Debate thy Cause

September 25, 2011

Lesson: Proverbs 25:1–10

Key Verse: Proverbs 25:9

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Introduction

Wisdom writes that we are to “Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself” (25:9). To ‘debate’ means to defend, wrangle, contend, which tells us that we must be able, first of all, to discern what is right and what is wrong. Paul encourages us: “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. …Study to show thyself approved of God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:1–2, 15).

Our lesson begins with the first verse of Proverbs 25: “These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.” The Spirit wrote what God had spoken, or taught him. They were copied by those of the court of King Hezekiah that the people of God would hear what God had to say. Matthew Henry wrote that “The proverbs were Solomon’s, who was divinely inspired to deliver, for the use of the church, these wise and weighty sentences; we have had many, but still there are more. Yet herein Christ is greater than Solomon, for if we had all upon record that Christ said, and did, that was instructive, the world could not contain the books that would be written,(John 21:25).”

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To the Glory of God—Proverbs 25:2–5

Wisdom says: “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing. Sin hides not the glory of God from us. It is the glory of God itself that hides the wonder of the justice and mercy of God from us; that we may know, when His glory is revealed, though in part, that our salvation is of Him alone. Heavenly wisdom speaks: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:33–36). It is “but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.” M. Henry wrote that “it is the honour of kings, with a close application of mind, and by all the methods of enquiry, to search out the matters that are brought before them, to take pains in examining offenders, that they may discover their designs and bring to light the hidden works of darkness, not to give judgment hastily or till they have weighed things, nor to leave it wholly to others to examine things, but to see with their own eyes.” We are to be like that, except that it is the Holy Spirit who guides our search, that it be not our searching that sees the glory of God, but that He reveals His glory as the Spirit opens our eyes.

Wisdom reveals to us the glory of God: “Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the refiner. Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.” Christ takes away our sin that we might know the life of righteousness. “Wicked people are the dross of a nation, the scum of the country, and, as such, to be taken away,” wrote Henry. The justice of the Lord is revealed in His cleansing His people; that we might continually die to sin and live to Christ; that the wicked at the same time will be put away from us: “Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies” (Psa. 119:116–119).

Discussion: What does it mean to see the glory of God?

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Debate thy Cause—Proverbs 25:6–10

Wisdom teaches us that we are not to put ourselves forth “in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: for better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.” Do not presume that we deserve a place to stand before our superiors; “That religion is so far from destroying good manners that it reaches us to behave ourselves lowly and reverently towards our superiors, to keep our distance, and give place to those to whom it belong” (M. Henry). In other words we are not to seek our own glory, but to show the grace of Christ in humbling ourselves, not showing arrogance in our behavior. It is better, because of our integrity and honesty as Christians, to be called: “come hither; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.” This glory of Christ can be seen in our workplace where our boss begins to see the good that you add to his business.

Wisdom speaks concerning going to court against a neighbor: “Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.” Act carefully and righteously in the sight of others: “do not send for a writ in a passion, or upon the first appearance of right on thy side, but weigh the matter deliberately, because we are apt to be partial in our own cause; consider the certainty of the expenses and the uncertainty of the success, how much care and vexation it will be the occasion of, and, after all, the cause may go against thee; surely then thou shouldst not go forth hastily to strive” (Henry). Do not anticipate an outcome without much concern and study of the problem.

Thus Wisdom speaks: “Debate the cause with thy neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another: lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.” Go directly to the neighbor that there may be no need to bring it to the court, or others to hear, that an amicable solution may be had, and so a secret does not be heard except by both of you. This is illustrated in Christ’s words, “Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained a brother” (Matt. 18:15). “To tell one’s own secret is folly; to tell our neighbour’s secrets is treachery. Disputants too often bring forward everything, however irrelevant” (J.F.B. Comm.). Our desire is that our Lord will be glorified and our neighbor is blessed.

Discussion: What is important in our relationships with one another?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2011 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.