Read proverbs 25:20

Read Proverbs 25:20  There are three word pictures in our verse for today.  The first two are used to explain the last one.  The last word picture is the one that King Solomon is trying to get us to understand.  When someone has a heavy heart, we should be respectful to them and kind of leave them alone.  When you are sick, you don't feel like having a party.  You just want to lie around in your bed or on the couch.  When you are sad, you usually want to be left alone.  You don't want someone to come around and sing and be happy - because you are not happy.  And when someone is all happy and bubbly around you when you are sad, you become irritated with them.  They are not very thoughtful of your feelings.  Solomon explains it like this: How would you feel if someone came and took away your winter coat when it was cold?  Not very good.  When vinegar is put on nitre, it bubbles and hisses and makes a lot of noise.  Do you like a lot of noise when you have a heavy heart?  No.  You can recreate Solomon's experiment: get a glass and put it in the sink.  Pour a cup of vinegar into it.  Then put a teaspoon of baking soda into the vinegar and watch what happens.  When you are sad, you want your peace and quiet.  You don't want a lot of bubbly racket like the action that is taking place inside the glass.  Here is the lesson that Solomon is trying to teach us: when someone wants to play, play with them.  But when someone wants to be left alone, just leave them alone.  Usually they will get over their grumpiness by tomorrow.