READ CHAPTER 6 OF PROVERBS ON YOUR OWN,
OR FOLLOW THE LINK HERE TO READ IT ONLINE!
**NEW** PASSAGE TO MEMORIZE THIS WEEK:
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
PROVERBS 6:16-19
Proverbs 6 is full of fatherly advice and it would
profit every one of us to heed this wonderful advice.
Verses 1-5
tell us do not co-sign on a loan for a friend or neighbor. It tells us if we have done this our own
words have trapped us. We are like a bird in a trap. Go to your friend! Try to be released from
the agreement! Do not rest until you
have delivered yourself from this trap!
Why is this such a trap? You
really can't win. If the person does not
pay the note and you have to pay it you have lost your friend. You will feel badly toward them and they will
resent you. Loaning money to a friend often
ends in the loss of friendship. Even if
you are very happy to do it and are not worried when or if it is paid back your
friend will begin to avoid you. So, "Deliver yourself like a gazelle from
the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler."
Verses 6-11 These verses warn about the danger of
laziness. The Apostle Paul warned about
it in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, "For even when we were with you, we commanded
you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." Proverbs tells us, look at the ant, notice
how she works! She doesn't have a boss
yet she works without ceasing to gather food.
How long will you sleep! When will you wake up? If you continue in laziness poverty will
ambush you like an armed robber. So
Proverbs is teaching that work leads to prosperity, laziness leads to poverty.
Verses 12-15 A wicked person has a perverse
mouth. In other words a mouth which
speaks things that are opposed to what is right. He is constantly being
deceptive. Opposition to righteousness is
in his heart! He is continually causing
problems and stirring trouble.
"Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be
broken without remedy." Proverbs
1:24-33 describes this calamity. It is a
fearful thing, and yet we are warned! And though this passage addresses the male
gender ladies need to beware as well.
Verses
16-19 tell us seven things that God hates.
Yes, he does hate certain things or attitudes. The passage says they are an abomination to
Him! (This means He has intense aversion
and loathing for these things.)
Unfortunately they are all too common in our society.
1)
A proud look- God hates pride. It was
Satan's downfall. " The fear of the
Lord is to hate evil; Pride and
arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate." Proverbs 8:13
2)
A lying tongue- Lying is from Satan, "...he is a liar and the father of
it." John 8:44
3)
Hands that shed innocent blood- This verse is used to argue against abortion or
the killing of any innocent and that is very valid, but in the context of this
passage it could refer to character assassination because most of the other
things the Lord hates deal with the use of the tongue or a bad attitude.
4)
A heart that devises wicked plans- "Also the schemes of the schemer are
evil; He devises wicked plans To destroy the poor with lying
words, Even when the needy speaks justice." Isaiah 32:7
5)
Feet that are swift in running to evil- "Woe to those who call evil
good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20
6)
A false witness who speaks lies- “You shall not bear false witness
against your neighbor." Exodus 20:16 (One of the Ten Commandments)
7)
One who sows discord among brethren- The Lord loves harmony. He hates disunity. "...fulfill my joy by being like-minded,
having the same love, being of one accord, of one
mind." Phillipians 2:2
We
see that the things that God hates have mainly to do with pride, an evil
tongue, spreading trouble. These things
can be avoided by seeking the Lord's heart and mind by reading His Word and
seeking fellowship with Him.
Verses 20-35 begin by exhorting the child to "keep your
father's command, and do not forsake the law of your mother." Keep these precepts in your heart. Wherever you go they will keep you and
protect you. "For the
commandment is a lamp, and the law a light."
The writer goes on to warn against adultery. (Fornication can be
included.) It is a dead end street which
leads to destruction. He warns the young
man about a woman who might try to seduce him.
"...an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.27 Can
a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be
burned? 28 Can one walk on hot coals,
And his feet not be seared? 29 So
is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever
touches her shall not be innocent."
Women, I think it is also a warning to us to not be that woman! And young women, don't allow yourself to be
seduced by a sweet-talking man. The
results are the same, much heartache and despair. The passage says a man might
be forgiven for stealing to feed himself but adultery will never be forgiven by
an angry husband. "People do
not despise a thief
If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.
31 Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold;
He may have to give up all the substance of his house.
32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding;
He who does so destroys his own soul.
33 Wounds and dishonor he will get,
And his reproach will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy is a husband’s fury;
Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He will accept no recompense,
Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.
If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.
31 Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold;
He may have to give up all the substance of his house.
32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding;
He who does so destroys his own soul.
33 Wounds and dishonor he will get,
And his reproach will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy is a husband’s fury;
Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He will accept no recompense,
Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.
Oh how the Lord longs for us to read His Word
and heed His Word! What a wonderful
world we could live in if we all chose to follow the Lord's precepts.
Bro. Shannon and Mrs. Julia have been pastoring Freedom Fellowship in Silsbee, Texas since September of 1995.
The part about lending money/co-signing really jumped out today. I never knew that was there. And what a truth!! As a sidenote: I'M LOVING THE SCRIPTURE MEMORY OF OUR STUDY!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe part that really stood out to me was the seventh thing that is an abomination to the Lord - "One who sows discord among the brethren." (vs.19) You can feel it in the church if there is disunity/discord. It hinders the move of the Holy Spirit. What a great reminder that we need to pray against the schemes of the devil to turn the hearts of believers against each other, pray that all will guard their mouth and their heart, and that we will not be deceived into offense by a Brother or Sister in Christ! How GOOD and PLEASANT it is when God's people live together in UNITY! Psalms 133:1 AMEN! Great lesson, Mrs. Julia!
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