Proverbs 15:14; 18:13; Psalm 53:1
Pro 15:14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
What a thought provoking verse. The very first part of this passage reveals a person that is very thoughtful. An understanding person knows that he does not know everything. This type of person is a seeker of knowledge. He wants to hear so that he can learn. There are many today that want to close their ears to words that might expand their knowledge. A seeker of knowledge is a reader and a hearer. A seeker of knowledge will feed many. Proverbs 10:21 says “The lips of the righteous feed man.” A seeker of the knowledge of God that applies that knowledge to their life and gains forgiveness, cleansing and salvation is the righteous that will feed many because they have something they have learned to give to others.
The contrast to the seeker of knowledge is “but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness” Proverbs 15:14b.
Pro 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
Has this ever happened to you? How often has someone cut you off or how often have you cut someone off that is trying to contribute to your knowledge. Consider, you are not Hetty on NCIS Los Angeles. We are not mind readers no matter how perceptive you thing you are. There are 2 things I would warn you about. To believe that you know what some one is going to say is evidence of presumption and an element of self-conceit. An old standard statement is, God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth so that we can hear twice as much as we speak. This presumption of knowledge brings shame. Proverbs 26:12 says “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.” We need to learn how to listen carefully to others.
Psa 53:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
This verse is considered an emphatic statement about the atheist. Notice the proclamation that an atheist is called a fool. The term fool overshadows the sense of sin in such a proclamation. We consider sin to be a horrible, terrible thing, yet the foolishness of a person denying God overwhelms the idea of sin. This statement is worse than a heathen that believes there is a God but continues in wickedness and sin. The denial of God is “abominable iniquity.” The stench of denial reaches heaven. Here is a fool who has denied the creation that he lives and thrives on. Here is a fool who has denied the Son of God, our Redeemer and Savior. Here is a fool who has denied the sacrifice of the Son of God. Here is a fool who has denied the shed blood of the Son of God which cleanses us from sin. Here is a fool that is an abominable stench to God and has no hope in this life or the life here after. Our prayer should be that God deniers might see the mighty work of God.
How Thankful Are We?
Psa 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
How thankful have we been? We, by habit, are a complaining people. How many are complaining about shelter-in-place. We could complain and howl but give some thought to what is happening. Families are reconnecting that have been disconnected for so long because of too many activities that separated families. I prefer assembling as a church but thanks to shelter-in-place, my message of Jesus on Wednesday and Sunday have reached New York, New Jersey and six other states and almost 200 people. I am so thankful for this opportunity. Have we been offering thanks and paying our vows to the most High?
Notice this qualification: immediately after this statement, God offers for us to call upon Him in the day of trouble. Recently my calling upon God in the day of trouble has been prayers for our nation. Prayers by myself and church members and many others have been offered for other church members, a missionary who has contracted the corona virus and is in the hospital and his family that also have corona virus. We are praying for a baby in the hospital that had open heart surgery and will undergo at least one more surgery. Prayers have been offered up for a friend, mother, and wife that was rushed to the hospital with a possible stroke. Days of trouble are answered by the Lord and His deliverance is available which will glorify God when offer thanksgiving unto the Lord and pay our vows. Vows here means promises. Lord if you will heal our nation and those suffering from health issues, I promise to learn more about you. This is a vow, a promise to God. Let us be a thankful, promise fulfilling people and thereby glorify God.
Leave a comment
Filed under Commentary, Devotional
Tagged as God, prayer, sorrow, thankful, trouble, vow