God’s Omniscient Watch

Proverbs 15:1-17

1 A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father's instruction,
But he who receives correction is prudent.

6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fool does not do so.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But He loves him who follows righteousness.

10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,
And he who hates correction will die.

11 Hell and Destruction are before the LORD;
So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.

13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD,
Than great treasure with trouble.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.

Here are examples of God’s omniscient watch over the evil and the good, those seeking to do righteousness and those living in opposition to His word.  He tests our hearts to discover which are loyal to Him (Psalm 7:9, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Job 24:23).  Here are ways the righteousness seekers walk in opposition to the disobedient ones, given for our instruction and remembrance.  Soft answers were needed over harsh ones, words wielded wisely are needed instead of spouting foolish and empty words (Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 2:8).  God’s eyes are everywhere as He keeps watch over the evil and the good, choosing to intervene according to His plan in His time.  This is why many evil ones seem to have it good until the day of final judgment at Christ’s return to judge the living an dead, the good and wicked.  Therefore we are to be wise and understanding to watch our words to bring life in wholesome (medicinal or healing) speech, not twisted perverse words that only cause further spiritual illness and brokenness.  It is therefore foolish to ignore our godly fathers, natural or spiritual, who teach us the ways of truth according to His word.  It is wise and prudent to listen, learn, and apply the scriptures of wisdom to living instead.  True riches are found in pursuing the righteousness of holiness because God is holy and righteous; the wicked only earn trouble with their headlong defiance of what is good, as we see all around us.  Any temporary gain is soon lost to them as Asaph wrote in Psalm 73:3, 12, 17-19 for our comfort and edification.  Our speech should then spread that knowledge because the foolishness do not and will to do not in rebellious defiance to the Holy One.  God does not accept their abominations called offerings, but desires the living sacrifices of the righteous who follow Him.  God loves those who follow righteousness but the ways of evil persons in their pursuits are despicable to His holiness.  Only hard discipline to correct those wandering off the path of life can bring us back to that path of understanding and wisdom in applying those commands and principles to our lives.  If we despise or ignore His correction we face the end of the road.  Yes, those not following at all face He’ll and destruction, but we face an eternity in righteousness and peace in Christ on the road away from ruin.  It is unfortunate that the ungodly scoff at the saving truth and some despise His correction, for they miss the mark and the prize of the call to God in Christ (Philippians 3:14).  We who accept and love His truth have joy deep in our hearts and are not as those with broken hearts left unmended in sorrow for having denied Him.  If we have understanding then, we seek after the knowledge of God and our state in the scriptures, not feeding on the foolishness of the philosophies and reasoning against His word.  Yes, the evil suffer affliction of the soul while we who seek righteousness in His Word have a merry heart which always celebrates Him and our deliverance from this present evil age.  All the material wealth and passing pleasures of the world cannot ever compare to living in the fear and admonition of the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:11, Ephesians 6:).  It is infinitely better to dine in His love with only bitter herbs than feasting with hatred of God and men.  We consider God’s omniscient watch over us all and live to be God-pleasers instead.