Proverbs 17:25-28 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 17:25-28, which say,

v.25 - A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

Both parents are mentioned here as affected by the foolish child's actions.  The results are grief and bitterness.  The grief here is something that brings about anger and not just sorrow.  Bitterness is a secondary reaction to something else that has happened.  It is an emotion that usually comes out of another emotion.  Unresolved anger could lead into bitterness.  Another thing to note here is that the grief and bitterness are made into nouns instead of verbs.  The foolish one is not just grieving the parent but takes on the identity of grief and the foolish one is not just bringing bitterness upon the parent but taking on that identity also.  It is like the old type of saying, "If you looked up grief or bitterness in the dictionary, you would see this foolish child's picture as a physical example."  

v.26 - It is also not good to fine the righteous, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

There seems to be hinted here that there is some type of justice and protection for those who are righteous and upright.  The warning is to the foolish and the wicked who think there will be no consequences or repercussions for unfair treatment to those doing right and living rightly.  It doesn't not give us a time line of when these things actions would take place but just the fact that they would.  We know that God rights all wrongs in the end and warns us so many times throughout the Scriptures.

v.27 - He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Here is another example from Solomon of the emphasis on the tongue and it's proper holy usage.  There are times to speak and there are times to stay silent.  The wisdom displays itself in the listening to God to know when to do either one.  When you restrain it gives you more time to pray and think about a response that would be a glory to God rather than just a self satisfying come back.  One who has a cool spirit allows the situation to mature some more instead of reacting when things are still hot.  It is not that the one with knowledge and understanding doesn't respond about the situation but they listen and consult with God before they give input.  

The cool spirit literally comes from the word "chill" so the Bible is telling us to "chill out" and the word for "restrain" means to "keep in check."  I have definitely been guilty of not following this proverb at times.  My mouth has spouted off well before consulting with God and I have reacted instantaneously when I should have "counted to 10."  It is hard but God says that those who are wise will restrain to say His words instead of their own and keep calm like those popular shirts and FaceBook posts say today and respond when the others will actually be able to hear what you have to say.  Remember your mom saying, "haste makes waste?"  This could be the source.

v.28 - Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

The fool gets somewhat of a compliment here but it doesn't change his predicament of nothing following after God.  He is just displaying what a wise person would do and it is evident by the action.  The world sees wisdom in someone who waits before responding.  The person who thinks about what they are going to say before saying it or saying anything at all in this situation or time period is prudent or discerning, understanding, and considerate.  It makes progress in the situation with others involved when this action is taken.  

Do I stop and consult with God?  Do I think about what He would want me to say or not to say?  Do I set the stage for grief and bitterness or do I focus on what is righteous and upright?  The proverbs today help us see that many situations would be better served with the wisdom of not responding immediately.  Let's pray.

"Lord You have taken us through another chapter of Proverbs.  You help us see some more actions of the wise, of those following after You.  May we check in with You to keep cool and let the words we do say, if we say them, be filtered through You.  Thank You also for Your justice that makes all things right in the end.  Amen."

Pastor Adam