Proverbs 27:17

October 25, 2023

“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

This particular Scripture out of the book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon, one of the wisest kings to ever live in his time. The main point that he was trying to convey with this passage out of the Holy Bible was that a faithful friend is not going to just feed you what you want to hear, he or she will give you real constructive criticism to help you grow as a person.

The metaphor that Solomon was using was a comparison of what happens when a piece of iron is rubbed up against another piece of iron: friction and heat is produced. The same thing happens when two true friends give fruitful advice to one another even when it isn’t pleasant. You want someone in your corner that is going to look out for you even if it means that it may cause friction or tension between the two of you!

A good friend is one that is going to want to see you grow and develop especially when it comes to the things of the Lord. They will always have your best interest in mind and so if they see you going in a direction that is not beneficial for your spiritual growth, they will not hesitate to let you know. They authentically want to see you become the best version of yourself.

One good example that reiterates the point that King Solomon is trying to describe is found in Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” In other words, wise friends will be willing to remain faithful to their close friends even if it means that they are wounded in the process. A person that could care less about you will never let you know when you are heading down the wrong path.

One of the ways that two friends can become better people is by using the Word of God as their guide. There is no better way to establish personal improvement than to read the Lord’s Word, study it, digest it, and apply it to your daily life. It is called a double-edged Sword because it is powerful and has the ability to discern a person’s heart. It has the capability to renew your entire frame of mind.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key words out of the main passage of Scripture that I have highlighted above. The word “sharpens” being used is the Hebrew word “ḥāḏaḏ” which means: to be sharp or grow sharp, be keen. The words “the countenance” is the Hebrew word “pānîm” which means: face.

So when we break down the entire passage with these two significant words we can conclude that Solomon with the leading of the Holy Spirit is telling us that a true relationship will make one another grow. A friend’s countenance or face shouldn’t always be smiles and grins. Their expression should change because they aren’t always going to agree with your advice even when it’s positive correction.

We have to be very careful with who we allow in our inner circle because unfortunately not every person that says that they are for you truly is. Jesus Christ Himself was betrayed by one of His own disciples. We will face the same kinds of people that don’t always have our best interests in mind. Luckily there are several verses of Scripture that explain the importance of choosing your friends wisely.

For example:

1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”

Proverbs 12:26 “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

Proverbs 18:24 “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.”

The Word of God is explicitly clear when it comes to how significant it is to surround yourself with people that are not going to lead you astray. One thing that we can never forget is the fact that the longer that you are around someone the more that person’s mannerisms will rub off on you. The character of a man or woman is very telling.

Let the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you when it comes to allowing people into your circle. He will put a check in your spirit if a person does not have good intentions for you. It is then up to you to listen to the Lord’s still small voice!.

Also, don’t forget to check out my other blogs:

Who is the Prophet Isaiah

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Fight Back

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Feed Your Spirit

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Renouncing