Wednesday, August 28, 2013

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 6:16-19


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

Responsible Living: Do Not Have A Sinful Lifestyle: Prov 6:16-19
16) These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:
17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19) A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

INTRODUCTION:
This set of Proverbs presents to us those things which God hates, and therefore we should hate as well. 

EXPOSITION:

16) These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:
These proverbs give us a list of seven sins that are set apart from others.  What sets these seven apart from the many other sins that God also hates?  The Bible does not tell us…  PERHAPS He separates these out because they involve harming others for personal gain.  The list basically describes someone who possesses arrogance, selfishness, a belief that they are above God’s commands which leads to abuse, defrauding and illicitly profiting from others. 
God hates ALL sin, but these seem to describe a special type of hatred when the innocent are mistreated. (Deut 27:25)

The Lord’s attitude about the mistreatment of the innocent is described as ….
1. hate – to PERSONALLY hate something, to count as one’s enemy (when the innocent are abused the Lord takes it personally.)
2. abomination – to be totally disgusted, filled to the limit, to loath.  (Again, we can see a personal aspect to the hatred that is being described.  It is almost as if the Lord is saying that “I have had enough of this…. I can take no more.”)

“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?  When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.”   (Matthew 25:35-45)


17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
We begin here a list of sins involved in the abuse against others. 
1. An exalted, supreme attitude must be necessary for a person to willfully rebel against God’s commands (feeling they are invincible) and believe they are better than others (justified in profiting through the misuse of another).
2. Speaking untruths with the intent of defrauding
3. Spilling the blood of the blameless

“For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.  None calleth for justice, nor [any] pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.  They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.  Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works [are] works of iniquity, and the act of violence [is] in their hands.”  (Isaiah 59:3-6)


18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
4. Desires and plans rooted in sinful, worthless thoughts
5. Quickly acting to commit sin against others and harm to others  

“Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.  And they covet fields, and take [them] by violence; and houses, and take [them] away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time [is] evil.”   (Micah 2:1-3)


19) A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
6.  Giving untrue testimony to justify the wicked and condemn the innocent
7.  To spread arguments, disagreements and disunity among those standing for the truth in opposition to their deceit.

“Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.”   (Exodus 23:1)

“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 6:4-5)


SUMMARY:
The above proverbs bring to us a clear declaration that we are to despise those things that lead to pride, arrogance and the abuse of others for personal gain.  It is only through the grace of God and the working of the Holy Spirit within us that we are able to bear the Godly fruits which put forth humility, and respect for others.  These same fruits enhance our testimony and bring glory to Christ. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”   (Galatians 5:22-25)

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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