Avoid Courts - Come to Agreement - Proverbs 25

 Proverbs 25:8-10 (ESV Strong's)

8 do not hastily bring into court,

for what will you do in the end,

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

9 Argue your case with your neighbor himself,

and do not reveal another's secret,

10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,

and your ill repute have no end.

Solomon, no doubt, had a great legal mind.  He negotiate several agreements with surrounding nations, kings and dignitaries.   There was plenty of opportunities to learn the legal system of his day.  He, of course, was not trained in a legal pedagogy.  But, when God asked him what he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom. God gave that to him in an unlimited fashion.  That unlimited wisdom, therefore, had no boundaries.   Solomon had a depth of it and the above proverbs are an example.   The above passage is about conflict.  We can find legal methods to solve conflict problems.  But, Solomon suggests something more practical.  He suggests that we don’t take the legal channels (although he does not forbid it). He suggest (wisdom suggests) that we solve the conflict between ourselves and the person we have the conflict.  Solomon suggests that we resolve issues before they are legal matters.   Note how Paul states something similar about the Christian church and the conflict that comes simply because we are people living together in community: 

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 (ESV Strong's)

1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

Solving issues between each other is the wise thing today.   Attorneys can help.  But, they also want (need) billable hours.   Conflict can be solved when we seek resolution and agreement rather than winning a battle.