Proverbs 14:6-7:
6 A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands. 7 Go from the presence of a foolish and self-confident man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
A "scoffer" is the Hebrew word "luwts", which means: to scorn, to boast, to mock, to talk arrogantly, to have in derision, to "make mouths at" (make faces). It is of no use for a scoffer to seek Wisdom because he will not be able to comprehend it anyway! His attitude will keep him from perceiving, understanding and comprehending the Truth of God's Word. Verses 7 says to get away from them! Why do you think that is? One answer can be found in 1 Corinthians 15:33:
33 Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.
Another in Psalm 1:1:
1 BLESSED (Happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
Spending time with scoffers and scorners puts us in position for THEIR attitudes to become OURS! We need to spend time EVERY DAY with like-minded believers in order to maintain a right mental attitude and to keep our hearts and minds stayed on HIM! If we're alone, that means spending time in His Word, some of the wisest counselors you can find anywhere! AMEN!
Galatians 3 can be summed up in verse 2:
2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?]
A true and vibrant faith in the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible WILL produce great good works, but it is not the works that gain our entrance into the family of God, it is the faith! Remind yourself every day of the amazingly wonderful and powerful GIFT of our Salvation, through the precious blood of Jesus of Nazareth, and you won't get caught up in false doctrines that steal your faith and confidence in who YOU are IN HIM! AMEN! Here is a cute song from the Go Fish Guys called "Saved":
In 2 Samuel 15-16 we see Absalom begin his attempt to take over the kingdom from his father David. He had no Word from God through a prophet and no anointing to be the king, yet he sought to make HIMSELF king! Do you think HE had a heart that went hard after the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible? I thought this was very interesting from the Bible Exposition Dictionary: Old Testament, and very appropriate to be aware of in the times in which WE are living right now!:
If ever a man was equipped to be a demagogue and lead people astray, that man was Absalom. He was a handsome man whose charm was difficult to resist (14:25-26), and he had royal blood in his veins from both his father and his mother. The fact that he had no character wasn't important to most of the people who, like sheep, would follow anybody who told them what they wanted to hear and gave them what they wanted to have. Newspaper editor H. L. Mencken's definition of a demagogue is rather extreme, but he gets the point across: "One who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." Novelist James Fenimore Cooper expressed it accurately: "One who advances his own interests by affecting a deep devotion to the interests of the people."
That is precisely what Absalom tried to do here, and what many are trying to do now, not only in our own nation, but in many others! Be aware! Our prayer continues to be: May godly plans succeed and prosper, and ungodly plans fail and come to utter destruction - in the Name above ALL Names - Jesus of Nazareth! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
