Tag Archives: Proverbs

Oil and Water

Culture, Proverbs, ,

Anyone who has made a salad knows that oil and water do not mix well. Many salad dressings are made of a mixture of oil, water vinegar and spices. While quite good, they must be vigorously shaken at serving because the two products will not bind together for long.

Solomon notes that the righteous and the unrighteous are much like oil and water.

An unjust man is abominable to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.
(Proverbs 27:25)

How true! But isn’t it also true that we try so hard to be liked by others that sometimes we cut too much slack to the evil man? Why do we try so hard to be a part of the world that Satan controls? We must, of course, reach out to the evil and seek to teach them of God’s great love, but we mustn’t seek to be accepted by him. The wicked laugh at us and make sport of the Christian. Let us see him for what he is: Abominable!

Opposing the Wicked

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I came across this passage from Proverbs this morning while working through Bert Sims Bible reading plan for 2009. Of course all of the verses are precious but this one just cried out to me.

“Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law strive with them.”
(Proverbs 28:4)

Given our present culture this verse speaks volumes. So many of our neighbors have forsaken God’s law and God’s plan for their lives. It may be that some are fully satisfied with their accomplishments and their wealth. Perhaps they no longer need God. They have wandered far from the Creator and his blessed son. But notice that Solomon says these people actually praise the wicked! When was the last time you heard someone praising the exploits of a cultural icon? Maybe you have heard about Tom Cruise in his new movie “Valkyrie.” Cruise is the poster child for the Scientology movement which many consider a cult. Why praise someone so far from Jehovah? Cruise is but on example and there are many many more.

Paul had much to say about those who support the unrighteous. In Romans 1:32 he pens, “and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them” (emphasis mine).

But Solomon is not content to simply rebuke those who forsake, he also reminds the faithful to oppose the wicked. We mustn’t be content to sit back and watch evil we ought do something about it! Perhaps it is the time for Christians to rise up and stand for what is true.

Your comments are always welcomed.