Welcome, wishing you a fine day! Let’s continue in Proverbs 6, verses 12-19, including the things God “hates,” and then consider Stanza 12B of Psalm 119, verses 93-96.

"12 A useless and wicked man walks about with crooked speech; 13 He winks with his eye, signals with his foot, and motions with his fingers. 14 With a perverted heart, He is always scheming evil and spreading contentions. 15 Therefore, his disaster will come suddenly; In a moment he will be broken beyond healing. 16 There are six things that Jehovah hates; Yes, seven things that he detests: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart plotting wicked schemes, and feet that run quickly to evil, 19 A false witness who lies with every breath, And anyone sowing contentions among brothers."

“12 A useless and wicked man walks about with crooked speech”

Prove 6:12 Crooked speech can involve a covering over of true intentions, of what is in one's heart to do deceptively. This person may say all the right things to all the right people to sound truthful, but may be covering over hatred for others and evil intentions. God sees the truth, and such a one cannot cover such things indefinitely.

“13 He winks with his eye, signals with his foot, and motions with his fingers. 14 With a perverted heart, He is always scheming evil and spreading contentions.”

Prove 6:13-14 His actions may speak the truth about his real intentions and ideas, scheming evil and slanderously putting down those he hates, those who would expose his evil. His heart is thus perverted, or corrupt. His values are totally distorted, and true love for God and others is largely nonexistent. His words thus cause division among others, not truly bringing peace among brothers. Such a person needs to turn to God earnestly, needing spiritual "heart surgery."

“15 Therefore, his disaster will come suddenly; In a moment he will be broken beyond healing.”

Prove 6:15 Such a person needs to urgently repent of wrongdoing, and turn around, to receive "seasons of refreshing from Jehovah himself." (Acts 3:19). It is repentance that Jehovah is seeking from all, that they may find closeness to Him, true happiness and eternal life. Each one needs to grasp, or understand, at least some of the ill consequences of badness, and come to “hate what is bad.” (Psalm 97:10). Discerning between true and false, good and bad, right and wrong, etc. also makes possible the genuine fear of God. Such regard for God, not wanting to displease or hurt Him, “means the hating of bad,” and is the “beginning of wisdom.” Without cultivating such right desires, instead choosing to scheme evil toward others deceptively, leads one down a deadly path. Such a person is heading for terrible disaster, being "broken beyond healing." Jehovah responds, through Isaiah: “Let the wicked man leave his way And the evil man his thoughts; Let him return to Jehovah, who will have mercy on him, To our God, for he will forgive in a large way.” (Isaiah 55:7).

“16 There are six things that Jehovah hates; Yes, seven things that he detests: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart plotting wicked schemes, and feet that run quickly to evil, 19 A false witness who lies with every breath, And anyone sowing contentions among brothers."

Prove 6:16-19 Jehovah reveals what he hates, or detests, as we should. Most scheming people have both "haughty eyes" and "a lying tongue." They arrogantly flatter themselves, and look down on many others, not 'considering others as superior' to themselves. (Psal 36:2; Phps 2:3). Truly great persons are to be ministers, or willing slaves to others. They also, as we should, speak the truth in their heart. (Psal 15:2,3). Those practicing evil have a heart that 'plots wicked schemes' and feet that 'run quickly to evil.' We should hate such things, hating what is bad in God's eyes. "O you who love Jehovah, hate what is bad. He is guarding the lives of his loyal ones; He rescues them from the hand of the wicked."

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PSALM 119 STANZA 12B

STANZA 12 Theme:

GOD’S LAW AND WORD PRESERVE SPIRITUAL AND ETERNAL LIFE.

The verses of stanza 12 emphasize God’s faithfulness as well as fondness for God’s law and it’s preservation value. What can help us not to forget God’s orders, as the psalmist mentioned was his determination?

93 I will never forget your orders, Because by them you have preserved me alive.
94 I belong to you; save me, Because I have searched for your orders.
95 The wicked wait to destroy me, But I give close attention to your reminders.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, But your commandment has no limit.

