Solomon discusses several courtroom scenarios today and he teaches us a valuable lesson about patience, the same lesson Jesus taught in Luke 18.
"What you have seen with your eyes, do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?" (Proverbs 25:8) Another way to translate the first half of this verse is, "Go not forth hastily to strive." We should be more in a hurry to work things out with our neighbor than to bring a lawsuit against him. For one thing, we could be mistaken, as Solomon says. Perhaps we misunderstood and things weren't as they appeared to be. For another thing, how humiliating it would be to take him to court and lose the case. It's better to try and work disagreements out privately first, as Jesus said in Matthew 18:15, "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over." When someone close to us hurts us, we should speak to them about it privately first. It could be they didn't even realize they hurt us and they didn't intend to.
"If you take your neighbor to court, don't betray another's confidence, or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand." (Proverbs 25:9-10) There is a good reason why our courts don't allow "hearsay" as testimony. We cannot prove what another person has said to us unless there were witnesses to the conversation. If that person is called to the stand, he can deny he ever said what we claim he has said. It will be our word against his, which is why such testimony is useless in court.
"Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear." (Proverbs 25:11-12) The right word at the right time is as beautiful as an piece of art we might hang on the wall or a piece of jewelry we might wear. The right word can be a word of encouragement when it's needed, or it can be a word of correction when it's needed. Solomon is saying that the wise person will take heed to both and will view both as equally beautiful.
"Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master. Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given." (Proverbs 25:13-14) It's refreshing to be around a person who isn't false. We know exactly what to expect of them because they never put on a front. They are the same whether at home or in public. The king says that a person who promises something but doesn't follow through is like clouds that appear over a parched land but never send any rain on it. They are phonies and are unable to refresh anyone.
"Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone." (Proverbs 25:15) The Lord Jesus taught a parable in Luke 18 about an unrighteous judge. This judge was a person who feared neither God nor man. He had little interest in the troubles of the poor widow who came to see him, so he sent her away without granting her the help she requested. But time and again she came back and asked him to pass judgment on her enemy. Because he was weary of listening to her story, he finally agreed to help her so she wouldn't keep coming back and bothering him. Some Bible scholars believe Jesus was referring to Solomon's words in verse 15 when He told the story of the judge. Solomon says to us, "Don't give up so easily! You must learn patience. We don't always get what we want on the first try. We will never develop any perseverance if we are defeated the first time we hear the word 'no'. Sometimes it's good for us to meet with resistance. That's how we build spiritual muscle. That's how we are changed from weaklings into warriors of God. Don't take your armor off and throw your sword to the ground every time you are faced with opposition. Press on! Stay in the fight! Victory could arrive at any moment."
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