“Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

  (Pro 27:9-16)

[Study Aired April 9, 2026]

Pro 27:9  Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
Pro 27:10  Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Pro 27:11  My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
Pro 27:12  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Pro 27:13  Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Pro 27:14  He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
Pro 27:15  A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
Pro 27:16  Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

Christ is our friend,  our mighty counsellor (Isa 9:6, Joh 15:15-16) who provides hearty counsel if we are blessed to be given an hunger and thirst for it in this age (Mat 5:6, Joh 6:35).

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

That counsel when received of our Father in heaven will make our hearts burn within us, with gratefulness and joy knowing what a privilege we’ve been given to hear His voice (Mat 13:16-17, Rev 16:15, Luk 12:37, Rev 22:7). It is those who read, hear and keep the sayings of the prophecy who Christ identifies as being blessed as these verses below demonstrate (Rev 1:3).

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Luk 12:37  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

As discussed last week, God will reward those who diligently seek him (Heb 11:6), and if we are blessed to continue in the truth, it will set us free (Joh 8:31-32) and provide us the ability to set others free with the spiritual words of life that can quicken us and in due time cause others’ hearts to burn with the joy of knowing our Lord and God’s plan of salvation (1Ti 4:16, 1Jn 4:6, Joh 6:63, Heb 4:2, 1Jn 5:4).

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (1Ti 4:16).

Heb 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (Rom 10:17).

(Eph 2:8) reminds us that we are truly at God’s mercy as we receive this gift of salvation, and the world will one day understand (Luk 17:10) that is applicable to those few who God has ordained to be a kind of first fruits who will be scarcely saved (1Pe 4:18), enduring to the end by being granted to have hearts that “… burn within us, while he talk[s] with us by the way, and while he open[s] to us the scriptures” (1Pe 4:18, Mat 24:13).

Pro 27:9  Ointment^H8081 and perfume^H7004 rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

Christ in us is that ointment and perfume that rejoices the heart (Isa 10:27, 1Jn 2:27), as every joint supplies in love to the edifying and building up of the body of Christ (Eph 4:16). With Christ’s life in us, and via the pruning and purging of sin in our lives, a zealousness and sweetness is formed, the fruit of His righteousness that provides hearty counsel. This “friend” is our hope of glory within, Jesus Christ, who we are to each other “by hearty counsel”(Act 22:8).

Exo 31:11  And the anointing oil^H8081, and sweet incense^H7004 for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

Isa 10:27  And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Pro 27:10  Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

On a practical human level this proverb reminds us to value faithful friends and dependable neighbors, especially in times of need. Spiritually, however, it points us to Jesus Christ, our eternal Friend and our hope of glory within (Col 1:27), who never abandons us (1Ti 6:7-8, Heb 13:5-6).

1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

(being prepared spiritually is typified by the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who as a result of that spiritual preparedness had the boldness needed in the day of adversity to stand (Pro 24:10), having done all (Dan 6:13, Dan 3:16-18))

Pro 27:11  My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

If we cleave unto Christ and resist the devil he will flee from us (Jas 4:7, Joh 6:44) and we will be given to wisely answer or not answer those who reproach us in this life (Pro 26:4-5, Luk 12:11-12). Satan is the ultimate accuser of the brethren, and the one who continues to reproach the body of Christ (Rev 12:10) that we can overcome through Christ, quenching every fiery dart that is thrown by the devil (Eph 6:16).

Luk 12:11  And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Luk 12:12  For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Lord willing, we are being prepared and overcoming that wicked one (Eph 6:13), and if God will permit (Heb 6:3) that is exactly what will happen due to the wisdom of Christ, and the faith, and strength that He can give us to make us more than conquerors through him (Rom 8:37-39).

