Proverbs 11:20 (Mini Sermon)

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20. Pro 11:20 – "They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight." A. They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: i. Definitions a. Froward adj. – 1. Disposed to go counter to what is demanded or what is reasonable; perverse, difficult to deal with, hard to please; refractory, ungovernable; also, in a wider sense, bad, evilly-disposed, ‘naughty’. (The opposite of toward.) b. Heart n. – ** As the seat of feeling, understanding, and thought. 5. a. = mind, in the widest sense, including the functions of feeling, volition, and intellect. 6. a. The seat of one's inmost thoughts and secret feelings; one's inmost being; the depths of the soul; the soul, the spirit. 9. a. The seat of the emotions generally; the emotional nature, as distinguished from the intellectual nature placed in the head. c. Abomination n. - 1. The feeling or state of mind of combined disgust and hatred; abhorrence, detestation, loathing. d. In other words, God hates, abhors, detests, loathes, and is disgusted with those who have ideas, thoughts, feelings, and emotions that are ungovernable, difficult to deal with, and are disposed to go counter to what is demanded and reasonable. ii. God hates froward people (Pro 3:32). iii. People with a froward heart devise mischief continually (Pro 6:14). a. God hates a heart that devises wicked imaginations (Pro 6:16, 18). b. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD (Pro 15:26). c. God not only hates froward hearts, but He hates those who have them (Pro 11:20). iv. The following behavior is indicative of a froward heart that is disposed to go counter to what God commands in His word, and the person who does these things is therefore hated by God. a. Practicing idolatry, divination, witchcraft, Satanism, occultism, etc. (Deut 18:10-12 c/w Gal 5:20). b. Cross-dressing, transgenderism, etc. (Deut 22:5 c/w 1Co 6:9). c. Dishonesty or fraud in business (Deut 25:13-16; Pro 11:1). d. Defending the wicked and condemning the just (Pro 17:15). v. God hates a froward mouth which speaks what comes out of a froward heart (Pro 8:13; Mat 12:34). vi. God will show Himself froward with the froward (Psa 18:26). vii. The froward man has a life of difficulty ahead of him (Pro 22:5). B. but such as are upright in their way are his delight. i. Definitions a. Upright adj. – III. fig. 8. a. Of persons: Adhering to or following correct moral principles; of unbending integrity or rectitude; morally just, honest, or honourable. b. Way n. – III. Course of life or action, means, manner. 11. a. A path or course of life; the activities and fortunes of a person. b. pl. Habits of life, esp. with regard to moral conduct. c. Delight n. – 1. a. The fact or condition of being delighted; pleasure, joy, or gratification felt in a high degree. 2. Anything in which one takes delight, or which affords delight; an object of delight; a source of great pleasure or joy. d. In other words, those who adhere to and follow correct moral principles and are morally just and honest with unbending integrity in their course of life, actions, and activities bring God a high degree of pleasure, joy, and gratification. ii. Whereas God hates those who have froward hearts, He loves those who act uprightly. a. God loves righteousness (Psa 11:7; Heb 1:9). b. God loves the righteous (Psa 146:8). iii. Those who are upright keep themselves from sin (2Sa 22:24; Psa 19:13). a. Righteousness keeps the upright in the way (Pro 13:6). b. The way of the upright is to depart from evil (Pro 16:17; Pro 21:29). iv. God delights in the upright who live by His word. a. God delights in those who understand and know Him, and in the exercising of lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth (Jer 9:24). b. God delights in those who deal truly and honestly (Pro 12:22). c. God delights in the prayers of His upright children (Pro 15:8). v. If you want to make God happy, it is by ordering your life according to the Holy Scriptures.