Wisdom’s Journey: Proverbs 8:13

Terri GillespieWisdom’s Journey Through Proverbs

Today’s Blog: Which Kingdom do You Choose?

TODAY’S PROVERB: To fear Adonai is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and a perverse mouth. Proverbs 8:13, TLV

Just as there is a holy fear, there is a holy hatred. Does that make you feel uncomfortable? Yeah. Me, too. But, when I think of holy hatred, I focus my attention on the image of God’s Kingdom of Light. The Prince of Peace (Sar Shalom) reigns (Isaiah 9:5). It’s a safe place because there is no darkness. A beautiful place where all are welcomed, provided they love it and its King. Once we experience that Kingdom, we don’t want anything to corrupt it.

The minions of darkness are not allowed in the Kingdom of Light — minions like pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse talk. Light can only be safe because there is no darkness.

Residents of this Kingdom of Light will hate the darkness. Whatever grows in darkness is not welcomed in their lives.

Minions of darkness are not flesh and blood. We don’t hate flesh and blood. We’re in a battle with worldly and spiritual forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12).

There can never be a truce between these kingdoms — ever. However, those souls wishing to escape the kingdom of darkness are welcomed.

Kingdom of Light Living

“The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore if your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

YESHUA (JESUS), MATTHEW 6: 22, TLV [emphasis mine]

This passage in Matthew gives us a practical example of Kingdom of Light living. While this verse is translated from the Greek, it uses a Jewish colloquialism. Ayin tovah — the good eye — means to be generous. Ayin ra’ah — the bad eye — means to be stingy. Generosity cannot occupy the same space as stinginess. We can try to fake the generosity, but eventually it will show itself.

Jesus is saying that even something as simple as greediness brings darkness into our hearts. Yikes!

What to do . . .

Have you ever felt the darkness in our thoughts? We sense a corruption of God’s Light in us. Being aware is the first step to change. When that darkness from a thought, choice, behavior, or response enters our heart, stop. Identify it and repent. Seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in kicking it out, then bask in the Light.

Proverbs provides incredible insights into those dark minions that seek to rob us of the joy and clarity of God’s Light. They may seem larger than life, but the reality is, they can’t compare to our Dad — the Creator of the Universe.

May we have holy hate for darkness, my friends.

Proverbs 8:13 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible#tlvproverbs

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