Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl Proverbs 25:7b-12 Advice for Kings & Leaders Part 2

Friday, August 18, 2023

Proverbs 25:7b–12

What your eyes have seen

[8] do not hastily bring into court,

for what will you do in the end,

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

[9] Argue your case with your neighbor himself,

and do not reveal another’s secret,

[10] lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,

and your ill repute have no end.

[11] A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

[12] Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold

is a wise reprover to a listening ear. (ESV)

Advice for Kings and Leaders Part 2

v.7b-8 This proverb is a warning to those who may be hasty to always seek recourse in the legal system for any perceived injustice: he may find himself humiliated when the judge rules in favor of the party he is suing. While this is a secular warning against abuse of the courts, it has further and more important applications to Christian life. We should not be too quick to judge our neighbor, nor especially to call God's judgment upon them when we are subject to that same judgment ourselves. See what Jesus has to teach about this in Matthew 7:1-5 (judging others) and 18:21-35 (The parable of the unforgiving servant).

v.9-10 This two-verse proverb continues the legal theme. Here, the Wise advises that we should seek to settle our differences outside of court but also warns against revealing a secret when we do. Doing so gives one the reputation of someone who is not to be trusted with the confidences of others. See again Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:25-26. For the Christian, the most important reconciliation is our repaired relationship with God, made possible by faith in the death and resurrection of Christ—otherwise, we will find God as an angry judge who convicts us to eternal death (Romans 5:9).

v.11 A well-spoken comment or compliment given at the right time is compared to fine gold jewelry in this proverb. It does not give advice on just what such a comment and timing are—only by time in the Word of God do we obtain the Wisdom and experience to discern and employ such skills.

v.12 This verse follows the theme of gold from the previous proverb. Here, gold jewelry is compared to the good advice of a Wise counselor that is received by one learning to be Wise and receiving such correction gladly in the spirit it is intended—not as criticism but as an opportunity to learn and improve.