Sharpening the Countenance of a Friend Proverbs 27:17

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. Whosoever hides her hides the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrays itself”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse seventeen of Proverbs Solomon said, “a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” where we read,

Iron sharpens iron;

so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

The verse begins, “Iron sharpens iron;” Solomon began with the word, “iron” or “harsh and strong iron from ore” “sharpens iron” which means “makes keen, severe and fierce harsh and strong iron from ore”. Solomon referred to the way “iron from ore” is employed to make keen other “iron from ore”. 

The verse continues, “so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Solomon added the words, “so a man” or “even, also and indeed a person whether male or female” “sharpens the countenance” which means “makes keen, severe and fierce the face, front and presence” “of his friend” or “belonging to his, the person's, intimate companion, fellow-citizen or neighbor”. Solomon said a person makes keen the face and presence belonging to their intimate companion. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we discover through Solomon how a “friend” influences and improves the presence of their “friend” in the same manner that a piece of “iron” is used to make keen and sharp another piece of “iron”. God knows what this process is like, and He wants us to be like Him. He uses other people at time to help us in that venture. God loves us, and when we yield our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us to be “sharp” and how to “sharpen” others when an opportunity arises. 

Next time Solomon says, “whoso keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".