“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3
Today we are reminded that God is actively everywhere. Nothing is hidden from His sight, not one thing. Of course this is bad news for those who would do evil. But it is amazingly good news for those who are His disciples. God is truly Immanuel. He sees all the wicked deeds done in the world and will bring righteous judgment. This is why the Psalmist in Psalm 98 can rejoice because, “He is coming to judge the earth.” God also sees all the good deeds done in the world and will bring righteous rewards accordingly. Ultimately, no one gets away with any evil and no one’s righteous deeds go unrewarded.
It’s wonderful that this truth is here in the middle of Proverbs. It’s an encouragement to heed the Word of the Lord and not to allow yourself to become discouraged if it seems your obedience to the Word is going unnoticed and those who disobey the Word seem to be getting away with it. Everyone, both the wise and the fool, will eventually reap what they have sown. Let’s take a look at a few of the commands we are to obey that immediately surround this encouragement that the Lord is watching.
Like so much of the rest of Proverbs, chapter 15 is full of commands to watch what we say. Our wise words can de-escalate conflict, or our foolish words can pour gas on the fire. (Proverbs 15:1). We should be slow to anger and need to think about what we are going to say, not simply spitting out of our mouths whatever comes into our mind. This enables us to be sure that we know what we are talking about and gives us the opportunity to choose fitting words. (Proverbs 15:18, 28)
Another frequent theme in Proverbs which is reiterated in chapter 15 is the importance of heeding instruction. To hate instruction and despise the one who gives it is to be a fool and a scoffer. But the humble, the wise, listen to instruction and respect the godly counselor. (Proverbs 15:5, 12) The fool and the scoffer who will not listen to instruction actually hate their own souls and will reap for themselves nothing but harsh discipline and death. The one who humbly heeds instruction blesses his own soul and will live in the fellowship of the wise. (Proverbs 15:10, 31-33)
Prayer is only specifically mentioned three times in all of Proverbs and 2 of them are here in chapter 15. We are told that the Lord is far from the wicked and cannot hear him. But He is near us. He hears us. He hears our prayers and delights in them. (Proverbs 15:8, 29). It is truly good news that God is Immanuel. His eyes are everywhere. He sees us, He hears us, and we can rest in His good judgment. We can rest in His good promises. We can be confident that He is with us even to the end of the age. What an encouragement to take the time to watch what we say, to willingly heed instruction, and be diligent in our prayers.
His mercy endures forever!
Pastor Flynn