Under Gods command

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 30:11-14 There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers, those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth; those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are do disdainful; those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from among mankind.
This sequence of proverbs contains a fourfold description of arrogance. Notice that a life of pride and abuse of others often begins with a lack of appreciation for one’s parents. The command to honor one’s father and mother does create negative consequences when rejected.

Under Gods Command

 Proverbs 29:15 – The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. 

 Parents of young children often weary of disciplining them.  They feel like all they do is nag, scold, and punish.  When you’re tempted to give up and let your children do what they want, or when you wonder if you’ve ruined every chance for a loving relationship with them, remember-kind, firm correction helps them learn, and learning makes them wise.  Consistent, loving discipline will ultimately teach them to discipline themselves.

Under Gods Command

 Open House

 Ezekiel 8:6 – And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing-the utterly detestable things the house of Israel is doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable. 

 In scene after scene, God revealed to Ezekiel the extent to which the people had embraced idolatry and wickedness.  God’s Spirit works with us in a similar way revealing sin that lurks in our lives. How comfortable would you feel if God held and open house in your life today?

Under Gods Command

 Proverbs 28:11 – A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him. 

 Rich people often think they are wonderful; depending on no one, they take credit for all they do.  But that’s a hollow self-esteem.  Through dependence on God in their struggles, the poor may develop a richness of spirit that no amount of wealth can provide.  The rich person can lose all his material wealth, while no one can take away the poor person’s character.  Don’t be jealous of the rich; money may be all they will ever have.

Under Gods Command

 Pride in your Life?

 Ezekiel 7:24 – I will bring the most wicked of the nations to take possession of their houses; I will put an end to the pride of the mighty, and their sanctuaries will be desecrated. 

 The people of Jerusalem took great pride in their buildings.  The temple itself was a source of pride (Ezekiel 24:20, 21).  His pride would be crushed when the evil and godless Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem’s house and holy places. If you are going through a humiliating experience, God may be using that experience to weed out pride in your life. 

 Proverbs 25:27 – It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor. 

Dwelling on the honors you deserve can only be harmful. It can make you bitter, discouraged, or angry, and it will not bring the rewards that you think should be yours.  Obsessed for what you should have received may make you miss the satisfaction of knowing you did your best.

Under Gods Command

 Where is your TRUST?

 Ezekiel 7:12-13 – The time has come, the day has arrived.  Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller grieve, for wrath is upon the whole crowd.  The seller will not recover the land he has sold as long as both of them live, for the vision concerning the whole crowd will not be reversed.  Because of their sins, not one of them will preserve his life.

 The nation of Judah trusted in its prosperity and possessions instead of in God.  So God planned to destroy the basis of its prosperity.  Whenever we begin to trust in jobs, the economy, a political system, or military might for our security we put God in the back seat.

Under Gods Command

Say what you mean, mean what you say.

Ezekiel 5:13 Then my anger will cease and my wrath against them will subside and I will be avenged. And when I have spent my wrath upon them, they will know that I the LORD have spoken in my zeal.

Have you ever seen someone try to discipline a child by saying “if you do that one more time….”? If the parent doesn’t follow through, the child learns not to listen. Empty threats back-fire. God was going to punish the Israelites for their blatant sins, and he wanted them to know that he would do what he said. The people learned the hard way that God always follows through on his word. Too many people ignore God’s warnings, treating them as empty threats. But what God threatens, he does. Don’t make the mistake of thinking God doesn’t really mean what he says.

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 24:17-18 Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.

David, Solomon’s father, refused to gloat over the death of his lifelong enemy Saul. On the other hand, the nation of Edom rejoiced over Israel’s defeat and was punished by God for their attitude. To gloat over other’s misfortune is to make yourself the avenger and to put yourself in the place of God, who alone is the real judge of all the earth.

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 23:29-30 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

The soothing comfort of alcohol is only temporary. Real relief comes from dealing with the cause of the anguish and sorrow and turning to God for peace. Don’t lose yourself in alcohol; find yourself in God.