Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy. Proverbs 12:20

What are you doing as you walk through life? Are you among those who are plotting evil or with the ones who are promoting peace. Today's proverb shows the contrast between these two things.

First we see those who are plotting evil. What is interesting about this is many who would fall into this category would not agree that they are plotting anything. Yet - because they choose to reject God's Word as truth - and instead make up an argument for their own truth - they are indeed plotting the demise of those with whom they speak. On the day of judgment they will learn the awful truth that their deceitful speaking misled many to where they now stand in the same judgment they do.

Our proverb describes the heart condition of those who devise evil. Their hearts are said to be filled with deceit. The word here is mirmah. It means to intentionally mislead someone by either distorting the truth or withholding the truth from them. The fact stands in all of history that God's Word IS truth. That eternal fact will never change. But there are those who do not acknowledge that God's Word is truth. They hold to another "truth" which is nothing more than error. Because they hold fast to their version of truth - they now hold fast to lies. This means that as they spread them - they are misleading others as to what is truth. They are also intentionally withholding from their students the truth of God's Word. This is deceitful - since truth is readily available to anyone who will read the Word of God with an open mind and heart. What is truly fascinating is the word used for the evil that these people devise. The word for "devise" used here means to plow or till the soil. Hosea uses this same metaphor when he speaks of how Israel was "plowing wickedness" and reaping God's justice as a reward for what they had sown (see Hosea 10:13). The so-called truth of the ones who deny Scripture - is nothing more than a falsehood and lie that is deeply tilled into the hearts of those who are their students. This plowing with falsehood and evil will one day reap a harvest of judgment if God does not intervene. They are simply plowing evil into the hearts of men - and that plowing will one day reap the wrath of God.

The godly man or woman is one who is a "counsellor of peace." These are the ones who bring the truth from the Word of God and present it to men. They bring the gospel to those who realize that they are facing a dire future in their sins. To be a counsellor of peace is to be a man or woman who presents Christ to the lost. There is no peace for the wicked - but for those who humble themselves - there is great joy and peace. May God make each one of us a counsellor of peace - and an individual who works alonside the prince of peace so that the ultimate message of God's peace, the gospel, may be understood - received - and the cause of great joy to those who hear it with faith.

He who speaks truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit.  Proverbs 12:17

Today's proverb has a picture to paint for us about being a person who speaks truth and what is right, or a person who is deceitful and untrustworthy in what they say.  The picture that is painted for us is framed by the Hebrew word used for "speaking" that is mentioned first in this verse.  The word used here is the Hebrew word "puah" which means to breathe.  It refers to how we breathe out.  This is a word used in a poetic way in the Old Testament.  In the Song of Solomon it speaks of the day breathing.  This refers to how the shadows of morning flee at the appearance of the sun.  Here in Proverbs 12:17 it refers to the way that we speak - but not just in a specific situation.  It refers to our lifestyle - or - what kind of things come out of our mouths in every situation in life.  Of course what we see in the rest of the proverb is that we either speak truth or deceit. 

There are those who speak truth and what is right.  "Truth" is the word "emunah" which refers to something true and faithful.  The primary thing being communicated with this word is faithfulness.  Through the rest of the Bible the word speaks of character - God's in Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 33:4, 100:5, and 119:90 - and that of people in 2 Chronicles 19:9, Proverbs 12:22, and 28:20.  When someone is speaking truth - they are being faithful in what they say.  The whole proverb says that they are speaking faithfully - and what they speak is finally defined as "what is right."  What does all this mean in the end?  The faithful man or woman declares what is right.  The word for right is "tsedeq" which is the word that speaks of righteousness - or right by God's standard.  It is an ethical word that referred to God's justice and righteousness as represented by the Law of Moses - and by the reaffirmation of God's Word by the prophets.  Here, though, is how this works out for you and me in the 21st century. 

