Read Proverbs 27:11–22
Questions from the Scripture text: How does Solomon address him in Proverbs 27:11a? What does he tell him to do? Unto what end? What would the father be able to do then (verse 11b)? Who sees the evil, in this way, in Proverbs 27:12a? And what does he do in response? What should one take from whom (Proverbs 27:13a)? And when should one hold it, for what purpose (verse 13b)? What does the man in Proverbs 27:14a do? But with what kind of voice? And when? So, how is his blessing received (verse 14b)? What sort of experience does Proverbs 27:15a describe? As an analogy for whom (verse 15b)? How unrestrainable and uncontainable is she (Proverbs 27:16)? What does the iron in Proverbs 27:17a do? Who sharpens what of whom (verse 17b)? What does the man in Proverbs 27:18a enjoy as a consequence of what? And what does the man in verse 18b enjoy as a consequence of what? What is the face in the water like (Proverbs 27:19a)? And what is a man truly like (verse 19b)? What is never full (Proverbs 27:20a)? And what else have a desire that cannot be satisfied (verse 20b)? What are used to show the quality of what (Proverbs 27:21a)? And what else shows the quality of whom (verse 21b)? How difficult is it to get the foolishness out of a fool (Proverbs 27:22)?
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 (Proverbs 27:11-22) follows the same pattern as last week’s (Proverbs 27:1-10): telling us to heed a good friend (Proverbs 27:1-2, Proverbs 27:11-12), then warning us about the harm of bad friends (Proverbs 27:3-6, Proverbs 27:13-16), then giving some general truths about friendship (Proverbs 27:7-10, Proverbs 27:17-22).
First, in this case, the friend to heed is the father (Proverbs 27:11), who forewarns him of harm (Proverbs 27:12). 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 Proverbs 27:13-16, 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 (Proverbs 27:13). 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 (Proverbs 27:14), 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 (Proverbs 27:15). Verse 15 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, Proverbs 27:17-22 give important, general truths about friendship. By ourselves, we grow dull, but the companionship of a friend sharpens us again to usefulness (Proverbs 27:17). 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 (Proverbs 27:18). In the context of a friendship passage, verse 18 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. Ephesians 6:5–9). Friendship rewards the effort put into it.
Proverbs 27:19 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 Proverbs 27:21 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.
Proverbs 27:20 is similar to Proverbs 27:8, Proverbs 27:10. 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, Proverbs 27:22 reminds us of the folly of being companions with people who are in the harmful category (Proverbs 27:3-6, Proverbs 27:13-16), 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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