The Fear of God

Despising God

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Biblical Worldview

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2026-02-22

Synopsis: John Weaver examines Proverbs 14:2 to show that walking perversely is equivalent to despising God. He argues that even genuine Christians can despise God by despising His Word, promises, and providence. Using the principle of lex talionis (law of retribution), he warns that God despises those who despise Him, and calls believers to walk in uprightness and fear the Lord.

[John Weaver] All right, let's open our Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Proverbs, chapter 14, and look, if you would please, at verse 2. Proverbs, chapter 14, and verse 2. The title of the message is Despising God. Despising God. So, look in Proverbs, chapter 14, verse 2. The Bible says, He that walketh in his uprightness, feareth the Lord. But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. Look at that one more time.

[John Weaver] We're going to go over it several times. He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord, but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. Each one of us have used the word despise over and over. And we use that word in regards to almost everything. We despise persons. things, events, actions, attitude, conduct, personalities, and sometimes we even despise our own lives. But usually when we use the word despise, we're talking to someone and in a fit of anger or loss of control, we say, I despise you.

[John Weaver] Many people have not understood that there is such a thing as a temporary despisement. And usually once we calm down and we get everything back in perspective, We're sorry we said that. We may dislike things about that individual, but we certainly do not really and truly despise them. There is not only a temporary despisement, but there is also a permanent despisement, which I'll talk about a little bit later.

[John Weaver] And so, I'm building up to tell you this, and this is not a side note. This is a fact. We often despise God. And I'm not talking about the wicked, I'm not talking about the lost, I'm not talking about the ungodly, I'm talking about Christians. It is possible, and I will show it to you, it is possible that a real, genuine Christian, a true believer, can despise his Heavenly Father. Now, we know and understand what it is for the wicked to despise God, but for a child of God to despise his Heavenly Father, is something that we've not really considered. So have you ever considered the fact that we can despise God? Have you ever pondered on how we despise God? And by the way, let me just go ahead and tell you concerning our English word despise. Here's what it means.

[John Weaver] It means to regard with contempt, distaste, disgust, disdain, scorn, and to loathe. In other words, we scorn God, we loathe God, we disdain God. And I'm going to show you before I finish today that the Hebrew words mean exactly the same as our English word.

[John Weaver] Now, the truth of the matter is this. This is a grievous sin and God does not take this sin lightly. In fact, the truth of the matter is, in God's retributive justice, There is something known as the Lex Talionis. That is Latin for the law of retribution. That is where God makes the punishment fit the crime, or God makes the punishment fit the sin. So before I begin, I want to give you a good, clear illustration. I want you to turn in your Bibles, whole Proverbs 14, but turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 2, if you would. 1 Samuel chapter 2.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note here's a story of Eli and his sons. You remember that Eli was an elderly priest. His two sons were priests in his stead and his two sons were exceedingly wicked and vile. And although Eli rebuked his sons, he did not restrain them. And God now is turning to judge not only Eli, but his sons as well. So if you look in 1 Samuel chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 23. Well, let's read verse 22.

[John Weaver] Now Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they were adulterers, they were fornicators. That's not all, but that's one of their main sins. And he said unto them, Why do you such things? For I hear of your evil doings by all this people. Nay, my sons, it is no good report that I hear. You make the Lord's people to transgress. And then he says this, If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against the Lord, Who shall entreat for him?

[John Weaver] Now watch this last sentence. Notwithstanding, they hearken not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would destroy them.

[John Weaver] Now, these boys were exceedingly wicked. So let's skip down to verse 27. And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt at Beirut's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?" Now look what he said,"'Wherefore kick you at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation and honors thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the cheapest of all the offerings of Israel my people." Now, if you would read all of the story, God did prescribe certain parts of the sacrifice for the priest. But when the people would bring the sacrifice, the priest's servants would go out and say, no, he's not going to have it like this.

[John Weaver] He's going to take this part and he's going to take that part. He wants it roasted. He didn't want it sodden. And they would steal the sacrifice. And notice, if you would, now verse 30. Wherefore, the Lord God of Israel said, I said that I said, indeed, that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord said, be it far from me.

[John Weaver] For them that honor me, I will honor and they that despise me. Shall be lightly esteemed, behold, the days come that I will cut off an arm and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, and all the wealth which God shall give Israel, and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart, and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon my two sons, upon Hophni and Phinehas, and one day shall die both of them."

[John Weaver] Now God says, you have despised me, you've honored yourself and you've honored your sons above me, and now all of this curse comes upon Eli and his household. Now I want you to go back to verse 30. Look in verse 30, 1 Samuel 2. Wherefore the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord said, be it far from me. Look at this principle.

[John Weaver] For them that honor me, will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Now, the Hebrew word for lightly esteemed is the word qalal, and it means to be cursed. to be treated as light and insignificant, to appear trifling, and to be made despicable and to be lightly esteemed. So God says, those that despise me, those that count me as a despicable being, I'm going to despise them.

[John Weaver] So let me repeat this again. In God's retributive justice, there's the principle of lex talionis, That is the law of retribution where God makes the punishment fit the crime. Eli and his sons despised God and God ended up despising them.

[John Weaver] Now we have to understand the context of Proverbs chapter 14. So I want you to go back there and not only look at the context, I want us mainly to look at the words in verse 2 so that we can comprehend how this would apply to us today. I'm just going to show you it's absolutely possible for a Christian, a child of God, to despise his Heavenly Father. So, if you look in verse 2 of Proverbs 14, the Word of God says, He that walketh in his uprightness, deareth the Lord, but he that is perverse in his ways, despiseth him. Now, first of all, you must take note of the word walketh. The Hebrew word is the word halakh.

[John Weaver] And it means to walk, to proceed, to traverse, and to walk about. Now, walking is a continuous action, and it indicates a way of life. For instance, you walked in here and sat down, you'll get up and walk out, you'll walk to your car, you'll go to your home, you'll get out, you'll walk there. In other words, we're constantly moving, we're constantly walking, and usually, We are traversing in certain paths and certain ways.

[John Weaver] We do things the same every day. We are creatures of habit. We have our walk. We have our way.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look at verse 2 again. He that walketh.

[John Weaver] Now, a walk is a way. Your walk is your way. Your walk and your way is your way of life. It is how you live. If you look back in your Bibles, whole Proverbs, but look back in your Bibles to Psalm 1, and look at verse 6, Psalm 1 verse 6, and look at what the scripture says. This demonstrates our walk. Psalm 1 verse 6, the Bible says, For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, or the walk of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

[John Weaver] So you have two different ways right here. You have the way of the ungodly, you have the way of the righteous. You have the walk of the ungodly, you have the walk of the righteous as well. So, go back if you would now to Proverbs 14, look again at verse 2. We understand the word walketh. He that walketh in his uprightness. Now the Hebrew word for uprightness is the word yoshur, and it means that which is straight, that which is moral, that which is ethical, that which is right and righteous and meet." So when he says, he that walketh in his uprightness, he's talking about he that is walking according to the word of the Lord, according to the law of God. He's walking in obedience to God. So he says, he that walketh in his uprightness. Notice if you would, verse two again, he that walketh in his uprightness, feareth the Lord. So this validates the interpretation of walking in his uprightness because fearing the Lord means that we obey him. When we fear God, we reverence him.

[John Weaver] We honor him. We respect and fear him. Consequently, we obey him. So the contrast is going to be, I trust, exceedingly clear. So watch it now. He that walketh in his uprightness, feareth the Lord. Here's the second part. But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. So you have those that love the Lord that walk in uprightness and obey him. You have those that hate the Lord and they're perverse in their ways and they despise God.