Situational ethics unfortunately rules the day in our world.  Everything is negotiable.  There is no absolute truth - except what you yourself are comfortable in holding - and even that only applies to yourself (except when you are uncomfortable with your own standards - and then you can change those too).  What is left is a society founded upon shifting sands.  But as the people of God - the people saved by His grace - we will stand out like brightly painted, fully lit up sore thumbs!  We are those who regardless of public opinion - hold faithfully to God's Word as our source of truth and what is right.  We not only believe this in our thinking - we also faithfully speak it out of our mouths.  In the midst of a world where the winds of change and compromise drive the public conscience wherever they blow - we are a biblical breath of fresh air when we speak.  To some we will be a breath of death - but to those who are being saved - it will be a breath of life to life. 

At this point I am going to say some things that will most likely offend people - yet they need to be said.  Too often a statement is made like the one above - and yet people will interpret it according to their "situational ethic" mindset.  Thus what is right once again is mired in personal opinion.  A faithful truth-teller will speak up when it comes to biblical ethics and righteousness.  That means that they will speak up about biblical sexuality.  Biblical sexuality is abstinence before heterosexual marriage - followed by faithfulness to one spouse in that heterosexual marriage until death parts them.  Thus a faithful truth-teller will oppose heterosexual immorality and homosexuality, as well as their off-shoots living together outside of marriage and homosexual marriage.  A faithful truth-teller will state that abortion is wrong - in all cases.  A faithful truth-teller will openly stand for racial harmony - and will view racism as evil and sinful.  A faithful truth-teller will state that we are to oppose greed and selfishness by giving to the poor - but will also say that providing for able bodied people who can work is wrong.  Everywhere God's Word makes an statement of ethical morals - the faithful truth-teller will stand - and will speak it.  And . . . just in case a person decides to speak the truth - but not speak it in love - the faithful truth-teller will remind them that the spirit in which you say something (i.e. not like a jerk - and with grace and mercy - yet saying what is true even if the truth itself is offensive) is as important as the truth itself. 

There is a second kind of wind that blows from the words that people speak.  It is the false witness who speaks deceit.  The false witness is the one who speaks lies and vanity.  The word is used of those who were false witnesses in a trial - who lied on the stand.  It refers to a person who says vain things and lives their life in vain.  There is little or no other purpose to their existance than to live for themselves and love themselves.  Their deciet is an intentional misleading of others by either distorting or withholding the truth from them.  Their deceit is evidenced by the fact that there IS absolute truth - but they will not state it or hold to it.  As offensive as some will take this - the false witness is the one who does not speak according to the ethical and moral standards held by God's Law and the entirety of Scripture.  There IS a right and wrong!  God gives it to us by His divine authority - and has revealed it to us in the Scriptures.  Not holding to this - or trying to twist it in any way - is being a false witness. 

When it comes to your words - what kind of breath flows from you throughout your day?  Are you one who breathes forth deceit.  Please understand that in our culture this person is the norm.  They breathe forth the lies of our immoral and biblically unethical society.  We hear them every day on the news - in our entertainment - everywhere.  You and I are to be a breath of fresh air.  They may not see it as fresh because they have been breathing in the sulfuric lies of the pit for a lifetime.  But to speak lovingly and biblically is to speak fresh, life-giving air to those all around you.  Speak the truth.  Speak faithfully.  Speak life-giving, fresh air to all with whom you come into contact!  Be a faithful truth-teller!

If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, All his ministers become wicked. Proverbs 29:12

This proverb reminds us that when we are in a position of authority - often what we want to hear is what we are going to hear.  That is why it is so important for rulers, both religious and secular, learn to shun falsehood, lies, and deception in the counsel that they receive.  For, as this proverb says if they listen to this kind of thing - all that they will hear in the future is this type of counsel.  The end of such a swing in the opinion brought to this leader will be that all his subordinates will become wicked.

