PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things” (Proverbs 28:5).

The last four chapters in Proverbs put the readers to the fire, so to speak, that is, they “heap on the coals.”

TODAY’S VERSE:

“Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things” (Proverbs 28:5).

In no other section, with the possible exception of 5-7 and 12-16, do we see more “hard sayings” put over. Now, if one really thinks about it, there probably isn’t any section of Scripture that is harsher than Jesus’ conversation with the Pharisees in John 8.

“Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:42-47).

Of course the National Council of Churches and preachers such as Joel Olsteen say that we can’t talk to people like this because we are to accept everyone just as they are because, “Gosh, God is love.” Solomon spoke somewhat to this, “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:5-6). In fact, one can almost visualize Paul’s tears as he wrote this: “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16). And not to be missed is the fact that Jesus wept sorely over the people that were rejecting the truth of their need of repentance: “And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes” (Luke 19:41-42).

The wicked do not understand why they are wicked. They are only doing those things which seem natural to them. Everyone is doing it, so why shouldn’t they have their cut of the pie? And that is the problem with the sinner—he is comparing himself with others just like himself instead of looking unto Him that lived a perfect life and died as a perfect substitute for sinful man. Men measure a straight line by the use of a ruler. In fact, the word “canon” is used to describe those books recognized as inspired of God. Literally, it means (a) a straight rod or bar; (b) a measuring rule as a ruler used by masons and carpenters; then (c) a rule or standard for testing straightness.

Those that are students of the Word of God, that judge themselves against the straight and narrow, “understand all things.” The crooked man walks a crooked path because he uses a crooked standard for his own sense of righteousness, but they that “seek the Lord” walk according to the narrow rule and compare their deeds against the absolute righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they, by the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, adjust their walk accordingly.

Judge yourself by God’s standard, and not your own, and you also will “understand all things.”

Daily Bible study is necessary if we are going to begin our day with the right attitude and the right spiritual diet. Proverbs has 31 chapters, and most months have 31 days, so let's read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let's keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread! Ideally, a chapter or two of Proverbs will fit in nicely with a good plan of reading our Bibles through each year.

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