Read Proverbs 15:25–29
Questions from the Scripture text: What will Who do to whose house (Proverbs 15:25a)? But what will He do to whose boundary (verse 25b)? Whose thoughts are viewed how by Whom (Proverbs 15:26a)? But whose are viewed in what opposite way (verse 26b)? What might a man be greedy for (Proverbs 15:27a)? But what does he do to whom? What does the opposite sort of man hate (verse 27b)? With what effect? Whose heart studies what (Proverbs 15:28a)? With what does who operate, instead (verse 28b)? And what does he do with that mouth? Who is far from whom (Proverbs 15:29a)? But in what way is He especially near to whom (verse 29b)?
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.
The bookends of this section indicate that it focuses upon YHWH’s actions and attitudes toward men. It begins with YHWH destroying the house of the proud and concludes with His rejecting the wicked and listening to the righteous.
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 (Proverbs 15:25a)! Those of whom the arrogant would take advantage are the objects of YHWH’s special care (verse 25b, cf. Psalm 68:5, Psalm 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 (Proverbs 15:26a). With the Lord as our primary audience, we will wish to have words that have no defect in them at all (verse 26b).
Therefore, we must pay attention to what is occurring in our hearts. The downfall of a household in Proverbs 15:27a 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 (Proverbs 15:28a). 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 (verse 28b).
Finally, Proverbs 15:29 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 (verse 29a). But, the righteous finds that the Lord is near him, especially in hearing his prayer (verse 29b). 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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