[John Weaver] Now, let's look at the words. He says, but he that is perverse. The word perverse is the Hebrew word And it means one that departs, one that turns aside, one that goes wrong, one that becomes crooked. That's what the word perverse means. So again, look, if you would, at the context. When he says, he that walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he that is perverse, he that is crooked, what? If someone is crooked, if someone departs from the way, in this verse, whose way are they departing from? And whose way are they leaving? Obviously God and His Word that is true. Now watch it. He says in verse 2, He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord, but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. Now the word despiseth is the word boshog, and it means to hold in contempt, to regard with contempt, listen, to treat as vile, worthless, and despicable. Wow.

[John Weaver] Now you put this together, please. There is one who walks in his uprightness, in his obedience, and he fears the Lord. And there's one that is perverse, crooked, in his ways, in his walk, in his life, and he despises God. So I want you to note now closely that uprightness and fearing God are opposites of perverseness and despising God. So I want you to listen to me very carefully. Here we go. We're talking about two ways. We're talking about two walks. We're talking about an individual who walks in his uprightness and fears God. And we're also talking about an individual who's perverse in his ways and despises God. So listen carefully. It is impossible, absolutely, totally, completely impossible for both of these to be in one person simultaneously. What do I mean? I mean you're either walking in your rightness and fear in God, or you're walking in perverseness, in sin and wickedness, and you're despising God. You cannot have both actions, both attitudes, in one person at the same time. It's absolutely, totally impossible.

[John Weaver] So you're either obedient and walking in righteousness and fear in God, or you're disobedient and you're perversing your ways and you're despising God. So let me show you. Turn over now to Proverbs 19. Proverbs 19. Look, if you would please, at verse 3. Proverbs 19, verse 3. The Bible says, The foolishness of man perverteth his way, and his heart critteth against the Lord. Now, we talk about walking perversely. back in 14.2, now we see the foolishness of man perverted his way and his heart fretted against the Lord.

[John Weaver] Now, the fool in the Bible is not a mentally deficient person. The fool in the Bible is someone who will not listen. Someone who will not receive correction. Someone who will not receive instruction. someone who cannot be taught. So, let me show you. He said now, the foolishness of man perverted his ways. Foolishness is opposition to truth. So, look back in your Bibles to Proverbs 15 and verse 5. Look at this. Proverbs 15 verse 5.

[John Weaver] Follow me now, three verses. Proverbs 15 verse 5, a fool despises his father's instruction. But he that regardeth the reproof is prudent. So there's the difference between a prudent man and a fool. What did he say? A fool despises his father's instruction. He will not listen. Look in Proverbs chapter 18 and verse 2. Proverbs 18 verse 2. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. So a fool's not interested in understanding, being taught. All he's interested in is playing and doing whatever pleases him and satisfies him. He has no desire for instruction. So if you'll look now to Proverbs 27 and verse 22. Proverbs 27, verse 22.

[John Weaver] The Word of God says, though thou shouldst bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, you're pushing him down, you're beating him down, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. Why will his foolishness not depart? Because he's not going to receive instruction. He's not going to receive chastisement. He's not going to receive correction.

[John Weaver] Now, if you'll put this together and go back to Proverbs 19, verse three, look at this. The foolishness of man perverted his way. What is it that perverts our way? The fact that we will not listen, the fact that we will not learn, that we will not receive instruction, that we refuse to be instructed. So it's the foolishness of man that perverted his way. Now, listen to me. When you will not receive the truth, when you will not be taught the truth, you will believe a lie. Those who refuse to hear God's truth already believe a lie. So, he says that the foolish is a man perverteth his way.

[John Weaver] So, obviously the word pervert here is the Hebrew word shalach. It means to twist, to pervert, to distort, to subvert and to turn upside down and to overthrow.

[John Weaver] Now I'm going to give you a good illustration. I want you to hold Proverbs 19 verse 3 and I want you to turn in your Bibles to Isaiah 47 and I want you to look at verse 10. Isaiah 47 and verse 10.

[John Weaver] Now I'm talking about despising the person of God. I want you to look at this. Isaiah 47 and verse 10. Look what God says, for thou hast trusted in thy wickedness, thou hast said, none seeth me. Now look what God says, thy wisdom and thy knowledge, that is humanistic wisdom and knowledge, knowledge apart from God, thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee, and thou hast said in thine heart, I am and none else beside me. In other words, I'm my own God, I make my own law, I do what I will. And so God says, it's your wisdom. It's your understanding. It's your knowledge that perverts your way, because your way is not my way.

[John Weaver] And your thoughts are not my thoughts, saith the Lord. So obviously, when you go back now to Proverbs 19 verse 3, look at this. It's the foolishness of man. He won't be taught by God. He won't accept the word of God. He won't receive the preaching and teaching of God. And so he is perverted in his way, in his walk, in his life. Moreover, look at the latter part of that verse. And his heart fretteth against the Lord.

[John Weaver] Now the word fretteth is the Hebrew word zaoth and it literally means to fret, to be wroth, to be vexed, to be angry and to be enraged. So it means then that the foolish man is basically enraged against God. He hates God. He's angry with God. So here is the truth. It is true that the wicked man and the foolish man fights against God hates God is angry with God but it's also possible that I'm going to show you for a Christian to do the same thing not in the way the wicked does but we indeed do it. So look in your Bibles to the book of Proverbs chapter 19 and verse 16 you see Whenever we despise God, His person, we despise His word. Okay? Now watch this. Proverbs 19, verse 16. So God says if you keep the commandments, that is, if you walk in the way of my law and of my word, you keep your own soul.

[John Weaver] You are in essence despising your own soul and you shall die. So, the Hebrew word for despise here is exactly the same word that is used in Proverbs 14 and verse 2. So, the despisement of God's law, the despisement of God's commandments always end in death. There are multiple ways to die. You may die physically, you may die spiritually, you may die financially, you may die familially, you may die ecclesiastically, you may die mentally, you may die emotionally, many ways to die. However you violate God's law, however you despise God and his word, you're going to die in that area.

[John Weaver] That's just plain Now, if you'll turn in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 26, I want you to watch this. Leviticus chapter 26 and let's begin reading there with verse 13. Leviticus 26 and verse 13. Look what God says. Leviticus 26 verse 13. I am the Lord your God which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt. That you should not be their bondman.

[John Weaver] And I've broken the bands of your yoke and made you to go up right. That is to be moral, to be ethical, to walk in that which God has commanded. I made you to go up right, but look in verse 14. But if you will not hearken unto me. And will not do all these commandments. And if you shall despise my statute, or if you're a soul of horror, or hate my judgments, so that you will not do all my commandments, but that you will break my covenant, I also will do this unto you.

[John Weaver] I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague that shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. You shall sow your seed in vain, and your enemies shall eat it." And you can read all the way down for all the curses that come upon despising God and his word.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm going to point something out. I have had this question asked of me innumerable times. And here it is. I've had Christians ask me, Pastor, I prayed about something. I pray and I pray and I pray. But seemingly my prayers are never answered. Why are my prayers unanswered? Well, there are a lot of answers that I could give you, but I'm going to show you what I believe is one of the main ones.

[John Weaver] If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Proverbs chapter 28, Proverbs 28. And I want you to look at verse 9, Proverbs 28 and verse 9. Look what the word of God says. Proverbs 28, verse 9. Proverbs 28, verse 9. Here it is. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination. Now, of course, you know the word abomination means a stench in the nostrils. God said, he that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.

[John Weaver] Now remember, I told you about the lex talionis. That's where God makes the punishment fit to crime. So here we go. Listen carefully. Proverbs 28, verse 9. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination. So here's the question. If you will not hear God. Why should God hear you? If you despise his words, Do you not understand why he despises your words?

[John Weaver] You follow what I'm saying? It's the Lex Talionis.

[John Weaver] Now, it's important to understand that the easiest and simplest way to despise the person of God is really to despise his word. You refuse to read it. You refuse to study it. You refuse to obey it. You refuse to apply it. And when you refuse to do those things, you are despising God. In other words, you consider his word unimportant and unnecessary in your life. You count it a waste of time. You're disdaining it. You're treating it with contempt and as if it is insignificant.

