We’ve read before:
PROVERBS 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
In his youth, as the successor to King David his father, Solomon was given a ‘blank check’ from GOD. Essentially GOD said to the new king of Israel, “Tell Me what you want Solomon, and it’s yours!” Wow! What would you ask for if GOD gave you that opportunity?
We know what Solomon asked for:
2 CHRONICLES 1:10-12
10 "Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?" 11 And God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life-but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king 12 "wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."
Because Solomon made the Kingdom of Israel, GOD’s Kingdom the highest priority, by seeking wisdom to know how to govern in the Kingdom, the LORD decided to bless him with riches and honor as well.
This reminds us of:
MATTHEW 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
If there is anyone who can guide us through this life, which at times can be very bewildering and confusing, it’s the LORD GOD, Creator of all things! So let’s pay attention to what this book of Proverbs continues to reveal, as well as this Book, we call the Bible which is GOD’s Holy Word!
PROVERBS 15:8-9
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness.
So, both the sacrifices as well as the way of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD. And the prayer of the righteous whom GOD loves is His delight. We know that there is “a way that seems right”, but the destination of death are for those who follow those ways.
So some are a delight to the LORD, and others are an abomination. There isn’t a lot in between those two extremes, is there?
Just as GOD will not hear the prayer of the unrighteous (except when they pray in repentance from sin), neither will He receive sacrifices – or gifts from the wicked. He doesn’t merely decline to receive them, He calls them an abomination! Strong language!
Pastor Raul Reis of Calvary Chapel ministries had a sit down with someone who wanted a few minutes of his time. This man had a reputation - and it wasn't a good one. In the conversation, he handed Raul a thin slip of paper and when the pastor had it in his hand, he saw that it was a check - for $100,000.
There was a new building project for the church, and finances to cover it fell through and the congregation was in trouble. They needed $100,000 and it was resting in Raul's hands as the man sitting across the table said,"I figure that a sum like that would earn me some points with God. I've done some things that I'm not proud of - so I figure this will make me square with the Man Upstairs."
Raul looked him in the eyes and ripped up the check, saying,
"You can't buy God" and he left the room.
Not only are the sacrifices of the wicked an abomination, but all of the ways of the wicked are as well. The entire life, all the ways of the wicked are abhorrent and repulsive to our Holy GOD! So it’s little wonder that any gift from such is abominable. The wicked are those who are not redeemed; they are still a child of darkness, of unrighteousness, of disobedience.
EPHESIANS 5:6-8
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (see also EPH 2:2).
1 CORINTHIANS 6:9a
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived…
So anything from the life of the unredeemed, any fruit from their life is corrupt just as they themselves are (MATT 7:17-18). Question: How would you like to get a basket of rotten fruit as a gift from someone who considered themselves your enemy?
GOD feels the same way! The first thing GOD expects from the wicked, if they want to be accepted by GOD is repentance, the surrendering of their sinful ways and asking GOD to save them not just from hell, not just from sins committed, but also from their wicked selves!
Then as a child of GOD, he is by GOD’s grace forgiven of all sin, and seen through Christ as upright and then “[his] prayer is GOD’s delight”! He loves His children, those who follow righteousness!
A few weeks ago pastor Sonny showed us how GOD took pleasure in accepting sacrifices from obedient hearts, and His displeasure and refusal of offering given in abominable ways (such as Nadab and Abihu offering up profane fire to the LORD in LEV 10). The LORD’s dealings with Nadab and Abihu was as harsh as harsh gets, but they had forsaken the precepts of the LORD – they decided to worship their own way, instead of GOD’s prescribed way:
PROVERBS 15:10-12
10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die. 11 Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men. 12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise.
To “forsake” in this manner is to abandon, to leave destitute; it’s a willful act like throwing someone out of your house and then barricading the door! What kind of person hates correction to that degree? Who hates to be told that they’re wrong? That they are going the wrong way and need to change?
Those with pride, right? Those who are determined to live their life the way they want, and if GOD doesn’t like it, too bad for GOD! The harsh word from the LORD, for forsaking the good and right way is something they hate, and because of their hatred, that reveals what sort of person they are: proud.
PROVERBS 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Those in pride that reject the LORD, giving Him and His church ‘the finger’ as a recent video depicted, from those who desire to “end Christianity” will hear very harsh words on the Last Day: “Depart from me, you who work iniquity…”
Indeed, the proud, those who hate correction [from the LORD] will die – the second death and be cast into hell fire. Of “all the sons of men” who ever lived – which of these have hearts that are not proud?
Pride is part of the curse of sin, and “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD” (ROM 3:23), so just as “hell and destruction” are before the LORD, “how much more the hearts of the sons of men” – GOD sees their hearts, that there are none who seek GOD, who desire to do His will (ROM 3:10-12), they are all proud and scoff at correction, nor will they go to get godly counsel (1 COR 2:13-16).
At the heart of pride is the stubborn and willful declaration of self-deification and self-glorification and self esteem: this was Lucifer’s ambition:
ISAIAH 14:12-14
How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'
And this is how he appealed to our mother, Eve, with the enticement of becoming a god herself:
“…you will be like God…” (GEN 3:5).
This is the problem of mankind: he wants to be the highest authority there is, a god to himself, worshiping self, making himself priority number one. He is unwilling to step off the throne of his heart and allow the LORD Jesus Christ to sit there and let Him be LORD. Of all the tickets that lead to hell, this ticket of pride is by far the most common one! Remember, the middle letter in both words: SIN and PRIDE, is “I”!
