The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting January 25th on Proverbs 25:1-5

January 25;  Proverbs 25  Verses 1-5


[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers.  My amateur comments are offered below the verses from Proverbs.]

Christians looking for a simple way to review the Bible regularly, have long been convenienced by the fact that the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, the same number as most of our months.  Each chapter includes multiple bite-sized verses (uhm, proverbs) and can be read through simply in one sitting, one appropriately numbered chapter per day through the month.  A person might read through the Proverbs a chapter a day during any month, but why mess with your head (reading an extra chapter on one, two, or three days!) like that when there are 7 months every year perfectly suited for the endeavor?

My idea here is to reprint about 1/7 of the verses from each day's chapter throughout this year, every time a 31 day month pops up, and then offer a few comments from The Barking Owl.  So in January, we will get through the first few verses of every chapter and then in March, the next group, and so on, until December comes around and we can finally get to the last set of verses in each chapter and complete the book's reading.  If you are smarter than I am (is there any doubt?), you will read the whole chapter every day, every 31 day month, and then you will have read the whole book 7 times this year!  By then you are guaranteed to at least be wiser than The Barking Owl , though no one will ever match the wisdom of Solomon!


[All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied from www.Biblegateway.com]

Proverbs 25   


1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:


2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
   to search out a matter is the glory of kings.


2) I have always especially appreciated this proverb.  In days of old, it was only kings who could really get to investigate something, because analysis and experiment and study, are expensive enterprises!  Thomas Jefferson, as the third US President, seemed to take advantage of his role as the kingly equivalent.  He was always trying to push for advances in science and in geographical understanding.  He's the one who sent Lewis and Clarke on their quest for a navigable route to the Pacific.  No one followed their exploits as diligently as Jefferson did.


But now it is the humble science student, or even an intrepid internet explorer who can relish in the art of discovery!  God has indeed "concealed a matter" by not bothering to explain very much at all of the hows and the whys of nature, but has left it for us to unravel many mysteries of His creation.  And we do enjoy every new revelation of the complexities he "concealed".


3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
   so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.


3) Supporters and proponents of a particular office holder seem to be the ones most disturbed and confused by their candidate once he sits behind that desk.  We scratch our heads and wonder, "Why did he do THAT?"  Oh well.  Apparently, it is nothing new.


4 Remove the dross from the silver,
   and a silversmith can produce a vessel;


4) Nothing, and no one, is good enough, without some major refining.  (No, not one.)


5 remove wicked officials from the king's presence,
   and his throne will be established through righteousness. 


5) It is the first burden of the President, to select a capable and honorable cabinet.  Hopefully,           he can remove the "dross" and get on with the good work before his term is up!