[John Weaver] We're not like David when David said in Psalm 119 verse 127, Therefore I love like a mammoth above gold, yea, more than thine gold. The truth of the matter is, you cannot separate God from his word. David said it like this in Psalm 138 and verse 2. So whoever despises God's word, despises God himself. I don't have to repeat this. I've given it to you before, but I hope you remember in 2 Samuel chapter 12, when God was judging David because of his adultery with Bathsheba and killing Uriah, her husband, with the sword of the children of Ammon. Goodness! What did Nathan say? He said, and he was quoting God, Thou hast despised my commandments. And in the next verse, God said, Thou hast despised me. So you cannot despise God's commandments, you cannot despise God's word without despising the God who gave the word. So if you do not wish to despise the person of God, do not despise his word.

[John Weaver] He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord, but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. So you can not only despise the person of God, but you can also, secondly, despise the promises of God.

[John Weaver] Now, you know as well as I do that God gave the promised land to Abraham and his seed. But what happened? You can read all about it in Numbers 11 through Numbers 14. The people barely ate the wine and complained and thighs and even even 10 of the 12 spies brought back a bad report they said it's a land that he did up the inhabitants thereof it's it's no promised land whatsoever besides that there are giants in it in fact God said despise ye my

[John Weaver] promises now God does not lie God himself is truth In 2 Corinthians chapter 1 in verse 20, the Bible says, For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us. All the promises of God are yea and amen. Solomon, praying in 1 Kings chapter 8 in verse 56 said this, Blessed be the Lord God, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he hath promised, there hath not failed one word of all his good promise which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant." He said nothing has failed. God gave us a promise and God fulfilled it.

[John Weaver] Have you ever wondered why at times your heart is filled with unbelief? Have you ever wondered why seemingly you think the promises of God are for others, but they're not for you? And have you ever considered the fact that when you look at the promises and the blessings of God in the Bible, you think, well, they're there, but I'm not worthy. Well, here is the truth. You're not worthy and you never will be worthy. But if you're in Jesus Christ, he is the one who makes you worthy.

[John Weaver] We have no righteousness of our own. We have no obedience of our own. We have no works of our own. We have absolutely zilch, nothing, zero. But Jesus Christ has everything. And the Bible tells you, in Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 3, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Did you know the Bible says, in 2 Peter 1 and verse 4, whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption of the world through lust. In other words, God has given us all of these promises. We cannot dismiss the promises of God. We cannot despise the promises of God. Each of these promises are for his children and we must relish them and we must love them and we must live in them and live by them and live through them. He does not fail, neither do his promises. So we can not only despise the person of God by despising his word.

[John Weaver] But we can also despise the promises of God. Because clearly. We just. Ignore them and act like they're not even there. Never claim them. Never seek for them. Never ask God's blessing whatsoever. Wow. Now watch this. Here's a third thing. You can despise God's person. You can despise God's promises. And thirdly, you can despise God's providence. Despising God's providence is one of the most simple ways it's the easiest way it is the way that we sin against him unthinkingly because the truth of the matter is we often despise his providence because we do not think of him we're fallen human beings we are sinners and it's natural and easy for us to do so things do not always go right for us Things do not go according to the way we plan. Things do not go the way we want them to go. And sometimes we're upset not only about what has happened, but what is happening, and even what may happen. I don't know how we can be upset about that, but when we think about that, it upsets us as well.

[John Weaver] We just don't like it. And hence, we bellyache, and we complain, and we just do not understand. You heard me say this innumerable times. I'm going to say it again. There's no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world ruled by God. We only have God's sovereign providence and God brings to pass things in our lives for our good and his glory. Now, we may not think that they are for our good, but they are ultimately for our good. He makes them redound for our good. We may not understand, we may not like it, we may not appreciate it, but it is still ultimately for our good.

[John Weaver] And so what we end up doing is what ancient Israel did in complaining and bellyaching of whiting, and we do it incessantly. I want you to turn back in your Bibles, if you would, to Numbers chapter 11. I'm going to read a little passage for you. And I want you to watch and see what has happened here. Numbers chapter 11 and let's begin with verse 4 and we'll read all the way through verse 23. OK. Watch this. Numbers 11 verse 4.

[John Weaver] And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting. And the children of Israel also wept again and said, who shall give us flesh to eat? Look what they said. We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely, the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlics. But now our soul is dried away. There's nothing at all besides this manna before our eyes. And the manna was of coriander seed, and the color there was the color of edulum.

[John Weaver] And the people went about and gathered in, grounded in mills, beat it in the mortar and baked it in pans and made cakes of it, and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. And when the dew fell upon the camp of the night, the manna fell upon it. Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent, and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased. And Moses said to the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? And wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Have I conceived all this people?

[John Weaver] Have I begotten them, that thou shouldst say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth a sucking child, unto the land which thou swearest unto their fathers? Whence should I have flesh to give unto all these people? For they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people alone. because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand. If I have found favour in thy sight, let me not see my wretchedness. And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers among them, and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. Now watch. And I will come down and with thee there this is significant and I will take the spirit which is upon thee and will put upon them and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee that thou bear it not thyself alone don't you look what God said God said Moses you

[John Weaver] said you're unable to do it by yourself fine I'll give you some help but look what he did I'll take some of the spirit off you and give to them. In other words, Moses was capable through God in and of himself, but it was a burden to him. And so God gave him these other 70.

[John Weaver] Now watch, if you would, verse 18. And say thou unto the people, sanctify yourselves again, I guess, tomorrow, and you shall eat flesh. For you have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt Therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and you shall eat. You shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days, but even a whole month, until it come out your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you, because that you have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? And Moses said, The people among whom I am are 600,000 footmen. And thou hast said, I will give them flesh, and they may eat a whole month.

[John Weaver] Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them to suffice them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them to suffice them? And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxen short? Thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. And Moses went out.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to know something. Look at this, if you would, please. God had given them manna. The manna was not just from heaven. The manna was from God. The manna was an absolutely perfect food. It was everything that they needed for their nourishment and for their sustenance. But they were not content with what God gave. They wanted meat. And they remembered what they used to eat in Egypt when they were in slavery.

[John Weaver] In fact, these people were so intent. They were even talking about making a captain and going back into Egypt just so they could have their fish and onion and garlic and leeks. God said, you want meat? I'll give it to you. I'll let you have it. And you can eat it till it comes out your nostrils. You'll be tired of it. You won't care anything about it.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you something. When I was 12 years old, I went to spend a week with my aunt and uncle. They had a bakery. I ate doughnuts. I ate cream filled doughnuts. I ate plain doughnuts. I ate chocolate covered doughnuts. I ate jelly doughnuts. I ate more doughnuts than you can shake a stick at. and i got news for you after that week i was so sick of donuts i don't even like them today that's what god said here and by the way you need to read the rest of this and also in psalm 105 i think it is where when god gave them the the quail

[John Weaver] guess what while the flesh was in their teeth god slew the fattest of them do you realize Sometimes one of the greatest judgments that we experience is when God lets us have what we want. When we want something so badly, even though it's conjured as well, God said, all right, I'll give it to you. And then when you get it, you wish you'd never, ever had it.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look in Numbers 11 in verse 31, The Bible says this, It was chewed. The wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague. And he called the name of that place Hebron. Because there they buried the people that lusted. Wow. It's a bad judgment when God gives us what we want, when we want something contrary to his word and his will.

