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Proverbs 15 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
“The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good.”
Proverbs 15:3 HCSB
This is a soothing reminder to all of us who are surprised by what happens in the world today. We wonder, is God really here? Are we losing control? Does He really see what’s happening?
Rest assured, He does. How do we know? Revelation 8:3-4 is the evidence that God hears these prayers from His people.
“Another angel, who had a gold incense container, came and stood at the altar. He was given a lot of incense to add to the prayers of all God’s people and to offer it on the gold altar that stands before the throne. 4 The smoke of the burning incense went up with the prayers of God’s people from the hands of the angel standing before God.”
Revelation 8:3-4 GNB
Like an aroma that peaks our nostrils, our prayers are fully inhaled by God. Prayers are like breath. They should come out of God’s people as naturally as carbon dioxide. As we exhale our junk, we inhale God’s presence. His peace, love, provision, and strength are propelled into our souls.
This is nothing new for mankind. It was God who breathed life into us at our creation (Genesis 2). It was Jesus who exhaled the Holy Spirit upon his disciples.
“Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
John 20:21-22 GNB
This incense combined with the prayers of God’s people in Revelation 8 precedes the unleashing of the Seventh Seal. There are cataclysmic changes that hinge upon our prayers. God sees all and knows all, yet, He involves His children in His plan to redeem the hurting and bring justice to the rebels. If we believe that God’s eyes are everywhere, we will pray accordingly. If we do not believe He is everywhere, we will slip into fear and anxiety over events we cannot control.
We must live, act, and pray believing that the eyes of the Lord see all. He is watching the good, the bad and the ugly. His promise of a New Heaven and New Earth for all believers will not go unfulfilled. He is faithful. Rest in His faithfulness. Even so, come Lord Jesus!
When a women is pregnant during that nine months her body makes many changes some can be quite uncomfortable or painful in preparation for the birth of her baby. I believe our prayer life is much like that the growing and stretching of ones faith in anticipation of the answer to your prayer. It is difficult to pray for your enemies so that our heart is one in the Lord. I reminded someone that it is easy to pray when things are going well but your faith is greatly deepened when things aren't going well. I am thankful for a God who knows our heart and hears our prayers even when we can't get the words out.