Proverbs 25:25 Good news from heaven

Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.

The reference here to good news will immediately take any gospel preacher worth his salt straight to the gospel message that we preach. Our message - that Jesus Christ died for sinners - is good news indeed. It comes, of course, from a distant land from heaven itself and it has the power to revive weary souls being like cold water to such. People are parched, their hearts are dry but we have good news from a far land for them, good news that is like cold water for the souls of such weary people. It alone can revive them.

Proverbs 25:20 Preach appropriately

Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

The concern of this proverb is that a person's counsel be appropriate. It is not opposed to singing songs, to a word of cheer and joy. However, if those songs are sung to a person with a heavy heart it is counter-productive. The action is compared to snatching away a person's garment on a cold day or pouring highly acidic vinegar on a wound. These are thoughtless and cruel acts and they highlight what a bad thing it is to deal inappropriately with needy people. If a preacher ignores the heavy hearts that people in his congregation carry and does the equivalent of singing songs to them, he is cruel and heartless. If he is genuinely going to gladden people's hearts he needs to think carefully about how he will sing to those with heavy hearts because still in their sins or because they are passing through a time of testing. 

Proverbs 25:19 Be faithful

Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.

Quite apart from any homiletical considerations, if a preacher is to do any good he must be a faithful preacher. He must preach the truth and he must continue to preach the truth, regardless of fear or favour. For the most part, his hearers are relying on him and what he says. If he is unfaithful, it is like a punch in the face or a kick in the leg. It is painful, restricting and will do the people no good.

Proverbs 25:15 Persuasive Preaching

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

There are not many these days, but some preachers do still shout. There are plenty who get a bit frustrated with it all. Shouting is rarely ever needed and there is never a need to get frustrated. What is needed is patience and a gentle tongue. The proverb reminds us that a patient man can even persuade a ruler if he goes about it the right way. The king can dismiss him at any time but he patiently keeps working away at his end until he is successful. That is how the preacher must be. As for breaking bones the proverb may refer to literally breaking a bone with your tongue or, more likely, persuading someone to do something that will end in them breaking a bone. Whichever, it underlines once again the power of persuasion. There is a famous anecdote told by Benjamin Franklin of going to hear George Whitefield preach. Franklin says "I happened ... to attend one of his sermons, in the course of which I perceived he intended to finish with a collection, and I silently resolved he should get nothing from me, I had in my pocket a handful of copper money, three or four silver dollars, and five pistoles in gold. As he proceeded I began to soften, and concluded to give the coppers. Another stroke of his oratory made me asham'd of that, and determin'd me to give the silver; and he finish'd so admirably, that I empty'd my pocket wholly into the collector's dish, gold and all." It is a very powerful witness to Whitefield's powers of persuasion. All preachers must learn to be persuasive. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, says Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:11 we try to persuade others.

Proverbs 25:14 Introductions

Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.

The introduction to a sermon can prove very important, especially if promises are made at the beginning - "Tonight we are going to explore the subject of fasting" "I am going to be brief" "I have three points" "I'm going to explain to you how to be saved". There is nothing wrong with making such promises at the outset - with just one proviso. That proviso is that you do what you say you are going to do. At the beginning of such a sermon, you are boasting of the gifts you are going to give - thoroughness, brevity, three points, simplicity or whatever. If you fail to give what you promise, your congregation are like people looking to the sky and seeing clouds and feeling the wind and so are convinced it is going to rain. If it doesn't rain they will be disappointed. Don't do that to them.

Proverbs 25:13 Refreshing the Lord

Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master.

It is a truism to say that a preacher is a messenger. As a messenger he must be trustworthy, reliable. His message must be both true and dependable. When he does so he is like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time. Harvesting is by definition thirsty work done in warm conditions without rain. In the days before refrigeration the idea of a snow-cooled drink was a welcome but exotic idea, there being obvious obstacles to bringing it about. It is a wonderful picture, however. A weary labourer stops in the midst if his huge task and his thirst is slaked with a snow-cooled drink. That is a picture, in part, of the task of the preacher. What is striking here is that to be true to the proverb one has to think chiefly not of the refreshment enjoyed by the preacher's hearers but by God himself, the one who is the preacher's master. Literally the idea is of the master being moved or turned by the trustworthy messenger. Preachers often think of how to move their hearers and refresh them but the thing to aim at is moving or refreshing the Lord himself. The way to this is not by means of gimmicks but by being faithful to the Word we are preaching.