Evaluating the Effectiveness of Our Examples and Illustrations
The concept of "proving" or "testing" one's work, faith, or conduct is a recurring theme in biblical literature, often illustrated through metaphors of examination and trial. This process involves a careful assessment against a standard, much like assaying precious metals.
In the Old Testament, the book of Proverbs frequently uses illustrations from the natural world to commend virtues and demonstrate moral principles. For instance, Proverbs 30:24-31 presents two classes of illustrations: the first (Proverbs 30:25-28) highlights the diligence and providence of small creatures like ants and locusts, attributing their success to instinctive sagacity rather than strength. The second class (Proverbs 30:30-31) offers similes for majesty and comeliness, uniting efficiency with gracefulness [3]. These examples serve to "prove" or demonstrate various aspects of the moral world, leaving the reader to apply the lessons [3]. Another Proverbial example, Proverbs 11:31, calls attention to illustrations that confirm the sentiment of a passage, even extending to future rewards and punishments [1].
The Psalms also speak to this idea of divine examination. In Psalm 26:2, the psalmist prays, "Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart" [5]. Here, the examination is likened to the testing of silver and gold by a touchstone, which is identified as the word of God, serving as the standard for faith and practice. The psalmist asks God to "tempt" him, similar to how Abraham was tempted, to prove the genuineness of his faith, fear, and love. This process can involve afflictive providences that test the faith and patience of God's people [5].
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul encourages believers to "prove what is acceptable unto the Lord" (Ephesians 5:10). This "proving" is connected to how one "walks" (Ephesians 5:8) and is likened to testing a coin by sight, sound, and use. It involves accurate and continued study, and, crucially, practice and experimental trial. The "light" of believers manifests what is sightly or unsightly, thereby proving what is acceptable [2]. Similarly, in Galatians 6:4, Paul instructs believers to "prove his own work," meaning to examine their conduct and themselves against the words and example of Christ. The goal is to find rejoicing in oneself alone, based on resemblance to Christ, rather than deriving consolation from comparing oneself to others who might be weaker or less instructed. For the Christian, the word of Christ is the only rule, and Christ's example is the only pattern for imitation; other people are not the standard [4].
The preacher Matthew Henry, in his introduction to Ecclesiastes 3, notes that Solomon uses various examples to "prove his doctrine" regarding the vanity of worldly pursuits and the importance of contentment. Solomon demonstrates the mutability of human affairs and the immutability of divine counsels to support his conclusion that happiness is not found in earthly endeavors but in cheerfully accepting what God has given [6].
Across these texts, the act of "proving" or "testing" is not merely an intellectual exercise but an active process of self-examination, comparison against a divine standard, and practical application, often using vivid illustrations to make the point clear.
Sources
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 11:31: Behold--Thus calling attention to the illustrations (compare Pro 11:23), the sentiment of which is confirmed even in time, not excluding future rewards and punishments. Next: Proverbs Chapter 12”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:10: Proving--construed with "walk" (Eph 5:8; Rom 12:1-2). As we prove a coin by the eye and the ear, and by using it, so by accurate and continued study, and above all by practice and experimental trial, we may prove or test "what is acceptable unto the Lord." This is the office of "light," of which believers are "children," to manifest what each thing is, whether sightly or unsightly.”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:24: These verses provide two classes of apt illustrations of various aspects of the moral world, which the reader is left to apply. By the first (Pro 30:25-28), diligence and providence are commended; the success of these insignificant animals being due to their instinctive sagacity and activity, rather than strength. The other class (Pro 30:30-31) provides similes for whatever is majestic or comely, uniting efficiency with gracefulness.”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 6:4: Prove his own work - Let him examine himself and his conduct by the words and example of Christ; and if he find that they bear this touchstone, then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone, feeling that he resembles his Lord and Master, and not in another - not derive his consolation from comparing himself with another who may be weaker, or less instructed than himself. The only rule for a Christian is the word of Christ; the only pattern for his imitation is the example of Christ. He should not compare himself with others; they are not his standard. Christ hath ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 26:2: Examine me, O Lord,.... His cause, his integrity, and trust in the Lord, as silver and gold are examined by the touchstone, the word of God, which is the standard of faith and practice; and prove me; or "tempt me" (r); as Abraham was tempted by the Lord; and his faith in him, and fear of him, and love to him, were proved to be true and genuine; try my reins and my heart; the thoughts, desires, and affections of it, as gold and silver are tried in the furnace; and so God sometimes tries the faith and patience of his people by afflictive providences; and this examin”
- Ecclesiastes (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 3 (introduction): Solomon having shown the vanity of studies, pleasures, and business, and made it to appear that happiness is not to be found in the schools of the learned, nor in the gardens of Epicurus, nor upon the exchange, he proceeds, in this chapter, further to prove his doctrine, and the inference he had drawn from it, That therefore we should cheerfully content ourselves with, and make use of, what God has given us, by showing, I. The mutability of all human affairs (Ecc 3:1-10). II. The immutability of the divine counsels concerning them and the unsearc”