[John Weaver] Now, somebody's going to say, well, wow, I'm glad I wasn't in the Old Testament and I'm glad I wasn't there with Moses and those people. Can you learn from what happened to them? Let me show you. Turn in your Bibles, first of all, to Romans chapter 15. And then secondly, I want you to go to 1 Corinthians chapter 10. But we're going to Romans chapter 15 first. Then we'll go to 1 Corinthians. Look in Romans chapter 15 and verse 4. Romans 15 verse 4. Look at what is said. Romans 15 verse 4. For whatsoever things were written aforehand, that's the Old Testament. Everything in the Old Testament. Whatsoever things were written beforehand were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

[John Weaver] There is a lesson to be learned from Numbers 11. There's a lesson to be learned from every illustration, every story, every scripture in the Old Testament. Once there was written a four time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

[John Weaver] Now turn to first Corinthians chapter 10. And let's begin reading there with verse 1. Watch this. 1 Corinthians 10, verse 1. The apostle Paul says, Brethren, vulgar brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, that's the crossing of the Red Sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the

[John Weaver] same spiritual meat, And it all drank the same spiritual drink for that drink that they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them. And that rock was Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, look at the first five, but with many of them, God was not well pleased. That is all but two, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now look at verse six.

[John Weaver] Now, these things were our examples. To the intent, we should not lust after evil things. as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and arose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of the serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Look in verse 11, Now all these things happened unto them for examples and they're written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come. So God is saying that everything that happened is for our admonition. I confess we find and we complain and we murmur and we bellyache all the time.

[John Weaver] I catch myself whining and bellyaching any time I have to stop at a railroad crossing for a train that's 40 miles long. And I try to say, well, Lord, let me just at least pray while I'm sitting here. I mean, you know, you can't do anything. You really can't read, but you can pray. But, you know, we don't like it because it gets in our way. We built it. It's kind of like that old adage. You heard it.

[John Weaver] I complained when I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet. There's always someone far worse off than we are.

[John Weaver] Now let me tell you something. If we ever understand this simple truth, We do not deserve anything. We do not deserve the least of God's mercies. If we understand we really don't deserve anything from God except justice, it would tend to make us a little more thankful and more appreciative for his mercies toward us and what we do have. I may not have a new truck, but at least I have a truck. You follow me? I'm just simply pointing out the fact when we deserve nothing and we understand we deserve nothing, it makes us more appreciative of everything that God has given us.

[John Weaver] Now, let me try to tie some things together and make some applications. Here's the first one. We have to keep our hearts and minds in such a way that we have to learn not to despise God's person. His promises are His providence. Will you stop and think about this. If God says, thou shalt not steal. And I come over to Brother Jim and I try to steal from him.

[John Weaver] I'm not just taking that which does not belong to me. I'm despising the God who said thou shalt not steal. I'm saying I don't regard his sovereignty. I don't regard his command. I'm like Pharaoh. When Moses said, thus saith the Lord, let my people go. Pharaoh said, I know not the Lord, neither will I let thy people go. No, no, no. I'm going to do what I'm going to do. It's a despising of God. Sometimes when we do sin against God, God chastens us. And do you realize? three times in the Bible, we are told that we're not to despise the chastening of God.

[John Weaver] You'll find that in Job 5, 17, Proverbs 3, 11, and Hebrews chapter 12 in verse 5. Moreover, God tells us that we're not to despise prophesying, 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 20. That is, we're not to despise preaching and teaching of the Word of God. Many people do. Many people despise it. They won't go to church. And even some Christians despise it when they hear something they don't have to like or they don't have to agree with or they don't understand and they get upset. Instead of asking, they just get angry and turn around and walk off. God says that we're not to despise anything of his, especially his word.

[John Weaver] Let me give you one good illustration. Years ago, I was preaching in Alabama. And my text that Sunday morning was 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 verses 1 through 10. Okay? I don't know if you know what verse 4 says in 1 Thessalonians 1, but here's what it says. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of the Lord. Now, I didn't preach on the doctrine of election, but since there's only 10 verses in 1 Thessalonians 1, I read all 10 verses. After service that morning, I had an older gentleman come up to me and he said, you should not have read that verse. I said, what verse are you talking about? He said, well, verse four. I said, why should I have not read it?

[John Weaver] Because it's in the Bible. And if it's in the Bible, I should read it. He said, well, you shouldn't read it because there are some people who don't understand election and it upsets them. I said, what you're telling me is you don't understand the doctrine of election and you are upset. Well, he said, yes. Well, I said, I'll tell you what. And I was sitting in a motel. I said, did you realize the word elect, election or its equivalent occurs 73 times in the New Testament alone, not counting the Old Testament, 73 times in the New Testament. I said, if you will come to my motel room after dinner, I will take the Bible and go through all 70 passages and try to give you an understanding of the doctrine of election. He said, fine. Well, I hurried through dinner, rushed to the motel room and was feverishly writing down all these passages so I could show him and teach him.

[John Weaver] And then my phone rang. I answered the motel phone. Brother Weaver, this is so and so. Yes, sir. I'm expecting you in just a few minutes. Well, he said, that's why I'm calling. I'm not going to come. I'm quoting verbatim exactly what he said. He said, I'm not coming because my mind is made up and I don't want you confusing me with a bunch of scriptures. I'm just simply saying it is possible to despise God. And we do so by despising his word, by despising his promises and his providence as well.

[John Weaver] It's so easy to sin, so natural to sin, because we're sinners. We need to learn to pray with David. When David prayed in Psalm 19 and verse 13, keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. We also need to pray, keep back thy servant from easy unthinking sins, so that we will not sin against thee, because we can sin without even thinking, that is for sure.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to mention one more time the lex talionis. And that is where God makes the punishment fit the crime. I told you in the introduction, there is such a thing as a temporary despisement, but there's also such a thing as a permanent despisement. When you think about the ungodly, when you think about the unsafe, when you think about the wicked who live their entire lives despising God, ignoring God, counting Him as insignificant, unworthy of their attention, and they live their life according to the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, they die despising God. And Asaph in Psalm 73 and verse 20 said this concerning God, As a dream, O Lord, when one awakeneth, so when thou awakenest, thou shalt despise their image.

[John Weaver] I'm going to tell you something. If there was no other punishment for the wicked except this, in my eyes, it would be sufficient. I could look at Joshua and I could say, Joshua, I despise you. What could I do besides, I might could try to hurt him, I might could try to do something. What I could do would be absolutely nothing. But when you stop and think, when the sovereign, supreme, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, immutable God despises someone throughout eternity.

[John Weaver] That has to be the horror of Horus. Hmm. It's the Lex Tabionis. They despise him. He despises them. You reap what you sow. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. And Lord, I pray that you would help us to walk in uprightness, fearing thee. and not, Lord, to walk perversely, despising Thee. We pray, Father, for light. We pray, Father, that we might walk pleasing unto Thee and honoring to Thee, glorifying Thee and giving Thee praise and honor and worship. Thou deservest all praise, honor and worship. We give Thee thanks for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And we ask, Father, for Your will to be done in each life Christ and we pray. Amen.

Despising God

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	32262042284333
Subject	Biblical Worldview
Course	The Fear of God
Genre	Sermon
Date	2026-02-22
Dictation Name
Book	Book 067: The Fear of God — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	82

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Reality of Despising God

Weaver introduces the topic by noting that people often use the word 'despise' casually, but the Bible teaches that even Christians can despise God. He defines 'despise' as regarding with contempt, distaste, disgust, disdain, scorn, and loathing.

All right, let's open our Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Proverbs, chapter 14, and look, if you would please, at verse 2. Proverbs, chapter 14, and verse 2. The title of the message is Despising God. Despising God. So, look in Proverbs, chapter 14, verse 2. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 14:2

"He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him."

Look at that one more time. We're going to go over it several times.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 14:2

"He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him."

Each one of us have used the word despise over and over. And we use that word in regards to almost everything. We despise persons, things, events, actions, attitude, conduct, personalities, and sometimes we even despise our own lives. But usually when we use the word despise, we're talking to someone and in a fit of anger or loss of control, we say, "I despise you."

