Pro 25:20 | KingComments | STEP | “False witness” works death in society ( ). Those who bear false witness are compared to “a club and a sword and a sharp arrow”, all deadly weapons. The club crushes, the sword chops, and the sharp arrow pierces. A false witness can cause the death of innocent people by his false words (cf. ; ). That not just one, but as many as three of these weapons are mentioned does make clear the seriousness of the evil of bearing false witness against one’s neighbor ( ; ). “A bad tooth and an unsteady foot” are both unfit to do anything ( ). Chewing on a bad tooth and walking on an unsteady foot are both painful actions that keep you from eating in one case and walking in the other. The same effect has “confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble”. When things get really tough and we get tight in society or in the church, one of the greatest disappointments is that you have put your trust in a faithless man. When this happens to us, we may remember that God is faithful though: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” ( ). Irresponsible, insensitive attempts to cheer up people who are grieving only make the grief worse ( ). These are not words spoken at the right time ( ). The wise compares such a person to one who takes off a garment on a cold day. He makes him stand in the cold. That is quite different from giving him extra warmth in the cold. He is totally insensitive to what the other person needs. The second comparison is doing vinegar on soda. A non-desirable chemical reaction occurs. It fizzes, there is activity, but only empty dross is produced. Vinegar and soda cannot be combined. If this does happen, both become unusable. We must be vigilant and sensitive with regard to the emotional distress in which people may find themselves. We must develop this sensitivity to others, otherwise we will give them a ‘cold shower’ instead of a ‘hot bath’ of compassion. There is no ‘chemistry’ between someone who sings joyful songs and someone who has a troubles heart (cf. ). Paul holds out the following to us: “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” ( ).

‏ Proverbs 25:20

False Witness, False Confidence, False Comfort

“False witness” works death in society (Pro 25:18). Those who bear false witness are compared to “a club and a sword and a sharp arrow”, all deadly weapons. The club crushes, the sword chops, and the sharp arrow pierces. A false witness can cause the death of innocent people by his false words (cf. Pro 12:18; Psa 57:4 ; Psa 120:3-4). That not just one, but as many as three of these weapons are mentioned does make clear the seriousness of the evil of bearing false witness against one’s neighbor (Exo 20:16; Deu 5:20).

“A bad tooth and an unsteady foot” are both unfit to do anything (Pro 25:19). Chewing on a bad tooth and walking on an unsteady foot are both painful actions that keep you from eating in one case and walking in the other. The same effect has “confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble”. When things get really tough and we get tight in society or in the church, one of the greatest disappointments is that you have put your trust in a faithless man.

When this happens to us, we may remember that God is faithful though: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psa 46:1b ; Psa 91:15).

Irresponsible, insensitive attempts to cheer up people who are grieving only make the grief worse (Pro 25:20). These are not words spoken at the right time (Pro 25:11). The wise compares such a person to one who takes off a garment on a cold day. He makes him stand in the cold. That is quite different from giving him extra warmth in the cold. He is totally insensitive to what the other person needs.

The second comparison is doing vinegar on soda. A non-desirable chemical reaction occurs. It fizzes, there is activity, but only empty dross is produced. Vinegar and soda cannot be combined. If this does happen, both become unusable.

We must be vigilant and sensitive with regard to the emotional distress in which people may find themselves. We must develop this sensitivity to others, otherwise we will give them a ‘cold shower’ instead of a ‘hot bath’ of compassion. There is no ‘chemistry’ between someone who sings joyful songs and someone who has a troubles heart (cf. Psa 137:1-3). Paul holds out the following to us: “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15).