Proverbs 6:16-19 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

The brand of God

God placed a brand on the first murderer's brow, and he carried the curse with him to his grave. He does not mark us thus now with such signs of guilt; nevertheless, he has made it clear as the day that there are some men who are the objects of his very high displeasure. We know from the text that among these are—

I. MEN OF A PROUD HEART . (See above.)

II. MEN OF A FALSE SPIRIT . (See above.)

III MEN THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHERS ' DEATH . ( Proverbs 6:17 .) Those whose "hands shed innocent blood" are strongly condemned of him. These include, not only

IV. MEN THAT PLOT MISCHIEF . "A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations" ( Proverbs 6:18 ). These are they who use their inventive faculties, not for the good of their race, nor for the maintenance of their families, but for the base and shameful purpose of bringing some of their fellows into distress, if not into ruin; they contrive their overthrow only to enjoy their discomfiture.

V. CRUEL EXECUTIONERS or WRATH . "Those whose feet are swift in running to mischief" ( Proverbs 6:18 ); these are they who take a savage delight in being the instruments of punishment—the gaoler, the soldier, the executioner, who gloat over their work of severity or blood.

VI. FALSE WITNESSES . ( Proverbs 6:19 .) One of the most solemn and responsible positions a man can occupy is the witness box; he stands there, invoking the dread Name of the Eternal himself to cause justice to be done. If then he perjures himself, and "speaketh lies" when actually under oath, he defies his Maker, perverts justice, wrongs the innocent or releases the guilty, is disloyal to his country, outrages his own conscience. Well may he be among those whom God especially condemns.

VII. MEN THAT DISTURB HARMONY . "He that soweth discord among brethren" ( Proverbs 6:19 ). "Blessed are the peacemakers," said the Master. "Cursed are the mischiefmakers," says the text. If we do not actively promote peace and good will, surely we need not be the abettors of strife. There are two degrees of guilt here: there is the mischief making which is due to culpable thoughtlessness, repeating words which should have been allowed to fall to the ground, unintentional but decided misrepresentation, etc.; and there is the darker wrong, to which a heavier penalty is due, deliberate and wanton disturbance of previous harmony. This is

Let it be remembered that:

1 . God hates these things; they are utterly abhorrent to him. He cannot regard them without Divine repugnance.

2 . God is "much displeased" with those who do them; his holy and awful wrath must extend to those who "do such things."

3 . God will surely punish those who impenitently persist in them ( Romans 2:2-9 ).—C.