How Have I Hated Instruction - Proverbs 5:12

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “Hear me now therefore, O you children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove your way far from her, and come not near the door of her house. Lest you give your honor unto others, and your years unto the cruel. Lest strangers be filled with your wealth; and your labors be in the house of a stranger. And you mourn at the last, when your flesh and your body are consumed, ...”, and in chapter five and verse twelve of Proverbs Solomon shared how his children will, “say, how have I hated instruction” where we read,

And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

The verse begins, “And say, How have I hated instruction, ...”. Solomon began with the words, “and say” or “and utter, declare and proclaim”, “how have I hated” which means “O in what way I, Solomon's children, have been as an enemy, foe and odious to” “instruction” or “discipline, chastening and correction”. Solomon shared how his children would declare their existing like an enemy to his discipline and chastening after their flesh and bodies suffered from yielding to the strange woman.

The verse continues, “... and my heart despised reproof;” Solomon added the words, “and my heart” or “and my, the children of Solomon's, soul, mind, will, desires, conscience, living being and seat of emotions and affections” “despised reproof” which means “spurned, contemned and abhorred chiding, correction, refutation and reasoning”. Solomon said his children would also declare that their souls, minds and wills spurned and abhorred correction and reason.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon said his children would declare that they not only refused to listen to his words, but also abhorred his correction after they suffered for submitting to the strange woman. Solomon wanted to protect his children in the same manner God wants to protect us. Many people disregard God's warning and instruction, and they suffer horrific consequences for doing so. God is compassionate toward us, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for all our sins, errors and wrongs. When we submit to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us the value of loving His instruction and correction to preserve us from eventual destruction.

Next time Solomon shares how his children will say they, “have not obeyed the voice of my teachers”, 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".