Proverbs 6                                                                                                         

Good morning my son, my daughter,

Later today I will get on the scales and weigh myself.  I know that I will not like what I see.  I will act like I am surprised.  But in reality I am not. 

Reality.  What is reality?

From my earliest belief in God I came to a conclusion that reality is what God says is real.  It is what God, through His word, confirmed by His Holy Spirit says is what is really there, what is really going on, what is really going to happen.  Thus when you seek God for His direction you may find it is based upon something that you didn’t see or know.  In fact it starts with the proper perspective of yourself in relationship to him.  Living in this proper perspective affects how you interact with your fellowman.

Proverbs 6: 16-19 this is what leaped off of the pages for me this morning. 

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that hurry to run to evil, a lying witness who testifies falsely, and one who sows discord in a family.”

Remember that we are learning how to look at what God shows us, and in so doing we use a several means of doing so.  One of the means we discussed before was to make bold or underline the words which leap out of the passage, like I did above.  Now that may help somewhat for you see them a little clearer.  As this is a listing, perhaps it may help to list them out.  To examine any similarities between them:

So the Lord hates 7 things:

1.      Haughty (or proud) eyes;

2.      Lying tongue;

3.      Hands that shed innocent blood;

4.      Heart that devises wicked plans;

5.      Feet that hurry to run to evil;

6.      Lying witness;

7.      One who sows discord in a family

I underlined some similarities above.  Immediately we see body parts (although the “heart” we know from previous discussions is more than just a body part but the inner core of a man from which His true self flows out of).  Each of these parts are acting in a particular way. Look closely – they are not evil in themselves.  The verses note an act or position of theirs that is evil. 

The eyes are viewing things from a position of pride -The tongue is speaking lies -The Hands are shedding innocent blood -The heart is devising wicked plans -The Feet are hurrying to run to evil.  It is important to catch this distinction when looking at a passage for if you don’t you may miss the truth inside – for example.  “The love of money is the root of all evil.”  Is money evil – NO.  The love of it is. In fact this Proverbs gives a lot of advise about how to handle money, including how to gain wealth.  If money itself were evil God would not tell you how to get more of it or how to preserve and keep what you have, would he? (see verses 6-11)

Now let’s look closely at what is the underlying problem with what each member is doing.  Now this may be a little harder to see.  What do each of these positions or actions hated by God have in common.  One way of doing this is to throw out a couple of ideas and see if they stick.  But you, smart as you are, have already figured out it I am sure from the “hint” I gave you at the beginning of today’s “GW?” - A denial of reality – reality as God says it is.  Walk with me . . .

Haughty or proud eyes denies the reality of a God who is over all.  How do you “consider the heavens from where your help comes from – my help comes from the Lord who made the heavens and the earth” (look it up).  To have proud eyes is to deny the truth of the reality that God is in control, He alone is all powerful.  We must bow and submit to His will, His order, His love for us.

A lying tongue says that you do not abide by God’s truth, and you do not respect the wonderful being – God’s creation – that is yourself and the one you are lieing to.  See you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (look it up).  You “lie to the one you hate” (look it up). How can you “love your neighbor as yourself” when you do not tell yourself the truth about yourself or lie to others?  When you deny God’s reality in your life and in the situation?

Hands are not to shed innocent blood.  Such actions deny the reality which God is in the business of establishing on this earth, a reality which says:  “Vengence is mine, I will repay.” (ok – by now you know – look it up). A reality which God says is proper and just.  Read the story of Cain and Able.  Did not his blood cry up to the Lord?

Is a heart to devise wicked plans or is it to be full of the glory of God?  The love of the father?

Are feet to run to do evil or good?  What action supports and confirms God the master and creator of reality?

Okay, I admit this understanding takes a little work.  But if you think about it:  If God hates these things then his hatred of these things IS reality, and the reality in our life will be that He will deal with us if we do not act in accordance with this warning.  Man’s reality may say that we get ahead by doing these things, God’s says – NO WAY!

Oh, and as for the last two – a lying witness who testifies falsely and one who causes division amongst brothers -  all of the previous can be used in the completing of these evil actions and these more closely deal with the broader community you live in.  A false witness in court can send someone to death  and one who causes division between brothers destroys lasting relationships which can affect generations to come.

Now this is just what I saw.  But the beautiful thing about God is that He, through His Holy Spirit, will lead you into all truth.  All of the ways of looking at a passage do not guarantee a particular understanding.  What this GW? is about is hearing from God.  Letting Him speak to you through His word.  Experiencing God for yourself.  Directly. 

So . . . You read the chapter.  You write down what leaps off the page.  Take a close look at the words.  Dig and try to find similarities and dissimilarities.  Ask God to enlighten you as to what He is trying to say to you about the reality of His love and life in and for you, this morning.  He has a delicious meal ready for you.

Love yah,

Dad

PS:  I did not forget about Psalms – you can do Psalms 6 a confession of faith with God.  Don’t need me.  Seek Him.