Proverbs 27 – if you haven’t read my thoughts on the book of Proverbs yet, you’ll want to do so here. This isn’t a comprehensive look at each verse, but it is how God spoke to me through particular chapter of His Word at this particular chapter in my life. I encourage you to read the full chapter in your own Bible first so you can see how God wants to speak to you through this chapter, and so you don’t miss out on the verses I didn’t cover. I hope it can speak to you as well, and I hope you are encouraged to seek Him in His Word. And if you missed Proverbs 26, you should also check that out here. Otherwise, on to Proverbs 27!

27:2 – Let another praise you, and not your own mouth – a stranger, and not your own lips (CSB). Goodness, that is hard to do though, isn’t it? ‘Lookit what I did! Do you like it? It is pretty? Is it good?’ For me, under all those questions, is my ultimate question – ‘Am I useful?’ I desperately want to be useful and needed by those around me. It is hard to resist the temptation to ask for that approval from others. But here, God tells us to hold our peace. Don’t ask for praise and don’t offer our own personal praise. Look to God for approval first and foremost, and he will change us from the inside out. Then, the praise from others will come naturally because we are serving our God and King above all others. That kind of praise from people then holds more weight to others, but at the same time doesn’t matter quite as much to us anymore, because we are living on the approval and love of our Heavenly Father.

27:7 – A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb, but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet (CSB). When we are full, distracted by the things of this life – possessions, success, careers, the list could go on – or holding other things or people as more valuable than God – the sweet honeycomb of God’s Word and his Wisdom is unappealing to us. We ignore it and trample it because we’re not even paying attention to the goodness within our grasp. But when we are hungry – seeking love, approval, happiness, again the list could go on – any bitter thing will become sweet to us. We will see an abusive relationship as love, encouragement to do the wrong thing as approval, fleeting pleasure as happiness. Both mindsets are a danger. Prayer – God, let me not walk past your wisdom or your love. Let me always savor the goodness of your Word. When I am hungry and seeking, let me first run to you and your Word, not to the empty promises the world has to offer.

27:9 – Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel (CSB). We cannot do everything on our own. God created us for the purpose of being in community. Some things we need can only be supplied through a friend, through relationship. Prayer – God, show me how to appreciate better the friends in my life who bring me soothing words like oil, and offer the fragrant incense of their prayers for me, and speak encouraging words into my life. Show me how to offer the same support to those around me.

27:17 – Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another (CSB). Again, Proverbs stresses that we need community. Prayer – God, show me people in my life who can sharpen me and who already are helping to sharpen me and better me as a person. Let me offer them the same sharpening – pushing them to be the best they can be as well as supporting them along the way.

27:18 – Whoever tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who is attentive to his master will be honored (CJB). Prayer – God, show me how to be attentive to you. Teach me to see people the way you see them. Show me how to care for those you care for. Show me how to be attentive to every beautiful human soul in my path so I won’t miss an opportunity to be attentive to your heart for them.

27:19 – As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the person (NLT). And as Matthew 12:34 states, what we think about most in our heart, is what our mouth will speak about. What we say reflects what our heart says, and also reflects who we really are as a person. Prayer – God, let my reflection be a good one. Let what I say and how I act be a reflection of you and your goodness in my life.

27:23-24 – Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed on to the next generation (NLT). We must, must pay attention to the people that God has put into our care – our family, our husband, our wife, our children, our friends, our colleagues, our bible study group, our employers…. God has entrusted small pieces of their lives to us. If we are not careful, we may guarantee that the crown, our legacy, our story of what God has done in our lives, is not passed on to the next generation. Prayer – God, I humbly place my pride in your hands. Let me never miss an opportunity to give glory to you by serving those around me, getting involved in their mess, dirtying my hands, and bending my back to carry those who are wounded emotionally, mentally, spiritually, or physically. Let me see when they are not well so that I can know how to serve them best.

Friend, I have prayed these same prayers over you today. I pray you will find a community where you will find support as well as be able to offer support. May you not be so distracted by every day life that you cannot turn your face toward God. I pray that when you are hungry and needing fulfillment, you will turn to God first. May you see how you can care more deeply for those around you.

Until next time,

– Just a girl pursuing her reflection in the mirror of God’s Word

Scripture quotations marked (CJB) are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, Copyright © 1998 and 2016 by David H. Stern. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (CSB) are taken from the Christian Standard Bible® Copyright© 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.