Proverbs 25:15
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By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
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Wisdom includes ability to persuade those in authority, which is very useful knowledge. The main authorities in life are parents, husbands, employers, government, and pastors. They are moved more by patient reverence than by bold debate. Though your cause might be important and right, wisdom calls for careful and respectful intreaties.
Here is great wisdom for dealing with authority. You will need to persuade an authority of your cause or dissuade one from punishing your offences. Our proverb here deals with persuasion, but the same wisdom serves in dissuasion as well (Eccl 10:4). This rule, learned and remembered, will give great and peaceful skill for dealing with authority.
Our society teaches the opposite of this wisdom, and the results are horrible. Demanding your rights and expecting an authority to cater to your needs and opinions is proud rebellion and creates anarchy. Rather than moving the one in authority toward your cause, it will force him to solidify his position and punish your insolent insubordination.
Human nature is proud, rebellious, and selfish. It assumes all men are created equal and possessing great rights. But the Bible rejects such arrogant rebellion. No two men are created equal, and they are put in the five offices already listed that give them power over other men. God created the offices of authority, and exalting them makes a society great. Disrespect of authority is a widespread problem in our profane and rebellious nation.
Solomon wrote as a monarch, where a king and his princes had great authority. They had the power of life and death, and there was no threat of a hung jury or other limitation to their ruling. The example in our proverb is a prince. Solomon gives divine wisdom to help you persuade a powerful authority to consider your person and cause. Glory!
Forbearing is putting up with disagreement or poor treatment. It is patient longsuffering in the face of adversity. It is used here to describe a patient approach with authority. If you seek to persuade an authority to change, you must wait for them to consider your cause. Impatiently demanding their change will totally work against you. Wait for them.
A soft tongue is a metonym for gentle and respectful speech (15:1). It is so effective that it is described as having the power to break the bones of a prince! Rather than arguing or debating your case, a meek and reverent appeal works far better. Aggressive and harsh words ignore their important office and attack the integrity of their authority. Instead of soberly considering your cause, they will defend their position and rank by rejecting you.
The lower you go in humility, and the higher you lift their person and rank, the greater leverage you have with them. To the degree you protect yourself and dilute this reverent, gentle, and patient approach, you give up leverage. Wisdom is profitable to direct!
David skillfully used this wisdom appealing to King Saul for mercy (I Sam 24:1-22; 26:1-25). And Abigail, a beautiful woman with great understanding, used it to persuade David against revenge, when he was passionately angry against her husband (I Sam 25:1-42). Read these three chapters and focus on the choice of words of David and Abigail.
Child, a respectful and kind letter to parents will work far better than arguing or pouting. Both of these actions indicate you are a spoiled brat and deserve nothing. Thank your parents for their goodness to you, and declare your love and obedience to them. Humbly state your request. Remember to patiently wait for their answer! They do not owe you!
Wife, a reverent and submissive appeal to your husband, carefully chosen for timing and location, will work far better than haughty demands, presumed rights, or sexual deprivation. Remember, he owes you nothing on the spot. Patiently wait for him to consider your request. Sarah and Bathsheba called their husbands lord, and they obtained great requests from powerful men. Godly women give up their "rights" to gain freedom!
Employers and government should be treated the same way. A grievance for working conditions or an assignment is received much better when made with respect and patience than with demands, insubordination, or threats. Everyone knows state troopers respond better to respectful and submissive answers than arrogant and disgusted ones!
The godly application of this wisdom will bring peace and prosperity into your life, and it will exalt godly authority in the earth by its careful and patient respect for their offices. May the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of princes, be given all the honor due unto Him!
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