He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
Our Relationship To The Law Of God: Role Of
Our Conscience: Proverbs 28:1-3
1) The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as
a lion.
2) For the transgression of a land many [are] the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] shall be prolonged.
3) A poor man that oppresseth the poor [is like] a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
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 characteristics. 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…
1) The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as
a lion.
How
the conscience guides us…
1.
Those who are guilty of breaking the laws of God will fly away when no one is
chasing them.
2.
Those who are aligned with God’s laws are confident and sure of themselves much
like a young lion on the prowl
The
role of our conscience in keeping God’s laws cannot be underestimated. When we willful choose to break the laws of
God, our conscience is our guide to reveal our infraction and testify of our
guilt. Its testimony of guilt will
continue for a length of time, always working to bring us back to
obedience.
This
is much like when a man mistreats others, he then lives under conscience
conviction of guilt. It is this guilt
that causes him to become paranoid and fearful of those whom he has mistreated. In comparison, the righteous man, who is not
afflicted by his guilt, can walk boldly in life, not being paranoid nor
fearful, much like a young lion who fears no one due to his ability to overcome
his enemies
“Have the workers of
iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people [as] they eat bread: they have not
called upon God. There were they in great
fear, [where] no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that
encampeth [against] thee: thou hast put [them] to shame, because God hath
despised them.” (Psalms 53:4-5)
2) For the transgression of a land many [are] the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] shall be prolonged.
The
importance of having leaders that follow their conscience…
1.
Because a nation has “crossed the lines” God has set for them, their leadership
will be replaced frequently.
2.
When their leaders can understand things from God’s perspective and possess a
knowledge of His Word, the nation will be continue to exist and prosper.
A
nation’s sinfulness will take them out of existence, with other wicked nations
taking control and establishing other wicked leaders over them. However, when a nation revers the Lord and
submits to His leadership, the nation is blessed with longevity and security.
“[There was] a little city,
and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it,
and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom
delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom [is]
better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom [is] despised, and his
words are not heard. The words of wise [men
are] heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Wisdom [is] better than
weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.” (Ecclesiastes 9:14-18)
3) A poor man that oppresseth the poor [is like] a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
The
importance of the conscience for all of us, even the poor among us….
1. A needy man who defrauds those who are weaker
is like
2. A hard rain that tears off the fruit and
grain from the plant, leaving nothing usable for nourishment.
This
is the ultimate abuse of others. When a
man who experiences the pain of being needy, and he is willing to actually
bring more of the same pain on others for his own selfish purposes. It is not simply that he is abusing others in
need that is sinful, but it is an increased infraction because, after suffering
under such agony, he does not think twice about multiplying this same suffering
in the lives of others.
If
anyone has compassion for others, they would think of their own suffering and
seek to relieve others of that suffering, not increase the suffering of others
for their own selfish purposes.
“Thus speaketh the LORD of
hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man
to his brother: And oppress not the widow,
nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine
evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped
their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone, lest they should hear
the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the
former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it is come to
pass, [that] as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would
not hear, saith the LORD of hosts: But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they
knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor
returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.” (Zechariah 7:9-14)
SUMMARY:
Our conscience is a
wonderful gift that encourages us to continue in faithful service. The role of conscience in the lives of our
leaders, is centered on leading the nation to be faithful to the Lord, and
therefore to be blessed of Him. Even in the lives of the weakest and poorest
among us, the role of our conscience is to benefit us and others around 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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