Gulp

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

GULP

Prov 19:28

28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

NIV

This certainly describes what we might say is the worse of sinners, expect we know that sin is sin and how can one be worse than another. Yet this person here is the one who not only openly defies God, but attacks God. Someone whose mouth gulps down evil is a person who has science as their god and attempts to prove there is no god. They eagerly witness against religion and godliness. They laugh at the terror of the Lord, mocks at that fear. Job says it well.

Job 15:17-31

17 "Listen to me and I will explain to you; let me tell you what I have seen, 18 what wise men have declared, hiding nothing received from their fathers 19(to whom alone the land was given when no alien passed among them): 20 All his days the wicked man suffers torment, the ruthless through all the years stored up for him. 21 Terrifying sounds fill his ears; when all seems well, marauders attack him. 22 He despairs of escaping the darkness; he is marked for the sword. 23 He wanders about — food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand. 24 Distress and anguish fill him with terror; they overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack, 25 because he shakes his fist at God and vaunts himself against the Almighty, 26 defiantly charging against him with a thick, strong shield. 27 "Though his face is covered with fat and his waist bulges with flesh, 28 he will inhabit ruined towns and houses where no one lives, houses crumbling to rubble. 29 He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land. 30 He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God's mouth will carry him away. 31 Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return.

NIV

Job has more to say about this kind of wicked person, but what we need to examine is if we, in any way, act is defiance to God. That is not to say we would inherit what this sort of wicked person will, the one who openly witnesses against God. We are assured, because of our faith in Christ Jesus, of our salvation and place in the kingdom of God. But do we in some way, if not openly, but inwardly defy his authority in our lives. Surely we do not mock the justice of God, yet if he needs to discipline or correct or chasten us, do we joyfully accept his justice or do we balk at it? What about when we deliberately sin against God? Sure we say we are human and unable to keep from all sin, that we fail to live, and are unable to live a perfect life. Yet we are also told not to make any provisions for the flesh.

Rom 13:14

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

NKJV

We are not supposed to look for ways to sin, to go out of our way to find something that will cause us to sin, but the fact remains we will still sin.  However when we do fail, and sin in some way is that still due to a self-serving heart, a heart that is in defiance of God? When we lose our temper, it is our temper, not the temper of the Spirit. When we get our feelings hurts, it is our feelings, not the feelings of the Spirit. When we lash out or express anger in any way, it is ours, not the Spirits. When we become bitter or harbor any envy or jealously or unforgiveness, it is ours, not the Spirits. So then could we say that we are willing participants in defying God’s authority in our lives? When we are like that are we any better than those who witness against God and religion, that we mock God and our heart gulps down evil? The difference is that we know God, we accepted Jesus, we desire to trust God, to follow his ways. But we are not better than any other sinner, except we have accepted being saved by the grace of God. We also try to live to please him, we do not openly oppose God in the Public Square, but witness of his love and grace. Yet let us not consider ourselves any more pure then the vilest of sinners. Let us not fill our hearts with pride because we are saved. Yet at the same time let us be aware of the Spirit who dwells within and provide for his authority rather than ours. Let us not gulp down evil, but rather the Word of God.