Many people have not understood that there is such a thing as a temporary despisement. And usually once we calm down and we get everything back in perspective, we're sorry we said that. We may dislike things about that individual, but we certainly do not really and truly despise them. There is not only a temporary despisement, but there is also a permanent despisement, which I'll talk about a little bit later. And so, I'm building up to tell you this, and this is not a side note. This is a fact. We often despise God. And I'm not talking about the wicked, I'm not talking about the lost, I'm not talking about the ungodly, I'm talking about Christians. It is possible, and I will show it to you, it is possible that a real, genuine Christian, a true believer, can despise his Heavenly Father. Now, we know and understand what it is for the wicked to despise God, but for a child of God to despise his Heavenly Father, is something that we've not really considered. So have you ever considered the fact that we can despise God? Have you ever pondered on how we despise God? And by the way, let me just go ahead and tell you concerning our English word despise. Here's what it means.

It means to regard with contempt, distaste, disgust, disdain, scorn, and to loathe. In other words, we scorn God, we loathe God, we disdain God. And I'm going to show you before I finish today that the Hebrew words mean exactly the same as our English word.

The Principle of Lex Talionis Illustrated in Eli's House

Using 1 Samuel 2, Weaver shows how Eli and his sons despised God by honoring themselves above Him, and God responded by despising them—making the punishment fit the crime.

Now, the truth of the matter is this. This is a grievous sin and God does not take this sin lightly. In fact, the truth of the matter is, in God's retributive justice, there is something known as the lex talionis. That is Latin for the law of retribution. That is where God makes the punishment fit the crime, or God makes the punishment fit the sin. So before I begin, I want to give you a good, clear illustration. I want you to turn in your Bibles, hold Proverbs 14, but turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 2, if you would. 1 Samuel chapter 2.

Now, I want you to note here's a story of Eli and his sons. You remember that Eli was an elderly priest. His two sons were priests in his stead and his two sons were exceedingly wicked and vile. And although Eli rebuked his sons, he did not restrain them. And God now is turning to judge not only Eli, but his sons as well. So if you look in 1 Samuel chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 23. Well, let's read verse 22.

Now Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they were adulterers, they were fornicators. That's not all, but that's one of their main sins. And he said unto them, "Why do you such things? For I hear of your evil doings by all this people. Nay, my sons, it is no good report that I hear. You make the Lord's people to transgress." And then he says this, "If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?"

Now watch this last sentence. "Notwithstanding, they hearken not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would destroy them." Now, these boys were exceedingly wicked. So let's skip down to verse 27. "And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt at Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?" Now look what he said, "Wherefore kick you at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation and honors thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people." Now, if you would read all of the story, God did prescribe certain parts of the sacrifice for the priest. But when the people would bring the sacrifice, the priest's servants would go out and say, "No, he's not going to have it like this.

He's going to take this part and he's going to take that part. He wants it roasted. He didn't want it sodden." And they would steal the sacrifice. And notice, if you would, now verse 30. "Wherefore, the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord said, be it far from me." "For them that honor me, I will honor and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days come that I will cut off an arm and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, and all the wealth which God shall give Israel, and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart, and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon my two sons, upon Hophni and Phinehas, and one day shall die both of them."

Now God says, "You have despised me, you've honored yourself and you've honored your sons above me, and now all of this curse comes upon Eli and his household." Now I want you to go back to verse 30. Look in verse 30, 1 Samuel 2.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 2:22-30

"Wherefore the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord said, be it far from me."

Look at this principle.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 2:22-30

"For them that honor me, will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."

Now, the Hebrew word for lightly esteemed is the word qalal, and it means to be cursed, to be treated as light and insignificant, to appear trifling, and to be made despicable and to be lightly esteemed. So God says, "Those that despise me, those that count me as a despicable being, I'm going to despise them."

So let me repeat this again. In God's retributive justice, there's the principle of lex talionis. That is the law of retribution where God makes the punishment fit the crime. Eli and his sons despised God and God ended up despising them.

Now we have to understand the context of Proverbs chapter 14. So I want you to go back there and not only look at the context, I want us mainly to look at the words in verse 2 so that we can comprehend how this would apply to us today. I'm just going to show you it's absolutely possible for a Christian, a child of God, to despise his Heavenly Father. So, if you look in verse 2 of Proverbs 14, the Word of God says, "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him." Now, first of all, you must take note of the word walketh. The Hebrew word is the word halak.

Exegesis of Proverbs 14:2: Two Contrasting Walks

Weaver explains the Hebrew words for 'walketh,' 'uprightness,' 'perverse,' and 'despiseth,' demonstrating that one either walks in uprightness fearing God or walks perversely despising Him—both cannot coexist.

And it means to walk, to proceed, to traverse, and to walk about. Now, walking is a continuous action, and it indicates a way of life. For instance, you walked in here and sat down, you'll get up and walk out, you'll walk to your car, you'll go to your home, you'll get out, you'll walk there. In other words, we're constantly moving, we're constantly walking, and usually, we are traversing in certain paths and certain ways. We do things the same every day. We are creatures of habit. We have our walk. We have our way.

Now, I want you to look at verse 2 again. "He that walketh." Now, a walk is a way. Your walk is your way. Your walk and your way is your way of life. It is how you live. If you look back in your Bibles, hold Proverbs, but look back in your Bibles to Psalm 1, and look at verse 6, Psalm 1 verse 6, and look at what the scripture says. This demonstrates our walk. Psalm 1 verse 6, the Bible says, "For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous," or the walk of the righteous, "but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

So you have two different ways right here. You have the way of the ungodly, you have the way of the righteous. You have the walk of the ungodly, you have the walk of the righteous as well. So, go back if you would now to Proverbs 14, look again at verse 2. We understand the word walketh. "He that walketh in his uprightness." Now the Hebrew word for uprightness is the word yosher, and it means that which is straight, that which is moral, that which is ethical, that which is right and righteous and meet. So when he says, "he that walketh in his uprightness," he's talking about he that is walking according to the word of the Lord, according to the law of God. He's walking in obedience to God. So he says, "he that walketh in his uprightness." Notice if you would, verse two again, "he that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord." So this validates the interpretation of walking in his uprightness because fearing the Lord means that we obey him. When we fear God, we reverence him.

We honor him. We respect and fear him. Consequently, we obey him. So the contrast is going to be, I trust, exceedingly clear. So watch it now. "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord." Here's the second part. "But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him." So you have those that love the Lord that walk in uprightness and obey him. You have those that hate the Lord and they're perverse in their ways and they despise God.

Now, let's look at the words. He says, "but he that is perverse." The word perverse is the Hebrew word and it means one that departs, one that turns aside, one that goes wrong, one that becomes crooked. That's what the word perverse means. So again, look, if you would, at the context. When he says, "he that walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he that is perverse, he that is crooked," what? If someone is crooked, if someone departs from the way, in this verse, whose way are they departing from? And whose way are they leaving? Obviously God and His Word that is true. Now watch it. He says in verse 2, "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him." Now the word despiseth is the word bazah, and it means to hold in contempt, to regard with contempt, listen, to treat as vile, worthless, and despicable. Wow.

Now you put this together, please. There is one who walks in his uprightness, in his obedience, and he fears the Lord. And there's one that is perverse, crooked, in his ways, in his walk, in his life, and he despises God. So I want you to note now closely that uprightness and fearing God are opposites of perverseness and despising God. So I want you to listen to me very carefully. Here we go. We're talking about two ways. We're talking about two walks. We're talking about an individual who walks in his uprightness and fears God. And we're also talking about an individual who's perverse in his ways and despises God. So listen carefully. It is impossible, absolutely, totally, completely impossible for both of these to be in one person simultaneously. What do I mean? I mean you're either walking in your uprightness and fearing God, or you're walking in perverseness, in sin and wickedness, and you're despising God. You cannot have both actions, both attitudes, in one person at the same time. It's absolutely, totally impossible.

