He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
The Anatomy Of The Wise: The Heart (Part 1):
Proverbs 15:9-12
9) The way of the wicked [is]
an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after
righteousness.
10) Correction [is] grievous
unto him that forsaketh the way: [and]
he that hateth reproof shall die.
11) Hell and destruction [are]
before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
12) A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go
unto the wise.
EXPOSITION:
In
the text for this morning, we find Solomon begins looking at the “heart”,
picturing the desires, love and sacrifices that are clearly displayed by those
who possess Godly wisdom…
9) The way of the wicked [is]
an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after
righteousness.
1. The life path that characterizes those who
are the breakers of the laws of God are disgusting and abhorred by the Lord.
2. He that loves the Lord will be motivated to
follow the path of obedience and lawfulness.
The
heart of a wise man is characterized by a love for obedience to the Lord.
“The LORD openeth [the eyes
of] the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the
righteous: The LORD preserveth the
strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he
turneth upside down.” (Psalms 146:8-9)
10) Correction [is] grievous
unto him that forsaketh the way: [and]
he that hateth reproof shall die.
1. A person who had departed from the paths of
God will find chastisement will stir up and disgust and displeasure.
2. A person that rejects corrective instruction
will find his actions results in death. In
many cases he will be harming himself physically and condemning himself to the
eternal judgment of God.
A
fool will lack love and appreciation for the efforts of the Lord to bring him to
the path of obedience. This resistance
to the works of the Lord can result in premature physical death and eternal
spiritual death.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is
come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil. For every one that doeth
evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be
reproved.” (John 3:19-20)
11) Hell and destruction [are]
before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
1. The afterlife and eternal judgment are done
with the knowledge and in the presence of God Himself.
2. If God is present and knowledgeable of future
unseen events, how much does He know the condition of the hearts of mankind?
The
wise man understands that the Lord knows his heart and, therefore, knows the proper
correction that is needed in our lives. The
wise man values and loves that correction, knowing it is for his good and that
it is originating from the heart of a loving God.
“Whither shall I go from
thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into
heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there].” (Psalms 139:7-8)
“Shall not God search this out? for he
knoweth the secrets of the heart.” (Psalms 44:21)
12) A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go
unto the wise.
1. The foolish person who mocks and discredits
correction will not appreciate, nor love, the one trying to correct him.
2. The foolish person will not seek out wise
counsel even when it is available to him.
Foolishness
is shown by those who reject Godly correction and refuse to seek out wise
counsel.
“For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they
heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2 Timothy 4:3)
SUMMARY:
Wisdom,
or foolishness, is clearly on display in the desires of man’s heart. For those who love the things of God, His
truths, His correction and the counsel of His people, that man is wise
indeed. For those who reject the things
of God will clearly display his ignorance and foolishness that resides in his
heart.
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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