Proverbs 25:11 Commentary and Bible Study

The Hebrew is very curious as the margin points out. The word ‘fitly’ is derived from the noun for wheel. You might say a word which revolves, is in some way like a wheel. And our translators have brilliantly put it, ‘a word fitly’, because this idea of a word that is like a wheel and revolves, means that before you give a word of correction or counsel, you have gone round the issue in your mind, and you have looked at it from all aspects, and you have asked yourself, yes, I need to tell somebody this but what is the most suitable way of presenting it so that they appreciate what I have to say. ‘A word fitly spoken’ – a word presented with sensitivity and with understanding of the other’s position – ‘is like apples of gold in pictures [or in frames] of silver’, or ‘as an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.’ It is a beautiful illustration. The wise reprover seeks to win over the other and therefore works hard to make his reproof acceptable. He puts away all pride and condescension, and is careful not to patronise. He makes his meaning plain so that he is understood and cannot be accused to deception. Often he speaks gently, knowing that by doing so his message is more likely to be received. He also wants to correct ignorance and therefore his words must set the relevant facts in the light of the truth and explain where the other has gone wrong; he is an educator also. But all this is done with diplomacy, with respect for the other and desire that they should respond well.Verse 13 continues the idea. ‘As the cold of snow in the time of harvest.’ What is that about? Well, the time of harvest is hot; there is no snow then, and snow would ruin the harvest; we do not want that. What is in mind here is the most luxurious imaginable illustration. King Solomon had a kind of summer palace on the lower mountain ranges of Lebanon. Lebanon comes from the word for white, because this particular range is snow-clad six months of the year. Now they may actually have done this among the very rich, but it could be an imaginary situation. Someone in the harvest, a wealthy landowner, someone like Solomon himself, has actually sent a messenger all the way up to Lebanon, and he has come back with a huge pack of ice from Lebanon. And he presents it in the heat of the harvest, and they use it to put ice in their drinks to refresh themselves. What a luxury to have ice in the middle of the harvest! The illustration compliments the messenger who soldiered all the way up to Lebanon and came back with a crate of ice, or what is left of it, simply to refresh their summer drinksIf you can manage to refresh another soul in time of great need, then you deserve the gratitude of that person. A kind word, a faithful word, a wise word fitly spoken can do this, for it bridges the gap between two souls and brings friendship to the lonely, calm to the troubled, knowledge to the ignorant, and correction to the disobedient which will save them from destruction.