To "pay attention" to falsehood here means to listen with an intent to obey or heed the advice given.  It has the idea that as the falsehood is offered, rather than reject it, the ruler listens closely and does so with a desire to obey.  This means that the ruler's heart has a predisposition to what is false rather than what is true.  The Word of God says that a godly ruler winnows the wicked from his presence - and makes sure that falsehood will not be spoken to him as advice.

The worst aspect of this ruler's choice to pay attention to falsehood is the affect it has on his ministers.  They will become wicked.  Such a ruler tends to not appreciate men who will tell him the truth.  To be such a man means that you will speak the truth - even if the ruler to whom you speak it becomes angry and doesn't want to hear it.  Such was Daniel - before he was thrown into the lion's den.  Such were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego before they were cast into the firey furnace.  The king only retracted his actions and his words after he had witnessed God's miraculous deliverance of these men.  Only in the case of David do we see a man who is willing to hear the truth - even if it meant a humbling of himself in repentance for his sin. 

We need to pray daily that our leaders will be men who value truth rather than falsehood.  Included in this prayer is that they will heed biblical truth when it is directly related to legislation that is pending.  Such is the case when it comes specifically to both the abortion issue as well as laws concerning sexuality, decency, and morality.  Too often over the last 30+ years our elected officials, including our president, have not even considered the Bible when making such decisions.  Outside of President Reagan, most of the pro-abortion Republicans have been paper tigers who spoke boldly but carried no stick whatsoever.  We've watch laws concerning public decency become nothing more than the latest retreat from biblical morality.  It has been disheartening to see issues of heterosexual morality, marriage, and now homosexuality made while completely ignoring the counsel of Scripture.  In fact I would have to say that currently one would find themselves shouted down and called the most horrible names to even assert strongly a biblical stance on these issues.  It is almost as if these issues are non-issues any longer.  They are definitely not the front-burner issues that they should be.  We think the greatest issue is the economy - and yet God WILL NOT bless our economy as long as we continue to abort 4000 babies a day and condone as an acceptable sexual lifestyle what He calls an abomination.  We need a president and a Congress who once again listen to and value the truth.  Until we do - not only will they be making wrong decision after wrong decision, but they will also be surrounded by more and more aids who are wicked - because their bosses listen to falsehood.

Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. Proverbs 20:17

Imagine chewing on bread and having it slowly turn from a warm, soft, wonderful taste to cold, hard gravel in your mouth.  This is the picture that the Lord wants to give us concerning the con-man's game - or any way that we seek financial gain through deceiving others.  This proverb centers around the word "falsehood."  This is the Hebrew word "sheqer" and it means a lie, a deception, or a treacherous statement.  The word has the idea of a liar and his lying statements.  Yet here there is an end that is sought - and that is obtaining bread.  There is a financial gain sought in the lie - which is the sweet taste of bread obtained through the false dealing and lying of the con-man.

Once again though, the Bible points us to a long-term view of things.  The fleshly view is that of getting the bread and enjoying it.  This is the short-term, ends-justify-the-means mindset that prevails in too many parts of the world around us.  Who cares how you got the bread - you've got it and it tastes wonderful.  The problem comes in that there will be a price to pay - even if you cheated someone out of the bread for free.  The price is a mouth filled with gravel.  There is a slight Hebraism in this idea of a mouth filled with gravel.  The idea is that though bread tastes sweet at first - the bread obtained by ungodly means will weigh down the one who deceived in the end.  Though sweet at first, the bread will break the teeth of the deceiver - and the bread will weigh like stone in his stomach. 

This takes into account God's moral law.  That law teaches us two things we should consider when deceiving others.  First, God's moral law says, "You shall not steal."  When we deceive others about what we are offering to them, we are thieves - taking their goods without a fair exchange of goods or money in return.  Second, we are told by God's moral law that we are not to bear false witness - which basically means, "do not lie."  No matter how sweet the bread may taste initially - it will be like teeth-breaking rocks on the day that we answer to God for our deceit and con-game.  The wisdom offered to us here is to make decisions based not on our immediate pleasure in the flesh.  We should make decisions based on God's moral law and upon principles of righteousness.  Though we may not gain as much quickly and unrighteously at the beginning, the blessing in the end is worth it.