The Foolishness of Man and Despising God's Word

Drawing from Proverbs 19:3 and other passages, Weaver argues that refusing instruction and despising God's commandments is equivalent to despising God Himself. He emphasizes that despising God's law leads to death in various areas of life.

So you're either obedient and walking in righteousness and fearing God, or you're disobedient and you're perverse in your ways and you're despising God. So let me show you. Turn over now to Proverbs 19. Proverbs 19. Look, if you would please, at verse 3. Proverbs 19, verse 3. The Bible says, "The foolishness of man perverteth his way, and his heart fretteth against the Lord." Now, we talk about walking perversely back in 14:2, now we see the foolishness of man perverted his way and his heart fretted against the Lord.

Now, the fool in the Bible is not a mentally deficient person. The fool in the Bible is someone who will not listen. Someone who will not receive correction. Someone who will not receive instruction. Someone who cannot be taught. So, let me show you. He said now,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 19:3

"the foolishness of man perverted his ways."

Foolishness is opposition to truth. So, look back in your Bibles to Proverbs 15 and verse 5. Look at this. Proverbs 15 verse 5.

Follow me now, three verses. Proverbs 15 verse 5,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 15:5

"A fool despises his father's instruction: but he that regardeth the reproof is prudent."

So there's the difference between a prudent man and a fool. What did he say? A fool despises his father's instruction. He will not listen. Look in Proverbs chapter 18 and verse 2. Proverbs 18 verse 2. "A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself." So a fool's not interested in understanding, being taught. All he's interested in is playing and doing whatever pleases him and satisfies him. He has no desire for instruction. So if you'll look now to Proverbs 27 and verse 22. Proverbs 27, verse 22.

The Word of God says, "Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle," you're pushing him down, you're beating him down, "yet will not his foolishness depart from him." Why will his foolishness not depart? Because he's not going to receive instruction. He's not going to receive chastisement. He's not going to receive correction.

Now, if you'll put this together and go back to Proverbs 19, verse three, look at this. "The foolishness of man perverted his way." What is it that perverts our way? The fact that we will not listen, the fact that we will not learn, that we will not receive instruction, that we refuse to be instructed. So it's the foolishness of man that perverted his way. Now, listen to me. When you will not receive the truth, when you will not be taught the truth, you will believe a lie. Those who refuse to hear God's truth already believe a lie. So, he says that the foolishness of man perverteth his way.

So, obviously the word pervert here is the Hebrew word salaph. It means to twist, to pervert, to distort, to subvert and to turn upside down and to overthrow. Now I'm going to give you a good illustration. I want you to hold Proverbs 19 verse 3 and I want you to turn in your Bibles to Isaiah 47 and I want you to look at verse 10. Isaiah 47 and verse 10.

Now I'm talking about despising the person of God. I want you to look at this. Isaiah 47 and verse 10. Look what God says,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 47:10

"For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness, thou hast said, None seeth me."

Now look what God says,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 47:10

"Thy wisdom and thy knowledge,"

that is humanistic wisdom and knowledge, knowledge apart from God,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 47:10

"thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee, and thou hast said in thine heart, I am and none else beside me."

In other words, I'm my own God, I make my own law, I do what I will. And so God says, it's your wisdom. It's your understanding. It's your knowledge that perverts your way, because your way is not my way.

And your thoughts are not my thoughts, saith the Lord. So obviously, when you go back now to Proverbs 19 verse 3, look at this. It's the foolishness of man. He won't be taught by God. He won't accept the word of God. He won't receive the preaching and teaching of God. And so he is perverted in his way, in his walk, in his life. Moreover, look at the latter part of that verse. "And his heart fretteth against the Lord."

Now the word fretteth is the Hebrew word za'aph and it literally means to fret, to be wroth, to be vexed, to be angry and to be enraged. So it means then that the foolish man is basically enraged against God. He hates God. He's angry with God. So here is the truth. It is true that the wicked man and the foolish man fights against God, hates God, is angry with God, but it's also possible that I'm going to show you for a Christian to do the same thing, not in the way the wicked does, but we indeed do it. So look in your Bibles to the book of Proverbs chapter 19 and verse 16. You see, whenever we despise God, His person, we despise His word. Okay? Now watch this. Proverbs 19, verse 16. So God says if you keep the commandments, that is, if you walk in the way of my law and of my word, you keep your own soul.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 19:16

You are in essence despising your own soul and you shall die. So, the Hebrew word for despise here is exactly the same word that is used in Proverbs 14 and verse 2. So, the despisement of God's law, the despisement of God's commandments always end in death. There are multiple ways to die. You may die physically, you may die spiritually, you may die financially, you may die familially, you may die ecclesiastically, you may die mentally, you may die emotionally, many ways to die. However you violate God's law, however you despise God and his word, you're going to die in that area. That's just plain. Now, if you'll turn in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 26, I want you to watch this. Leviticus chapter 26 and let's begin reading there with verse 13. Leviticus 26 and verse 13. Look what God says. Leviticus 26 verse 13. "I am the Lord your God which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their bondman.

Unanswered Prayers as a Consequence of Despising God's Word

Weaver cites Proverbs 28:9 to show that turning away from hearing God's law makes one's prayers an abomination, illustrating lex talionis: if we despise God's words, He despises our words.

If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Proverbs chapter 28, Proverbs 28. And I want you to look at verse 9, Proverbs 28 and verse 9. Look what the word of God says. Proverbs 28, verse 9. Proverbs 28, verse 9. Here it is.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 28:9

"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination."

Now, of course, you know the word abomination means a stench in the nostrils. God said,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 28:9

"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination."

Now remember, I told you about the lex talionis. That's where God makes the punishment fit the crime. So here we go. Listen carefully. Proverbs 28, verse 9. "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination." So here's the question. If you will not hear God, why should God hear you? If you despise his words, do you not understand why he despises your words?

You follow what I'm saying? It's the lex talionis. Now, it's important to understand that the easiest and simplest way to despise the person of God is really to despise his word. You refuse to read it. You refuse to study it. You refuse to obey it. You refuse to apply it. And when you refuse to do those things, you are despising God. In other words, you consider his word unimportant and unnecessary in your life. You count it a waste of time. You're disdaining it. You're treating it with contempt and as if it is insignificant.

Despising God's Promises

Weaver warns against despising God's promises by ignoring them or failing to claim them. He references Israel's unbelief in the promised land and affirms that all God's promises are yea and amen in Christ.

Now, you know as well as I do that God gave the promised land to Abraham and his seed. But what happened? You can read all about it in Numbers 11 through Numbers 14. The people barely ate the wine and complained and sighed and even ten of the twelve spies brought back a bad report. They said, "It's a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof. It's no promised land whatsoever. Besides that, there are giants in it." In fact, God said, "Despise ye my promises."

Now God does not lie. God himself is truth. In 2 Corinthians chapter 1 in verse 20, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 1:20

"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us."

All the promises of God are yea and amen. Solomon, praying in 1 Kings chapter 8 in verse 56 said this, "Blessed be the Lord God, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he hath promised, there hath not failed one word of all his good promise which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant." He said nothing has failed. God gave us a promise and God fulfilled it. Have you ever wondered why at times your heart is filled with unbelief? Have you ever wondered why seemingly you think the promises of God are for others, but they're not for you? And have you ever considered the fact that when you look at the promises and the blessings of God in the Bible, you think, "Well, they're there, but I'm not worthy." Well, here is the truth. You're not worthy and you never will be worthy. But if you're in Jesus Christ, he is the one who makes you worthy.

We have no righteousness of our own. We have no obedience of our own. We have no works of our own. We have absolutely zilch, nothing, zero. But Jesus Christ has everything. And the Bible tells you, in Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 3,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:3

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places."

