December 28, 2022 -- Proverbs 28:5 & 14 -- Journey to Christmas through Proverbs and Luke: Seek the LORD
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Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.
Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always,
but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Proverbs 28:5,14 ESV
Is God just? That is a question many ask. It seems to me that what lies behind the question is His apparent favoritism towards His people. That charge is unfair. You can find more than fifty verses in the Bible which command people to seek the LORD. There is a blessing attached to this. When you seek the LORD, you will find Him (Proverbs 8:17 and Jeremiah 29:13). When you seek the LORD, He will give You the joy of knowing Him and the blessing of receiving all the good gifts He has prepared for those who are His children (Matthew 7:7-11). Simply put, God is just. The godly seek Him and receive rich reward. Evil men refuse the abundant blessings He has and then complain about Him. Therefore, they cannot understand justice. They are hardening in their hearts against Him without knowing anything true about Him. They are rushing headlong toward calamity.
The theme “the fear of the LORD” is one you have probably noticed as you read through Proverbs. It is like a distant drumbeat through-out the Proverbs encouraging the people of God to keep in step with His will and His ways. Those who fear the LORD find wisdom and understanding. Those who fear the LORD hate evil. Notice in today’s reading, those who fear the LORD keep their hearts tender or submitted to Him. Those however, who do not fear the LORD fall into calamity. That is a very strong word. It means a disaster that is marked with great suffering or sorrow.
Imagine, if you pursued God with the same intensity with which you played your video games—you’d know Him intimately. Or if you spent as much time Bible reading as you do watching
video clips or scrolling through social media—you’d have a lot of the Bible memorized. He is your joy and blessing. Seek Him. Let 2023 be the year that stands out in your life as the Year You initiated an intensive seeking of the LORD and you find His presence to be the source of all your delight.
Faithful Father, honoured, glorious and blessed be Your Name. You have given Jesus, the life and the light of men. Jesus shines into the darkness of this world. Spirit of God, our heavenly Father has appointed it so that all who seek Him, will be empowered by Your Presence. You are the Source of Strength given so that the seeker will find the grace of Jesus and through Him the love of the Father. Merciful Father, forgive us for the sin of calling You unfair or worse, uncaring. As we stand on the edge of 2023, may it be known as the year Your people make great effort to seek You, responding to Your invitation to receive blessings always. Amen.
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