24.280 | DO HONOR THE WORD | Proverbs 13:13-14 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

God’s Word for Today

21 Nov, 2024

13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,

but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

that one may turn away from the snares of death.

- Prov 13:13-14 ESV

DO HONOR THE WORD

Honoring the ‘word’ is shown by following good instruction from an authority having godly wisdom.[Prov 1:7] Doing so brings reward or blessing. "Word" means "instruction," or "advice" here in other translations. The Hebrew term is dā'bār, which implies a message, commandment, or instruction. This is not an explicit reference to Scripture. Although, what's written in the Bible is certainly included in the wisdom that a godly person will pursue. (Prov 6:23; Psalm 1:1–2).

But, the person who laughs off such teaching brings ruin on himself. This person who "despises" instruction is the scoffer depicted in other verses as a fool (see Prov 9:7–12; 13:1).

The difference between the blessing of obedience and the ruin for disobedience is told by Jesus in His parable about the two builders. The wise builder constructed his house upon a rock, and it survived when heavy winds, torrential rains, and rising floods came. The foolish man, however, built his house upon the sand. Thus, it collapsed when strong wind, heavy rain, and swirling floods came. Jesus compared the wise builder to whoever hears and obeys His words and the foolish builder to whoever hears His words but fails to obey them, respectively. (Read Mat 7:24–27). In Luke 8:18, Jesus also says, "Take care then how you hear." When Jesus addressed the seven churches of Asia Minor, He exhorted, "He who has an ear, let him hear." And, those who hear He promised to bless them (see Rev 2:11, 17, 26–29; 3:5–6, 12–13, 20–22).

Why should we obey the word of the wise? His teaching is a fountain of life. There is a warning that ignoring godly wisdom leads to both earthly and eternal consequences. (see Prov 9:7–12; 11:7; 13:15).

A fountain does refresh and sustains life, doesn’t it? This has allusions to Jesus claims before the Samaritan woman that whoever drank the water He offered would never thirst. He added that it would be a spring of water welling up to eternal life [John 4:13-14]. Later John wrote, “For he whom God has sent utters the words of God…Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him" (John 3:34, 36).

The other benefit of obedience is to avoid the ‘snares’ of death. This alludes to ‘traps’ having spring shut when unsuspecting animals step in. Think of the many ploys that the enemy has to deceive people to trust for his security. But, let us not forget that Jesus offers eternal and secured salvation. And he assures that those who believe in Him are safe from the eternal death that suddenly comes upon unbelievers (see Prov 29:1; Rev 20:11–15). In other words, our obedience to His words is our security.

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