Proverbs 27:9 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Proverbs 27:9

Comments

This observation is an engine for kindness, for deepening friendship, and for valuing what has lasting benefit in life. Sweeter far is friendship and love between loyal friends than any material gift we may receive, and when friendship includes the imparting of wise counsel it is something that comes down from above. Since the book of Proverbs only calls wisdom what is spiritual and is capable of enriching a soul with eternal riches, then hearty counsel must be counsel which is consistent with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. One soul imparts to another soul what it has received from God and truly enriches that soul with joy. If even ointment and perfume can rejoice the heart, how much more can hearty counsel which has value beyond the grave. The body is washed and dried and anointed with ointment to make the skin healthy, and with perfume to give sweetness to the body and to drive away all unpleasant odours, and a man walks out confident into the world ready to encounter anyone he may meet. But the illustration teaches the effect of earnest counsel from a friend on our souls, and this is the focus of the verse. We are invited to explore the metaphor of anointing with ointment as a way of understanding what counsel does to our souls. Counsel comes through the ear or the eye into the soul and it brings soothing to the troubled soul. Trials and problems have brought us into a state of agitation where we do not know what to do to ease our burden. We are embarrassed maybe by what we have done, or we feel great guilt for foolishness which we cannot put right; we are confused about which way to go because the consequences of our choice will be so momentous; we have financial problems which we cannot solve and debts to repay which are more than we can afford; we have to provide for a child or a parent and do not know how to go about it; we face sickness and deteriorating health so that our remaining time is limited; we face danger and cannot see how to avoid it. In every situation God has help for us if we turn to him and nothing that comes to us will hurt us if we trust in him. This is the assurance that the counsel of the wise friend gives.

Application

Let the believer not turn to those who are unable to help for advice and support. It is unwise for the believer to weep on the shoulder of the unbeliever, for what can a non-Christian understand about the trials of the Christian, and what possible help can they give when they do not know God themselves. All our comfort comes from the Lord, and though there may be such a thing a human sympathy, the unbeliever is out of their depth when it comes to giving help regarding the world to come. Yes, we are comforted by someone who cares about our earthly situation and who has advice that is greater than our problem. But if he is a wise counsellor, he himself looks to God for every answer and what he gives us not his own counsel but the counsel he has received from the Lord. Both of us are living in the flesh, but our counsellor has found help greater than anything that man can give and he is able to pass on this help to us. In this case the knowledge that we do not face life alone is a great comfort.

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Proverbs 27:9 Commentary and Bible Study