Proverbs Chapter 27

• Proverbs 27:1  Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

We have to trust the Lord for all of our tomorrows for we can say we are going to do this or that but we never know from one day to the next, from one hour to the next, what we are going to be doing.

A few years ago my husband passed away, a month later his brother passed away. Three months later another one of his brothers left this life as did my own father and David Wilkerson died in a car accident. It's been a strange few months but a wake up call for those who need to get right with God. A man from my local church died suddenly in January and a local pastor's brother died suddenly that same year in July. So from December 2010 to July 7, 2011, 7 people went home to be with the Lord that I personally knew except for the brother of the pastor I mentioned and David Wilkerson. 

I've never seen a year like that one. So we see many things that happen unexpected. My husband had been sick for a long time so his passing wasn't unexpected but when it did happen it was kind of sudden.

On a lighter note, this morning I had plans to get up, exercise, shower and do my bible study and work on quilting. Yet it didn't happen like that exactly. My granddaughter called having missed the school bus so I had to go take her to school. That wasn't irritating though because I enjoy opportunities to be with my granddaughter but it does show that we cannot boast of what we are going to do from one day to the next. Dad used to tell us to always say, "If the Lord will, we will do this or that."

• Proverbs 27:2  Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

This is another good verse to warn against boasting. If we toot our own horn and do not live up to it, it really makes us appear to be a hypocrite. We are not to puff up ourselves. Sometimes to defend ourselves against false accusations, we may be tempted to puff ourselves up but if we follow the example of Jesus who remained silent when accused, we are better off.

It is the Lord we must try to please and not to be in favor of men except for not wanting to bring reproach upon the name of Jesus by claiming to know the savior as Lord but not living a life that reflects what we claim to believe.

Just this week I heard an excellent teacher say that he believes that to take the Lord's name in vain is not just cursing and swearing as we usually think but it is claiming to know Him when we really have never repented of sin and been born again by the spirit of God. In other words, Christian in name only, not living the life that reflects what we claim to believe.

• Proverbs 27:3  A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. 
• 4  Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

The only way to avoid the sins of wrath, cruelty, amd envy is to guard our spirit by coming to Christ to be cleansed of our sin and abiding in Christ, also being filled with His spirit. 

Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out. Jesus said, "He that believes in me, as the scripture says, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." 

Envy is worse than anger and wrath. It is deadly. In fact it caused the very first murder when Cain killed his own brother Abel.

• Proverbs 27:5  Open rebuke is better than secret love. 
• 6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Open rebuke is telling the truth in love, not patting people on the back to win their approval when they are walking in sin that will lead them far away from God. When we tell the truth, we are actually showing more love than when we use flattery. Although people are deceived into thinking that showing flattery is love. It is not.

I'm not speaking here of purposely saying things to hurt people when our motive is envy, anger, and we desire to wound in vengeance. That is something different altogether and once in a while people need encouraged and supported, so there is a place for compliments if they are for real and not lies, but all should be done in truth and in love.

• Proverbs 27:7  The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

If we have eaten and are stuffed, the finest, fanciest food will not tempt us, but to a hungry person even bitter food is sweet. This can apply for those that desire the word of God and have not heard the truth for a while as opposed to someone who sits and hears the word and counts it as a light thing because they hear yet really don't hear. It is like the person who receives the word by the wayside. This may be an addition to the previous verse about open rebuke. Even if it's bitter or open rebuke, to a hungry soul, it is welcomed.

• Proverbs 27:8  As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

This is how we are when we wonder away from God, just like a bird that wanders from its nest.

Know God, know peace
NO God, no peace.

To be apart from God is to have no peace. In fact I was thinking the other day that even if hell was just being eternally separated from God's presence and it had no suffering or fire, it still would be "hell".  I can't stand the thought of being away from the presence of God. The Psalmist David once said:

• Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.
• 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 

• Proverbs 27:9  Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

He that shows true love for a friend is one that tells the truth. When a person hears hearty counsel from a friend it is sweetness for the soul.

A person however, that is more interested in either being right and winning an argument is not who it is speaking of here. There are some that speak just because they have to have the last word. Others will speak to gain applause and favor and will only say what they think people want to hear. A real friend will speak truth because it is right and he cares about the one he is speaking to.

• Proverbs 27:10  Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

Relatives that live afar off and have not been close to us for years and also may not be available cannot be always be relied on. Perhaps they might be wrapped up in their own lives. A kind neighbor that is near may be more apt to help in time of need because they may be closer to us, and are willing to help.

• Proverbs 27:11  My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

Neighbors, relatives and friends will notice when our children are living ungodly lives and are not living righteously as we claim to be living ourselves. It brings reproach upon us who claim to believe in righteousness and have children that do otherwise.

• Proverbs 27:12  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

The prudent will avoid trouble as much as possible and pass by it not getting involved in that which is evil or slanderous. The simple who want to stick their nose in everything for the purpose of spreading tales will run right into trouble or be the cause of trouble every time.

