Bragging On Jesus

Proverbs 27:21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise. 22 Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.

This passage is compelling to me… Of course a crucible is a hopper that metals are placed into and then heated until they melt and then pour into molds in order to form them into useful tools.

Alright, what might we gain from these words of Solomon? Well, when the heat is on… impurities are separated from precious metals which makes them worth something when they were of no use before. I think this is the parallel that applies spiritually in our life. Troubles and trials have the potential to make us more pure and holy and in tune with the Lord. We saw this on a National scale with the 911 terrorist attack. The US found itself in a kind of crucible… people were scared and many turned to God… Many churches were packed with people.

So brokenness points us to the Lord… Now, as he often does, Solomon adds something to this truth that I would not expect. He says a man is tested by his praise. I would have thought a man is tested by the troubles he faces… as we said… when the heat is on… when he’s in the crucible… So I think there is truth in that… but the test can begin long before the trouble arrives.

As gold and silver even before the crucible and furnace… with their impurities… they stir up lust and greed don’t they? Then they are sent to the fire and the impurities can be removed.

In a similar way, when a man receives praise the test is on. If he is a man with prideful impurities in his life, he will receive that glory gladly. His lust for popularity will cause him to fail the test. And what does Solomon tell us about pride?

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Remember King Nebuchadnezzar?…

Daniel 4:28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar...

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; … 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

So, yes, Solomon is right… a man is tested by his praise. For some the praise and the crucible that follows brings humility and holiness. For others reread today's passage in verse 22.

Thankfully, all who look away from their own pride to Jesus receive his purity imputed to them. Ultimately, he took the crucible for us when he was crucified on the Cross… We are made pure by Jesus and practically we are his work in progress while in this body.

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Proverbs 25:7 …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.

Proverbs 25:11 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. 13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. 14 Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. 15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

In todays text Solomon uses some great metaphors like red apples in a silver setting… this one makes me think of a painting… one that seems fitting and balanced and fits the occasion; I don’t know maybe like lights and a tree and children in their pajamas at Christmas or fall decorations at Thanksgiving with turkey and dressing and 3-4 families trying to scoot up to one table for dinner… Its a picture that is just… right! Let’s see… he says that someone who listens to wise reproof is like a ring or ornament of gold. It’s the perfect accent right! We may not always think so but repentance looks good and right on all of us. Humility is fitting for sinners. Solomon then talks about a faithful messenger being like I would say… a refreshing snow. Of course we don’t use messengers as often as they did in that day. But when the message senders we use like text and email work flawlessly it is just as refreshing to us. These are ways we communicate today right? So, this is one place we should use apt speech. Think about some of the social media formats we use like FB and twit... How many people use words fitly spoken in these things?

I tried to post a message on FB just yesterday that I thought was formed very aptly. In the post I explained that every morning I read both liberal and conservative news to help me discern the bias in the media and I found two conservative newsletters had been tagged as spam by google. Still, I was not certain any malignant intent had been done in my case. The post was asking if anyone else had noticed any of their conservative newsletter being sent to spam. However FB would not let me post it because they said it went against community standards.

So yes, in this case I thought mine was a word fitly spoken; but unfortunately the metaphor of refreshing snow did not apply because the messenger was not faithful.

I think a good spiritual application for what Solomon wrote can be seen in Colossians 4:

Paul is speaking in Colossians 4:3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Look, we need clarity as we share the love of Christ; a word fitly spoken… We need to speak aptly… and not only that but we need boldness. These are things Paul desperately wanted in his own life. If we have accepted this new mission in Christ then we need as for the same thing as Paul so we can messengers who deliver the clear message of good news. When we do this… like Solomon said about a faithful messenger refreshing his master I believe our Master smiles as well.

Next vs 14 uses some other weather metaphors like clouds and wind making promises of a rain that never comes. So sometimes the words seem fitting and apt but they are lies. We must be true witnesses of Christ.

In John 3 Jesus told Nicodemus: Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

Finally verse 15 of todays text says: 15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

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1st Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

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Proverbs 25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. 23 The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

Alright… you know, some may thing that here in verse 21 Solomon is saying that if you’ve always wanted to burn your enemies or get back at them… well, this is the best way to do it without sinning. Hold on to your horses partner... The Apostle Paul gives us some help on this and actually mentions this verse in Romans 12.

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.h Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave iti to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Now Paul’s exposition of Solomons words indicate no evil intent but rather to bless those who are against us and do not curse them. Seek peace, don’t avenge… do not repay evil for evil… don’t be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good. If there is any vengeance deserved, Paul says that’s God’s business; ya see, it’s above our pay grade… leave it in the Lords hand… don’t let vengeance steal your joy… keep loving and doing good to your enemies… It will drive away evil and show them that the Lord is glorious.

You know… the truth is that fighting evil with evil only feeds wickedness in both parties. It breaks down the walls of our own hearts to let more evil in. Verse 23 says: The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. So if we fight evil with evil there will be more evil… it is an unending circle until one decides to forgive and love.

So what might be the context of doing good is like heaping burning coals on your enemies head. Well, what we know for sure and have verified with Paul is the main call to action from the verse and that is… love your enemies; right?

The first thing that comes to my mind about putting coals of fire on someones head is that it’s gonna hurt… This is gonna hurt your enemy. If coals of fire are poured on someones head it is likely to kill them. If this is the context of the metaphor Solomon uses I am wondering what is the spiritual truth of coals of fire… So I keep thinking about this… Now showing the love of God to others who are hurting us defiantly will confuse them. In some countries of the world this kind of forgiveness is very foreign to people. I asked a missionary friend in a Muslim country about this and he indicated that many are taught that offenses are to be met with retribution. So when they are shown this forgiving love it opens their eyes to something they’ve never known or even considered. Love that is given in the name of Jesus has a way of killing sin and death whether physical or possibly in this case spiritually… hurts as though coals of fire are poured on us. This is a purifying fire.

The reference Solomon makes with the coals of fire may also connect to Leviticus 16:12 where the high priest brought a censer filled with coals of fire to burn incense on the Day of Atonement. Solomon and Paul both may have been associating this as a symbol for the purifying or driving away of sin.

So in conclusion I would say godly love in action is inexpressibly better than trying to defeat evil with evil. Love is better both for ourselves and our enemies as we show it to them.

Solomon closes out Proverbs 25 with various relationship verses.

Broken World Series

Luke 13:20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Matthew 16: ...12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Joy in the Life of David as he lived in a broken world

4 mini messages from HPOC Homeless Shelter Woodward Oklahoma. Elevated sound may be distracting with passing trains and heater. Christmas Theme

How did David persevere through this broken world with purpose and joy and victory?... and how do we?

Countdown to Christmas began before the ages.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.