Proverbs 25:25-28

 

Prov 25:25 (KJB)

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

 

Just as cold waters in the Middle East would refresh a person’s physical body especially after doing some hard work in the hot sun. If a person moves to a different part of the world or their country, they will always be interested to find out what has been going on “back at home, ” which would be good news in the temporary sense. The important good news from a far country is the Gospel which came to us from Heaven. The Gospel saves people and brings them to Heaven. Cold water just satisfies for a little while but the Gospel satisfies eternally.

 

Prov 25:26 (KJB)

A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

 

Here is a verse which teaches that the righteous need to be extra vigilant because if we are not careful, then it is possible to fall prey to the schemes of the wicked. If that happens, then the righteous man will be unable to bring the Gospel because his testimony will be ruined. A fountain that is troubled has a problem dispensing the water for someone to drink and that is what the situation is with the fallen righteous man. We have seen so many scandals in the religious media and in churches which show that those who are saved (and not everyone is saved who has a public ministry) can fall prey to the wicked. That’s because we still have a body which lusts after sin. Our souls have been redeemed but not our bodies and if we do not watch it, then we too can fall. The Apostle Paul had that problem with the flesh. Read Romans 7 and see that even he had troubles with the flesh. We must let the spirit rule the flesh and not the other way around.

 

Prov 25:27 (KJB)

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

 

Search - Investigate or explore

 

This verse teaches us a lesson on pride and humility. Just as the stomach can only take a certain amount of honey before it vomits it up, the person who attempts to search out their own glory will not find glory. What they will find is a sinner in need of salvation. Many arrogant people boast about themselves and how wonderful they are or how talented they are but when they really search themselves, they will only find a vessel of spiritual darkness on their way to eternal damnation. In one way it is good to do self-examination but it is another to do it and then just skip over the reality and focus on the fantasy, such as they do in Hollywood. We need to focus on the things of others and have their best interest at heart. That is the essence of the humble man who seeks the good of others and does not exalt themselves with every little task they accomplish. The glory of the flesh is corruption and we must always keep that in mind.

 

Prov 25:28 (KJB)

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

 

Rule - Self-Control

 

(Gal 5:22-23 KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, {23} Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. The person who lacks self-control is one who is unsaved since “temperance” is a fruit of the Holy Spirit given to believers upon salvation. Self-control is like a wall that surrounds and protects a city but if we lack self-control we allow sin to rule our bodies and can lead to death. If the city wall is broken down, or missing, it makes a clean, unhindered path for the enemy to be able to invade the city and eventually take it over. This is the message this verse is trying to get through to us that if we lack self-control, then we are in the same arena of vulnerability as the city is because there will be no way to check any sinful actions and sin will then take over the physical bodies and will lead to a horrible climax on Judgment Day.

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