It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
Proverbs 25:2 stands at the opening of the later collection of Solomon's proverbs in chapters 25-29, beginning at chapter 25. That collection was copied from his scattered writings by kings, specifically by Hezekiah's scribes from his many writings. The gathering took place in Hezekiah's time, about three hundred years after Solomon. Solomon spoke or wrote three thousand proverbs from which the collection was drawn.
The proverbs were chiefly composed by Solomon, probably in the early part of his reign, in poetic style. They are compact expressions of wisdom, mostly simple and easily understood. Other proverbs in the book are attributed to Hezekiah and Agur. The verse belongs with Proverbs 23-26 appointed to be read on May 27, with the accompanying self-examination of how life measures up to the standard of those chapters.
The verse sets forth Jehovah as creator and governor of the universe and disposer of human destinies, rewarding piety and punishing evil. It belongs to a storehouse of practical wisdom for moral and religious duty, everyday experience, duties to family, neighbors and friends, and faithful service to God. It presents virtues such as modesty, chastity, temperance, forbearance, gentleness and industry in vivid language. It conveys Christ's invitations and counsels in the character of Wisdom to be studied in light of scriptural examples, with submission to correction as a prominent lesson and warnings such as those against intemperance applying to all time.
God's glory in concealing reflects the mystery of his person and ways. The concealment is not by withholding heavenly light and knowledge but because they exceed human capacity, so people can grasp only in part as much as they can bear. The mystery of redemption, including Christ's humiliation and self-sacrifice, can never be exhausted and will remain the theme of wonder and song throughout eternity. God's glory in concealing is shown in leaving unrevealed the time between Christ's departure and return. By keeping that interval unrevealed, every generation watches with the same expectation as the last generation, as if the Lord were near, whereas a known interval would change watchfulness and break unity across generations.
Proverbs 25:2 stands at the opening of the later collection of Solomon's proverbs in chapters 25-29, beginning at chapter 25. That collection was copied from his scattered writings by kings, specifically by Hezekiah's scribes from his many writings. The gathering took place in Hezekiah's time, about three hundred years after Solomon. Solomon spoke or wrote three thousand proverbs from which the collection was drawn.
The proverbs were chiefly composed by Solomon, probably in the early part of his reign, in poetic style. They are compact expressions of wisdom, mostly simple and easily understood. Other proverbs in the book are attributed to Hezekiah and Agur. The verse belongs with Proverbs 23-26 appointed to be read on May 27, with the accompanying self-examination of how life measures up to the standard of those chapters.
The verse sets forth Jehovah as creator and governor of the universe and disposer of human destinies, rewarding piety and punishing evil. It belongs to a storehouse of practical wisdom for moral and religious duty, everyday experience, duties to family, neighbors and friends, and faithful service to God. It presents virtues such as modesty, chastity, temperance, forbearance, gentleness and industry in vivid language. It conveys Christ's invitations and counsels in the character of Wisdom to be studied in light of scriptural examples, with submission to correction as a prominent lesson and warnings such as those against intemperance applying to all time.
God's glory in concealing reflects the mystery of his person and ways. The concealment is not by withholding heavenly light and knowledge but because they exceed human capacity, so people can grasp only in part as much as they can bear. The mystery of redemption, including Christ's humiliation and self-sacrifice, can never be exhausted and will remain the theme of wonder and song throughout eternity. God's glory in concealing is shown in leaving unrevealed the time between Christ's departure and return. By keeping that interval unrevealed, every generation watches with the same expectation as the last generation, as if the Lord were near, whereas a known interval would change watchfulness and break unity across generations.