To have strong disapproval of something (to condemn). Titus 1:16 “They profess that they know God but in works they deny, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”ĭefinition of Reprobate: One rejected by God (a sinful person an individual with low morals or principles). Romans 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient ”Ģ Timothy 3:8 “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” In one instance, when they would not turn from their perversion, God said turn them over to a reprobate mind. Perverse sin is so out of tune with God, that there is great punishment in this life, as well as in the next, for this sin. The walk of the upright is in the light, following in the path Jesus set before us. It generally has to do with unnatural sex. We have spoken many times in these lessons of how perverse sin is a sick sin. Proverbs 28:18 “Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but perverse ways shall fall at once.” We are told here not to comfort or help him. He flees and finds no rest until the grave receives him. The exhortation is to avoid helping a murderer with any support, refuge, or security against the vengeance which pursues him for the arm of justice. Whosoever is inwardly tormented by the murder of someone takes to ceaseless flight to escape the avenger of blood and the punishment of his crime. His guilt and guilty feelings shall follow him to his grave (pit). He has no peace at all: not of conscience or from the avenger.
We see in this verse, a cold blooded murderer.
Proverbs 28:17 “A man that doeth violence to the blood of person shall flee to the pit let no man stay him.” His opposite would be a prince who realizes there is a God over him, and he would be seeking to help and not harm his people. The people would desire to overthrow this evil prince. The tyrannical leader who is covetous is foolish and short lived. This first prince does not understand the needs of his people and would be an evil oppressor of his own people. Proverbs 28:16 “The prince that wanteth understanding also a great oppressor: he that hateth covetousness shall prolong days.” You may be sure the evil king will do no less to the poor. The poor have nothing to protect them and fall prey to this evil ruler.Ī ranging bear and a lion will destroy the helpless. Proverbs 28:15 “ a roaring lion, and a ranging bear a wicked ruler over the poor people.”Ī roaring lion goes seeking whom he may devour. We will get into this more (in verse 18 below). If we harden our heart to God, it opens the door to Satan and all of his evil. Just as Pharaoh of Egypt hardened his heart and had terrible consequences, hardening the heart causes us not to accept God and that is disastrous. To reject God’s offer of forgiveness and cling to one’s sin is to accumulate more of God’s wrath and earn a severer judgment. This is a refusal to repent and accept God’s pardon of sin through Jesus Christ. This “hardening” is speaking of spiritual hardening of the heart. This is reverence, as we have said many times before. The only fear permissible is fear of the Lord. This is speaking of godly fear unto salvation. Proverbs 28:14 “Happy the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.” He loves us and forgives us if we confess and ask forgiveness. If we cover our sins, God will not forgive them. In 1 John 1:8-9 we read, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh shall have mercy.”