Proverbs 13:17 Commentary and Bible Study

Solomon returns to the illustration of a messenger more than once (Proverbs 10:26; 25:13; 26:6). This is because the role of a messenger or envoy or ambassador is very similar to the calling of every believer. A messenger is duty bound to represent not himself but the one who sent him; an ambassador is sent to speak on behalf of his government. This is a fitting picture of every believer, Romans 14:7-8 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.The proverb is primarily about literal messengers, but applies to every believer in his capacity as an envoy of the Lord to this fallen and lost world. At conversion we are commissioned to take the gospel to our fellow men and women, the message imparted to us by the Holy Spirit. We have become ambassadors and the message has sunk deep into our natures so that we immediately feel a burden to speak to others.Nevertheless it is possible for us to ruin our testimony by our conduct, or to transform the message into something that pleases the flesh rather than God. Out of fear of persecution the believer can modify the message into something that will cause less offence, and so we become faithless or wicked messengers. But a faithful envoy sees the message as far greater than himself. His reverence for the Lord will not allow him to change it; neither will it let him be silent.