These proverbs give us a strong reminder of the power of the
cross of Christ.
·
16:4: I have often heart this verse quotes as
proof of divine election of the wicked, that they were chosen by God for
damnation. To hijack this passage for
theological ammunition is to miss the point.
And it might not fit anyway.
o The
term made is not one of the terms
used in Genesis that describes God’s creative work. While it is used of the Creator its meaning
has more the sense of designing or arranging something. For example, God used the events of history
in making Israel His people (Num.
23:23; Deut. 32:27).
o What
is really interesting is that the Old Testament phrase, workers of iniquity, uses this Hebrew word (e.g. Job 31:3; Ps.
14:4). They are makers of iniquity. It is
correct from this verse to say that, for those who have chosen the path of
wickedness, God has made it (arranged) that they will glorify Him in the day of doom. All in His temple cry glory! (Ps. 29:9).
·
16:5: This proverb makes two essential truths
very clear.
o Pride,
the essence of sin, is an abomination to the Lord. An abomination
is something very disgusting and is used of idolatry (e.g. Deut. 7:25-26) but
also of many other sins (Lev. 18:22-30).
We should understand that Pharisaical
righteousness that brags about not being like those people who do these
abominable things is itself as abomination to God (Luke 18:9-14).
o The
second truth: no pride will go unpunished.
Even if all the proud people gang up on God (which is what will happen,
Rev. 19:17-21) they will not be able to escape judgment. And as
it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment (Heb.
9:27).
·
16:6: How gracious of God to place this proverb
by the other two.
o Did
you notice? I referred to Heb. 9:27 by
itself. It is often a proof-text to back
up arguments involvement reincarnation and judgment. But it is an incomplete sentence. If you read on this is what it says: so Christ was offered once to bear the sins
of many (Heb. 9:28).
o This
proverb says the same thing. It speaks
of atonement, a covering, being
provided for iniquity. There is an answer for those workers of iniquity if they will only
call on the name of the Lord! This atonement refers to the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant
where blood was sprinkled each year on Yom Kippur, blood from a lamb sacrificed
for the sins of the nation. In Romans
3:21-26 atonement is the work of Christ
called propitiation whereby He takes
our punishment on Himself. It requires mercy because God must look on the
sinner with compassion. It involves truth (faithfulness) because God must still judge the sinner’s sin and He
does this by His becoming the sacrifice in our place. Hallelujah!
Three proverbs tell us of God’s grace to the
worst of sinners, sinners who will glorify Him in the day of doom but who need to know that today is the day of
salvation! Let us announce this good
news to those around us.
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