Timing For Everything I

Saturday, August 20, 2022

Further Wise Sayings of Solomon

The Right Word at the Right Time

25 There are also these proverbs of Solomon,

    collected by scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

2 God delights in concealing things;

    scientists delight in discovering things.

3 Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth,

    the understanding of a good leader is broad and deep.

4-5 Remove impurities from the silver

    and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice;

Remove the wicked from leadership

    and authority will be credible and God-honoring.

-Proverbs 25:1-5 The Message

More Proverbs of Solomon

25 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal things,

    but the glory of kings is to search items out.

3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,

    so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4 Take away the dross from the silver,

    and the smith has material for a vessel;

5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king,

    and his throne will be established in righteousness.

-Proverbs 25:1-5 ESV

Verse 1 study: 2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 29-32 and Isaiah 36-39 is where you can find Hezekiah’s story. He is just one of a few kings of Judah who were honored by the Lord. His father Ahaz nailed the temple door shut. Yet, Hezekiah restored the temple, destroyed idol worship centers, and earned the respect of surrounding nations who brought gifts of God because of him. Hezekiah had these proverbs copied and read, which is not surprising. “For every work which he began in the service of the house of God and law and ommandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.” 

21 And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered. -2 Chronicles 31:21 ESV

Verse 2 study: Based on the creation of God, there is wisdom beyond all human knowing. The king, as God’s servant, makes a probing inquiry into the question concerning his rule. He is admired for his success in uncovering what he had to know. We always want to find things out, but God never needs to find something out because he already knows.

5 How great are your works, O Lord!
    Your thoughts are very deep! -Psalm 92:5 ESV

5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
    his understanding is beyond measure. -Pslam 147:5 ESV

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
    and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
    and weighed the mountains in scales
    and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord,
    or what man shows him his counsel?
14 Whom did he consult,
    and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
    and taught him knowledge,
    and showed him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
    and are accounted as the dust on the scales;
    behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.
16 Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,
    nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.
17 All the nations are as nothing before him,
    they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. -Isaiah 40:12-17 ESV

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.-Romans 1:20 ESV

Verses 4-5 studies: You can be skilled at your work, but you must have the materials to work with. The king needs a society purged of evil elements if he’s to establish a righteous rule. Good order in society cannot simply be commanded from the throne. Any wickedness is blemished to any kingdom.