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christ has prophesied that the elect will be made ready as the wise virgins, “My son, be wise, and make my heart glad”, and the unwise will be overtaken by the reproach of the devil that will corrode the love of many and cause iniquity to abound (Mat 24:48-51, Mat 24:12). This is all “according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will”, and so we are warned to not be highminded of this victory of salvation that God has promised His children at the expense of the world’s unbelief (Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28, Rom 11:18-22).

Mat 24:48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants,[Mat 24:12] and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. [which is “to eat and drink with the drunken”]

Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.(1Jn 5:4) Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Pro 27:12  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

We’ve just discussed the evil that Christ prophesied is going to abound at the end of this age, and the solution to overcoming is to hide ourselves in Christ (Heb 10:25).  “The simple pass on” implies that the mind of Christ is not present in this person, and as a result they will forsake the body and will be punished by being saved yet so as by fire in the lake of fire (1Co 3:14-15).

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Pro 27:13  Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

If someone is taking responsibility for a stranger’s debt or getting involved with a risky person, don’t trust them blindly—make sure there’s some guarantee or security so you don’t end up losing out. That’s the practical physical meaning of this proverb.

The spiritual lesson is that we all end up ‘losing out’ at first, in Babylon, as per God’s design when we invest in her garment wholeheartedly without considering how this leaven of the pharisees is going to affect us. It is Christ alone who can become the pledge for us, as we are dragged out of Babylon and brought into remembrance of all the false doctrines that reside in her that we now have to overcome the rest of our lives.

We take her gold and silver, the words of God wrapped around the idol of our hearts, and if God is working with us in this age He will purify those words and set us free from the past harlotries that had us in bondage (Joh 17:17,Pro 7:7-12).

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Pro 7:7  And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
Pro 7:8  Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
Pro 7:9  In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
Pro 7:10  And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
Pro 7:11  (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Pro 7:12  Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) [Lev 19:29 – The Glebe]

Pro 27:14  He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

The friend we bless early in the morning with a loud voice is a parable relating to our relationship with Christ who we want to be our friend early in the morning, from our first coming to know of Him in Babylon. The problem is, we are cursed because that is all we want to know, Christ crucified for us on a cross for our sins (1Co 2:2, 1Co 3:1), not yet identifying our need to be crucified with Him in these early morning stages of our walk in the Lord (Col 1:24).

1Co 2:2  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Pro 27:15  A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
Pro 27:16  Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

These verses describe the church as a contentious (argumentative) woman (1Co 3:2-6) who is yet carnal and likened unto a continual dropping in a very  rainy day, which means we have many words at this time, ever searching but not mature enough to rightly divide the word and come to the knowledge of the truth (Heb 5:13-14).

1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1Co 3:5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We hide the truth in this immature state and “the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.” refers to how, although we are heirs with the unction given to us (1Jn 2:20) having His holy spirit, “the ointment of his right hand”, and being sealed with the holy spirit of promise (Eph 1:13), however because we are yet carnal (Gal 4:1-7), that ointment on our right hand, “bewrayeth” or discloses our immaturity.

Gal 4:1  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

In conclusion, these proverbs reveal that the “ointment and perfume” which rejoices the heart is Christ in us our hope of glory (Col 1:27). Through Him, we are being fashioned as God’s workmanship, growing and maturing into stedfast, unmoveable, servants of the living God (1Co 15:58).

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Though we begin in weakness and partial understanding, God is faithful to complete His work in us through the pruning, purging, and much tribulation we must go through in order to endure unto the end, with the faith of Christ (Act 14:22, Heb 12:2-4, Mat 24:13).

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8:35-37), expressed by His giving us the power to “drink indeed of my cup” (Heb 12:6-7, Mat 20:23), and as we abide in Him and receive His hearty counsel, we are not only finding liberty (Act 5:32, Heb 5:7-8, Eph 5:30, 2Co 3:17), but are also being prepared to set the world free, as saviours that will come up on mount Zion (Oba 1:21).

Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;(1Jn 4:17)

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain” Part 3

(Pro 17:18-28)

[Study Aired August 21, 2025]

Pro 17:18  A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Pro 17:19  He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Pro 17:20  He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Pro 17:21  He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Pro 17:22  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Pro 17:23  A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Pro 17:24  Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Pro 17:25  A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
Pro 17:26  Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
Pro 17:27  He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Pro 17:28  Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

our first verse:

Pro 17:18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

Physical Meaning

“A man void of understanding”: This refers to someone lacking wisdom, discernment, and good judgment.

“striketh hands”: In ancient times, striking hands was a way to seal a deal or agreement, similar to shaking hands today.

“becometh surety”: This means becoming a guarantor or co-signer for someone else’s debt.

“in the presence of his friend”: This highlights the friend’s presence as the one benefiting from the surety, often without fully appreciating the risk involved for the guarantor.

A person who lacks wisdom will recklessly make financial commitments for others—like co-signing a loan or guaranteeing someone else’s debt—without thinking it through. (Pro 17:18) warns against foolishly putting yourself at risk for someone else’s obligations financial or otherwise, as does (Pro 6:1-5).

Pro 6:1  My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
Pro 6:2  Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

Spiritual Lesson

The physical lessons are all true in these proverbs, however we must remember that the natural precedes the spiritual (1Co 15:46) and the more important spiritual lesson we are to learn is to “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another” and appreciate where God has them, while at the same time being ready to give an answer for the hope that is within you, without proselytizing or casting our pearls before swine, or giving that which is holy unto the dogs (Rom 13:7-8). We all fish through the day by our own power at first, until Christ comes along and tells us, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find” (Joh 21:6-11). If we are granted to have God do the dragging and the converting, the fish will come into the net as God determines, and they will both [fisher and fish=those God is working with] be indebted to help bear each other’s burden in the Lord (Gal 6:2). Being our brother’s keeper indebts us to each other, similar to being “surety to a friend”, but in the positive, spiritual relationship in Christ that we’re called unto.

Rom 13:7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Rom 13:8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law (Gal 6:2).

Pro 17:19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

Physical Meaning

Someone who loves conflict also loves sin—they go hand in hand. And a person who shows off (“exalts his gate”, meaning makes a big show of himself or his wealth) is heading for ruin. Pride and fighting both lead to downfall.

Spiritual Lesson

The fruit of our lives, the gentleness of spirit, and kindness to one another is the opposite of someone who loves conflict. Someone who ‘stirs the pot’, so to speak, is not someone who is demonstrating the fruit of love, even if they have all sorts of knowledge, if that truth is not being spoken in love (1Co 13:2-3). There is likely an element of pride in that person’s heart, and that pride is manifested in how they express their wealth [God’s wealth, his words, and his works], that they have kept from their youth up, which wealth is really nothing more than their own self righteousness that prevents us from truly selling all that we have and coming and following Christ with the understanding that we are ‘dirt poor’ in his sight (Rev 3:17, Joh 9:41) and have nothing to offer to our own salvation (Mat 19:20-24, Php 3:9, Eph 2:8)

1Co 13:2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Mat 19:20  The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Mat 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Mat 19:22  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness [“All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?”], which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [Php 2:12-13, Eph 2:8]

Pro 17:20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

Physical  Meaning

A person with a twisted or dishonest heart won’t find true goodness in life. Someone who speaks in a corrupt or deceitful way will eventually get into trouble. Being men and woman of our word, matters both in thoughts and speech.

Spiritual Lesson

It is the “froward heart” that has to be answered according to the idol of that heart (Eze 14:4, Mat 25:24), and that froward heart will not find the truth because at this time it is being withheld by God who has given Satan the power to rule over our hearts and minds (2Th 2:8) causing us to have a perverse tongue that will bring us to fall into mischief, as we hold back or, “received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2Th 2:10) and keep back part of the price of the land, meaning part of our complete devotion to God as a living sacrifice [our land, our bodies] (Act 5:3).

