Series in Proverbs - The Enactment of Hatred

 

The Enactment of Hatred

Proverbs 6:12-19

I believe we have all met someone or seen someone who could be classified as wicked, evil, or villainous. I think of the comic book villains or those of the movie screens, but in real life there are very evil people, those controlled and possessed by Satanic influence. Solomon most probably had met a few in his childhood or adulthood. As an example from scripture, there is one character in the Old Testament that may have had all these malevolent qualities mentioned in this proverb, Doeg the Edomite. So let’s read the first portion of the text. “What are worthless and wicked people like? They are constant liars, signaling their deceit with a wink of the eye, a nudge of the foot, or the wiggle of fingers. Their perverted hearts plot evil, and they constantly stir up trouble. But they will be destroyed suddenly, broken in an instant beyond all hope of healing.” (NLT)

Solomon now switches from slothfulness to the personality of enemy number one. He gives a litany of malevolent traits that an evil or wicked person would personify. They are constantly habitual lying. They have developed a code or signal to their cohorts by the malicious wink of an eye, or the shuffling of one foot or the other, or the directioning and signaling with a finger or hand. 

They have deviously planned out his or her moves with a demonized heart for perversion, that ultimately leads to acts of unbelievable wretchedness. 

But their actions will lead them to a sudden and violent end that destroys not only their life but leaves them hopeless. There was one character in the life of Solomon’s father King David, Doeg the Edomite that personifies these behavior traits. So let’s unwrap the life of Doeg the Edomite. We first meet Doeg in the life of King Saul, he is the chief shepherd for Saul and possibly a devient and opportunistic servant. For David is running for his life from King Saul who tried to peg him to the dining room wall with a spear in Saul’s palace. After running and conferring later with Jonathan, Saul’s son, David escapes to the wilderness. David’s journey brings him to Ahimelech the priest in Nob for assistance, then to hiding in Gath of the Philistines, from there David was met by his family in a stronghold in the wilderness, and he accumulated a band of miscontents and indebted and distressed men who later became his fighting men.

 But it was while he was with Ahimelech, that Doeg, Saul’s chief shepherd of his flocks saw David with the priest in Nob, and reported it to Saul. “But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob. Ahimelek inquired of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” (2 Sam. 22:9-10 NLT) 

After running to many different hideaways, David was led to the forest of Hereth in Judah. Not finding David, Saul accuses Ahimelech the priest of treason, and orders the death of the priest of the Lord. But the royal guards wouldn’t touch God’s anointed priest, so Saul finally orders Doeg to kill Ahimelech, the Lord’s priest. And he does, and he goes on a killing spree killing all the priests in Nob, then the whole town and vicinity around them. “The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.” (2 Sam. 22:18-19 NLT)

Solomon would have known of the Psalm David later wrote about Doeg and his end before God. “Why do you take pride in wrong-doing, O powerful man? The loving-kindness of God lasts all day long. Your tongue makes plans to destroy like a sharp knife, you who lie. You love what is bad more than what is good, and you speak lies more than you speak the truth. You love all words that destroy, O lying tongue. 

But God will destroy you forever. He will pick you up and pull you away from your tent. He will pull up your roots from the land of the living. And those who are right will see and be afraid. They will laugh at him, saying, “Look, the man who would not make God his safe place, but trusted in his many riches and was strong in his sinful desire.” (Ps. 52:1-7 NLT)

So Doeg fulfilled many of the evil traits mentioned by Solomon in this proverb. He was a liar, he was worthless because of his lack of morals towards God and His priests. He showed that he liked to lurk in places where he had no business being there. He had learned how to direct his evil ways via opportunistic events, and his perverted and calloused heart gave way to mass murder of innocent people. But in the end He had to face God, who has the psalms stated, “But God will destroy you forever. He will pick you up and pull you away from your tent. He will pull up your roots from the land of the living.”

And in the Rabbinical writings and the Midrash, not scripture, they speak of God sending three angels to destroy Doeg. God sent three "angels of destruction" (malachei chabala) to Doeg.

• The first angel caused him to forget his learning.

• The second angel burned his soul.

• The third angel scattered his ashes

Application - As I sit and reflect on the world of today, I think of the terrorist acts perpetrated against Israelite citizens along the Gazan borders.  For the acts of mayhem and barbarism, are consistent with the orchestrated attack to do evil against innocent children, infants, and peoples (men, women and the elderly).

As Solomon described the wicked people of his days and his kingdom, he knew and had seen evil atrocities perpetrated against others. And as the king, he was charged with keeping order, peace and security in the country, and he did this in accordance with the moral laws of God Almighty. 

Scripture says that God sees the acts of evil persons. “The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. (Gen. 6:5 NIV) And Solomon, led by the Holy Spirit, wrote his own proverbs on God’s viewing of evil in the world and His justice. “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Prov. 15:3; Ecc. 12:14 NIV)

For judgment belongs to God, and He will meet out the justice required through the anointed one He has appointed.

So today, God is still the judge and will meet out justice for the innocent and punishment for the perpetrator(s) of evil and their perverted manners and traits. At the white throne judgment, all will face God and the books of their acts will be opened to God’s judgment. Like Doeg, they will not escape the righteous hand of God and His judgment.

Next, Solomon states seven things that God hates in this fallen world and among those He created. So let’s read the last portion of the text.“There are six things the Lord hates— no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong,a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.” 

In the world of kingship, commerce, and relationships with family, friends, and acquaintances; Solomon lays out the unscrupulous elements of evil that plague the world. Pride and haughtiness were number one, whether it was viewed through the eyes, mind, words, or actions of the person. Second, the habitual lying tongue. Third was the hands that kill the innocent, whether by act of random violence or by planned and calculated consent and attacks. Fourth, this falls in line with the third, a heart that plans and perpetuates malicious and wicked acts. And Fifth, the devious desire to race into evil, and sixth the false witness and frenemies of the world, and last the people who delight in dividing up with discord. 

Solomon probably knew each of these personally from his being the King’s kid, to the operational world of the kingdom politics.

Application - I once made a comment at a family retreat that just watching the evening news broadcast you could see the seven things that God hates and will judge. For our God is a Holy God who detests evil and cannot dwell with it. “For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest…Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies. Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.” (Psalms 5:4-6,9-10 NIV)

Jesus stated that the world of evil will grow worse towards the end of the age, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” And the seven things that God hates are prevalent in our world today, even to the point that some in the world celebrate the evil perpetrated upon the innocent openly. 

But, our God in His love for His creation, is compassionate and merciful to the repentant and those who will humble themselves and the penitent person(s) who seeks God's forgiveness and grace. This means even the wicked, for we have all sinned and fallen before our God’s standard. And because of our God’s love He doesn’t delight in the death of any person, “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die…?’ (Ezk. 18:23, 33:11 NIV)

So today is the day to trust God if you have been attacked by wickedness and evilness in the world, for vengeance is His, and so is forgiveness for any who have perpetrated any of these heinous atrocities described by Solomon in this proverb lesson. The choice is yours to follow His ways or to follow in the ways of evil and wickedness. 

As always, I want to end with presenting the gospel in the form of the ABC’s of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ for salvation. For Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. Thank you. 

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com