Monday, September 7, 2026 ▫ Read Proverbs 27:11–22
Questions from the Scripture text: How does Solomon address him in v11a? What does he tell him to do? Unto what end? What would the father be able to do then (v11b)? Who sees the evil, in this way, in v12a? And what does he do in response? What should one take from whom (v13a)? And when should one hold it, for what purpose (v13b)? What does the man in v14a do? But with what kind of voice? And when? So, how is his blessing received (v14b)? What sort of experience does v15a describe? As an analogy for whom (v15b)? How unrestrainable and uncontainable is she (v16)? What does the iron in v17a do? Who sharpens what of whom (v17b)? What does the man in v18a enjoy as a consequence of what? And what does the man in v18b enjoy as a consequence of what? What is the face in the water like (v19a)? And what is a man truly like (v19b)? What is never full (v20a)? And what else have a desire that cannot be satisfied (v20b)? What are used to show the quality of what (v21a)? And what else shows the quality of whom (v21b)? How difficult is it to get the foolishness out of a fool (v22)?What are some benefits of friendship? Proverbs 27:11–22 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that friendship guards us from harm, strengthens and sharpens us, and is a proving ground for our character.
This week’s passage (v1–10) follows the same pattern as last week’s (v1–10): telling us to heed a good friend (v1–2, 11–12), then warning us about the harm of bad friends (v3–6, 13–16), then giving some general truths about friendship (v7–10, 17–22).
First, in this case, the friend to heed is the father (v11), who forewarns him of harm (v12). We must not live by our own wisdom. Parents are a reminder that God gives wisdom to others for us, and especially to those over us. If we proceed and suffer, we have ourselves to blame for it.
Second, in v13–16, he warns about three different sorts of harmful friends: the naïve, the inconsiderate, and the contentious. The naïve may not guard his own interests, being surety for those upon whom he cannot count, so don’t you be naïve too; require a pledge/collateral from him (v13). He’s not the person to whom to entrust yourself in friendship. The inconsiderate may offer what he thinks is blessing, but it’s a curse (v14), because he does not consider such things as timing and intensity of his “blessing.” The argumentative friend wears upon your soul in such a penetrating fashion that the weariness cannot be restrained (v15). v15 implicitly reminds us that the most important friend that a man will choose, and about whom he must heed all of this wisdom, is his wife.
Third, v17–22 give important, general truths about friendship. By ourselves, we grow dull, but the companionship of a friend sharpens us again to usefulness (v17). Friendship is naturally designed by God to refresh us to usefulness.
For, God has ordained for us to enjoy the fruit of the service that we render, even to a master, let alone a friend (v18). In the context of a friendship passage, v18 cuts against the fleshly tendency to be inclined against a master, encouraging us to see him as a friend to us, given by God (cf. Eph 6:5–9). Friendship rewards the effort put into it.
v19 indicates that what appears in the water is a reflection of a man’s face, but his heart is reflected in the sort of friend/man that he is. And v21 teaches us that friendship brings out the true character of a man, just as the crucible brings out the true character of a metal. Friendship is a proving ground for character.
v20 is similar to v8, 10. The grass is not greener on the other side. Be careful of coveting different friends, rather than the one that God has given you. When you get into the habit of looking for friends to move on to, the eye with which you do that looking will never be satisfied. This is true of covetousness in general. And in the context, it is especially true here: be grateful for, and faithful to, the friends whom God has given you.
Finally, v22 reminds us of the folly of being companions with people who are in the harmful category (v3–6, 13–16), but whom we are hoping will change when we have them as companions. That is foolish thinking and volunteering to be harmed. Don’t take fools for your companions hoping that they will change; see grace change them first.
Of what have your parents forewarned you? How are you avoiding being naïve, inconsiderate, or contentious? How are you being careful not to have such people for your companions? How has friendship refreshed and strengthened you? How are you showing thankfulness for your friends?Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for friendship. Please give us wisdom both in being friends and in benefitting from friendship. And most of all, thank You for giving us Christ, to be the Friend Who sticks closer than a brother. Help us by His grace, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent, Who Will Reside” or TPH520 “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
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