Mock at Your Own Risk

Proverbs 14:9 (KJV) Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

A casual reading of this gives one impression.  Our popular culture will tell us that the problem in society is not sin but society itself.  We are all victims.  The Bible would call such thinking foolish.

A little deeper you get an offshoot of that.  The Bible teaches that we are born in sin.  We call it the sin nature or original sin.  To deny that makes you a fool.

When you look at the word “sin” you find that the most common translation is “trespass offering”.  This is the public confession of sin and seeking forgiveness from God.  In the OT this is through the ritual of sacrifice.  In the NT we look to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, confess our sin and trust Him for forgiveness.

So?  We are fools if we live in denial . Be one of the righteous by confessing and trusting. 

Hidden Truth

Psalm 16:2 (KJV) [O my soul], thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

Psalm 16:2 (NASB95) I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”

(Proverbs 19 also read)

If you just read this in the King James, you would find it a bit confusing.  It gives you some idea that all the goodness you’ve been building up is given to God and that He’s supposed to treasure it.  He doesn’t.  That is basically true, but it misses the point.

The point is a basic doctrine of Christianity.  If you are Calvinist, you would find it in the concept of total depravity.  For the rest of us were content with such phrases as original sin.  The general idea, though is that we are incapable of reaching righteousness through our own efforts.  Yes, we can rescue kittens from trees.  We can help the old ladies across the street.  We can be honest in our income tax.  All of that is nice but not enough to get us into heaven.  It’s not enough to make it possible for us to stand before the judgment seat of God and expect to be not guilty.

So?  The great truths of Christianity are rooted in the Bible, in the Old Testament.  They’re not new ideas.  We may not understand them because the words of some of our translations are confusing, but they’re still there.  

Self-Selecting

Proverbs 11:20 (KJV) They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

There are two words in this verse which we don’t use much today.  One would be totally misunderstood and the other is just avoided.

We avoid the word “abomination”.  I doubt if it comes into our conversations very regular, but we probably have other synonyms we use for it.  Nowadays, with the way our culture is going, we just call somebody a Nazi or a fascist.  Maybe abomination would be better.  It would certainly be more honest because an abomination to one person might be the delight of the other.  But what causes something to be an abomination in God‘s eyes?

That’s where we get to the first word, “froward”.  No, that is not a misspelling.  I’ve actually seen it used in a book in the last 10 years.  I don’t know how old the book was, but I did see it used.  It means twisted, warped, perverted.  It’s talking about the condition of your heart.  What is not made clear here, but I think is clear other places is that this twisting is a deliberate choice that you make.  There are consequences for our choices.

So?  Are you seeking a straight heart or a twisted heart?  Both of them have long-term effects.  Make sure you consider that before you get too excited about getting away with something.  God knows your heart and He knows what happens in your secret rooms. 

OT Romans

Psalms 58:3 (KJV) The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

(Proverbs 7 also read)

Does this sound familiar?  Compare it to this found in Romans,

Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Are they similar thoughts?

The verse in the OT causes me concern because it seems to say that some people, not all, are born already “wicked”.  This isn’t just talking about the fact that they have sinned.  This is talking about how much deeper disposition.  It’s talking about a few not all.

I wonder what could cause this kind of thing.  I wonder if the attitude of the parents and the environment of the mother might contribute to the direction of the child even before they’re born.  I know that we used to talk to our children while they were still in the womb.  I didn’t expect them to understand my great wisdom, but I did think that they could get used to the sound of the voice.

So?  There are a lot of questions that I don’t have answers for, but I do see this as an indication that we have influence in the lives of our children even before they’re born.  

Picture That

Psalms 65:3 (KJV) Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.

(Proverbs 23 also read)

I know what this says when I read it in English, but when I looked into the Hebrew for “purge”, I found that it had a certain root and word picture, which might be clear to the Hebrew, but doesn’t compute with me.  The most common translation of this word is “atonement”.  It has a root meaning, which is “to be covered with pitch”.  We can’t relate to that too well today because we don’t cover things with pitch.

As I was looking at how the word was used, it was interesting that the first place it was appearing in the scripture was when it said that Noah covered the ark with pitch.  I assume that the reason for that was to make it watertight.  I wonder when a Hebrew would think of this meaning as atonement if he didn’t think of it as some way of keeping the penalty or the punishment for sin out.

So?  It’s translated in the NASB as “forgive”. I don’t see forgiveness, making us immune to future sins and failures, but I do see it, making us immune to the penalty of past sins.  I assume that’s enough to let me make it into the kingdom in eternity. 

