Morning Light November 9th, 2016 – Proverbs 25: The Glory of God to Conceal a Matter

Morning Light – Proverbs 25
Today: [Proverbs 25] The Glory of God to Conceal a Matter. Proverbs 25 tells us that God delights to hide His truth so that kings will search it out. Did you know that you are a king? You may not feel like a king or look like a king but God says you are not only a king but a priest. As such there will be times that God will lead you in paths that don’t make sense to the natural mind. He will speak to you in ways that you are going to have to inquire and search out as the prophet Daniel did to understand the word of the Lord. Take heart for this is all according to God’s process and on the other side of obedience is great reward.
[Pro 25:1-28 KJV] 1 These [are] also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. 2 [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter. 3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings [is] unsearchable. 4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. 5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. 6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great [men]: 7 For better [it is] that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. 8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. 9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself]; and discover not a secret to another: 10 Lest he that heareth [it] put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
In verse 2 of Proverbs 25 we see a profound truth that will help you very much in your Christian walk. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing – and the glory of kings to search it out. When we read about kings in the scripture, remember that in Rev. 1:6 and 5:10 it is declared that you and I are priests and kings. We may not feel like it or look like it but this is the lens through which the regard of God comes to us. This is the filter through which the scriptures bade us to view ourselves and our fellow believers. You are a king. You are a priest. As with any king you have rule and you have jurisdiction. You have a direct line to God and the heart of God is disposed to communicate Himself to you on a day to day basis.
When God does speak to you know this – that often the Father will speak in riddles and dark sayings that need to be found out and understood. It is the glory of God – the delight of God to speak to us in such a way that we have to inquire to understand. This is more than just idle doctrine or some personal revelation that doesn’t mean anything to anyone else. In Daniel 10 the prophet Daniel received a revelation from God that he did not understand. Just because what you are hearing doesn’t make sense or line up with what you think the facts are, does not mean that God isn’t speaking. Daniel knew he had heard from God and began to pray and inquire until suddenly one day an angel shows up:
[Dan 10:10-12 KJV] 10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and [upon] the palms of my hands. 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
Make it your determination to not get offended or frustrated when God speaks in dreams, vision and dark speech that requires interpretation. God speaks to us in obscure ways to test our hearts and see just how badly we want to know what heaven might disclose to us in our circumstances. Be open. Be inquiring. Trust that God will move heaven and earth in response to your desire to hear from heaven.
11 A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver. 12 [As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. 13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. 14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain. 15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. 16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. 17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee. 18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. 19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. 20 [As] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so [is] he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. 21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
If you are going to hear from God then it is important that what you hear is spoken in a timely and anointed fashion. Verse 11 tells us that a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Gold in scripture represents the wisdom of God. What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? Knowledge and understanding may tell you WHAT is happening around you but WISDOM tells you WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. What do the pictures of silver represent? A picture is something that brackets its subject. When God speaks to you it will always be in the context of His redemptive purposes. Silver speaks of redemption. It is a purifier and represents cleansing. What God tells you may not always feel good or even seem practical but you can know you have heard from heaven when you recognize the redemptive nature of what God is saying to you.
Verse 16 speaks about honey. We know that God promised Moses a land flowing with milk and honey. Milk represents the word of God. The apostle Peter told us to desire the sincere milk of the word of God. What does honey represent. Judges 4:4 introduces us to one of the most powerful prophets in the Old Testament by the name of Deborah. Deborah’s name means “a bee”. Bees produce honey. Honey speaks to us of the prophetic word. Verse 16 tells us to find honey and to eat (or receive) as much as is necessary to satisfy your need. What are we cautioned? Because too much honey makes you vomit – likewise too much of the prophetic causes people to despise what God is saying in their lives to their own hurt. 1 Thes. 5:20 says “despise not prophesying…” God is always speaking but we don’t always listen because the prophetic becomes something common to us and we reject what the Father would otherwise make known to us. Learn and discipline yourself not to reject the voice of God in your life.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. 24 [It is] better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. 25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so [is] good news from a far country. 26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. 27 [It is] not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search their own glory [is not] glory. 28 He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.
Verse 23 of our chapter instructs us how to respond to gossip. How do you identify gossip? Gossip is repeating a thing to someone that is neither a part of the problem nor a part of the solution. How are you to respond to backbiting and gossip? Verse 23 says to respond with an angry countenance. Not all anger is bad. The bible doesn’t tell us not to be angry – but rather to BE ANGRY and sin not. Go ahead and be angry. God gets angry. God created anger. Anger is a good thing when we exercise ourselves in anger to our own protection and the protection of our loved ones. When you are approached by the back biter allow your anger to be the resource that drives them far from you.