November 24
PROVERBS 19
26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
is a son who brings shame and reproach.
27 Cease to hear instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers,
and beating for the backs of fools.
– Proverbs 19:26-29
PROVERBS 19 WHEN YOU CEASE TO HEAR INSTRUCTIONS
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Those who do not want instructions avoid knowledge
When you try to direct the wicked, you’ll do it all again
The one who walks in the way of the wicked
They will stray and fall into the pit of darkness
Pride and a hardened heart is at the core of all rebels
They are compelled to do what is selfish and evil.
One of the characters of a true believer is obedience. The first sin of Adam and Eve has to do with their defiance to obedience. Because of their desire to know more than what they were already given, our first parents fell into sin. The original sin impacted every human being. It led every person with an inclination to hate God and to love sin. No wonder it is so easy for us to do what is evil and very hard to do what is right. The apostle Paul explains it in Romans 7:19-25 this nature of ours that we inherited from Adam and Eve. He says that “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.”
In verse 27, Solomon gives us the consequence of not obeying or following instructions. It leads us away from wisdom and makes us stray from what is righteous. It leads to sin.
REFLECTION
• What are other consequences of not heeding God’s instructions?
