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15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
A fool despises his father’s instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
whoever hates reproof will die.
Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD;
how much more the hearts of the children of man!
A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD
than great treasure and trouble with it.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,
but the path of the upright is a level highway.
A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and a word in season, how good it is!
The path of life leads upward for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
The LORD tears down the house of the proud
but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,
but gracious words are pure.
Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,
but he who hates bribes will live.
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
The LORD is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes the bones.
The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.
(ESV)
“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!
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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.