You Will Love Your Neighbor

Introduction:

This section will give us an opportunity to think deeply about God’s will.

What does He want for us.

We know that He insisted (called) Israel would be holy because He is Holy.

See passage list.

We must be careful not to think of righteousness as “avoiding sin.”

The ritualistic “not doing” of certain things does not make (operative word) us righteous.

We also cannot be righteous by comparison to one another.

Righteous behavior is that which is consistent with the character and nature of God.

This is what it means to “follow” Him.

Holiness in Loving Your Neighbor

We know that God’s nature manifested in us results in us behaving in ways that are kind, gentle, and beneficial toward others.

Beginning in Prov. 3:27, we see a set of “rapid fire,” “you will not statements.”

In Proverbs 3 alone, we have 12 “negated” statements. The consistent or constant use will begin in Prov. 3:27. This is where the “rapid fire” begins.

Do Not Withhold Good

Do not withhold good:

Prov. 3:26: Do not refuse good from its owner (ruler, master, possessor).

The point here would seem to be that we should behave as fair minded, impartial individuals.

This would coincide with Lev. 19:13, for example.

So does the next statement.

Do not say to your neighbor/friend...aid to help them right away without delay.

Lev. 19:13 and Dt. 24:14-15.

Do Not Scheme Evil

Prov. 3:29: Do not craft evil against your neighbor who resides in trust with you.

Prov. 6:12-14 shows this does not have to be something murderous or physically harmful.

It can be behavior which leads to strife with someone or between others.

Keep reading in Prov. 6 specifically the list at the end.

Strife or discord appears in two places in Prov. 6 and directly relates to an individual who devises discord with someone else or causes two individuals to be in disunity with one another.

Note Prov. 12:20 to coincide with this vis-a-vis “peace.”

Prov. 3:30: Do not quarrel (this term can mean strive, complain, fight with, or even to sue in court) with a man needlessly if he has not shown (dealt out) you evil.

As believers, we are to be a people at peace in all our relationships.

We also are to be a people who have order/boundaries which are defined by the authority of God’s person and word.

Hence, we are not jealous of those who use violence to devise evil against others.

Vengeance Belongs to the Lord

The writer of Proverbs has already laid out these principles and illustrated them.

God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5.

Eventually, disgrace comes to those who oppose Him.

The scorner is someone who looks derisively toward God and His Word.

They also find delight in sin because it makes a mockery of God.

Notice that the key issue here is a lack of humility.

James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5.