Proverbs 13:13 Commentary and Bible Study

Our attitude to the word of God is a key indicator of our spiritual health. We cannot hate God’s word, which is his infallible and only communication to the human race, and still pretend to have any love for the Lord himself. He scrutinises every human heart to see what each man, woman, and child does with his word, and notes those who are determined to disobey it, and to set aside its authority over them. We despise the word when we refuse to regard it as the word of God, when we appeal to another authority which we set up in place of it and allow other lords to rule over us, when we deliberately ignore it and sin against its standards, when we are fully content to leave it behind and accept whatever consequences may follow. This word ought to bring us the greatest possible happiness, for to his people God’s testimonies are like a heritage from the Lord forever; they are something given to them which are theirs and which they can keep in this world and the next. God’s word is an unchanging rock in a constantly shifting world around us, showing us the features of the landscape, and helping us to navigate our way to heaven. The word of God does not just present us with spiritual truth but it directs us with commandments which demand a response from our wills; God’s word is not respected unless it alters our behaviour. This is costly at times so that we are only able to continue by holding before our minds the great reward that will be given to obedience. Does our desire for this reward mean that we are after all motivated only by commercial considerations? No, the nature of the reward excludes this, for our reward is to see the Lord face to face.