He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
Our Relationship To The Law Of God: Results
Of Rejecting God’s Law: Proverbs 28:4-7
4) They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the
law contend with them.
5) Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD
understand all [things].
6) Better [is] the poor that
walketh in his uprightness, than [he that
is] perverse [in his] ways,
though he [be] rich.
7) Whoso keepeth the law [is]
a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous [men] shameth his father.
In
this chapter, Solomon directs our attention to having the proper relationship
to the moral laws of the Lord (this would include the 10 commandments and the
other manifold laws of God that are based upon His person and His character. As such, these laws are in effect for all time
periods and peoples...
EXPOSITION:
In
this devotion, we will be looking at the role of our conscience in aiding us in
the keeping of God’s laws…
4) They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the
law contend with them.
Open
rebuke and opposition await those who reject the law of God…
1. Those that “let loose” of the law and walk
away from it also boast and hold up to esteem those who are lawless.
2. Those that cling to God’s law will not honor
the lawless, but will warn and oppose them.
When
a person willfully forsakes the laws of God in their life, they will be warned
and their lifestyles opposed by those who love the Lord and His laws.
“Be not ye therefore
partakers with them. For ye were sometimes
darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the
Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable
unto the Lord. And have no fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them]. For it is a shame even to
speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” (Ephesians 5:7-12)
5) Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD
understand all [things].
Those
who reject the Word of God (including His laws) will lack the ability to
recognize the proper paths to take as he lives life….
1. Wicked men cannot discern what desires and
actions are fair and just to others.
2. But those who eagerly pursue the Lord and His
will can recognize the honest, unprejudiced, lawful way to treat others.
The
Christian, through the Word, is able to recognize the path most pleasing to the
Lord that allows them to treat others kindly and fairly. The wicked, on the other hand, are blinded by
their sinful flesh and unable to love others as they should and reflect that
love through acts of selflessness.
Keep
in mind, although a lost man can outwardly display a human compassion for
others, they cannot be doing it with God-honoring, selfless motives. The best they can do is experience a human,
sinful type of affection that looked upon by the Lord as filthy rags.
“But ye have an unction
from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because
ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.” (1 John 2:20-21)
6) Better [is] the poor that
walketh in his uprightness, than [he that
is] perverse [in his] ways,
though he [be] rich.
Those
who reject the law of God are spiritually bankrupt…
1. More valuable and beautiful is the person who
is lacking much earthly wealth but lives a lifestyle aligned with God’s laws.
2.
Than the person who has a deceivingly crooked lifestyle though he owns great
material wealth
A
Godly, spiritual life is of much greater value in the sight of our Lord than
all the riches this world has to offer.
Please keep in mind, a life that is lived for Him can result in the
salvation of the lost and encouragement and strengthening of the saved. Both of these hold eternal, lasting value as
compared to world riches that will soon fade away.
“Lay not up for yourselves
treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break
through and steal: But lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
(Matthew 6:19-21)
7) Whoso keepeth the law [is]
a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous [men] shameth his father.
Our
attitude about God’s law can be shown by those with whom we associate
ourselves…
1. The person who protects, and maintains, the
law of God in their life is a perceptive and skillful member of his physical
family as well as God’s family.
2. The person that associates himself with
uncontrollable men causes his father to blush with embarrassment
The
Lord is honored by the keeping of His laws.
When we live Godly lives, our Heavenly Father is glorified and pleased. They also bring honor to their parents by
showing they have raised him wisely.
However,
when a person associates with those whose lives are not controlled by the laws
of God, they bring shame and dishonor upon themselves. Why is this?
Through this unwise choice, they are showing the type of person they
feel comfortable with…. those who do not choose to keep the law of God but live
uncontrolled lives fulfilling their fleshly desires for sin. This speaks volumes about the person and his
concern for the law of God and praising Him with their lives. Truly, it brings shame to His name.
“Forasmuch then as Christ
hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind:
for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should
live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will
of God. For the time past of [our]
life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in
lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable
idolatries: Wherein they think it
strange that ye run not with [them] to the same excess of riot, speaking evil
of [you]: Who shall give account to
him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.” (1 Peter 4:1-5)
SUMMARY:
The
results of lawlessness in our lives cannot be overestimated. They are grave results that range from
earthly shame to spiritual bankruptcy.
May we all seek to serve the Lord by trusting in Him as our Savior and
then seeking to glorify Him by living our lives in accord with the standards He
has given to us.
May
we all possess Godly wisdom and live our lives for Him.
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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