Skip to main content

Daily Devotion: Proverbs 21:29-31

By

Proverbs 21:29-31    "A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.  (30)  There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.  (31)  The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD."

There is a descriptive word that comes to mind as I think about the children of Israel traveling through the wilderness. That word is, "stiffnecked". They were stubborn people who wanted to do things their own way. I think of that as I think about verse 29, that man "hardeneth his face." In other words, that man is set and unyielding in his ways. Some might say, "What is wrong with that?"  The thing that is wrong with that part of the verse is that the man is "wicked", which means "He is wrong."  We are called upon to be set in our determination to follow the Lord. The Psalmist said, "My heart is fixed, O LOrd." In other words, I am resolved - I am determined - to follow the Lord each day. Verse 29 sets forth the contrast between the two. One is wicked (wrong) and the other is upright (correct) in their ways.

It isn't a good thing to be set in our ways that are contrary to God. We will never win that battle, no matter how strong we think we might be. The truth of the matter is that we really do not want to win that battle. There is no wisdom nor understanding that can change, or redirect, the counsel of God. We saw a few days ago that there are many devices in the heart of man, BUT, the counsel of the Lord - that shall stand. No matter how difficult it may seem, we are always in the path of righteousness and safety when we seek to follow the direction of the Lord that is found in His Word. "Safety is of the LORD."

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion: Enter With Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:1-5

By
One of the most beautiful Psalms of Thanksgiving is the 100th Psalm. Please turn to it and read verses one through five. With all my heart I believe we are a people and a nation that has truly been blessed by God. Of all those who “give thanks to Him and praise His name” we should be at the top!  It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, and draw up a list of resolutions for the new year. But there is another list we often overlook - a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful. What would your list contain? Most likely, a good part would be material possessions. I’m convinced that we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions.  Like you, I’m sure my list would include the major things - life, health, family, friends, and the nation we live in, despite all its flaws. But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, my Church family, and the mercy that God showers upon us each d...
Read more

Daily Devotion: An Important Question

By
In one of the great Psalms of thanksgiving, the writer asked a most pertinent question. “What shall I render unto the Lord for all of His benefits toward me” (Psalm 116:12) ? We may observe two elements in this question. The psalmist acknowledges having received many benefits, or blessings, at the hand of the Lord. For the believer, to be the receiver of blessings from the Lord is a fact beyond question. That is one facet of a proper perception of reality. However, for the unbeliever, or even for the nominal believer, such things come in the course of nature, or as a matter of deserving them. But to fail to see that such benefits and blessings come from the Lord is to lose touch with reality. The other element of the question is that the writer expresses a sense of obligation to the Lord and reveals a desire to do something in response to the amazing goodness of God to him. It is the reflex of the godly heart to desire to do something in response to the perceived go...
Read more