28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,
but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
its stability will long continue.
3 A poor man who oppresses the poor
is a beating rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law strive against them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit [1]
gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.
9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,
but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always,
but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 If one is burdened with the blood of another,
he will be a fugitive until death; [2]
let no one help him.
18 Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,
but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good,
but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A stingy man [3] hastens after wealth
and does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
than he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
and says, “That is no transgression,”
is a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want,
but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.
but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,
but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
its stability will long continue.
3 A poor man who oppresses the poor
is a beating rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law strive against them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit [1]
gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.
9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,
but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always,
but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 If one is burdened with the blood of another,
he will be a fugitive until death; [2]
let no one help him.
18 Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,
but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good,
but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A stingy man [3] hastens after wealth
and does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
than he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
and says, “That is no transgression,”
is a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want,
but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.
2 comments:
13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always,
but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Both Saul and David had sinned against God. However, Saul tried to concealed it while David confessed it and sought for God's mercy.
Saul's responded in 1Samuel 13,15:
"When I saw that the people were scattering from me..I forced myself.."
"..because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.."
".I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders.."
Compare these with David's responses in 2 samuel 15 & 24:
"I have sinned against the LORD" and he would would not raised , nor did he eat food
"I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great.."
David knew His God better than Saul. He responded rightly toward sin and ultimately toward God Himself.
Lesson:
1)God (not man)is the one to be feared and
2)He is rich in mercy.
Any responses not in line with the above are pure foolishness. "..you have done foolishly.."1 samuel 13:13
v9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,even his prayer is an abomination
What is our text saying today?
If we refuse to listen to God's word (i.e. turns away our ear from hearing ), God will not answer our prayer?
No, it is much more serious than that. God hates and disgusts our prayer!
Alas,who can stand His wrath?
It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrew 10:31
If we are not listening to Him, it simply means we are not trusting and obeying Him. If we are not trusting Him, we will be like one of those Hippocrates who turn to Him later and petition "Lord Lord..." and His answer will be
"I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."
Will we be surprised by His response?
Matthew 7:22 "On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."
Is the judgement too hash considering that the "many" claimed that they did many good works in His name?
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven"
Isn't it true that His will is found in His word?
Isn't it true that He reveals His will to us in His word?
And how could we do His will if we turn our ear away from hearing His word?
What's more we are called to this wonderful privilege of prayer. NCA mission statement is (among others) building a praying church..
We fail miserably if our prayer is an abomination to Him.
The Leviticus law of consecrating the priest involved in putting some of the blood of the sacrificed animal on his lobe of right ear, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. Leviticus 8:23
Some scholars say that the ceremony signifies that the priest is to hear God's word, to do God's work and to walk in God's way. Hence hearing God's word is always the first and foremost important requirement of being His priest.
As God has given us free access to His presence through the precious blood of our Lord, we are now His Royal priesthood (Hebrew 10:19, 1 Peter 2:9) and surely God expects us to use this privilege to pray for the needs that are around us.
Won't we want to be sure our prayer is heard in His presence and our prayer will not be a abomination to Him?
Won't we want to be diligent and listen to His word?
Far from being abomination to our Lord, how do we we turn our prayer to be His delight?
John 15:7
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you"
So let encourage one another to read the bible,mediate,pray... i.e. to really listen to His word
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