Monday,
July 7, 2025 ▫ Read Proverbs 15:25–29
Questions from the Scripture text: What will Who do to whose house (v25a)? But
what will He do to whose boundary (v25b)? Whose thoughts are viewed how by Whom
(v26a)? But whose are viewed in what opposite way (v26b)? What might a man be
greedy for (v27a)? But what does he do to whom? What does the opposite sort of
man hate (v27b)? With what effect? Whose heart studies what (v28a)? With what
does who operate, instead (v28b)? And what does he do with that mouth? Who is
far from whom (v29a)? But in what way is He especially near to whom (v29b)?
Whose
opinions should matter most to us? Proverbs 15:25–29 looks
forward to the sermon in the midweek meeting this week. In these five verses of
Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should care most about
what the Lord sees in us and thinks of us.
By definition, the wicked do
not take the Lord’s opinion and response into account, when considering their
action. Let us not repeat their mistake, dear reader. How foolish to be proud,
when that only serves to provoke the living God (v25a)! Those of whom the
arrogant would take advantage are the objects of YHWH’s special care (v25b, cf.
Ps 68:5, 146:9). This is not only a warning to the oppressor, but a comfort to
the oppressed.
It is not what men think of
our actions, but what YHWH thinks of our actions, that ultimately matters.
Therefore, we must be careful not only of our actions, but of our thoughts and
words. For, our thoughts and words are also before YHWH. How dreadful to
consider that one’s very thoughts may be the object of God’s holy enmity
(v26a). With the Lord as our primary audience, we will wish to have words that
have no defect in them at all (v26b).
Therefore, we must pay
attention to what is occurring in our hearts. The downfall of a household in
v27a is traced backward, through the actions that brought it about, to the
greed in the heart that was at the root of it all. So, we must beware of even
the desire of our heart, for there we find the destruction of a family line, in
embryonic form. By God’s grace, we must come to hate what God hates. If we hate
bribing, because He hates bribes, we will be spared the folly of thinking that
a bribe might be a way of getting what we want.
This consideration of the
heart is a practice that is uniquely godly. The righteous heart meditates upon
what to answer (v28a). But the wicked never stops to think. His mouth is like a
spigot whose handle is broken. All of his wickedness just keeps pouring out
(v28b).
Finally, v29 reminds us of
another reason that it is so important to be right with God: we are profoundly
dependent upon Him. For the wicked, this is a problem, because they cannot find
the Lord or reach to Him in their need (v29a). But, the righteous finds that
the Lord is near him, especially in hearing his prayer (v29b). What an
encouragement to you to pray, dear believer! One of the ways that the Lord is
especially near to you is in hearing you when you do.
How are you growing in the habits
of keeping your heart? By what habits do you draw near to the Lord? How has
this made you more mindful of being always before Him? How are you growing in
the habit of considering what you will speak? What are your habits for drawing
near to God in prayer?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for
reminding us that we are always before Your face, and that You respond to what
we do, say, and even think. Grant that by the grace of Your Spirit, we would think,
speak, and act according to the character of Christ, through Whom we ask it,
AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed
the Man” or TPH128B “Blest the Man Who Fears Jehovah”
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