Revere the Word

"Whoever despises the the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded" (Prov. 13:13, ESV).

This proverb is about one's attitude toward the revealed word of God. Solomon offers a warning through this proverb, one that is often ignored because of a misconception on our parts.  We often use the images we associate with such terms to help us interpret them when we read them in the Scripture.  These images can help us to understand what it means to despise something, but they may mislead us also.

When I think of someone despising something, I imagine them seeking to destroy it.  Sometimes I envision the person publicly protesting the thing (or person) they despise.  Images from news casts, commercials, television shows, movies, and books flood my mind.  Most of these images have violent content or passionate emotional responses attached to them.  They lead us to assume that every mention of the word, despise (or hate), carries with it strong emotions that lead to public outcry or militant resistance, but that is not always the case.

When Solomon says, "Whoever despises the word," he is not only talking those who seek its destruction, or publicly protest it.  Many people who despise the Word do so without every trying to destroy it, and never utter a complaint against it.  Many of them poses a copy of the Bible and display it with great pride.  They may even speak highly of its contents, characters, and themes.  They may study it, memorize it, and quote it with ease.

Yet, in all of their affirmation one thing is missing: obedience. Even in the absence of negative emotions, one can despise something.  Let's say I am driving down a road and encounter a sign warning me of a collapsed bridge ahead.  Let's say I shrug it off, and drive off a cliff.  It can still be said that I despised the sign.  Failure to heed the warning is the same as defying the warning.  Failure to respond in obedient faith to the Word is the same as despising the Word.

Conversely, revering the commandment means obeying it.  Where there is no obedience, there is no reverence.  We can't really say we understand the Word, if we are not doing what it says.  Obedience brings reward; disobedience brings destruction.  Therefore, we must choose the course we will follow: reverent obedience to the Word or rebellious disobedience to it.  It doesn't matter if rebellion is red hot defiance or cool apathy.  God still views it as despising his Word, and it leads to destruction.  Revering the word leads to reward.