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by Dave Sowders

Proverbs 25:26

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Solomon was a wise guy, perhaps the wisest to ever live. However, he wasn’t wise enough to follow his own advice. In the ancient world, he was highly regarded for his wisdom. He is widely viewed as the author of the book of Proverbs. Interestingly, Chapter 25 of Proverbs is a series of the king’s homilies that were copied by the men of King Hezekiah of Judah. Let’s consider verse 26: 

“A good person who gives in to a bad person is a muddied spring, a polluted well.” (The Message)

The irony is that at the time he wrote this, Solomon had 60 queens and 80 concubines. His harem would later grow to 700 queens and 300 concubines. His palace was the “Playboy mansion” of the ancient world! But how does this verse apply to us today? 

We live in a time that is sometimes referred to as Post-Christian. What’s good is bad, what’s bad is good. We are pressured to accept things we know are wrong. And we are human. Just like Solomon, we face temptations. We have the Holy Spirit and the Word, including Proverbs, to guide us. God wants us to use the wisdom of Solomon to help us develop the strength to hold on and obey God.

Pray for the strength to apply that wisdom. We have many examples in the Bible. Daniel in the lion’s den. The boys in the fiery furnace. Of course, our best example is Jesus when he spent 40 days in the desert without food. When his hunger became severe, the Devil tempted him. Jesus rebuked him by quoting the scriptures and finally telling him to be gone. (Matthew 4:10) 

What sort of desert are you walking through? Whatever it is, know that God will help you get through it. Make the right choices so that your well is not polluted.