It’s no wonder, that during the time of tribulation, when the LORD Jesus Christ opens one seal after another, and the world is reeling from one destructive wave of judgment after another – and after such devastation “when flesh becomes rare on the Earth” (ISAIAH 13:11-13) people will still refuse to repent and turn to the LORD:
REVELATION 16:9,11
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores and did not repent of their deeds.
PROVERBS 15:13-15
13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. 15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.
Who has reason, above all other people, to have a merry heart – a “gleeful’, cheerful, joyful heart:
PSALM 112:1
Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments.
The one who reverences, esteems, respects, worships the LORD is the one who fulfills their purpose in life; we’re created by GOD for His good pleasure, and to have fellowship with our Creator. There is no better fulfillment than this.
When we “delight in the LORD” (PSALM 37:4), that is, when we express a heart so tender, so sensitive to the LORD that He barely has to whisper His desire to us, and we yield so easily with loving obedience, that is fulfillment like no other!
That’s when we are in one accord with our GOD; that’s where this awesome power is, the power of the Spirit, in the life of His child, and nothing can take away that power or disturb or interfere with that power.
JOHN 15:10-12
10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
This is why we need to keep our focus on JESUS in these days; if we focus too much on this world and everything that’s going on, we’ll have sorrow and anxiety and fear – and “by sorrow of heart, the spirit is broken”.
Yet with the joy of the LORD as our strength (NEH 8:10), we can experience a veritable feast of victory, hope, peace in the midst of trial and tribulation – sounds hard to believe but we have examples of this kind of joy: upon Christ’s resurrection, our LORD promised us we would experience joy, and no one would be able to take that joy from us (JOHN 16:22).
After the apostles Peter and John were examined by the Sanhedrin in ACTS 5, they were beaten (literally, “scourged”) they left that place “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for [the LORD’s] sake” (vs. 41).
“the days of the afflicted are [troublesome, with turmoil, hardships, etc.] and we can expect such experiences in our future – however the LORD is our hope:
PSALM 61:1-4
Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.
MATTHEW 5:10-12
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
PROVERBS 15:16-17
16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.
This is the reason why I’ve never been interested in expensive things: the best of employment, clothes, food, cars, houses, luxuries, and exotic vacations. I’ve been told that I could have achieved a great deal with the competent mind that the LORD has given me; I could have gotten a PhD and tenured a professorship somewhere.
I never bothered to ‘make my mark in the world’ because at an early age, even before I became a Christian, the LORD gave me some insightful wisdom: that it doesn’t matter if I’m successful in this world or not – anything achieved in this world, ends with this world – and this world is as short-lived and temporary as my own life, compared to eternity!
This is important, so please read carefully: What I am NOT saying is that Christians shouldn’t seek these things, but only if they first seek GOD and He directs them – to seek such things!
However, the best investment one could make is in the eternal kingdom of GOD! Better is owning a little in this world, along with the fear of the LORD – loving and serving in His kingdom than to have great treasure in this terribly troubled and temporary world! The treasures we gain by obedience to the LORD are everlasting! All other treasure is fleeting and short lived.
Before my family came to the LORD, there were times when we were sitting down to eat, and there was a lot of anger, resentment, hard and hurt feelings between us – and none of us felt like eating. There was as much mirth there as you would find in a grave yard! We could’ve been sitting down to filet mignon and lobster tail, and it wouldn’t matter!
When the LORD did His work in my family, what a difference! We could dine on pizza and the cheerfulness we had in JESUS made it seem like a feast fit for a king!
PROVERBS 15:18-19
18 A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention. 19 The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.
MATTHEW 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
PROVERBS 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Why is our anger stirred up to begin with by grievous words? This is why we have wars, and crime, and violence of all sort – why peace is ever elusive in this world of ours. Because until a soul is at "peace with GOD" (ROM 5:1), any everlasting peace within humanity is impossible. True and lasting peace can’t be legislated by law, it can’t be coerced at gun point, it can’t be inspired by the best of intentions by the best of men.
We have tried to create “a more perfect union” in this grand experiment known as ‘America’ and we based it on the Constitution of the United States, and with the best of men, godly men, who loved the Bible; men of prayer who feared the LORD. The price of this liberty, as they told us, is eternal vigilance:
Satan is ever seeking to invade these isolated islands of liberty where GOD’s kingdom principles are revered. But freedom breeds prosperity, and prosperity breeds ease and comfort, which in turn breeds things like greed and laziness – and once eternal vigilance is lost, Satan invades, stimulates the corrupt nature of man and we’ve lost the liberty Americans shed their blood to protect.
We find ourselves in this hellish hedge of thorns, surrounded by evil with no way out – no way out other than The Way, The Truth and The Life (JOHN 14:6). As I’ve been fond of saying more recently, The life and liberty of America, with her virtues of goodness and grace has been a glimmering light that the world rejoiced in for a time.
But as it fades, we still have hope, as the righteous travel the pilgrim way on the highway of holiness, towards the blazing sun of liberty and life, and grace and goodness as seen in the coming Kingdom of GOD!
PROVERBS 15:20-21
20 A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.
May we as the sons and daughters of the Most High bring gladness to our Abba Father by living a life overflowing in wisdom, in grace and truth, walking in righteousness and proclaiming the Gospel to dying souls that surround us! The days of foolishness by those who promote rebellion – who are unaware of the fact that Judgment Day is coming and they’re going to give an account for their folly to the Holy GOD.
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