My dear readers,

By Your Words You Are Known

Proverbs 15:26: “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.”

What is not seen and hidden within our hearts is usually left unattended. There may be hidden within the inner recesses of our hearts thoughts that are more unsavoury than godly. Because it is not seen by man, we think it is acceptable to them and us so that nothing is done to clean the floors and walls of our hearts. It is like the storerooms in our homes. They are a dumping ground of objects that are either not for immediate use, or of some value but not worthless enough to be thrown away. These items may remain there and be long forgotten. As long as the door of the storeroom is closed and these items are out of sight, we let them remain. Dust and dirt gather. They become dirty and old. They could remain there for years. Such is the case with our hearts when they are not cleansed regularly. They hide thoughts, especially unwanted thoughts.

Proverbs 15:26 teaches us that all “thoughts” are not hidden from God. The LORD weighs and judges them accordingly. The literal translation is: “The abomination to the LORD is the contrivance of the wicked but of the pure ones, are words of delight.”

Whose thoughts are an abomination to the LORD? – The emphasis of Proverbs 15:26a is “the abomination to the LORD.”“Abomination” is a very strong word used to describe something of abhorrence or extremely disgusting. In this context, it is morally and spiritually disgusting. There is a long list of sins that are an abomination to the LORD which includes all sorts of sexual perversions (cf. Lev 18), idolatry brought into Israel (cf. Deut 7), and human sacrifices to idols (cf. Deut 12). “The thoughts of the wicked” is ranked with such hateful perversions. The verse does not say the words or the deeds of the wicked, but “the thoughts.” Words and deeds are the result of what a person is thinking. Therefore the LORD is dealing with the root rather than the symptoms. This is where every believer must also begin. What the believer is thinking about might not be known to man, but it is clearly known to the LORD, the only One that matters in eternity. How can a born-again believer possess thoughts that are an abomination to his LORD? This is unthinkable because the mind of a born-again believer is sanctified by the powerful blood of Christ. He has been given the mind of Christ as a new babe in Christ.

This abomination belongs to the wicked. It is the thoughts of the wicked that is condemned by the LORD here. These “thoughts” are carefully contrived and not the spur of the moment actions of a weak believer. These thoughts are planned to hurt others as well as the image of Christ. The same word for “thought” is used to describe the sinners of the world in Noah’s time, before the global flood. Genesis 6:5 says, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” The wicked lie in their beds or spend their leisure time in the clubs or bars or homes dreaming of new ways to hurt and destroy others. They plan evil and more evil things to maim, kill and destroy anyone who stands in their way, to rob and kill to take what they greedily desire. No true believer would ever possess such thoughts. These abominable thoughts belong only to the wicked whose end is the fire of hell. If a child of God would ever cross the line of holiness and walk in such an evil path because of his foolish associations, he would surely repent of his sin and make every immediate effort to distance himself and to keep his soul. Proverbs 22:5: “Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.”

Whose words are pleasant to the LORD? – The contrast between the wicked and the pure is magnified by the LORD. In the case of the former it is the thoughts that He will judge. But in the case of the latter, God says that his words are pleasant. Why is there a change in His evaluation? If the words of the pure bring delight to God and His people, it is logical and safe to assume that they originate from thoughts that are delightful too. Words and deeds originate from the thoughts. The words of the pure are the fruits of his thoughts. The word “pleasant” has the idea of “agreeableness.” It is well accepted first by the LORD. The LORD will not superficially accept the words if they do not come from a heart constrained by His love and that are according to Holy Scriptures. God's people will not grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ through the pleasant words if they are not according to Holy Scriptures. The only words that are agreeable to both God and His children are according to the perfect Word of God.

The pure here are born-again believers who are pure within and without. Their life of purity springs from a pure heart washed by the cleansing blood of Christ. This is the only way a sinful heart can be made pure. If his heart is not pure, the LORD would not describe him as pure in His holy sight. If his words are agreeable to others, it also means that his life of purity is meant to impact others. He is not supposed to live as a recluse in purity. The pure life is to impact sinners so that they too can be pure in Christ. To keep wicked thoughts at bay, the thoughts of the pure will be on all things holy as described in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Food for Thought – Pure thoughts bring forth pure words!