Iron Sharpens Iron (Part One)

 

Iron Sharpens Iron (Part One)

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to catch up with an old friend after work. We talked in general about how things were going and also touched on a few spiritual items. While we did not agree on everything, we had a good discussion overall. Later that night, we even texted each other something to the effect of, "It was great catching up. Good conversation." I recall agreeing and specifically saying, "Iron sharpens iron."
Those words refer to the well-known Proverbs 27:17: "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Since we had engaged in a spiritual conversation, it seemed to fit that, as two baptized members of God's church, we were somehow sharpening each other's edge. This is how most people understand this proverb.
My wife and I have been reading the book of Proverbs with our children, so I decided to take a deeper look into this specific proverb to ensure that I was using it properly. I found that there is more to it than meets the eye.
To understand more fully what this verse is saying, we will split it in two, looking at each half in turn. The first clause, "As iron sharpens iron" is relatively straightforward. What do we think of when we read or hear, "As irons sharpens iron"? For woodworkers, a metal chisel being sharpened on a grinding stone may come to mind. A chisel needs to be sharp to work properly when turning a piece of wood on a lathe.
For others, what suggests itself is sharpening a tool used in farming or landscaping. Some may recall honing their trusty old pocketknife on a leather strap, and yet others may imagine the sharpening of a sword by a skilled blacksmith. Cooks think of keeping their kitchen knives sharp. At the mention of "as iron sharpens iron," a person's mind can bring up a picture of any of these tools and others that require sharpening of some sort.
As it is used in Proverbs 27:17, the word "iron" (Hebrew barzel; Strong's #1270) is simple enough: "iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement: —(ax) head, iron." All of the implements cited above are metallic. They are all made from iron, or more accurately, iron alloyed with some amount of carbon, which makes steel. In this way, it is hard enough to hold an edge and be sharpened.
How are metal tools, instruments, or blades sharpened? There are a few main ways to sharpen iron or steel. One can use a metal file, which has an abrasive or textured edge to remove metal and expose the edge of the blade. This step is typically followed by running the blade over a whetstone, the part of the process that actually brings the blade to a sharp edge. The sharpening is finished by polishing the blade with an extremely fine-grit sandpaper.
Many do not want to expend the time and energy that this process requires, so they turn to automation to do the work. A person can use an automatic sharpener, which typically utilizes diamond-based abrasive stones. A compromise between these two alternatives is to employ a simple tool, often made of some sort of abrasive ceramic, that can be run up and down the blade, and it sharpens as it goes.
Cooks and chefs know about steel knife sharpeners, also known as either steel rods or honing rods. These typically are a single rod of steel about 10 or 12 inches in length. We often see them used around Thanksgiving time when the cook, standing in front of the turkey, swipes the knife up and down the sharpening rod.
What is interesting is that this activity technically does not sharpen the blade. In reality, the steel rod pushes the knife's edge back to the center of the blade, straightening it. This is what happens when the blade is honed. However, when a blade is sharpened, bits of the blade are ground or shaved off to produce a new, sharp edge. So, technically, honing re-forms or re-aligns the blade, while sharpening removes metal to expose or create a sharper edge. This fact will come into play later.
"Sharpens" (châdad; Strong's #2300) is another basic Hebrew word: "a primitive root; to be (make) sharp or severe: —be fierce, sharpen." With our now-broader understanding of how a blade or edge is sharpened, this word becomes somewhat more interesting. Châdad is used only six times in the Bible, twice in Proverbs 27:17, once in Habakkuk 1:8 (where it is translated as "fierce"), and three times in Ezekiel 21:8-11, an Old Testament description of how a sword is sharpened, polished, and made ready for war.
The final half of the verse is fairly straightforward except perhaps for the word "countenance," the word that spurred me to wonder if I was applying the proverb correctly. "Countenance" (pânı̂ym; Strong's #6440) is "the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively)."
For more insight, note what the Oxford English Dictionary website states about countenance:

(noun) 1. a person's face or facial expression: "His impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away"; 2. support or approval: "She was giving her specific countenance to the occasion."
(verb) admit as acceptable or possible: "He was reluctant to countenance the use of force."
Synonyms: tolerate, permit, allow, admit of, approve, approve of, agree to, consent to, give one's blessing to, take kindly to, be in favour of, favour, hold with, go along with, put up with, endure, brook, stomach, swallow, bear.

