Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
Verse 27 repeats the familiar theme: You reap what you sow! Most commentators pass over it with barely a word. Yet its message comes with a force and freshness that makes it well worth our study. Three types are here described with three different verbs yet all meaning to seek, each with a special emphasis.
Our Proverb reaffirms the second part of vs.24 in an antithetic form. Perhaps the main thrust of the verse is to remind all, rich and poor, to be sensitive to the needs of others. It condemns the greed that ignores the material famine all around us, but who will raise the cry against those responsible for the Spiritual Famine in our churches today?
Verse 25 is synonymous; both parts making the same point. It re-states the first half of verse 24. Do not both parts of this verse beautifully compliment each other? This is God’s Law and it pervades all His works. The Christian’s rule of spiritual growth is simply this: Water or wither! Be filled from the Well of Life, and channel it to others.
This is a physical, moral and spiritual principle engraved by the Creator into the Laws of His Universe. By an act of faith the sower casts his good seed into the ground, and expects a good harvest. Applied to the spiritual realm it instructs believers to be good stewards, not only of their treasure, but also how they use their talents and time (3:9-10). He who does not give does not live!
1. Their Desire: The desire of the righteous is only good. That which the righteous desire is good, and therefore their desire, when accomplished, brings good with it. In the previous chapter, we learned that God granted the desire of the righteous (10:24). Here we have the added fact that their desire is good because it is God’s work. More, it is only good because centred in God Himself. If God is his portion, what can compare with that? If God is the passion of his desires, what greater or worthier object of desire? All my springs are in thee! Paul could say, For to me to live is Christ (Ph. 1:21). What can be more worth living for? If you and I can submit all our desires to Him, then we can be contented and happy whatever is granted to us, or withheld.
This is a verse that requires some sensitivity. The OT regards the pig as an unclean animal. Jews have a saying that the nose of a pig was walking dirt! Yet there are tribes that worshipped the pig, and then later feasted on it! The Egyptians, when they wanted to draw a picture of a fool, represented him as a pig!
The right mixture makes good mortar, and strong buildings! The same is true in forming godly partnerships that will secure lasting unity. He who stands for the right wrongs no man. He who gains by right makes no man a loser, for no man can lose what is not rightfully his own! The Apostle put it: “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? What communion hath light with darkness? What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God. Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, … and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Cor. 6:14-17).
d. Their Confusion: The most common ground broadcast for the coming together of theological liberals and conservative evangelicals is their love of God and love of neighbour. Is it not wickedness that seeks to bring together error and truth on the basis of love? The dangers inherent in this ecumenism are cleverly concealed under the slogan, “Let’s just love one another.” This is proof of the old saying, “Love is blind,” until, like puppies, its eyes are opened to the truth. “Infidelity,” said John Calvin, “is always blind.” “According to Christianity, the acid test of truth and goodness is scripturalness” (R.B. Kuiper). Love covers all, we are assured, but without truth there is no goodness to love! Would you trust your young lambs to the care of the Wolf unless you really wanted them destroyed? Yet this is the confusion that is in full swing today.
1. Tragedy for the Wicked: Not unpunished! This, to many, is not only a severe message, but also one to be rejected as the raving of a troubler of Israel (1Kg. 18:17-18). Guilty persons are always suspicious, and defensive! They measure others by themselves, and expect others to treat them accordingly. Vs.21 continues the familiar theme contrasting the righteous and the wicked, but sinners are ever slow to learn and even slower to obey.
“Righteous men believe themselves to be sinners, and sinners believe themselves to be righteous” (Pascal). The late Dr. (?) did not satisfy, by his preaching, the Calvinistic portion of his flock. “Why, sir,” said they, “we think you dinna tell us enough about renouncing our ain righteousness.” “Renouncing your ain righteousness!” vociferated the doctor. “I never saw any ye had to renounce.”