November 29, Day 333 – Snared By His Own Sin

Proverbs 29:1-9; Daniel 3:13-4:18;

2 Peter 2

"Path Through a Forest" © by Terri L. Stricker - Felt-Tip Marker on Paper

In Proverbs 29:1-9, we find nine proverbs, the truths of which are easily testable.  For example, in verse 2, we read that “people rejoice in the presence of righteousness, but when the wicked rule, people groan.”  History has shown repeatedly that wicked leaders who try to impose evil behavior on their subjects always burden their citizens.  And the result?  People “groan;” they suffer.  We see this today both worldwide and in our own nation; people are groaning under the suffering of massive financial pressures caused by economic inflation – a result of wicked and foolish leadership imposed on us against our wills, and the result is … we “groan.”  In verse 4, we see a similar truth: “By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.”  In many parts of the world, bribes undercut the rule of law and bring about a nationally and morally bankrupt society.  “An evil man is snared by his own sin” (verse 6).  How many times have we seen the seeds sown in sin produce a hundred-fold crop?  Sin has a sneaky way of catching up with us.  “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked.  A man reaps what he sows  – the one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature, will reap destruction” (cf., Galatians 6:7-8).  Today, here in the USA, we are living witnesses to all these proverbial truths presented in the Word of God.

In Daniel 3:13 – 4:18, we see that Daniel’s three friends – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – shared an uncommon faith which they elevated to the level of action.  Willing to die for what they believe (which is what faith is really all about), they respectfully stood up to the king (i.e., we notice that they properly address him by his legitimate title – his “Majesty,” verses 16-17), but they also refuse – respectfully – to buckle to any falsehood – the worship of a god who isn’t a god at all.  They knew that God’s deliverance for them is certain:  He will deliver them – either from the fiery furnace – or from the king.  We note that it is God’s will for them to go through this fire, but God protects and preserves them through it as a testimony of truth to Nebuchadnezzar, to his court officials, and to his Babylonian world.  For His own divine purposes, God is moving in the life of this king; in chapter 4, we see how God will begin to bring this so-called “king of kings” (cf., Daniel 2:37) to his knees. Nebuchadnezzar will recognize that God is truly the One and only God of all gods.  Stay tuned …

In 2 Peter 2, Peter draws our attention to similar truths.  He writes, “false prophets introduce destructive heresies … and bring the truth into disrepute” (verses 1-2).  Why?  Because they are greedy (verse 3).  From two Old Testament examples – Noah and Lot – “righteous men,” Peter illustrates that God is able to protect and “rescue us from ungodliness” (verse 9).  In the rest of this chapter, Peter accurately describes the depraved conditions that also characterize the world in which we live: “carousing in broad daylight; eyes full of adultery; experts in greed; mouthing empty, boastful words; slaves of depravity” (verses 13-19). Interestingly, we look around and we see that these same conditions prevail in our present culture today.