Proverbs 25

From: Messages of God's Love: 1932

Proverbs 25

Only God could justly conceal (verse 2). This is, in its fullest expression, the glory of His grace (Ephesians 1:3- 14³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. ⁷In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; ⁸Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; ⁹Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: ¹⁰That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: ¹¹In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: ¹²That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. ¹³In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:3‑14)). Psalm 32 speaks of the blessed portion of him whose sin is covered, and Hezekiah in Isaiah 38:17¹⁷Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. (Isaiah 38:17) says,

"Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back," speaking of his deliverance from the pit of destruction, as due to the love of God. Though many Old Testament passages speak of the covering or putting away by God of the sins of the repentant, He could not tell the full story of His grace until upon the cross His righteous demands were fully met in the sin-atoning death of the holy Sufferer, His beloved Son (Romans 1;1.4; 8, 11-25.)

Verses 2-5. We reflect from these verses upon this, that the rulers of this world, no matter how great, fall far short of Him whom we worship as God and Father. in Him was love; in them only Power (verse 2). In Him we can fully confide, assured that all will be well; in them is no such confidence (verse 3). In His throne is infinite holiness (Isaiah 6, Revelation 4); in them is much imperfection—sin is present (verses 4-5).

Verse 6. It is a trait of man without the knowledge of God to push into the best place. (Luke 14:7,⁷And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, (Luke 14:7) Mark 12:39³⁹And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: (Mark 12:39).) What an example of another spirit we have in Christ! (See Philippians 2:5-8⁵Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5‑8).)

Verse 21 is again the opposite of man by nature, and, hard for man to accept. We should prefer, naturally, to let those who have ill-treated us go hungry and thirsty. When we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son (Romans 5:10¹⁰For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10)), and this is a theme that shall be our delight eternally.

In verse 23 the translation is defective: "driveth away" should be read "bringeth forth," and so the latter part of the verse becomes plain.

Verse 25. Once as poor lost sinners we heard good news from a far country, even heaven itself; it was a message of redeeming love. And not only has He so blessed us that we can speak of songs in the night (Job 35:10,¹⁰But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; (Job 35:10) Psalm 42:8,⁸Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. (Psalm 42:8) Acts 16:25²⁵And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (Acts 16:25)), but He has said, "Surely I come quickly," to which our hearts respond with fervent desire, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" Surely we have good news from a far country.

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