He who winks the eye causes trouble, And a babbling fool will be ruined. Proverbs 10:10

At first look this proverb seems to make two statements that do not match one another - but actually both parts of this proverb speak to the same thing - hypocrisy.  One speaks of hypocrisy with the actions - while the other speaks of it with words.

When someone winks the eye - it means that they are sending a sign with their eyes that betrays the words or actions that they are about to say or do.  The wink is not for everyone - but only for those they desire to be in the know about the coming hypocrisy of their statement or their action.  The person to whom their words are said is kept in the dark.  It is almost as if the hypocrite is saying to the person, "Watch what I do to this fool.  You will find that what I am about to do is funny or clever."  When you have a "winker" you basically have someone you cannot trust.  If they lied to this person - they can lie to you.  If they are seeking to deceive this person - they will deceive you.  We are told that the "winker" does what he does to cause trouble.  He winks at you - but he only does so to make you an accessory to the crime.  Now that you are in the know - you too are aware of the hypocrisy - and your job now is to laugh behind the scenes - but to help maintain the hypocrisy by your silence and complicity. 

We read in the second part of this proveb that the "babbling fool will be ruined."  The "winker" is the "babbling fool."  They are one in the same.  The babbling fool deceives with his mouth - the "winker" with his eyes.  But in the end, both of them are fools because they are walking in deception.  They have no good in their desires for the one they try to deceive.  And like all those who babble as fools - the day will come when their duplicity will be exposed.  On that day they will be thrust down - humbled and that with severity. 

When someone winks at you - and does so to cover an malicious action or unkind thoughts and words toward someone who is not initiated into the mess, we should reject their invitation to enter into the hypocrisy.  As an example we have Judas who did not reject the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Saducees.  He chose to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver - and promised to betray Jesus openly.  The sad end of that story is that Judas did sell Jesus out for the price of a slave.  He did so as He maliciously winked - or as was the case in his betrayal - he kissed Jesus on the cheek.  There was no love or fellowship in that welcome - only open betrayal.  That is why we need to be men and women of truth - and reject the call to enter into other's treachery when winked at and encouraged to betray others.

There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19

What does God hate?  This is a good question to ask - because the Lord actually lists for us 7 different things that He hates.  Some think that God doesn't hate anything because He is love.  But when you realize that whereas He loves righteousness and holiness - it means that by nature He must hate the opposite - and that is sin.  This is a good list to remember because it reminds us of at least 7 things we absolutely need to steer clear of in life.  We do this because we do not want to incur God's wrath for loving something He hates.

#1 - God hates Haughty Eyes . . . The proud look is something the Lord really despises.  The eyes, according to Scripture, are the windows of the soul.  When the eyes are filled with a haughty look it is a sure thing that the heart is filled with that same haughtiness or pride.  We remember from the book of James that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  It is no stretch then to say that in hating haughty eyes God truly despises those whose look communicates an arrogance and pride that shows that they have no respect for God and His ways - just an utter disdain of them.

#2 - God hates a Lying Tongue . . . One of the 10 commandments is not to bear false witness.  That means lying is out with God.  He is a God of truth, and He wants us to speak the truth.  When a tongue is a lying tongue, God hates the lies that come from it.  Truth opposes lies at every turn - and we can be assured that God opposes the liar whose lying tongue promotes just the opposite of what God loves and is. 