The final word in the verse is "friend" (rêa‛; Strong's #7453): "brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, or neighbor," all of which are easily understood terms.
After studying and thinking about the words in this verse, I questioned if I have ever used "iron sharpens iron" correctly. To me, my conversation with my friend was two converted individuals with God's Spirit discussing spiritual things, the result of which was a sharpening of our individual characters. By refining how we viewed the topic at hand, our conversation worked to build and strengthen our faith. This perspective on the meaning of the proverb is probably correct to some degree.
But that word "countenance" still made me wonder, "How were we, through conversation, sharpening each other's face? Is that even possible?" Next time, we will look into how the Bible describes the countenance and how it changes.

Iron Sharpens Iron (Part Two)

In Part One, we began to study into the wording of Proverbs 27:17: "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Most of it is simple and self-explanatory, but how does one sharpen the countenance of a friend? Perhaps a more fundamental question is, "How is a countenance—another's face or expression—sharpened?"
The Bible speaks several times of a person's countenance, particularly that countenances change. We need to take a look at some specific examples of this change in countenance because it will help us to understand what this proverb teaches. Genesis 4:3-7 is an early and well-known instance of a person's countenance falling:

And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."

Cain, even though he probably knew that he was disobeying God's instruction concerning offerings, was somehow disappointed that his incorrect offering was not acceptable, and his face—and most likely, his whole body—revealed his disappointment and anger that God did not respect his offering. Evidently, Cain wore his emotions on his sleeve.
What should have happened is that Abel's example to his brother—and probably his words of encouragement and gentle correction (Genesis 4:8)—should have honed or sharpened Cain's countenance so that he would have returned to a proper attitude and realized that he was not listening to God. Instead of heeding the example of righteous Abel (Hebrews 11:4), he murdered his brother.
Another example of a falling countenance is found in Proverbs 25:23. In its illustration, it provides more detail and understanding on the countenance and how it is changed: "The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance."
We can easily understand how backbiting—attacking a person's character or reputation by speaking slanderously or unfavorably against him while he is not present—can bring on an angry countenance. If an individual finds out that someone is saying bad things about him behind his back, his mood immediately changes, his feelings become hurt, his fists clench into balls, and his face—his countenance—alters. It likely turns red and forms itself into some type of "well, who do they think they are?" expression, or it darkens to fit the expression, "If looks could kill. . . ." The face quickly represents the attitudes and emotions inside a person, and such a change in countenance can have a direct impact on his relationship with others.
A more positive example appears in Proverbs 15:13: "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." The margins of most Bibles express that "countenance" once again refers to the face. When we are happy and have a merry heart, we grin from cheek to cheek. The whole body is happy. A similar thing happens when we are saddened by a negative experience. For instance, when a loved one dies, the face displays our inward emotions by frowning, weeping, and downcast eyes. Again, the face represents what and how a person is feeling inside, in his very being.
In our connections with each other, we can either have a positive impact or a negative one. For good or ill, we can change a person's mood, mind, or countenance concerning a thing, a person, an idea, an experience, etc. When we discuss God's Word with a friend or acquaintance, we can help each other refine or even change an incorrect perspective—or we can feed them falsehood and perhaps hinder their relationship with God. Just as we can do it to another person, he or she can do it to us.
How do we "sharpen" another's countenance, as Proverbs 27:17 puts it? Most importantly, the imagery implies proximity, closeness. Nothing can be sharpened unless there is some sort of contact. Without contact, nothing will change, nothing can be sharpened. Recall the examples of the file, the whetstone, and the steel honing rod. No one has ever waved a blade or tool in the air and somehow changed the shape or alignment of the edge. The chef does not brandish the knife and the honing rod separately above a roast and expect the knife to be sharpened. No, he brings them into contact with each other. He scrapes the honing rod along the knife all the way up and down the edge to push the edge back to a uniform and straight edge. Contact is key.
Along with contact itself, there must be contact with the right tool. It might be a bit obvious, but if we are not making the right contacts—friends—our relationships will likely not yield the desired results. The Bible contains several admonitions to come out of the world. For instance, James 4:4 cautions us that "friendship with the world is enmity with God." Paul warns in I Corinthians 15:33, "Evil company corrupts good habits."
Friends tend to be close to each other; they are in proximity to either sharpen or dull themselves against each other. Perhaps we should ask ourselves some questions: Have we assessed our friends? Have we evaluated the conversations we have with them? Are we using the right tool to sharpen our own countenances, that is, ourselves? On the other hand, how good are we at being a sharpening stone or honing steel for others? We should take these questions seriously and perhaps meditate on them.

