Proverbs 27:8. Like a bird departing from her nest is a man departing from his place.
- Oil and incense gladden the heart, and the sweetness of one’s friend springs from hearty counsel.
- Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not enter your kinsman’s house in the day of your calamity; a neighbor nearby is better than a distant kinsman.
I was listening to the Proverbs recording, and you all were discussing these verses, and I had a thought. Not sure it is right so thought I would ask you.
Is that saying that if you get out of your place, don’t turn to those fleshly connections or worldly family and become a reproach to Jesus? Don’t get hurt or bitter and turn to them? It’s better to talk to a stranger than to be a reproach?
Beth D.
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Hi Beth.
Your thoughts are right and good, but I do not see that Solomon is saying that to his son in those verses.
First of all, I don’t see a connection between verses 8 and 10. Secondly, in verse 10, Solomon is dealing with relationships, advising his son (in the middle of that verse) not to burden a kinsman when trouble comes; otherwise, he may drive that kinsman away.
A number of Solomon’s proverbs are puzzling, and without help from Jesus, we cannot rightly or fully explain them. God’s thoughts certainly are not our thoughts, as Isaiah said. So, I just rejoice in the proverbs that I can understand and wait on God for the rest.
Thank you for writing, Beth.
Pastor John