July 11 - Proverbs 28,29
We are coming to the end of the book of Proverbs, and I have mentioned most of the themes of the book as we have gone through it. In today's reading there are some of the truths we have already seen and a few new ones. I want to comment on some of the new ones, which God used to speak to me this morning.
Proverbs 28:4 states an obvious truth, but one we need to hear today. If a person rejects God's truth, he will end up praising the wicked. Those who hold to God's truth will confront them about their sin. This leads to a tension between these two groups. There is no way to avoid this tension. It is a part of life. Jesus lived with it all the time, and He will give us the grace to live with it, if we will ask Him.
Proverbs 28:9 shows that even the prayers of a person who rejects God's Law are an abomination to the Lord. This is logical, but people don't seem to understand. Why would God be inclined to answer the prayer of a person who is rejecting His instruction? Would that not be blessing sin? Prayer requires faith on the part of the person who is praying. Is a person who is disobedient to God's Law really trusting God? I think people want to live their own way and still have God answer their prayers, but God sees through all of that, because He looks at our hearts.
We are afraid to rebuke another person, but Proverbs 28:23 says that we will find more favor afterward if we rebuke someone than if we flatter them, but don't tell them the truth. Sometimes our rebuke does not bring the intended results, because the person does not listen. This is dangerous for that person, because sudden destruction will come, and there will be no remedy. (Proverbs 29:1) This "hardening of the neck" could be behind many of the troubles we see others having. We only see the destruction, and we can't figure it out. In reality, God has been dealing with them for years, and they have not been listening.
The Lord expects us to help the poor, and He will bless us for it. (Proverbs 28:27) We must be careful not to speak too quickly. If we do, we are worse than a fool. (Proverbs 29:20) We must not live by the fear of man, but by the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 29:25)
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 30 and 31.
Proverbs 28:4 states an obvious truth, but one we need to hear today. If a person rejects God's truth, he will end up praising the wicked. Those who hold to God's truth will confront them about their sin. This leads to a tension between these two groups. There is no way to avoid this tension. It is a part of life. Jesus lived with it all the time, and He will give us the grace to live with it, if we will ask Him.
Proverbs 28:9 shows that even the prayers of a person who rejects God's Law are an abomination to the Lord. This is logical, but people don't seem to understand. Why would God be inclined to answer the prayer of a person who is rejecting His instruction? Would that not be blessing sin? Prayer requires faith on the part of the person who is praying. Is a person who is disobedient to God's Law really trusting God? I think people want to live their own way and still have God answer their prayers, but God sees through all of that, because He looks at our hearts.
We are afraid to rebuke another person, but Proverbs 28:23 says that we will find more favor afterward if we rebuke someone than if we flatter them, but don't tell them the truth. Sometimes our rebuke does not bring the intended results, because the person does not listen. This is dangerous for that person, because sudden destruction will come, and there will be no remedy. (Proverbs 29:1) This "hardening of the neck" could be behind many of the troubles we see others having. We only see the destruction, and we can't figure it out. In reality, God has been dealing with them for years, and they have not been listening.
The Lord expects us to help the poor, and He will bless us for it. (Proverbs 28:27) We must be careful not to speak too quickly. If we do, we are worse than a fool. (Proverbs 29:20) We must not live by the fear of man, but by the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 29:25)
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 30 and 31.