She’s Everywhere

Proverbs 7:12 (KJV) Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

What proverbs is telling us in this chapter is a literal story of seduction.  Since I am not a young dude out looking for some action, it doesn’t penetrate deeply on a literal level.  However, as I look at this verse, I see some figurative applications that are possible.

Notice that this harlot is lurking at every corner.  Since that is literally impossible I am going to choose to take it as a figure of speech for us today.  I don’t do that to show little concern for fidelity and high moral standards, but just to make it a bigger application.  How many things in our lives seem to pop up in different places, trying to drag us into sin and failure?  What are your big temptations?  What topics are good for Satan to drag you down?  My biggest weak point is gluttony.  That one is obvious to me.  It’s possible that there are other weak points that I am not noticing or choose to ignore.  I need to meditate on that a little bit.

So?  What are your weak points?  Is there some way that Satan is trying to get to you?  Ask God to reveal things to you.  If it’s simply a matter of changing your schedule to avoid them, then get out your calendar.  If it’s a matter of greater discipline, and start working on it.  God will meet you and help you overcome.  And watch those corners. 

Priority Excuses

(Pro 6:16 KJV)  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

As you continue down in this chapter of Proverbs, you see the seven abominations that are listed.  Have you ever wondered if they are in order of priority or are they just listed as they came to Solomon’s mind?  When I see a list, I sometimes wonder about this.  For instance, when I look at the Love Chapter and it’s definition of love, I ask myself, “Is patience the most important thing because it’s listed first?”  And I say the same things when it comes to the gifts of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit.

It is an interesting question, but the more important question is, “Why are you asking?”  Is there a desire in your heart to vindicate yourself over someone else because you’re less a sinner than they are?  Is there an awareness of multiple weaknesses in your life and you want to start working on one and perhaps are looking for the easiest to deal with?  Or is it just idle curiosity?

So?  It makes a difference what your motivation is.  If your life is controlled by sin, there is a sense in which it doesn’t matter which is the most important or most grievous.  What is needed is freedom from sin and forgiveness for the sins of the past.  Fortunately, both are offered by Jesus. That’s why He went to the cross. 

No, All Sin Is Not the Same

Proverbs 6:30 (KJV) Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

Proverbs 6:32 (KJV) But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

One concept that I have heard often through my life is that all sin is the same.  I believe James says that if you break one law you have broken them all.  His point is that if you sin then punishment can be expected.  Of course, that does not close the door to repentance, confession and forgiveness.  That is not James point.

This verse gives one of the places in the Bible, where it is demonstrated that some sins are much more serious than others.  This approach is it from the point of view of how we as humans feel.  Other places talk about God’s view.  Both of them agree on the fact that some sins are just more damaging than others.

Here it says that people can understand you stealing to feed your family in times of hardship.  Making the same claim when you commit adultery is silly.  No one will buy that.  There is something about sexual sin that goes down into the soul.

So?  If you’re looking for excuses, there’s nothing anyone can say to you.  We have great ability to rationalize.  Just file away that God wants you to live above sin.  He wants you to live righteously.  He wants you to be upright.  Jesus did not say to the woman caught in adultery, “Oh, well,” but “Go and sin no more.”

Jealous

(Exo 20:5 KJV)  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

(Proverbs 9 also read)

While meditating on the attributes of God, the idea of God being jealous came to mind.  You see that here first and several other places.  The idea is that God demands being our only God.  He is not content sitting down with competition.  You worship him only.

Then I thought about this verse,

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NASB95) Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,

I started thinking about possible contradictions in scripture.  How can something be OK for God and yet not for His creatures?  It is a legitimate question.  Then I thought about something else that would go along the same lines where we are told not to judge in Matthew seven, and yet we know that God will judge the world.

So?  Sin is the corruption something that is righteous or neutral in itself.  When we take on attributes which are reserved for God and His holiness and purity, we do nothing but corrupted and drag it down.  We are not God.  Some things He can do perfectly we cannot even touch without destroying. 

The Impossible Dream

(Psa 4:4 KJV)  Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

(Proverbs 24 also read)

Would God command us to do something that is impossible?  I would think the answer is, “No.”  If that is the case they why would He tell us not to “sin” (2398) if we cannot help it?  I would say that the answer is obvious.  Believe your Bible, not your friendly neighborhood theologian.

It does not say it is impossible to sin.  It does not say that you will never sin.  It is simply an admonition to avoid sin.  That is within the range of our actions.  The next verse gets into trusting.  Other verses talk about forgiveness.  It is all here if you keep reading.