#3 - God hates Hands that Shed Innocent Blood . . . Here is one that we need to remember.  Innocent blood is murder.  God hates murder.  Once again we find that one of the things God hates is listed in the 10 commandments.  You shall not murder is commandment number five.  Jesus goes further in Matthew chapter 5 when He tells us that even the thoughts and words that are at the core of a murdering heart - God hates.  There is an application of this we also need to remember.  The false god Molech required that his worshippers have their children pass through the fire as a child sacrifice to him.  God hated this worship - and made it clear that the innocent blood shed in this practice would pay dearly for their sin.  I believe we have a similar worship today in the practice of abortion.  This practice is an abomination to God.  We have decided that children (usually conceived due to sexual immorality) are too much of an inconvenience.  Therefore we've devised the most heinous ways of disposing of them.  We burn them alive through saline abortions or puree them within their mother's womb.  And if this is not enough, when we wait too long to decide to dispose of one's conceived immorally, we just birth them partially and kill them in a way that we would NEVER consider for a convicted murderer.  How God hates this shedding of innocent blood. 

#4 - God Hates a Heart that Devises Wicked Plans . . . There are hearts that are thinking of evil - and who begin to plan to do evil.  This is true even of us when we set our hearts on sin and want to do our best to keep it hidden.  But there are those whose plans involve far more than just one man wanting to sin without being caught.  These are those who devise a wicked plan either in business or in the government.  These plans will harm thousands - and possibly millions.  They do not consider that their wicked plans will do this - because they are consumed either by the acquisition of wealth or power.  God hates these people because of how their thinking harms others.

#5 - God Hates Feet that Run Rapidly to Evil . . . Here we have someone who is just itching to run to evil things.  There is no restraint in this one - because when he or she sees evil - they want to run "rapidly" to it.  When a society turns from God - there is a growing stupidity and spiritual deadness that causes them to become insensitive to the warnings of Scripture.  Thus they start to run to evil - rather than stop and think about the harm it will do to them and to others.  When people run rapidly to evil it is also a sign that self is so completely dominant in their thinking that they are deaf to any other voice except the one that is urging them to do what they want.  God hates this because it reveals that a conscience is dead to Him and dead to the warnings of both the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. 

#6 - God Hates A False Witness Who Utters Lies . . . Here we have what seems to be a second time that lying is mentioned.  This second time though it is mentioned in the context of someone who is a false witness on a matter.  This first time is was just a lying tongue.  The false witness could be someone who speaks lies in a courtroom where the role of perjury comes into play.  This would mean a perversion of justice and God loves justice and righteousness.  It can also mean a false prophet or someone who lies about religious matters - thus causing some to put their faith in a god who is not God at all.  Either way God hates it when someone who lies as a witness on a matter.  They encourage people to make decisions based upon deception and lies.  No wonder He hates these things - because the very first sin was due to the work of the devil as he was a false witness to Eve about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  That lie, that deceit - when believed was the impetus that led to the fall of all of humanity into sin and rebellion against God.

#7 - God Hates One who Spreads Strife Among Brothers . . . The final thing in this list of seven is a person who is causing problems - actually who is spreading strife among the brethren.  This person is one who either learns of strife - or is causing it.  He is not content though we knowing it himself.  He becomes the ultimate evangelist for strife among the brethren.  He wants to see as many people upset and involved in this strife as possible.  It should be no small wonder to us then that God does not say, "Blessed are the strife-makers."  He says just the opposite.  It is the peacemakers who will be called the sons of God.  When God could have magnified the ultimate strife of the universe in sin - He did not.  He chose to make peace through the blood of the cross of Jesus Christ.  Therefore it really should be no shock to us that He also hates those who go the opposite way - and spread strife rather than spread peace among the brothers.  We might need to remember this the next time we have a choice to continue a situation of strife and conflict - when we have an opportunity to bring peace instead.

Seven things God hates . . . it is a very sobering list.  There are some things like murder and wicked plans that we would fully expect to be on this list.  But other things that we tend to minimize tend to shock us here.  Some call lying just telling a little fib - or a white lie.  Others might not see spreading strife by gossipping to be something that is not the best - but certainly something that everyone does.  The fact is that when God calls these things the seven things He hates - we need to remember them - and then learn to hate them in our own lives as well.  That, my dear saints - is wisdom.

