Read Proverbs 6:12–19
Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of person is the Spirit about to describe (Proverbs 6:12a)? What parts of himself is involved in his crookedness (verse 12b, Proverbs 6:13a, verse 13b, verse 13c)? Implying what, with respect to all his other parts? From where does all this evil proceed (Proverbs 6:14a–b)? What does he end up doing (verse 14c)? What will happen to him (Proverbs 6:15)? Who will do this (Proverbs 6:16)? Why? What do the numbers 6 and 7 imply about the completeness of this hatred? What is the first hated and abominated thing (Proverbs 6:17a)? The second (verse 17b)? Third (verse 17c)? Fourth (Proverbs 6:18a)? Fifth (verse 18b)? Sixth (Proverbs 6:19a)? Seventh (verse 19b)?
Why is laziness so bad? Proverbs 6:12–19 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that those who aren’t busy with good become busybodies, whom God hates.
One great reason to be diligent in what you ought to be doing (Proverbs 6:6-11), is to keep from becoming the idle man (of Belial, i.e., useless) in Proverbs 6:12, who is ironically very active (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:11, 1 Timothy 5:13). He is crooked (perverse) with all of his being. He is a busybody. It’s not just his whole anatomy (eyes, feet, fingers, etc.) that’s employed in manipulation instead of edification (Proverbs 6:13). It’s that this misuse of his faculties comes from a crooked heart (Proverbs 6:14a). He may not know that it’s evil/harm that he’s devising (verse 14b), but wherever he goes, he leaves behind little seedlings of strife (verse 14c).
The suddenness of his disaster (Proverbs 6:15) isn’t just because he doesn’t realize how much trouble he causes among others. Infinitely worse than that, the one who stirs up strife among the brethren makes himself hateful and abominable to God. Proverbs 6:17-18 show that God is just as thorough in hating the one who stirs up strife as the worthless man is in stirring it up. This thoroughness comes in the form of another anatomical catalog: eyes (NKJ “look” in Proverbs 6:17a), tongue (verse 17b), hands (verse 17c), heart (Proverbs 6:18a), and feet (verse 18b). For the last two things that God hates, Proverbs 6:19 zooms out to consider the whole man. Whatever else this man thinks he is to himself or others, to God, the man’s identity is “lie-speaker” and “strife-sower.” The completeness of God’s hatred of such a man is reinforced by the number, and its introduction: not just six, but seven—the hatred is complete.
Several times, the Scripture says that God opposes the proud. All that you need to do to have God as your opponent is be proud (cf. Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). And certainly the proud eyes in Proverbs 6:17a match that idea. This should be a strong incentive to humility. And the passage as a whole should be a strong incentive to mortify being a busy body, and focus instead upon being busy with the opposite things: humility, truth, love, prudence, diligence, edification, and such things (cf. Philippians 4:8–9). This is what Christ is like, and what we will be like when we are like unto Him. And thus, rather than God hating and abominating us and our conduct, He will be with us as that God of peace (cf. Philippians 4:9).
How much do you try to get others to do what you want them to? Do you tend to leave behind strife or building up?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for our laziness in the good that we ought to do. And forgive us for our busyness in manipulating others and stirring up strife. Truly, while we were Your enemies, Christ died for us. Do not permit us to live as Your enemies any longer. But, conform us to Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP101 “Of Loyalty and Justice” or TPH409 “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”
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