Proverbs 6:18 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Proverbs 6:18

Comments

Now the word translated ‘imaginations’ is a very interesting Hebrew word, and it literally means to plait, or to intertwine something. It is applied to tapestry, or to any textile which is woven. You can see how the word comes to be used of imaginations: people who scheme in such a way as to weave things together, weaving together the situations and strands of life. If I do this, and if I can arrange that, and if I can get this person to do this, and that person to do that, then something will come to pass in my interests, or which I want. This is the word which is translated imaginations, planning, but scheming is what is in mind here.And the Lord hates the heart that is for ever planning and devising complex little schemes in their own interests, schemes that are wicked. In some cases they are downright sinful, the worldling does this. He schemes, he wants an objective, he wants some sin, and he plans how he is going to go about it, and what he is going to do to have that experience, to have that indulgence. And sometimes alas you find the Christian slipping back into it, not necessarily with outright sin, but with something which is for number one.‘Feet that be swift in running to mischief.’ We are talking here about believers as well as unbelievers. This means the committing of sin without any hesitation, without any resistance. I must do this, I have got to do it – no fight against it, no battle. This refers to burning lust, not only in sexual matters, but in all matters. The person says, ‘Oh I enjoy this.’ There is no consideration of whether it is wrong. But I should pause and think if perhaps it is not right; this may be something in me I have got to fight against, put up some resistance to. God hates it, says Solomon, when there is no resistance, there is no battle, there is no fight.

Application

So for instance, there are some people who the Scripture refers to as busybodies; they want to interfere and scheme and plan the lives of other people. This is something that we have to be very careful of within families. Sometimes parents are tempted to plan for their children, and get them married off, and get things arranged and fixed and throw them into the arms of others. ‘It would be a credit to our family if that arrangement could be got going. I want to organise who my offspring will meet and marry. I want to run somebody else's life for my gratification.’ Well, this is wicked scheming. It is not what would naturally take place in their lives under the good hand of God, who is in control of all things; it is me taking over, so that my ends will be met. No, we are under the will of God, and we are to trust him and we are not to interfere and manipulate and be devious. Solomon has this: the weaving of a tapestry of life in meddling in the business of others and for wicked things.

Lusts of any kind are included here. Do we lust for money? ‘I must have the kind of career which is going to make money’, so there will be no seeking after guidance, there will be no honest laying of the matter before the Lord. ‘I must buy this; I must have another of these.’ Gluttony is a lust. God hates that, because not only are we human beings, endowed with the gift of reason, and a moral consciousness, but we are saved human beings. We have a new life. God is with us. He has given us extra powers, and even greater powers in that the Holy Spirit is ready to help us whenever we call upon him. And here we are, behaving like animals. There is an urge, there is a desire, I have got to have it, I have got to do it. We are saying to him in effect, ‘I do not want to be a saved human being, and I do not want to be a holy human being, and I do not want to please God.’ There is a whole package of evil attitudes.

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Proverbs 6:18 Commentary and Bible Study