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Act 5:3  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Pro 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

Physical Meaning

A parent who raises a foolish child will experience sorrow and disappointment. A foolish child brings grief, not joy, to their parents. This reflects the emotional burden of raising someone who rejects wisdom.

Spiritual Lesson

God is in as much control with the spiritual increase in our lives as He is in determining who and what kind of character our children are going to have in this life, meaning when he wants us to have an idol of our heart, a disobedient child, it’s going to remain there until he determines otherwise (1Co 3:6-7). Our physical children may show us who we would be spiritually except for the grace of God, and their success in this life or their failure are all for the sake of the elect who have come to see by the faith of Christ that water is thicker than blood and not blood than water as this proverb is taught in the world. Here is Christ’s perspective on his own family and what should truly matter in our hearts and minds when we think of our own personal families compared to the family of God that we are a part of, Lord willing (Mar 3:33-35). The world “thy brethren without” are seeking God, but Christ made clear that seeking alone does not determine who it is who is the mother [church] or the disciples indeed of Christ (Joh 8:31-36).

Mar 3:32  And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
Mar 3:33  And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? [physical blood line does not matter]
Mar 3:34  And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Mar 3:35  For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. (Those who are washed with the word are Christ’s brother, sister, and mother Joh 8:31-32, Joh 13:14)

Pro 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Physical Meaning

A joyful heart has a healing effect—like good medicine. But a broken or crushed spirit can drain a person emotionally and physically. This highlights the power of emotional health on the body and soul.

Spiritual Lesson

The “merry heart doeth good like a medicine” comes about, for God’s elect, by clearly knowing what the gospel message is, which is the joy of our salvation that gives us the incentive to strive for the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ (Psa 51:12). As we discussed last week, the way the Lord restores our joy is by bringing us unto our safe haven after we have gone through the red sea, or the lion’s den, or the fiery furnace of affliction (Act 14:22). God’s elect are blessed to see a “broken spirit” that “drieth the bones”, and those dry bones are healed through His mercy that leads us unto repentance, a repentance that the rest of the world will experience in the second resurrection, where the manifest knowledge of the church will be made known (Eph 3:10) to re-hydrate those dry bones [the valley of dry bones Eze 37:4].

Psa 51:8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psa 51:9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psa 51:13  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Pro 17:23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

Physical Meaning

A corrupt person accepts secret bribes (“out of the bosom”) to twist justice. It’s a warning against corruption and how it destroys fairness in society.

Spiritual Lesson

If we aren’t respecters of persons, we won’t be corrupt in our dealings with others, and we will never accept a gift ‘out of the bosom’ of one who is trying to bride us, or pervert the ways of judgement. This is happening all the time in Babylon, and it is the kind of guile that defines who we all were in our appointed time, in our former conversation in the churches of Babylon, where we exchanged gifts and did so unknowingly over the dead bodies of God’s true witnesses who we now are if we are granted to be lying dead in the streets of that great city today (Rev 11:10-11).

Rev 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Rev 11:11  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

Pro 17:24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

Physical Meaning

A wise person keeps their focus on what matters — wisdom is right in front of them. A fool, however, is always distracted, chasing distant or unrealistic things, never grounding themselves in what’s truly valuable.

Spiritual Lesson

Our eyes are on the church, which at first is the earth, Jerusalem below (Rev 18:21, Rev 11:8), being tossed about by every wind of doctrine and ‘chasing rabbits’ down holes with dead ends which are contrary to the Truth (Mat 14:24, Eph 4:14, Jas 1:6), “in the ends of the earth”. However, if we are dragged to Christ in this life, our eyes will be on Him who is our wisdom, and the one who gives us understanding, “Wisdom is before him that hath understanding”(1Co 1:24, 1Co 1:30).