• Proverbs 27:13  Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

This describes those that are quick to jump into business deals without being diligent. It goes along with verse 12 about foreseeing evil and jumping into it. The prudent person will foresee evil and hide themselves from it.

• Proverbs 27:14  He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

When we first wake up and haven't had our coffee, even a compliment is like a curse if it is loud and unexpected. Actually this doesn't apply to me but its something I've heard. I'm a morning person and also a coffee drinker but I don't get grouchy if I haven't had coffee.

• Proverbs 27:15  A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
• 16  Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

A contentious woman or even a man in many cases is impossible to hide or stop. The smell of ointment can't be hidden or stopped from penetrating the hand that is holding it. 

• Proverbs 27:17  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

A blacksmith sharpens his knives by scraping them against each other. When we attend a fellowship of believers who are trusting in the Lord, by worshipping together and studying the word we sharpen each other's minds. Believer's meetings help to encourage one another and we worship God as a body.

• Proverbs 27:18  Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

A good example of this is the story of Joseph. He was unjustly sold to be a slave by his own brothers and ended up as a servant and even prison but his faithfulness to God and being an honest trustworthy servant even working at the prison won him favor. He didn't complain or lament over his misfortune but acted wisely and did his duties as he would if it was for the Lord. He later was promoted second to the whole kingdom of Egypt.

In America people strike for higher wages, lobby for equal rights and sometimes that has it's place but a better way is to turn all things over to the Lord being thankful for things that we have, making the best of even bad situations and trust the Lord for deliverance. That is what Joseph did.

• Proverbs 27:19  As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

We can see our reflection in water and we can sometimes discern the heart of someone by the expression on their face. There are times though that we can be fooled by outward appearance but usually we can tell if someone is angry, sad, pasting a smile, or genuinely happy.

• Proverbs 27:20  Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

So true. Instead of being thankful for the things we have, we desire more and more. We are never satisfied. That is because the things of this life cannot bring us true inner peace and happiness. That can be only found by trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives. He fills us with His spirit which abides with us so that we are never alone.

• Proverbs 27:21  As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

This is like the verse about letting another praise thee and not brag on or praise one's self. Too much praise of man can exalt someone and make him unfit or lifted up in pride but sometimes sincere praise and encouragement will strengthen him.

• Proverbs 27:22  Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

Wheat when it is ground will retain its own nature so a fool remains that way and his foolishness will not depart from him.

I want to use this opportunity to say that this is true if a person continues in his own ways. There is an exception and only one exception to this. A murderer will probably always be a murderer, a thief will always be a thief at least in his heart unless and there is only one unless....Unless he or she responds to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Salvation that comes by and through Jesus Christ is more than just a religion. It is a new beginning, a new birth and a new and living way. Old things pass away and all things become new just like one may throw out an old garment and buy a brand new one. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the message of eternal life that is promised and given to all that come to Him for salvation. The change in a person is supernatural by the Spirit of God. All of us have sinned at one time or another except an innocent child that has not yet reached an age of accountability. Sin separates us from God no matter how we were raised.

Some of us were taught to work hard and obey the law. Others were left to themselves and became irresponsible and inclined to break the law, but there is a way out for every single person that has ever been born. This way is the only way.

Sin brings death or eternal separation from God. Jesus, the Son of God, became a man and lived among us for about 33 years. Yet never once did Jesus sin or break the law of God. This made him eligible to become a sacrifice for sins.  He died for our sins. When we believe, simply believe in what He did and come to Him by faith for salvation, we are forgiven for all sins, great or small. He cleans us up, cleanses our sins. We become justified, or just as if we never sinned.  

He gives us a new heart and a new spirit.  He fills us with His Holy Spirit which is given to those that obey Him. This way and only this way can one inherit eternal life that will assure him or her of a new body that can never suffer and die.

So if one comes to Christ and abides in Him, a fool can be changed against his own nature. With God all things are possible. This is impossible without Jesus Christ. We can temporarily turn over a new leaf by our own willpower but sooner or later, as a dog returns to his own vomit, we will revert to our old nature without the power of God's spirit within us.

• Proverbs 27:23  Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. 
• 24  For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
• 25  The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. 
• 26  The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. 
• 27  And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

We cannot trust in riches or in anything in this life even though when we trust in the Lord He will take care of us. The passage here indicates a plea for faithfulness.  

Taking care of necessary duties that provide for our families, our animals and the state of our flock by hiring faithful shepherds and reliable workers but even in that case we must be diligent to know the state of our business and not leave all to others. This same advice would apply to our children or any other business besides the cattle business.  

Farming takes much diligence and being watchful about the state of the crops and soil. Like our heavenly father watches for us, we must take heed to our own responsibilities. 

There are many good people that will do all the above and yet neglect the most important one. That is to take heed to our spirit. We need God even if we are good providers and are faithful in business. What profit is there if we have the highest degree in education, have the best paying job in the world, own land, cattle and riches, rule kingdoms and even help the poor if we neglect our own salvation and the way God provided for us to be saved and inherit eternal life. 

• Matthew 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?