Proverbs 15:10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
The flesh does not appreciate correction. The pride of man revolts against correction. The fact is that we all need correction at times. We just are not that good.
The person who rejects God’s way does not appreciate correction. King Saul did not like correction. He was a very proud man. He appeared as a humble man prior to being crowned king. He did not appreciate the fact that he was chosen by God to be the king. He was not king because he was so smart or so brave. We find that he was not willing to fight against Goliath. He was willing to allow a young man named David to go up against that seasoned warrior. King Saul did not have the blessing of God on him, but David, the shepherd boy, had that blessing on him.
King Saul became jealous of David and tried to kill him. He chased him around for over a year. Finally God sent king Saul off to battle against the Philistines, and he was wounded in battle. He feared the Philistines would find him defenceless and they would abuse him, so he took his own life.
He refused reproof, and he died. He was the first legitimate king of Israel. He did not have a good track record. He failed to realize that God is the record keeper, not man. God had his man record the wasted efforts of king Saul as he chased David around, trying to kill him. After the death of king Saul and his son Jonathan, David was crowned as king. King Saul was not as powerful as he thought he was. It was a shame that he failed to see the privilege he was granted, but never appreciated.
In verse 11 we see that hell and destruction are under God’s control. God does not want anyone to end up in hell. He knows about everyone that is there. He also knows the heart of every person alive. We cannot fool Him. We can put on a good front for people, but we will never trick God. It is important to be humble and submissive to God. He will be exalted. We have the privilege of submitting to Him and choosing to exalt Him through our trust in Him.
In verse 12 we are further reminded of the danger of rejecting God. The scorner is the boaster. Again, this person does not like to be judged. He does not like to be shown to be wrong, in need of correction. Cain did not like it. The Pharisees did not like it. Cain did not go to the wise. He rejected God’s counsel. He persisted in his wrong way and murdered his righteous brother. Even after that, he still refused to seek wise counsel. He resented all of God’s work of seeking to show him the right thing to do.
The same was true for the Pharisees. They rejected Jesus’ teaching. They did not like it that He did not accept them and appreciate them. They wanted to be respected and honoured by the people. Yet they did nothing worthy of respect or honour. They hated Jesus and joined forces with others who wanted Him dead.
Jesus Christ came to lay down His life for the sheep. He went to the cross. He shed His blood and died on that cross. He was taken off that cross and buried. Three days later He rose again and then after forty days He ascended back up to heaven. He will be exalted to the place where every knee will bow before Him one day. The Pharisees missed out on everything. They died and went to hell. There were only a few that ever repented and were saved. Nicodemus was one of them that we know of. Saul, whose name was later changed to Paul, was another. Many of them went to hell. They thought they had won by seeing Jesus nailed to the cross. Jesus fulfilled the righteous demand of His Father. He was the sinless Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. He is alive and He is the only Mediator between God and men. The Pharisees and many others “enjoyed” the praise of men for a few short years. However, they have an eternity to spend in torment.
In verse 13 we see the importance of a merry heart. Liquor and drugs do not make for a merry heart. A merry heart is the result of knowing the peace of God which is only available to those who truly know the Lord. God’s Word tells us how we can know the Lord and how we can have His peace. Unless a person is willing to submit to what God says, they will never have that merry heart.
By contrast, they will have sorrow of heart. A person could get drunk every day and all day and never find what their soul is longing for. There are thousands of people who have a broken spirit. They might be good actors, but they are not at peace with God and they know it. That is why they avoid the truth. They refuse to attend a true church. If they go to church, they choose one that is a social club. They want to hear nice things. They want to hear that they are good people even though they have chosen to live in sin. It is better to hear reproof and turn to God in repentance and seek His forgiveness, rather than stubbornly insisting on your own way and living that empty life.
I read of a young woman who seemed to be quite successful on the outside. Yet at a young age she took her own life, because she could not manufacture what her soul longed for. She avoided the truth and chose to listen to bad counsel. To the world, she looked successful. Yet she knew better, but stubbornly refused to listen to the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in her life. A tragic end that is repeated over and over again by people who do not know the Lord. Not all of them take their own lives, but they all die without hope. It does not need to be that way.
Those who will listen to the Lord, and receive correction will be able to have a merry heart. Be sure to listen to wise counsel. Let God bless you as only He can.
Pastor Bartel