In Psalms one hundred and one David said, “A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person”, and in chapter one hundred one and verse four of Psalms David shared about, “whosoever privately slanders his neighbor” where we read,
Whosoever privately slanders his neighbor, him will I cut off:
him that has an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
The verse begins, “Whosoever privately slanders his neighbor, him will I cut off:” David began with the words, “whosoever privately slanders” or “whatever person whether male or female who secretly uses their tongue against, backbites and accuses” “his neighbor” which means “the person who slanders’ friend, companion or intimate fellow-citizen” “him will I cut off” or “the person who slander shall I, David, put to an end, exterminate, extirpate, annihilate and terminate”. David said he would exterminate anyone who backbites and secretly accuses their nearby companions and fellow-citizens.
The verse continues, “him that has an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.” David added the words, “him that has a high look” or “the person whether male or female who owns, features and possesses a proud, lofty and haughty outward appearance, countenance and mental and spiritual faculty” “and a proud heart” which means “and a wide, broad, measureless and greedy inner man, soul, mind, will, desire, living being and seat of emotions and passions” “will I not suffer” or “shall I, David, in no way or manner endure”. David said he would in no way endure the person who exhibits a lofty and haughty outer appearance or a person who possesses an egotistical soul and mind.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how David distanced himself from people who were backbiters and haughty in their souls and minds. Proverbs chapter six and verse sixteen thru nineteen says, “These six things does the LORD hate: yes, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren”, and we noticed the first thing on the list is a “proud look”. The last item God hates is the person who “sows discord”, and all of these are sins against God and others. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (See Romans 3:23), and because we violate God’s laws and ways, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified for our sins. When we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, cleanse us from all unrighteousness and provide His Holy Spirit to keep us from “haughty looks” and “pride-filled souls”.
Next time David says, “my eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website “thewordfortodaywithray.com” or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book “Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II” and the new novel “Elizabeth County” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from “Strongs Concordance”.
Ray Hanselman 