 

Iron Sharpens Iron (Part Three)

In Part Two, we broached the subject of how we can sharpen the countenance of a friend, as Proverbs 27:17 recommends in its illustration of iron sharpening iron. We saw that the sharpening process must begin with closeness or proximity. Without contact—whether it is a knife against a honing rod or friends keeping in touch—nothing can be sharpened.

Taking it one step further, in his July 3, 1993, sermon titled "What Is Prayer?" John Ritenbaugh asserts that our proximity to God significantly affects how we are developed into His image—that is, how He sharpens us:

Do we realize that, when we pray, we are in the presence of God, and He has the opportunity to rub off on us? It seems so simple as to be almost unbelievable, but it is right. Some of His Spirit reaches out and begins to affect us for good. Prayer is a major tool in our spiritual development through God's rubbing off on us. All the while this is happening, our minds are being subtly shaped by Him because we are in His presence.

Similarly, our interactions with each other every day, whether at home or church, whether by phone, text, email, or even Facebook, work either to sharpen one another positively or to produce a dulling effect. We can encourage, build, help push a friend back to center, and sharpen, or we can tear down and make dull. We do the latter when we fail to consider or show love to one another in our interactions. Beyond mere interactions, our spiritual conversations with each other can help refine, build, and straighten our views of God and His Word.

Even more difficult, how well do we recognize our need to be pushed back to center? Do we realize that we need, not just an alignment, but a filing to remove the old metal and re-establish the edge so we can be sharpened and polished? Are we able to recognize our imperfection with humility?

As John Ritenbaugh stated, when we come into God's presence through prayer, His Spirit continues to refine us and affect us for good. Being in contact with God should have a positive effect on our edge: It should re-align or sharpen us as needed. Our interactions with our brethren should be doing similar things for us, and we for them.

Finally, another factor in how we sharpen one another is frequency. In the culinary world, there are many cooks, chefs, and other kitchen workers who view honing a knife blade as something they must do frequently. Some will hone on occasion or according to a schedule. Many will hone their knives right before they cut, while others will hone before and after each use of the blade to keep the tool precise, sharp, and ready for use.

Similarly, ask any tradesman or even handy homeowners how often they file or sharpen the tools and blades they use. If they want to get the job done quickly and efficiently, they realize that filing, sharpening, and honing must be done frequently. If not, the task at hand becomes that much more difficult. The Bible speaks to this point in Ecclesiastes 10:10: "If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success."

Within our relationships, coupled with the frequency of our interactions, we have many opportunities to hone each other spiritually or even sharpen one another on those rare times when it is needed. In addition to our physical relationships, our contact with God through frequent prayer provides the best honing, grinding, and sharpening that we can receive.

Sometimes, though, we need a good sharpening, and God must file the old metal away. When this happens, we experience trials that hurt. God must remove pieces of the old man here and there, and in doing so, He reveals a new edge that He can then refine with the whetstone and polish, so we are ready for the tasks He assigns us. With God, the results are always good; He always produces a sharp tool, ready for use.

In contrast, it takes wisdom and patience for us to be conscious of how our interactions with our friends and brethren affect them. Yes, sometimes a brother will need a good sharpening. If so, we must go to God and determine if we are the one to do it. Once we decide to take that course, we must proceed with love, humility, gentleness, and patience. Other times, he may only need a good honing to keep him aligned. Even so, we must undertake it with care.

We hear Numbers 6:22-27 sung each year as we leave the Feast of Tabernacles:

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace."' So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them."

Recall the effect that God had on Moses when He passed by him (Exodus 34). That contact significantly changed Moses' countenance; his face glowed with the light of God. He had to don a veil because the children of Israel were afraid of him. When God's face shines upon us, it is a sign that we are in His favor, that He is watching over and caring for us. When He lifts His countenance upon us, He is providing His blessing, approval, and peace. The priests were to bless Israel in this way so that God's name would be placed on the children of Israel.

Like any tool, edge, or blade, we and our brethren will at times need our countenances pushed back to center and made straight. At other times, we will need a more thorough sharpening, in which the weight of excess metal must be removed, the edge restored and polished, and our countenance lifted and prepared for every good work once again.

Proverbs 27:17 can help in our relationships within our families, within our circle of friends, and within God's church. It reminds us to think about how our interactions and conversations with each other make a far greater impact than we often realize, and in doing so, it underscores our responsibilities within our relationships. Most of all, it prods us to remember that contact with God helps form and shape us into His image, revitalizing us so that we are sharp and ready for what lies ahead.

 

 

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