Hated or Loved - Proverbs 9:8

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot”, and in chapter nine and verse eight of Proverbs Solomon said, “reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you” where we read,

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you: rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

The verse begins, “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you:” Solomon began with the words, “reprove not” or “do not prove, decide, judge, rebuke or correct” “a scorner” which means “a mocking, deriding and arrogant person”, “lest he hate you” or “unless or peradventure he, the scorner, becomes odious and as an enemy and foe to you, the person who is not to reprove a scorner”. Solomon instructed his readers and listeners not to correct or rebuke an arrogant and mocking person otherwise that person will be as an enemy and foe to them.

The verse continues, “rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.” Solomon added the words, “rebuke a wise man” or “prove, decide, judge, rebuke or correct a skillful, shrewd, crafty, wily and subtle person whether male or female”, “and he will love you” which means “and the person who is wise shall have affection, be as a friend and lovable toward you, the person who rebukes a wise man”. Solomon said when his readers and listeners corrected a skillful and shrewd person, that person would be their friend and affectionate toward them.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon the difference between a “scorner” and “a wise” person. When they are each corrected, their responses are totally opposite of one another. When a person is proud, arrogant and boastful, they are unable to receive reproof, and they manifest it by striking out against the one correcting them. When a person is humble and yields to correction, they appreciate the change of course supplied by the one proving them. God knows what is best for our lives, and when He corrects us, He does so because He loves us. He proved His love toward us by sending His Only Begotten Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, and when we humble ourselves and receive Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us direction and correction according to His perfect plan and Divine will.

Next time Solomon says, “give instruction to a wise man”, 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".