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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Proverbs Chapter 17

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Solomon, Agur, and Lemuel
Date Penned: (970-931 BC)
Overview: Wisdom to Teach People to Live Godly (c 1-31)
Theme: Wisdom for All People (c 10-24)
Message: Wisdoms Application (v 1-33)

Proverbs 17 Commentary 

(17:3) Purification - It takes intense heat to purify gold and silver. Similarly, it often takes the heat of trials for the Christian to be purified. Through trials, God shows us what is in our hearts and clears out anything that gets in the way of complete trust in him. Peter said, "The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:7). So when tough times come your way, thank God and realize that he wants to use them to refine your faith and purify your heart. 


(17:5) Mocking God - Few acts are as cruel as making fun of those who are in need, but many people do this because it makes them feel good to be better off or more successful than someone else. Mocking people who are poor or weak mocks God, who created them. We also mock God when we ridicule anyone else who is different from us. When you catch yourself putting others down, even if you mean no harm, stop and think about who created them. 

(17:8) Bribery - Solomon is not condoning bribery here (see 15:27; 17:23), but he is making an observation about the way the world operates. Bribes may get people what they want, but the Bible clearly condemns using them (Exodus 23:8; Matthew 28:11-15). 

(17:9) Forgiving Faults - This proverb says that we should disregard the faults of others. Forgiving faults and overlooking offenses help build and restore relationships. We may be tempted, especially in an argument, to bring up all the mistakes the other person has ever made. Love, however, keeps our mouth shut--difficult though that may be. Try never to bring a personal attack about someone into an argument with them. Stay focused on the topic being discussed. As we grow to be like Christ. we will acquire God's ability to overlook the offenses of others in order to deepen our relationships with them. 

(17:17) A True Friend - What kind of friend are you? There is a vast difference between knowing someone well and being a true friend. The greatest evidence of genuine friendship is loyalty (see 1 Corinthians 13:7) -being available to help in times of distress or personal struggles. Too many people are fair-weather friends. They stick around when a friendship helps them and leave when they're not getting anything out of it. Think of your friends and assess your loyalty to them. Be the kind of true friend the Bible encourages 

(17:22) A Merry Heart -"A merry heart" is a cheerful heart. Cheerfulness is shown by always being ready to greet others with a welcoming word, offering words of encouragement, being enthusiastic about the task at hand, or having a positive outlook on the future. such people are as welcome to others as pain-relieving medicine. 

(17:24) Foolishness - While there is something to be said for having big dreams, this proverb points out the folly of chasing fantasies (having eyes "in the ends of the earth"; see 12:41). How much better to align your goals with God's, being the kind of person he wants you to be! Developing godly qualities (wisdom, honesty, patience, love) may not seem exciting, but they will affect every area of your life. Take time to think about your dreams and goals, and make sure they cover what is really important. 

(17:27-28) Listening - This proverb highlights several benefits of keeping quiet: (1) It is the best policy if you have nothing worthwhile to say; (2) it allows you the opportunity to listen and learn; and (3) it gives you something in common with those who are wise. Make sure you pause to think and to listen so that when you do speak you will have something positive and informative to say.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

How is Your Heart with God?


Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue with the Book of Proverbs with Chapter 17. In our text today, we see ongoing lessons in Wisdom with a focus on the heart of man. How a merry heart doeth good like a medicine while the Lord trieth the heart like one who refines a precious metal. In applying, we see how God looks on our hearts or the true nature of ourselves. Today, we can do the right thing with the wrong motive. We can claim to be a Christian without truly being saved or possessing Jesus Christ in our hearts. How about you? How is your heart with God? Let us learn from our text today to examine our hearts to ensure we have been saved and, if so, to surrender our hearts to Him to do His Will in these last days.

 

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Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17

 1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

 2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

 3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

 4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

 5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

 6Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

 7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

 8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

 9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

 10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

 11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

 12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

 13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

 14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

 15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

 16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

 17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

 18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

 19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

 20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

 21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

 22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

 23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

 24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

 25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

 26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

 27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

 28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.