Proverbs 25:15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone. There are three kinds of power — material, mental, and moral. I. THE MANIFESTATION of moral power. The words indicate a threefold manifestation. 1. Stillness. "By long forbearing is a prince persuaded." Forbearance implies calm endurance — a patience like that which the Great Heavenly Exemplar exhibited under insults and persecutions. 2. Speech. "A soft tongue breaketh the bone." "A soft tongue" not a simpering tongue, not a silly tongue, not a sycophantic tongue, but the "soft tongue" of tender love and forbearing kindness. Such a tongue is might: it "breaketh the bone." This somewhat paradoxical expression expresses the amazing power of kind words; they break the bone, the ossified heart of the enemy. Another manifestation of power here is — 3. Service. "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink," etc. "In the smelting of metals," says Arnot, "whether on a large or small scale, it is necessary that the burning coals should be above the ore as well as beneath it. The melting fuel and the rude stones to be melted are mingled together and brought into contact, particle by particle, throughout the mass. It is thus that the resistance of the stubborn material is overcome, and the precious separated from the vile." There are but few hearts so obdurate as not to melt under the fires of love that blaze over and under them. These words direct our attention to — II. THE MIGHTINESS of moral power. 1. Persuading. "By long forbearing is a prince persuaded." Thus David brought down Saul (1 Samuel 24:8-20; 1 Samuel 26:3-20). 2. Breaking. "A soft tongue breaketh the bone." Loving words can mollify the roughest natures. Gideon, with a kind word, pacified the Ephraimites, and Abigail turned David's wrath away. 3. Melting. "Thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." "The Americans have a tract on this subject, entitled, 'The Man who Killed his Neighbours.' It contains, in the form of a narrative, many useful, practical suggestions on the art of overcoming evil with good. It is with kindness — modest, thoughtful, generous, persevering, unwearied kindness — that the benevolent countryman killed his churlish neighbour: and it is only the old evil man that he kills, leaving the new man to lead a very different life in the same village, after the dross has been purged away." How sublimely elevated is the moral legislation of the Bible! (D. Thomas, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.WEB: By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone. |
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