from its nest, so is a person who wanders from his home.

“(9) Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice, likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel.”

This is another case where the proverb is not necessarily universal. I for one do not like incense or nearly any perfume. Rather than joy or rejoicing it usually has me seeking the nearest exit. One possible variation of the phrase is “makes the heart gloat” which could be true with ointments and perfumes because in the ancient world they were of some notable value. This rendering would also hold true of the counsel of a friend. But it most likely was intended to set incense and perfume before us as pleasant things.

“(10) Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your disaster; a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away.

(11) Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, so that I may answer anyone who taunts me.

(12) A shrewd person saw danger–he hid himself; the naive passed right on by– they had to pay for it.

(13) Take a man’s garment when he has given security for a stranger, and hold him in pledge on behalf of a stranger.

(14) If someone blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse to him.

(15) A continual dripping on a rainy day– a contentious wife makes herself like that. (16) Whoever contains her has contained the wind or can grasp oil with his right hand.

(17) As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend.

(18) The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever takes care of his master will be honored.

(19) As in water the face is reflected as a face, so a person’s heart reflects the person.

(20) As Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so the eyes of a person are never satisfied.

(21) As the crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, so a person must put his praise to the test.”

This has a few possible meanings all of which require a person to scrutinize and objectivize praise. The question is what praise – the praise he gives or the praise he receives?

“his praise” – The pronominal suffix could be an objective genitive, making it about him. If this is the case then the proverb is encouraging people to scrutinize the praises he receives to see if they are true and even to live up to them if they are not.

If however it is a subjective genitive, it would mean the praise he offers others. In that case the person must refine and make certain it is accurate and therefore a true representation of a virtue worthy of praise.

There are some commentators who interpret this as a subjective genitive but take it to mean that people stand revealed by what or how they praise. The overall structure of the saying however, positions the person as one called upon to perform a test of praise, along with the crucible and the furnace. Thereby making this interpretation forced and unlikely.

“(22) If you should pound the fool in the mortar among the grain with the pestle, his foolishness would not depart from him.

(23) Pay careful attention to the condition of your flocks, set your mind on your herds, (24) for riches do not last forever, nor does a crown last from generation to generation.

(25) When the hay is removed and new grass appears, and the grass from the hills is gathered in, (26) the lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats will be for the price of a field. (27) And there will be enough goat’s milk for your food, for the food of your household, and for the sustenance of your servant girls.”

Blessings!

Tri

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!