So?  Sin not.  Of course, if you do then check out I John 1:9. 

Good Times

(Pro 14:9 KJV)  Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

The Amplified Bible likes to add things.  Sometimes they are deeper definitions and other times they are cool take-offs.  This verse has one of the latter.  In the first phrase it adds, “but sin mocks the fools.”  Not in the text but an interesting comment.  People with evil intent tend to look down on believers.  They think living morally is silly.  What this insert is pointing out is that God has the last laugh.  The result of their depravity will come back to bite them.  You may not see it.  They may not admit it.  It is still true.

I remember being in Vietnam and when making my way back to my bunk I saw a guy laying in the gutter.  He was passed out from all the alcohol he had “enjoyed”.  The next day he was talking about what a great time he had.  I asked him what he had done.  He said, “I can’t remember but I had a great time.”  

So?  No thanks.  Don’t get excited about their reports of the good times. 

Fair Hatred

(Pro 26:25 KJV)  When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Although the word does not appear in this verse the focal point is on people consumed with hate.  We live in a day when the accusation of “hater” is common but as so much goes today it is deceptive in itself.  What most people talking about as hate is simply someone who disagrees with them.  By the very nature of the deception they become the object they vilify and part of the charade.

The warning here is to understand that people filled with hate remain filled with hate no matter how smooth they start talking.  They are well schooled to deceive, twist and distort.  They have an aversion to righteousness and truth.  That is one of the key ways in which our modern culture is working against Jesus:  They reject absolute truth and embrace relativity.  

So?  Saturate yourself with the word of God.  Let it guide your decisions and your acceptance of the decisions of others. 

A Reminder of the Reason for the Season

(Psa 58:3 KJV)  The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

(Proverbs 14 also read)

I was again greeted by this verse as I began to read.  One of the problems we face that our culture is denying is the problem of evil.  The modern pagans have turned back the clock and are maintaining that the problem is society and the oppression created by the Christian framework enforced by European men.

The Bible takes a bit of a different view.  The problem is in the human heart.  Here we see a clear statement that evil starts very early in life.  That is simply a statement of the carnal nature.  What I struggle with here is that it seems that some are “wicked” (7563) from birth.  It almost seems that they have no choice.  Of course the other side of that is that some are born with a different disposition.  

So?  I don’t have any easy answers but I find this encouraging for people who are trying to do what is right.  We also know that the Holy Spirit is working hard to get through to those who started out on the wrong foot.  Pray that the Christmas spirit will move them in the right direction.  Play your Christmas music.  Proclaim “Merry Christmas”.  Be ready to give a defense of the hope that is in you.

From Beginning to End

(Psa 16:2 NAS77) I said to the LORD, "Thou art my Lord; I have no good besides Thee."

(Proverbs 1 also read, note the above quote is not KJV)

One of the common teaching to all branches of Christianity is original sin.  Various words are used to describe it but the idea is that when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, that sin was transferred to all mankind afterward.  In fact it polluted all of creation.

Of course the answer to that is Jesus but David did not know about Calvary.  In spite of that he understood that it was only through the grace of God that any good could be in his life.  That is one of the universal truths from Genesis to Revelation.  Don’t get distracted by people who want to divide the God of the Old Testament from the God of the New Testament.  Such things as grace and faith are clear all the way through.

One of the ways in which you can identify pseudo-Christian “churches” is on this issue.  The first of course is the deity of Christ but the acceptance that mankind is born in sin is also commonly rejected.

So?  It is possible to live a righteous life.  You can’t do it on your own but with the cleansing of the blood, the filling of the Spirit and a desire to belong to Jesus, you can do it. 

Healing Is More Than Physical

(Psa 41:4 KJV)  I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

(Proverbs 25 also read)

This verse gives us an insight into what it means to have our sins dealt with.  We know about forgiveness and cleansing.  We are washed in the blood of the Lamb.  It would seem that God also wants to “heal” (7495) us.  In this context the healing deals with comprehensive healing.  We see physical ailments, spiritual sin and you might even throw in a bit of paranoia.

Healing is a marvelous picture of what it means to have our sins forgiven.  Sin is not only a pollution, it is a brokenness.  Sin cripples us.  Sin keeps our bodies from their greatest potential.  Sin makes our minds bog down.  We need to be healed.  The source of that healing is not in ourselves but in the power of God.  It has been offered to us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

So?  Think of how your car needs maintenance and care to be all it should be.  We need it even more.

