Wednesday, January 1, 2014

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 16:27-30


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Intervention of The Lord: Without His Intervention – Evil Abounds: Proverbs 16:27-30

27) An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire.
28) A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29) A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way [that is] not good.
30) He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

EXPOSITION:
Solomon, in this text, continues to show us what life would be like without the Lord’s intervention.  Here, he explains that without the Lord’s involvement in the lives of all mankind, our fallen, sinful nature would drive us to commit greater and greater sin. …  

27) An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire.
1.  A man who is left to himself, untouched by the grace of God, will stir up wickedness bringing harm to himself and those around him.
2.  The man left to himself will speak words that devour and consume others.

Without the Lord actively limiting our wickedness, we would, by nature, harm ourselves and those around us through our sinful desires, plans, motives, thoughts, acts and words.

“Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!  Behold, [is it] not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?”   (Habakkuk 2:12-13)

“My soul [is] among lions: [and] I lie [even among] them that are set on fire, [even] the sons of men, whose teeth [are] spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.”   (Psalms 57:4)



28) A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
1.  A perverse, insincere, and fraudulent man, when allowed to continue on his ways, will start arguments and brawls between those around him.
2.  A person who speaks secretly behind the backs of others can place divisions between the closest of friends.

When left to himself, the carnal man will bring divisions to those who are unified.

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”   (1 Timothy 6:3-5)



29) A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way [that is] not good.
When left uncontrolled by the Lord, mankind becomes damaging oppressors, who will invite and mislead those around him to follow a path that leads to harm and sinfulness.

“As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.”   (2 Peter 3:16-18)




30) He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
1.  those who concentrate on planning twisted ways to defraud others…
2.  will then act on those plans by using deceitful words to take advantage of those he will take advantage of.

Without divine intervention the sinful plans of the wicked will come to fruition and may innocent people can be harmed.

“That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge [asketh] for a reward; and the great [man], he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.  The best of them [is] as a brier: the most upright [is sharper] than a thorn hedge:…”   (Micah 7:3-4)


SUMMARY:

Without the Lord’s constraint of sin in the lives of the lost, we would see much more deceit, selfishness, wicked speech, ungodly actions and divisions.  For many of us, the Lord’s restraint of sin in our midst is a wonderful blessing that is not considered nor appreciated among the people of God.

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”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org


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