Proverbs 27:6-10
Prov 27:6 (KJB)
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
 
Faithful - Reliable
 
There may come a time that a good friend may seem to hurt us, and I say seem, because at that time it may look like it but if they are a good friend, then we can count on them to be reliable and that reliability will be used for our benefit. If a true friend seems to hurt us for our own good, then we need to take notice of why because if they are a true friend, they did not do it out of hatred. It is better to have a faithful wound by a friend who is looking out for us rather than to be kissed by an enemy filled with deceit. The difference is that the enemy is looking out for themselves and they will go to any lengths to accomplish their goals, even if it includes our destruction. One of the ways a friend can show himself friendly if they rebuke us for teaching a false belief from the Scriptures. If they rebuke us, it is not for our harm but for our good even though at the point of rebuke we may feel a little hurt or angry.
 
Prov 27:7 (KJB)
The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
 
Loatheth - Tread down or figuratively to loathe or detest
 
Those who have much food and eat delicacies every day would not see a honeycomb as anything and would just detest it and pass it by. However, those that are hungry will be satisfied with the most bland types of food because it would give them sustenance. Herod ate a feast every day but John the Baptist ate locust and wild honey. However, this verse has more of a spiritual meaning than a physical meaning. The full soul may be a person who has a degree in theology and may be surrounded by Christians all the time and live in a sterile environment like a Bible college or a ministry. Since they have so much gospel being given to them, they begin to reject what they hear or turn a deaf ear to the teachings. This is not done because they hate the Scriptures but it is done because they literally live in that type of Christian environment. They feel their soul is full and just do not want to hear one more biblical principle. However, the hungry Christian who may not live in a sterile environment and works in the secular world, will be hungry for every morsel of the Bible they can get. It will refresh their soul during the day and it will be sweet to them, even the bitter parts of Scripture which talk of judgment and damnation will seem sweet to them because it is coming from the word of God. In other words, to them, Leviticus sounds as good as Ephesians. I have worked in both environments and can attest to the fact that those who live in Christian communities are less spiritual than those Christians who live and work in the world. I have seen them to be much more spiritual than the sterile ones.
 
Prov 27:8 (KJB)
As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
 
Place - Residence or location
Wandereth - Flees
 
A bird may have several reasons for leaving the nest and that might be to find food or to abandon the nest if it is no longer safe to lay the eggs and raise her young. It is not normal for a bird to wander away from the nest and abandon it when there are young ones in it. She will stay with them until they are able to fly. Just as a man has a place of residence and it does not necessarily mean he is married. He may have a domicile and then leave for reasons such as another job or to move to another location where it might be safer. A bird will not leave the nest unless they have reasons to do so because the Lord is the one who created the birds with wisdom to nest and raise their young. As Christians, we need to bloom where we are planted because God has us living and working where we are for the purpose of being a witness where we are. Too many think that they need to go 10,000 miles away to be a witness but the reality is that our witnessing opportunities are all around us wherever we may be. So there is no need to flee our residences unless God makes it plain that He is moving us elsewhere. (Ezek 37:25 KJV) And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.
 
Prov 27:9 (KJB)
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
 
Ointment - Oil
Perfume - Incense
 
This would not be pointing to the oil and incense used in the Temple for services under the Mosaic law but it would have been a more common type of oil and incense which would have been used for guests and the incense would have been used to create a pleasant aroma and atmosphere. These things would brighten the mood of someone coming to a gathering. Just as these things would have a positive physical effect on someone, the proper words in the form of good counsel is akin to these sweet things. When a person receives good counsel that can strengthen them, they rejoice at that counsel especially when it comes from a true friend and not a deceiver.
 
Prov 27:10 (KJB)
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
 
Calamity - Distress
 
First of all we must never forsake the true friends which we have made over the years and that includes friends of our fathers who have known us probably since we were babies. If they have continued to be friends over the many years that we have grown, then that means they are true friends which means they can be counted on when times of need arise. Sometimes when hard times hit us it is much better to depend on those who are not immediate family. In some cases family members are spread out all over the country and to get help from them could possibly take a long time or it would just be impossible. It is better to have a close neighbor who can help in hard times. This is why in the first part of the verse it admonishes us to maintain all the true friendships that we have made during our life, even if some move away, we can still stay in touch. I have also met many Christians who could not count on their physical family for help and that is why the family of God should be ready and willing to help one of our own.

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