In the book of Proverbs Solomon asked, “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goes in to his neighbor's wife; whosoever touches her shall not be innocent”, and in chapter six and verse thirty of Proverbs Solomon said, “men do not despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy his soul” where we read,
Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
The verse begins, “Men do not despise a thief, ...”. Solomon began with the words, “men do not despise” or “men, human beings both male and female, in no way or manner hold in contempt and insignificance” “a thief” which means “a person who steals and takes what does not belong to them”. Solomon shared how people do not hold a person in contempt one who steals for the following reason.
The verse goes on to say, “... if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;” Solomon continued with the words, “if he steal” or “whether and in case he, the thief, takes what does not belong to him” “to satisfy his soul” which means “to fill, make abundant and overflowed within his, the person who steal's, heart, mind, will, desires, conscience, living being and seat of emotions and passions” “when he is hungry” or “at the time and moment he, the person who steals, exists as voracious and famished”. Solomon said the person who takes what does not belong to them because they are famished is not treated with as much contempt by others.
When we meditate upon Solomon's words in this verse, we learn how there was more compassion given by others to the person who “steals” to fill his stomach than a person who takes things from others for greedy and selfish purposes. Solomon employed this example to describe the person who commits adultery with his “neighbor's wife”, and the judgment from others is not kind when these things are discovered. God desires to preserve and protect us from personal consequences and the judgment from other people. He knows we sin, and the penalty for sin is death – the ultimate judgment. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us from suffering the shame and judgment within ourselves and from others.
Next time Solomon says of the thief, “if he is found, he shall restore sevenfold”, 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".
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