The way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright. Proverbs 21:8

How do you know whther you are dealing with someone who is criminal and crooked in his ways - or whether you are dealing with a man who is pure in his motives and ways?  Here is an excellent question.  I am sure that many a man who has been conned would love to know the answer to this question.  That is what we will learn today as we open the book of Proverbs to verse 8 of chapter 21.

First we see the "guilty man."  What Solomon is describing to us though is the way of this man - the roads he takes and the lifestyle that is developed as a result.  This man is described to us as the guilty man.  The word used here for this designation is the Hebrew word, "vazar."  This word means a man who lacks innocence.  He is guilty because his behavior and choices reject God's law and ways.  In this regard he is a criminal - because his consistent choice is to break the law.  Solomon tells us that such a man is "crooked."  Crooked here is "haphak" which refers to someone who is very perverse and devious.  This guy is constantly perverting this - being devious - and lacking in honesty.  He is filled with a dishonesty that makes you wonder about his integrity.  

Note this when trying to determine whether someone is godly or ungodly in their dealings.  If you catch them making statements that are being twisted and fundamentally dishonest - most likely you are dealing with someone who is crooked and should be avoided at all costs.  You are going to pay dearly if you continue to do business and allow this man into your life.  The best thing you could do is cut and run.

The other man - the godly one - is pure.  The word here means someone who is clean - like pure water or pure oil.  This man is a godly man - and his godliness is verified by the honestly and integrity with which he speaks and acts.  This man's conduct is described as "upright."  This is the word "yashar" which means something that is straight, just, and right.  This word usually refers to things in an ethical and emotional sense.  These are men who are very concerned with being right in the eyes of the Lord.  They want a godly integrity in their dealings with others.  They do not want to deceive or to mislead. 

Wisdom tells us to be mindful of the character of those with whom we deal in life.  It is not enough that a good offer is on the table - or that someone is offering the best price.  We need to know that a man is also placing good character on the table as well.  Then we know whether we are dealing with a thief or not.  See behind the offers and see into their lives or the "way" that they live.  Do this and you will be much less likely to be caught in the schemes and the deception of the ungodly.

A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out. Proverbs 20:5

Like deep, still waters, so the hearts of men can deeply conceal their plans.  The word "plan" here is key to understanding this particular proverb.  What this word means will govern what we need to learn.  The word is "esah" and it means advice or a plan.  What helps us most in understanding this word is the comments of Zhodiates who says the following about this word.  "It sometimes suggests the idea of a plot." 

The plots and plans of wicked men are hidden deep in still waters deep within their hearts.  Isaiah speaks of these kinds of hidden plans and plots when he says, "Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD, And whose deeds are done in a dark place, And they say, 'Who sees us?' or 'Who knows us?'" (Isaiah 29:15).  Thus we come to understand that this proverb is warning us of the ungodly plots of the wicked.  We are told that these plans exist hidden deep within the hearts of the wicked - but a man of understanding will draw them out.

This ability belongs only to the "man of understanding."  He is the one who possesses the ability to distinguish between the good and bad, true and false, and the forthright and the one whose motives are deeply hidden.  This man of understanding has the capacity to look through outward actions and words, and see the hidden places of the human heart.  This one does not accept everything at face value alone.  He not only estimates their words, but the deep underlying motives and aims that are behind them.  It is such wisdom that allows the man of understanding to discern hidden motives or hidden agendas.  This is the way that he draws out the hidden plans and plots of the wicked. 

In the New Testament this Spirit-given ability is called the gift of discernment - or discernment of spirits.  It is a wonderful gift God has given to some to see below the surface.  They are able to see into the heart by God's grace.  What they see allows them to read below those deep waters - and see the real reason something is being said or done.  Normally, without the Spirit of God, someone could easily pull the wool over our eyes and deceive us.  A plan might be laid that we think is gracious, but actually has harm in store for us.  That is when the ability to draw out the plans and plots of men is such a blessing.