Proverbs 25:15 Commentary and Bible Study

Here Solomon tells us what is inappropriate by encouraging its opposite. It is inappropriate to try to use force to resolve every dispute, and think that strong words are more likely to prevail than quiet gentle words; he shows us a better way. He illustrates the policy which he recommends by considering how we should approach those who have great authority in this world. The powerful king is more likely to yield to the humble petition than to the threat of force, for a threat will be perceived as a challenge to his authority and makes him instinctively react against a source of danger to his realm. Is an army approaching his kingdom? Then he will summon his own. Is his castle threatened? The he will raise the drawbridge. But gentle persuasion appeals to his mercy and condescension and is more likely to meet with a good response. A soft tongue still makes known the request and perhaps the urgent need, but it comes humbly and appeals to clemency. It avoids provoking the worst response in the other by coming in a way that assumes a reasonable response. It is far less likely therefore to meet with intransigence and hostility, because there is an absence of all haughtiness and pride in its own approach. Surprisingly, the soft tongue breaks the bone, the softest prevailing over the hardest. The humble and lowly petition is far more likely to succeed, even with an intransigent authority, than a haughty demand.Hannah was an example of this lowly appeal in her conversation with Eli. Although she was falsely accused, she did not react against the high priest with indignation but focused on what she desired of the Lord, and because of Eli’s office she honoured him in spite of his unworthy behaviour and obtained from him a very different response to that which he first gave and so obtained assurance that the Lord had heard her.