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HOW TO HANDLE HEARTS
AS FAT AS GREASE
If someone were to describe
you as having a heart "as fat as grease", how would you feel? Would you
feel complimented?
In Psalm 119:70, the Psalmist declares of the proud - "Their heart is as
fat as grease..."
It is not a compliment, in any sense, for it means that that they are
calloused, past feeling, senseless, dull, secured, and stupid.
Throughout the Book of Psalms, the Proud are mentioned repeatedly. Who are
they exactly?
They are those who are arrogant, godless, at ease, given over to vile
affections, sensual, full of the world, and devoid of any spiritual
desires.
They are of an exalted rank; living the high life; prosperous; having
health, property, influence, and great power; and having no regard for
God's Holy Law.
Do you know of anyone who fits this description?
Because of their exalted position in life, they have a tendency to come
against those who are humble, weak, godly, and without worldly influence,
power, or wealth.
Throughout the Book of Psalms, we see that there are four basic ways in
which they come against the innocent -
1. They Oppress Us
Psalm 36:11 - "Let not the foot of pride come against me..."
Psalm 119:122 - "...let not the proud oppress me."
When the "foot of pride" comes against us, we feel as though we have been
trampled underfoot by their might, power, and influence. Have you ever
felt this way by anyone who was in an exalted position over you? Perhaps
you have encountered this treatment coming from an employer, fellow
worker, landlord, realtor, banker, teacher, parent, spouse, or even,
unfortunately, a Spiritual Leader like a Pastor. You have had people like
this oppress you - crush you in your emotions - by constantly running you
down among others.
2. They Remove Us
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Psalm 36:11 - "...let not the
hand of the wicked remove me."
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Psalm 31:20 - "Thou shalt
hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man..."
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Psalm 119:85 - "The proud
have digged pits for me..."
In what ways do the proud
seek to remove us? They try to do so in three ways.
First of all, David referred to the attempt of the wicked to destroy him
physically.
Secondly, they may try to remove us from our position of Victory in Christ
by causing us much sorrow and trouble.
Lastly, through enticements and temptations, they may try to shake us from
our position of purity and integrity, and cause us to stumble and fall or
wander from God.
They are said to dig "pits" for us, hoping that we will fall into them and
be destroyed or fall from our exalted position in Christ.
3. They Misrepresent Us
The proud aim at taking away
our good name. Hence, they misrepresent, belie, and defame us as false and
hypocrites.
As small patches in a quilt, they drop a word here and there - an
accusation here and a false charge there - intending to paint a full and
false picture about us. Through strife of tongues, slander, calumny, and
reproach, they seek to ruin us in the eyes of others.
They conspire and set up leagues against us. They pick quarrels with us to
get us to react in the flesh to their insulting, nonsensical comments and
reasonings. By covert and underminded means and spiteful acts, they
treacherously lay snares and traps for our downfall.
4. They Ridicule Us
Psalm 119:51 - "The proud
have had me greatly in derision..."
Because of our holiness of heart and life, serious piety, godly standards
and scruples, and upright behavior, the proud treat us with contempt. They
ridicule and scorn us every chance that they can get. They treat us with
oppressive cruelty. They mock us for our Christian faith and laugh at us
because we will not join them in their ungodly pursuits, pastimes, and
frivolities.
How should we react to such treatment? What do the Scriptures direct us to
do?
In spite of the cruel and oppressive treatment from the proud, the
Scriptures admonish us to Live for God no matter what.
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Psalm 119:69 - In spite of
their ill-treatment, the Psalmist confessed - "...but I will keep Thy
precepts with my whole heart."
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Psalm 119:70 - He also
declared - "...but I will delight in Thy law."
In other words, in spite of
their ridicule, we are to have a Fixed Purpose to entirely and always obey
God. It does not matter who likes it or what reaction we get from others -
we are to always be Faithful unto Him.
Psalm 119:51 - The Psalmist openly declared - "The proud have had me
greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from Thy law."
We must never -
...turn aside from keeping God's law
...shrink from our Christian duties in order to please any man
...quit speaking out for the Lord because of the ridicule and scorn that
we may receive from others
...let an opportunity to do good slip us by because we are afraid that we
will be mocked and jeered.
We must always seek to be all that Jesus wants us to be no matter who
likes it in this world.
God will "take care" of the proud man. His day of reckoning is coming.
Psalm 9:15-17 informs us of his final outcome if he does not repent -
"The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which
they hid is their own foot taken.
The LORD is known by the judgment which He executeth: the wicked is snared
in the work of his own hands. Higgaion.
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget
God."
Psalm 9:18 assures us- "For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the
expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever."
God will come through for us.
When the proud come against us, He will be sure to -
...hide us secretly in a pavilion from their ridicule
...withdraw us from public view unto Himself and protect us from their
scorn and slander
...draw us unto Himself - into the "secret place of the Most High...under
the shadow of the Almighty."
...take us into His innermost meeting place, commune, and meet with us.
Be encouraged today, O Blessed Saint of God!
Your God fights for you.
Your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Keep on keeping on.
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
2 Kings 6:16 - "...Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they
that be with them."
Acts 18:9-10 -"...Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I
am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much
people in this city."
May God Bless His Word.
Connie
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