Proverbs 27:22-27

Prov 27:22 (KJB)

Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

 

Bray a fool - Pound the fool

 

A pestle was an instrument used for pounding, stamping, or pressing. You could see one of these in any pharmacy. The illustration here is that even if you could beat a fool with a pestle and turn him into mortar, yet he will still retain his foolishness. Here too a fool is seen as one who retains their foolishness even under the harshest circumstances. It is basically saying that if you punish a fool,

a fool he will remain.

 

Prov 27:23 (KJB)

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

 

In the Middle East, flocks and herds were signs of wealth and it was necessary for the owner to know how much cattle or sheep he owned. When Jesus gave the parable about the Good Shepherd, he spokes about a hireling. A hireling was one who did not own the flocks but took care of them and if they were thieves, they would be helping themselves to the flock but if the owner knows what he has, then he will be able to stop any theft. He should also know the size of his herds so he can lead them to the right sized pastures so they can graze. This verse is also important to those who are church leaders. They need to know the spiritual condition of the people in the pews so they can minister to them properly. They need to know the salvation state of them so the pastor and leaders may minister accordingly.

 

Prov 27:24 (KJB)

For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

 

This verse continues the theme from verse 23. A ruler should know his people and tend to them well. If flocks and herds are important, then how much more the people of the realm. Solomon states here that riches will not last forever, as we have read in some previous verses and that is why we are not to place our truest in them. He then poses a question concerning the future of the ruler. Just because a ruler has children, does that mean that they will automatically reign after their father? The answer is no, because anything can happen such as assassination or someone else usurping the throne or another country could invade and take over. Two countries that did this was Assyria who took the Northern Kingdom and Babylon who took the Southern Kingdom, Judah. Solomon wants his children to know the state of the people so if they rule, then they can rule accordingly. If there is idolatry among the people, then it has to be removed if they wanted God’s protection. A ruler who is not in touch with his people, will be a bad ruler.

 

Prov 27:25 (KJB)

The hay appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

 

This verse is telling us that we must continue today in the things which we have been assigned. We cannot relive or change the past and we do not know what the future will hold for us. (James 4:13-14 KJV) Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: {14} Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James makes that abundantly clear. We need to look at the tasks which are in front of us, before we make plans about something new or different. (Mat 6:34 KJV) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Each day contains sufficient challenges for us and we need to look at them and complete the tasks and then concern ourselves with what is next. Sometimes we plan and look at the entire picture and get nervous wondering how we are going to accomplish these tasks. The best way is to take each task in steps until it is accomplished and then go on to the next task.

 

Prov 27:26 (KJB)

The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

 

The lambs wool was made into coats which meant that those who owned sheep always had clothing for themselves. In like manner the goats were sold and sometimes they were used for food, so between the two, a person had clothing and food. This verse also has a great spiritual application. First of all the goats would refer to the unbelievers in the world. (Mat 13:44-46 KJV) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. {45} Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: {46} Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. In the parable of the Pearl of Great Price, we see that that Kingdom of Heaven is likened to a man who bought a field and found hidden treasure in that field. The hidden treasure are the goats until they become saved and then they become sheep. Likewise the lambs are for clothing but the lambs would be the believers who bring the Gospel to others. (John 21:15 KJV) So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. Jesus told Peter to feed His lambs. Those who become saved are like lambs who must be fed with the basics of the Gospel until they are ready for strong meat. Then as the lambs bring the Gospel to others, and they become saved, then they are clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness. (Isa 61:3 KJV) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

 

Prov 27:27 (KJB)

And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

 

Maintenance - For the food of

 

Here we continue the theme from the previous verse. If the goats are not sold, they will have plenty of goat’s milk for the household and it will be sustenance for the maidens who do not require as much food as the men. Goat’s milk was also used to prepare other foods like eggs and bread and possibly many other items. Whether they are sold or kept, they are valuable to the household. A goat was also an accepted sacrifice under the Mosaic law. (Lev 22:27 KJV) When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

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