Day 299: No place to hide! - Proverbs 15 vs 8 – 12

8-9 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright. The  Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue godliness. 10 Whoever abandons the right path will be severely disciplined; whoever hates correction will die.

11 Even Death and Destruction hold no secrets from the Lord. How much more does he know the human heart! 12 Mockers hate to be corrected, so they stay away from the wise. Proverbs 15:8-12 New Living Translation paraphrase (English Standard Version link)

Have you noticed how blunt and to the point the Bible can be? It doesn't soft-pedal truth. God doesn't butter us up or sweep under the carpet the bad things about us.

Verses 8-9 tell us exactly what God thinks about evil actions and evil lives. Not only does He detest wicked ways – He even detests the religious efforts such people make to give the impression of being good. And, just as the sacrifices Jewish people brought in those days were hateful to God if the people bringing them were living in ways He forbade, so going to Church and singing hymns and putting something in the offerings box is hateful to Him if those doing it don't live daily in the way Jesus called us to live. The only prayers God delights in are those from people who 'pursue godliness.' That doesn't mean they are perfect – but it does mean they are not hypocrites. They genuinely want to live in a way that is pleasing to God.

What is the common response of sin loving people when they are confronted with this blunt speech from the Bible? (vs 12)

There's an arrogance and pride in human nature that makes people hate being told they are wrong. While vs 12 is speaking of the same people, it shows two things that this hatred of correction results in. Firstly, it leads to mocking the Bible and the truth it teaches. There are people who are hostile and antagonistic towards Christians and Christianity. Secondly, some may not be openly hostile, but they will make every effort to avoid getting into conversation about their soul and their need of a right relationship with God. So what does the Bible say to all such people? (vs 10)

It warns of the danger of not responding to God's discipline and correction. When that is rejected then people die in their sins. Those who live by the philosophy of 'my way' instead of God's way will be disappointed when they reach their destination. On two occasions this book of Proverbs says:“ There’s a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25) And there's one more blunt truth these verses give which people should think seriously about. What are the implications of verse 11?

When it comes to our accountability to God – there's no place to hide! We can hide things from people – even from friends and family. Our hearts can be a secret chamber which no human eye can pierce. There can be thoughts and desires and hatreds which would shock others if they saw them. But nothing in our heart is hidden from God. When Pharisees sneered at Jesus because of a parable He told about loving money more than God He said to them “You like to appear righteous in public - but God knows your hearts.” (Luke 16:15) In another place He said to the people “It’s what comes from inside that defiles a person. For from within, out of their heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.”

The wise man or woman is the one who has called upon God to forgive the sins of their heart, and who pursue godliness. The foolish man or woman is the the one who mocks God and avoids the Bible's message. But they will find on the day of God’s judgement that there's nothing in their heart He doesn't know about - and there will be no place to hide from His reckoning.