93 I will never forget your orders, Because by them you have preserved me alive.

CAREFULLY KEEP THEM! Clearly, for the psalmist not to forget God’s orders, he had to be familiar with them. According to the next verse, he had “searched for [God’s] orders,” and no doubt discovered them. As obeying them saved his life, likely multiple times, his appreciation for them must have deepened. Even if our life is not physically threatened as much as the psalmist, spiritual hazards abound. By heeding divine orders to guard against bad associations and to hate what is bad, for instance, we may allow God to guard our spiritual lives and eternal life prospects. (1Cori 15:33; Prove 13:20; Psalm 97:10). Like the psalmist, may we search for God’s orders in His word, especially those from Christ, review them often, and carefully keep them! (Psalm 119:4).

94 I belong to you; save me, Because I have searched for your orders.

ENDURANCE NOT SIMPLY “SURVIVING.” The psalmist was born into a nation dedicated to God. Still, according to the psalmist, searching for God’s orders in order to keep or obey them provided a basis for salvation by Him. Jesus spoke in a similar way. After discussing many of the hardships that may be encountered by his disciples during the “last days,” he said at Matthew 24:13 “But the one who has endured to the end will be saved.” Such endurance is not simply “surviving,” but rather enduring trials faithfully to God, with integrity to Him, in harmony with His law. Just as receiving a license to drive a vehicle does not give us the right to drive any way we wish on the street, so having the ransom of Christ does not give us the right to violate God’s laws haphazardly. We should especially strive to carefully keep God’s orders, and appreciate His reminders in other areas of life, then the ransom sacrifice can cover our occasional misses, usually for more minor mistakes. As we do so, we “draw close to God,” and we may especially ‘belong to Him,’ as we prove to be loyal.

95 The wicked wait to destroy me, But I give close attention to your reminders.

VITAL REMINDERS FROM GOD. Thus this likely king or future king had enemies seeking to bring him to ruin, but paid “close attention” to reminders from God. Such reminders, which we may for instance receive at regular meetings for worship, may bring back to mind God’s orders, or other matters of lesser importance. Still, obedience in a seemingly small matter might still save one’s life, at least spiritually speaking. Jesus taught the importance of obedience even in the smaller things, at Luke 16:10, saying: “10 The person faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and the person unrighteous in what is least is unrighteous also in much.” Can you think of a Bible command or principle that many take lightly, or completely ignore, but that could have an impact on a person spiritually? Many today are still blinded spiritually, being taught to worship almost anything but the Creator, Jehovah. They are still unaware of the untold happiness and blessings that come with loving and serving God obediently, perhaps believing that “ignorance is bliss.” Selfish pursuits only supply a fake happiness, that leaves one empty and unsatisfied. The greater happiness, Jesus said, is in giving, than in receiving. (Acts 20:35). Jehovah invited Israel to test Him out, in Malachi’s day, regarding their obedience to giving the required tithe, or tenth for true worship. Notice His words, at Malachi 3:10: “10 Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house; and test me out, please, in this regard,” Jehovah of armies says, “to see whether I will not open to you the floodgates of the heavens and pour out on you a blessing until there is nothing lacking.” May we grow in faith, or deep trust, in God’s ability to make His servants happy! Jehovah Himself says: “Look! My servants will shout joyfully because of the good condition of the heart...” (Isaiah 65:13-14). Let us choose to serve Jehovah wholeheartedly, having faith that He “becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking Him.” (Hebre 11:6).


96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, But your commandment has no limit.

SUPERIORITY OF GOD’S WISDOM . Truly, that which seems perfect from man’s perspective, the psalmist found to have it’s limitations. God’s commandment was different. God’s instructions are not limited in the way that man’s are. As God told the wayward nation of Israel in Isaiah’s time: “8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, And your ways are not my ways,” declares Jehovah. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So my ways are higher than your ways And my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Thus, God’s ways are not limited as man’s own ways are. The guidance found in God’s word can help us in practically every situation we face. God’s wisdom is therefore far superior.