“Iron Sharpens Iron” is just about 99.99% always used as a positive expression. Christians, especially men, love to use it as though it’s a good thing to do to/for a friend or colleague to “help” them get closer to the true meaning of scripture. And I believe it’s a good thing to sharpen your understanding of God’s word. Even more important than how you might sharpen your skills for work or sports or hobbies.
But the emphasis should be on how you sharpen YOUR skills.
Not how you attempt to sharpen the wills and wits of your friends or colleagues by using the idiom, “iron sharpens iron,” from Proverbs 27:17.
I’ve always thought that when guys use that verse, they tend to use it mostly when they believe they have more insight into God’s word. And that whoever they say it to should acknowledge that. I know many would probably say they want that iron used on them, too, if and when needed.
But I believe they don’t truly mean that.
Anyway…
In the past couple of years I’ve come across information that reaffirms my take on this. So, naturally, if something is gonna prove me right, then I’ve just gotta gloat and share it. Right?
No, that’s not how I rock-n-roll.
A guy named Ronald Giese Jr. recently shared info that shows “when we look at the language of this verse in its Hebrew Bible/Old Testament context, it doesn’t have the kind of positive connotation that is now associated with it.”
He said that text actually talks in a way that’s more about “sharpening people’s faces.” And then he added:
“The problem starts with the idea of sharpening someone’s face. How does this happen? It’s certainly not literal. Because people don’t sharpen people’s faces. And if they do it’s a criminal offense. If it’s a metaphor, then, what then could it mean? There is no other mention of “sharp faces” in the OT, but there is mention of “sharp” features of the face. Like a sharp tongue (Psalm 57:4; Psalm 52:2) or sharp eyes (Job 16:9). In these instances, such sharp features do harm to others and can “devise destruction” (Ps 52:2). Tongues are sharpened like snakes ready to give a poisonous strike (Psalm 140:3).”
Yeah, that doesn’t sound like positive reinforcement.
And Mr. Giese said it’s more like this: “The idea of sharpening someone else’s face, then, is not about doing something positive for your friend, but aggravating them to the point where they become your enemy.”
And I agree. Because I see people attempting to use their “iron” to “sharpen” someone else’s “iron.” And then I see, most of time, how that goes over like an iron balloon.
I’m firm believer that Christians absolutely should judge others and rightly divide the Word in order to do that without hypocrisy. But I’m also a firm believer that too many go the route of wielding “iron” rather than the life-saving power of God’s love.
So, if you’re an ironer, I encourage you to sharpen your skills in sharing the power of God’s love you can find all through Paul’s letters. Sing a new song from that perspective and come down from…
Up on the mountains of self…
Looking inside of our hearts, we think we see.
Fallible searchers are we…
Without a standard to judge, how high we can be!
We’re riding our high horses.
We’re wearing our best leather and lace.
Yes, we’re riding our high horses…
Hoping to ride them away…
Ride them to favor and grace © 1989
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