Proverbs 27

READ CHAPTER 27 OF PROVERBS ON YOUR OWN,

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 **NEW**  VERSES TO MEMORIZE THIS WEEK: 

 

Proverbs 28:1 (NKJV)
The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.

 

Proverbs 30:5-6 (NIV)

Every word of God is flawless;
    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
 Do not add to his words,
    or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

 

 

 

Proverbs has much to say about friendship; who we should be friends with, how we should treat our friends, the value of Godly friends, and the peril of choosing foolish friends. One of mine and my sisters’ favorite Proverbs about friendship is found in chapter 27, verse 17;

“As iron sharpens iron,

So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

 

Iron is sharpened by iron, or a like substance. When good things are put together with good things they produce more good things. Likewise, when bad things are put together with bad things they produce, that’s right, more bad things! We are wise when we form friendships (our close intimate relationships) with likeminded individuals; people who are striving for the same things that we are. In our case, to live God-pleasing, spiritually productive lives.

When we surround ourselves with Godly friends we will “sharpen the countenance” of one another. To sharpen, according to the dictionary, is to “alter, cause a transformation, intensify, improve, enhance, better, or upgrade.” A person’s countenance is defined as their bearing (the manner in which one conducts oneself) or demeanor (behavior, conduct, appropriateness, properness). So, here’s my version of Proverbs 27:17;

 

As good stuff improves and intensifies other good stuff,

So a Godly man enhances the behavior and attitudes of his friend.

 

The first time I read Proverbs 27:5-6 I was really confused.

 

“Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

 

How can any type of rebuke be better than love, and why would you conceal love? “Faithful are the wounds of a friend…” What? I read a commentary by Matthew Henry, and the meaning of these verses began to become a little clearer to me. These verses explain how we can be that friend that “sharpens” our friend’s countenance. True friends will tell you, gently and in love, when they see you about to falter, or worse, already caught up in sin. We should be able to accept reproof or correction from friends that we love and trust. “Love carefully concealed”, refers to that friend that would choose to let you stay in your sin rather than cause you (or themselves) any discomfort or embarrassment by talking to you about it. “The kisses of an enemy” refers to that person who has proven themselves to be against you. When he comes bearing praise and flattering words, beware! Do not be deceived. You cannot put your confidence in his changed outward behavior; it does not guarantee a heart full of good intentions towards you.

 

Verse 9 of Proverbs 27 compares the counsel of our good friends to the sweetness of good smelling perfume;

 

“Ointment and perfume delight the heart,

And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.”

 

Matthew Henry explained this verse so well in his commentary on Proverbs 27 that I will not try to restate it. He said;

 

“…A good reason given why we should thus value true friendship and be choice of it. (1.) Because of the pleasure of it. There is a great deal of sweetness in conversing and consulting with a cordial friend. It is like ointment and perfume, which are very grateful to the smell, and exhilarate the spirits. It rejoices the heart; the burden of care is made lighter by unbosoming ourselves to our friend, and it is a great satisfaction to us to have his sentiments concerning our affairs. The sweetness of friendship lies not in hearty mirth, and hearty laughter, but in hearty counsel, faithful advice, sincerely given and without flattery, by counsel of the soul (so the word is), counsel which reaches the case, and comes to the heart, counsel about soul-concerns, Ps. 66:16. We should reckon that the most pleasant conversation which is about spiritual things, and promotes the prosperity of the soul.”

 

I charge you to strive to be that friend that is always “sharpening” those around you. The first step to being able to give “hearty counsel”, like the friend Proverbs speaks of, is to immerse yourself in the Word of God daily. Drink it in and let it fill you up, soak in it and let it saturate your heart and mind. Then you will be prepared to be a friend God can use in the lives of those that you love.

 

 



ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TIFFANY KILPATRICK is the wife of 11 years to Shannon Keith, and Mother (and step-mother) to 5 boys ranging from 15 to 23 years old.  She is a Middle School Reading Teacher, and was the school Librarian before that.  Tiffany and her family attend Freedom Fellowship in Silsbee, Texas, where she sings on the Praise Team.