Choose Your Side Carefully

(Psa 143:12 KJV)  And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

(Proverbs 22 also read)

We sometimes get very feeling oriented when we think about the love of God.  The "mercy" (lovingkindness NASB) (2617a) being referred to here is chesed which I consider to be the Old Testament version of agape love.  The most common translation by far in the NASB is lovingkindness.  In the KJV the most common is mercy.  

It is a point to be considered that David is calling on God’s mercy to “cut off” (6789) his “enemies” (340).  A couple of observations.  First, the mercy of God is first directed toward those who serve Him.  Second, David is not playing nice or wanting a simple resolution of their differences.  Third, these people are not just disagreeing on where to go to dinner but are actively out to destroy him.

So?  I would not want to be an enemy of God.  I also think that in the long run it is dangerous to be someone attacking God’s people.  Rest assured God is watching. 

No Jeffersons Please

(1Jn 2:1 KJV)  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

(Proverbs 3 also read)

Every once in awhile I hear someone repeating the phrase “sin every day in word, thought and deed.”  When I hear this I keep wondering if such pontificaters have ever read the Bible all the way through.  Is it possible that all they do is listen to other wise heads who have not read it through either?  This verse makes a clear statement that it is possible to live without sinning.  In fact, it is expected.

This is not a claim that you never have sinned.  That is clear if you keep reading.  It is also clear if you read the rest of the Bible.

Be careful of why some people ignore or discount verses like this.  I have one friend who says that John was writing to the Jewish believers so it does not apply to us.  I love to accuse him of pulling a Jefferson but I try not to say it too often because it makes him angry.

So?  Do your own reading and thinking.  Keep your mind open to the Holy Spirit as you read so that you continually move toward a more perfect understanding of the word of God.  Don’t pull a Jefferson.

Keep Reading

(Psa 14:3 KJV)  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

(Proverbs 12 also read)

This verse and others like it are often quoted by people who want to explain why it is not a big problem for them to live in sin.  They like to quote references to grace and then point out that the Bible says we cannot be righteous, thus they cannot be expected to go without sinning.  When you read this verse and the ones like it your argument seems to make sense.

Like many theological and “Biblical” positions it is hard to scoop water with a sieve.  It is not hard to see a conflict in this thinking.  In this case all you need to do is read two more verses.

(Psa 14:5 KJV)  There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

If there is no one who does good then how can God be in a righteous generation?

So?  The real question in issues like this is the desire of your heart.  If you are looking for excuses to live with sin, you will find them.  At some stages of your spiritual walk it can be because of listening to the wrong people and not having enough Bible under your belt to know better.  If you are further down the road expect God to cock an eyebrow and look at you askance.  God is holy and does not play games. 

Standing Grace

(Psa 130:3 KJV)  If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

(Proverbs 9 also read)

We tend to drift off course in two directions.  One drift is to focus on the sins of others and how bad they are.  This is a way of lifting ourselves up at their expense.

The other direction has us magnifying our sin to the point where we find it almost impossible to accept the forgiveness talked about in the next verse.

Sin is real.  It cripples us and pollutes our whole being.  If that was all we had to know about then we would be truly the most miserable of creatures.  In fact, the question is, “Who could stand (5975)?”  The answer is no one.

So?  Grab the grace that is inferred.  This is not a statement of dismal dejection.  This is a reminder that God sent His son to die for our sins.  This chapter does not go into that but it doesn’t need to because it is clearly presented other places.  Rejoice!  Jesus has stood for us. 

Listen by Choice

(Psa 119:133 KJV)  Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

(Proverbs 1 also read)

This verse is a good reflection of my daily reading in Proverbs 1 today.  In that chapter it talks about people trying to pull us away into sin and how often people refuse to listen to the guidance of the living God.  Here David is praying to see the opposite happen.  I see two points.

First, we need the “word” {565a} to “order” (establish NASB) {3559} us.  Picture majoring in philosophy.  I know that is a dreadful prospect for many, but stick with me.  Could you picture trying to be a philosopher if you had never read Plato?  I guess it would be possible to claim the title but your arguments would be lacking to say the least.  One of the weaknesses of modern philosophy students is that the new age philosophy departments have cut out all of the classical writings.  We cannot do that with the word.

Second, David is praying that God would deliver him from the power of sin.  “Dominion” (7980) is a strong concept that means to control and master.  If we did not have the power of God in our lives we would soon be beaten under by the forces of evil.  

So?  I have repeated it in nauseating fashion, get into the word and make it a daily part of your life.  It has eternal consequences.