BEHIND THE

MASK

Lesson 10 for March 7, 2015

This section in Proverbs helps us to discover what is found “behind the mask”. That is, the reality behind appearances, what our eyes cannot see.

The inscrutable God. Proverbs 25:2-3.

The fool as wise. Proverbs 26:11-12.

The sluggard who thinks he’s wise. Proverbs 26:13-16.

The enemy as friend. Proverbs 26:18-25.

The friend as enemy. Proverbs 27:5-6, 17.

THE INSCRUTABLE GOD“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.” (Proverbs 25:2-3)

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33)

“It is a glory for God to be infinite and therefore to conceal much from the finite and sin-darkened minds of men.” (SDA Bible Commentary, on Pr. 25:2).

It is a glory for leaders to study the difficult things God has hidden in His Word with spirit. They will finally be understood.“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)

“There are deep mysteries in the word of God, which will never be discovered by minds that are unaided by the Spirit of God. There are also unsearchable mysteries in the plan of redemption, which finite minds can never comprehend. Inexperienced youth might better tax their minds and exercise their ability to gain an understanding of matters that are revealed… When they have cherished the light they already have, and made a practical use of it, they will be able to take a step forward… None are too young, and none too old, to learn in this school by paying diligent heed to the lessons taught by the divine Teacher.”

E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, cp. 39, p. 444)

THE FOOL AS WISE“As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (Proverbs 26:11-12)

Why does the fool come back to his foolishness?Why do we repeat our mistakes all over again?

Sometimes we repeat our mistakes again because of our weakness. Nevertheless, this verse refers to those who know the right thing but we do wrong. They are spiritually blind.The only way to avoid returning to our own “vomit” is to study the Word. The Holy Spirit will then show us when we are wrong and when we are acting right.We must leave our pride behind in order to learn. We must not be wise “in our own eyes.” Those who think their selves wise will never learn. The fool won’t be fool anymore if he’s willing to learn.

THE SLUGGARD WHO THINKS HE’S WISE“The lazy man says, ‘There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!’ As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed. The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.” (Proverbs 26:13-16)

Let’s review the attributes of the sluggard:

He doesn’t do anything

because a lion may be in the

road.

COWARDLINESS

He is like the door that moves but doesn’t go anywhere. He moves on his

bed but he never gets up to work.

INDOLENCE

He doesn’t exert himself;

not even to satisfy his own

needs.

LAZINESS

He is content with his own

preconceived opinions. He is

too lazy to research or study

anything.

CONCEIT

THE ENEMY AS FRIEND“Like a madman who

throws firebrands, arrows, and death, is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, ‘I was only joking!’”

(Proverbs 26:18-19)

Sometimes a “friend” may want to deceive you but you finally reveal his intention.

He then apologizes by saying “I was only joking!”

“Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife

ceases. As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man

to kindle strife.” (Proverbs 26:20-21)

If your “friend” is speaking badly of a friend of his, he

may speak badly of you too.

“Fervent lips with a wicked heart are like earthenware

covered with silver dross. He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within

himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations

in his heart.” (Proverbs 26:23-25)

There are “friends” who speak nice words to you

but they actually despise you in their

hearts. They are enemies in disguise.

THE FRIEND AS ENEMY“Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Proverbs 27:5-6)

“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)

What are “the wounds of a friend”?A friend may lovely reprimand you by showing your mistakes. That may sound like an enemy talking and you may feel wounded.But those wounds are beneficial, “faithful”—from the Hebrew word “Amen”, so be it— and capable of saving the soul. The friendship will become stronger once the wound is healed.

The iron of the file or the hammer can sharpen an iron blade. Friendship becomes stronger by helping and confronting one another.

“It would blot out the distinction between right and wrong, by agreeing with the

transgressor instead of faithfully showing him his errors. Such a course never springs

from real friendship.”E.G.W. (Lift Him Up, October 26)