Did you know the Bible says, in 2 Peter 1 and verse 4, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption of the world through lust." In other words, God has given us all of these promises. We cannot dismiss the promises of God. We cannot despise the promises of God. Each of these promises are for his children and we must relish them and we must love them and we must live in them and live by them and live through them. He does not fail, neither do his promises. So we can not only despise the person of God by despising his word.

Despising God's Providence

Weaver explains that complaining about circumstances is a form of despising God's providence. Using Numbers 11, he shows how Israel's lusting for meat was despising the Lord, and God gave them what they wanted as judgment.

But we can also despise the promises of God. Because clearly, we just ignore them and act like they're not even there. Never claim them. Never seek for them. Never ask God's blessing whatsoever. Wow. Now watch this. Here's a third thing. You can despise God's person. You can despise God's promises. And thirdly, you can despise God's providence. Despising God's providence is one of the most simple ways, it's the easiest way, it is the way that we sin against him unthinkingly because the truth of the matter is we often despise his providence because we do not think of him. We're fallen human beings, we are sinners, and it's natural and easy for us to do so. Things do not always go right for us. Things do not go according to the way we plan. Things do not go the way we want them to go. And sometimes we're upset not only about what has happened, but what is happening, and even what may happen. I don't know how we can be upset about that, but when we think about that, it upsets us as well.

We just don't like it. And hence, we bellyache, and we complain, and we just do not understand. You heard me say this innumerable times. I'm going to say it again. There's no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world ruled by God. We only have God's sovereign providence and God brings to pass things in our lives for our good and his glory. Now, we may not think that they are for our good, but they are ultimately for our good. He makes them redound for our good. We may not understand, we may not like it, we may not appreciate it, but it is still ultimately for our good.

And so what we end up doing is what ancient Israel did in complaining and bellyaching and whining, and we do it incessantly. I want you to turn back in your Bibles, if you would, to Numbers chapter 11. I'm going to read a little passage for you. And I want you to watch and see what has happened here. Numbers chapter 11 and let's begin with verse 4 and we'll read all the way through verse 23. OK. Watch this. Numbers 11 verse 4.

"And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting. And the children of Israel also wept again and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?" Look what they said. "We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely, the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlics. But now our soul is dried away. There's nothing at all besides this manna before our eyes." And the manna was of coriander seed, and the color there was the color of bdellium. "And the people went about and gathered in, grounded in mills, beat it in the mortar and baked it in pans and made cakes of it, and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. And when the dew fell upon the camp of the night, the manna fell upon it. Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent, and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased. And Moses said to the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? And wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Have I conceived all this people?

Have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth a sucking child, unto the land which thou swearest unto their fathers? Whence should I have flesh to give unto all these people? For they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand. If I have found favour in thy sight, let me not see my wretchedness. And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers among them, and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. Now watch. And I will come down and with thee there—this is significant—and I will take the spirit which is upon thee and will put upon them and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee that thou bear it not thyself alone." Don't you look what God said. God said, "Moses, you

said you're unable to do it by yourself, fine, I'll give you some help." But look what he did. "I'll take some of the spirit off you and give to them." In other words, Moses was capable through God in and of himself, but it was a burden to him. And so God gave him these other 70. Now watch, if you would, verse 18. "And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves again, I guess, tomorrow, and you shall eat flesh. For you have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt. Therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and you shall eat. You shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days, but even a whole month, until it come out your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you, because that you have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? And Moses said, The people among whom I am are 600,000 footmen. And thou hast said, I will give them flesh, and they may eat a whole month.

Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them to suffice them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them to suffice them? And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxen short? Thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. And Moses went out.

Now, I want you to know something. Look at this, if you would, please. God had given them manna. The manna was not just from heaven. The manna was from God. The manna was an absolutely perfect food. It was everything that they needed for their nourishment and for their sustenance. But they were not content with what God gave. They wanted meat. And they remembered what they used to eat in Egypt when they were in slavery.

In fact, these people were so intent. They were even talking about making a captain and going back into Egypt just so they could have their fish and onion and garlic and leeks. God said, "You want meat? I'll give it to you. I'll let you have it. And you can eat it till it comes out your nostrils. You'll be tired of it. You won't care anything about it."

Let me tell you something. When I was 12 years old, I went to spend a week with my aunt and uncle. They had a bakery. I ate doughnuts. I ate cream filled doughnuts. I ate plain doughnuts. I ate chocolate covered doughnuts. I ate jelly doughnuts. I ate more doughnuts than you can shake a stick at. And I got news for you, after that week I was so sick of donuts I don't even like them today. That's what God said here. And by the way, you need to read the rest of this and also in Psalm 105 I think it is where when God gave them the quail,

guess what? While the flesh was in their teeth, God slew the fattest of them. Do you realize sometimes one of the greatest judgments that we experience is when God lets us have what we want. When we want something so badly, even though it's contrary as well, God said, "All right, I'll give it to you." And then when you get it, you wish you'd never, ever had it.

Now, if you look in Numbers 11 in verse 31, the Bible says this, "It was chewed. The wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague. And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah. Because there they buried the people that lusted." Wow. It's a bad judgment when God gives us what we want, when we want something contrary to his word and his will.

Learning from Old Testament Examples

Weaver cites Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 to show that Old Testament events were written for our admonition, warning against lusting, idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, and murmuring.

Now, somebody's going to say, "Well, wow, I'm glad I wasn't in the Old Testament and I'm glad I wasn't there with Moses and those people." Can you learn from what happened to them? Let me show you. Turn in your Bibles, first of all, to Romans chapter 15. And then secondly, I want you to go to 1 Corinthians chapter 10. But we're going to Romans chapter 15 first. Then we'll go to 1 Corinthians. Look in Romans chapter 15 and verse 4. Romans 15 verse 4. Look at what is said. Romans 15 verse 4. "For whatsoever things were written aforehand," that's the Old Testament. Everything in the Old Testament. "Whatsoever things were written beforehand were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

There is a lesson to be learned from Numbers 11. There's a lesson to be learned from every illustration, every story, every scripture in the Old Testament. Once there was written a four time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now turn to first Corinthians chapter 10. And let's begin reading there with verse 1. Watch this. 1 Corinthians 10, verse 1. The apostle Paul says, "Brethren, vulgar brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea," that's the crossing of the Red Sea, "and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the

same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink for that drink that they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them. And that rock was Christ." Now, look at the first five, "but with many of them, God was not well pleased." That is all but two, "for they were overthrown in the wilderness." Now look at verse six. "Now, these things were our examples. To the intent, we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and arose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of the serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer." Look in verse 11, "Now all these things happened unto them for examples and they're written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come." So God is saying that everything that happened is for our admonition. I confess we find and we complain and we murmur and we bellyache all the time.

Applications: Guarding Against Despising God

Weaver applies the message by urging believers not to despise God's person, promises, or providence. He warns against despising chastening, prophesying, or any part of Scripture, and shares an illustration of a man who refused to hear biblical teaching on election.

Now, let me try to tie some things together and make some applications. Here's the first one. We have to keep our hearts and minds in such a way that we have to learn not to despise God's person, His promises, or His providence. Will you stop and think about this. If God says, "Thou shalt not steal," and I come over to Brother Jim and I try to steal from him. I'm not just taking that which does not belong to me. I'm despising the God who said "Thou shalt not steal." I'm saying I don't regard his sovereignty. I don't regard his command. I'm like Pharaoh. When Moses said, "Thus saith the Lord, let my people go." Pharaoh said, "I know not the Lord, neither will I let thy people go." No, no, no. I'm going to do what I'm going to do. It's a despising of God. Sometimes when we do sin against God, God chastens us. And do you realize, three times in the Bible, we are told that we're not to despise the chastening of God.