Rev 18:21  And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

Pro 17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

Physical Meaning

Again, like verse 21, this emphasizes how deeply a child’s foolishness affects parents—it causes sorrow to the father and pain to the mother. A reminder of the weight our actions have on family.

Spiritual Lesson

The foolish son represents our immaturity in Babylon where we held onto false doctrines, that were a grief to us, during a time when our own bitter experience was being felt by not being free from sin that had dominion over us (Joh 8:36).

We had to bear that sinful nature that was controlled by powers and principalities we wrestle against to this day (Eph 2:3-4). Our doctrine in hindsight could be likened unto a foolish son that caused grief to our heavenly Father (Psa 95:10), and bitterness to her who bore with our infirmities (Rom 15:1), Jerusalem above, which God mercifully drags us to, as we’re dragged out of Babylon and unto our Lord (Rev 18:4, Joh 6:44). Christ never sinned but he identifies with this journey of overcoming sinful flesh (Hos 11:1).

Pro 17:26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

Physical Meaning

It’s wrong to punish innocent people or to harm leaders who are doing what is fair. Justice must be upheld, and punishing the righteous is a perversion of what is good.

Spiritual Lesson

God’s elect by His grace are quick to hear and slow to speak, and in matters of judgement love is slow to expose (1Co 13:4-7). We know the world rejected Christ’s judgements, and if they hated the master of the house, what are they going to do to the servants of his house, Christ asks us (Mat 10:25). So the world with the spirit that currently resides in it will ‘punish the just and strike princes’, meaning the elect for the righteousness of Christ in them and the works that God is accomplishing through them, and so we need the miracle of God’s powerful hand in our lives to endure those fiery trials of rejection (1Co 10:13) that He knows we must experience in order to mature in His service (Joh 10:32).

1Co 13:4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.(Php 4:13)
1Co 13:8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Mat 10:25  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Joh 10:32  Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:(1Pe 4:17) because as he is, so are we in this world.

Pro 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

Physical Meaning

Wise people don’t talk too much—they speak carefully and thoughtfully. A person with understanding stays calm and composed, showing maturity and strength of character.

Spiritual Lesson

This ‘quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath’ mindset spoken of in (Jas 1:19) is a gift from God, that is witnessed in those who are maturing in the body of Christ (1Ti 4:15-16, Joh 15:8-10). The spiritual decorum that God is forming within us is needful in order to do all things decently and in order in the house of God (1Co 14:40, 1Ti 3:15).

1Ti 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Joh 15:8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Joh 15:9  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Joh 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

As we grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and saviour we become more settled and strengthened and established in the Lord, like a tree that is deeply rooted and not moved around (Psa 1:1-3) by the false doctrines that are likened unto “wind of doctrine” (Eph 4:14) that the Lord is giving us victory over with an “excellent spirit”, the spirit of God that each joint supplies to that end (Heb 5:14).

Pro 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Physical Meaning

Even a foolish person can appear wise if they stay quiet. Silence can give the impression of wisdom. In other words: better to be silent and thought wise than to speak and remove all doubt.

Spiritual Lesson

Mercifully God does give us the power to put a bridle upon our lips (Psa 39:1, Jas 3:2-5), but we certainly could not be anything other than what He has ordained for us to be in this life, and so if He does give us this blessing to hold our peace, and not stir up strife, or be argumentative, if He gives us a bridle on our tongue so that we shut our lips, then we will be a peculiar people who are zealous of good works that are coming forth from hearts that have the wisdom of Christ within them, and we will be esteemed as men and woman of understanding blessed to have been given the power to experience this process of bringing every thought into subjection unto God (2Co 10:5, 1Co 9:27). This is truly the spirit of great gain that God has called His son’s bride to be adorned with, “the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price”(1Pe 3:4-6).

1Pe 3:4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
1Pe 3:5  For after this manner in the old time the holy women (typifying the Church) also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands (Christ):
1Pe 3:6  Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (Rom 5:5, 1Jn 4:18).