“The LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
(Proverbs 6:16-19)
The seven things that God hates are :
1. A proud look
2. A lying tongue
3. Hands that shed innocent blood
4. Heart that deviseth wicked imaginations
5. Feet that be swift in running to mischief
6. A false witness that speaketh lies, and
7. He that soweth discord among brethren
I – GOD HATES A “PROUD LOOK” – This means pride or being arrogant and boastful. The opposite of humility. This means living in a self-centered life expressing self as superior. It is the letter “I” in the words found between SIN and PRIDE. SIN – three letters – with letter I in the center. PRIDE – five letters – with I in the center.
This is the Pride that brought about the fall of Lucifer - “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:12-15).
Note the words:
1. “I will ascend into heaven”.
2. I will exalt my throne “above the stars of God”.
3. “I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation”.
4. “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds”
This is the Pride that precedes DESTRUCTION. – “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”(Proverbs 16:18). Proud people seldom realize that pride is their problem although everyone around them is well aware of it. When you judge someone, you automatically consider yourself better, THIS IS PRIDE.
There is a big difference between judging someone and correcting someone. Lashing out at others can be a sign that something is wrong in his heart. Don’t forget, “SEARCH SEVEN TIMES BEFORE YOU SUSPECT SOMEONE”.
Illustration:
Voice over the phone: “I sent my little son, James, to your store for five pounds of apples, and I find on weighing them that you sent only four and a quarter pounds”.
The grocer: “Madam, my scales are regularly inspected and are correct. Have you WEIGHED YOUR LITTLE BOY?
“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”( Matthew 7:5)
The product of a “PROUD LOOK” is a CENSORIOUS and FAULT FINDING SPIRIT – a habit of passing rash and hasty judgement to others in order to build oneself up.
“LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.”(Psalm 131:1).
“Lord, I am not proud and haughty (arrogant superiority), I don’t think myself better than others. I DON’T PRETEND TO “KNOW IT ALL”.
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3). “Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think”.
True humility is not to think low of oneself but to think RIGHTLY, TRUTHFULLY OF ONESELF. Have you ever thought of it, that only the smaller birds sing? You never heard a note from the eagle, nor from the turkey, nor from the ostrich. The sweetest music comes from those Christians who are small in their own estimation and before the Lord.
II – GOD HATES A LYING TONGUE – “A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.” (Proverbs 6:17).
God gave human beings one gift which most of the other created being do not have and that is the gift of speech. The fact that man can speak is one of the factors that lifts him far above the animal kingdom. Animals can plan and build, and play and fight, and sense when you are afraid and when you are not – but they cannot convey ideas through the power of speech. Through words, we can bring comfort and courage to others – but through words we can also wound and crush and even kill.
Illustration: “Sad Ending for Dakota Family”
They were a happy little family living in a small town in North Dakota, even though the young mother had not been entirely well since the birth of her second baby.
But each evening the neighbors were aware of a warmth on their hearts when they would see the husband and father being met at the gate by his wife and two small children. There was laughter in the evening too, and when the weather was nice, Father and children would romp together on the back lawn while mother looked on with happy smile.
Then one day a village gossip started a story, saying that he was being unfaithful to his wife, a story entirely without foundation. But it eventually came to the ears of the young wife, and it was more than she could bear.
Reason left its throne, and that night when her husband came home, there was no one to meet him at the gate, no laughter in the home, no fragrant aroma coming from the kitchen, only coldness and something that chilled his heart with fear.
And down in the basement he found three of them hanging from a beam. Sick in despair, the young mother had first taken the lives of her two children, and then her own.
In the days that followed, the truth of what had happened came out – a GOSSIP’S TONGUE, an untrue story, a terrible tragedy.
“The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.”
(Proverbs 15:28). What we say reveals what is in our hearts. Or an indication of what your heart is really like.
Illustration: “Two Jesters on Errand”
There is a story in the Jewish Talmud about a king who sent two jesters on an errand.
Talmud – collection of ancient rabbinic writings and traditions.
In instructing them, he said, “Foolish Simon, go and bring me back the best thing in the world. And you silly John, go and find for me the worst thing in the world”.
Both clowns were back in short order, each carrying a package. Simon bowed low and grinned, “Behold, Sir, the best thing in the world”, his package contained a TONGUE.
John snickered and quickly unwrapped his bundle, “The worst thing in the world, Sir,” another TONGUE.
LESSON:
Tongue, the best thing in the world – the bond of civil society, the organ of truth and reason, and the instrument of praise and adoration to God.
Tongue, the worst thing in the world – the instrument of strife and contention, the inventor of lawsuits, the source of division and wars, the organ of errors and of lies.
CONCLUSION:
Words can be used either as weapons or tools.
Every person you meet today is either a demolition site or a construction opportunity.
Your words will make a difference. Will they be weapons for destruction or tools for construction?
Prayer:
Make Me a Channel of Blessing? Is your life a channel of blessing? Is it daily telling for Him? Have you spoken the word of salvation? To those who are dying in sin? Make me a channel of blessing today. Make me a channel of blessing I pray. My life possessing my service blessing. Make me a channel of blessing today.
Words that are needed today:
Words of Cheer. Our world is filled with sadness. Most of the news is about the bad things that happen. Let us discover the power of words of cheer and use them more generously.
Words of Comfort. Violence and wars have brought sorrow and bereavement to the lives of millions. Suffering is eased by comforting words. Let us comfort someone today.
Words of Compassion. Compassion of the sick, suffering and sinful.
Words of Christian Love. Words of hatred and strife are prevalent in today’s society.
The scriptures admonish us to “be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love”.
(From Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon’s Sunday Worship Messages)
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