You'll find that in Job 5:17, Proverbs 3:11, and Hebrews chapter 12 in verse 5. Moreover, God tells us that we're not to despise prophesying, 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 20. That is, we're not to despise preaching and teaching of the Word of God. Many people do. Many people despise it. They won't go to church. And even some Christians despise it when they hear something they don't have to like or they don't have to agree with or they don't understand and they get upset. Instead of asking, they just get angry and turn around and walk off. God says that we're not to despise anything of his, especially his word.

Let me give you one good illustration. Years ago, I was preaching in Alabama. And my text that Sunday morning was 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 verses 1 through 10. Okay? I don't know if you know what verse 4 says in 1 Thessalonians 1, but here's what it says. "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of the Lord." Now, I didn't preach on the doctrine of election, but since there's only 10 verses in 1 Thessalonians 1, I read all 10 verses. After service that morning, I had an older gentleman come up to me and he said, "You should not have read that verse." I said, "What verse are you talking about?" He said, "Well, verse four." I said, "Why should I have not read it?"

"Because it's in the Bible. And if it's in the Bible, I should read it." He said, "Well, you shouldn't read it because there are some people who don't understand election and it upsets them." I said, "What you're telling me is you don't understand the doctrine of election and you are upset." Well, he said, "Yes." Well, I said, "I'll tell you what." And I was sitting in a motel. I said, "Did you realize the word elect, election or its equivalent occurs 73 times in the New Testament alone, not counting the Old Testament, 73 times in the New Testament. I said, if you will come to my motel room after dinner, I will take the Bible and go through all 70 passages and try to give you an understanding of the doctrine of election." He said, "Fine." Well, I hurried through dinner, rushed to the motel room and was feverishly writing down all these passages so I could show him and teach him.

And then my phone rang. I answered the motel phone. "Brother Weaver, this is so and so." "Yes, sir. I'm expecting you in just a few minutes." Well, he said, "That's why I'm calling. I'm not going to come." I'm quoting verbatim exactly what he said. He said, "I'm not coming because my mind is made up and I don't want you confusing me with a bunch of scriptures." I'm just simply saying it is possible to despise God. And we do so by despising his word, by despising his promises and his providence as well.

It's so easy to sin, so natural to sin, because we're sinners. We need to learn to pray with David. When David prayed in Psalm 19 and verse 13, "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me." We also need to pray, "Keep back thy servant from easy unthinking sins, so that we will not sin against thee," because we can sin without even thinking, that is for sure.

Conclusion: The Horror of Being Despised by God

Weaver concludes with the sobering reality of lex talionis: those who permanently despise God will be despised by Him for eternity, which is the ultimate horror.

Now, I want to mention one more time the lex talionis. And that is where God makes the punishment fit the crime. I told you in the introduction, there is such a thing as a temporary despisement, but there's also such a thing as a permanent despisement. When you think about the ungodly, when you think about the unsafe, when you think about the wicked who live their entire lives despising God, ignoring God, counting Him as insignificant, unworthy of their attention, and they live their life according to the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, they die despising God. And Asaph in Psalm 73 and verse 20 said this concerning God, "As a dream, O Lord, when one awakeneth, so when thou awakenest, thou shalt despise their image."

I'm going to tell you something. If there was no other punishment for the wicked except this, in my eyes, it would be sufficient. I could look at Joshua and I could say, "Joshua, I despise you." What could I do besides, I might could try to hurt him, I might could try to do something. What I could do would be absolutely nothing. But when you stop and think, when the sovereign, supreme, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, immutable God despises someone throughout eternity. That has to be the horror of horrors. Hmm. It's the lex talionis. They despise him. He despises them. You reap what you sow. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. And Lord, I pray that you would help us to walk in uprightness, fearing thee, and not, Lord, to walk perversely, despising Thee. We pray, Father, for light. We pray, Father, that we might walk pleasing unto Thee and honoring to Thee, glorifying Thee and giving Thee praise and honor and worship. Thou deservest all praise, honor and worship. We give Thee thanks for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And we ask, Father, for Your will to be done in each life, in Christ we pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Despising God through disobedience

Summary: Walking perversely, or living in disobedience to God's commands, is equivalent to despising God Himself.

Evidence: Proverbs 14:2: 'He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.'

Lex Talionis (Law of Retribution)

Summary: God makes the punishment fit the crime: those who despise Him will be despised by Him.

Evidence: 1 Samuel 2:30: 'For them that honor me, will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.'

Despising God's Word

Summary: Refusing to read, study, obey, or apply God's Word is a direct way of despising God.

Evidence: Proverbs 19:16: 'He that despiseth his ways shall die.'

Despising God's Promises

Summary: Ignoring or failing to claim God's promises is a form of despising Him.

Evidence: Numbers 14: Israel's unbelief in the promised land.

Despising God's Providence

Summary: Complaining about circumstances is despising God's sovereign providence.

Evidence: Numbers 11: Israel's lusting for meat and despising the Lord.

The Foolishness of Man

Summary: Foolishness is refusing instruction and correction, which perverts one's way and leads to fretting against the Lord.

Evidence: Proverbs 19:3: 'The foolishness of man perverteth his way, and his heart fretteth against the Lord.'

Unanswered Prayer as Judgment

Summary: When we turn away from hearing God's law, our prayers become an abomination to Him.

Evidence: Proverbs 28:9: 'He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.'

Learning from Old Testament Examples

Summary: Old Testament events were written for our admonition to warn us against sin.

Evidence: 1 Corinthians 10:11: 'Now all these things happened unto them for examples and they're written for our admonition.'

Key Arguments

Christians can despise God

Summary: It is possible for genuine believers to despise God by despising His Word, promises, and providence.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'It is possible that a real, genuine Christian, a true believer, can despise his Heavenly Father.'

Despising God's Word equals despising God

Summary: You cannot separate God from His Word; despising His commandments is despising Him.

Evidence: 2 Samuel 12: God said to David, 'Thou hast despised my commandments' and 'Thou hast despised me.'

Lex talionis in prayer

Summary: If we refuse to hear God's Word, He will refuse to hear our prayers.

Evidence: Proverbs 28:9: 'He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.'

Complaining is despising God's providence

Summary: Murmuring against circumstances is despising the Lord who ordains them.

Evidence: Numbers 11:20: 'Because that you have despised the Lord which is among you.'

God's retributive justice is certain

Summary: Those who permanently despise God will be despised by Him for eternity.

Evidence: Psalm 73:20: 'So when thou awakenest, thou shalt despise their image.'

Scripture References

Proverbs 14:2

Context: The main text: 'He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.'

1 Samuel 2:22-30

Context: Eli's sons' wickedness and God's judgment: 'For them that honor me, will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.'

Psalm 1:6

Context: The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Proverbs 19:3

Context: The foolishness of man perverteth his way, and his heart fretteth against the Lord.

Proverbs 15:5

Context: A fool despises his father's instruction.

Proverbs 18:2

Context: A fool hath no delight in understanding.

Proverbs 27:22

Context: Though you bray a fool in a mortar, his foolishness will not depart.

Isaiah 47:10

Context: Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee.

Proverbs 19:16

Context: He that despiseth his ways shall die.

Leviticus 26:13-16

Context: If you despise my statutes, I will appoint terror over you.

Proverbs 28:9

Context: He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.

Psalm 119:127

Context: Therefore I love thy commandments above gold.

Psalm 138:2

Context: Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

2 Samuel 12

Context: Nathan tells David: 'Thou hast despised my commandments' and 'Thou hast despised me.'

2 Corinthians 1:20

Context: All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen.

1 Kings 8:56

Context: There hath not failed one word of all his good promise.

Ephesians 1:3

Context: Blessed be God who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings.

2 Peter 1:4

Context: Exceeding great and precious promises are given unto us.

Numbers 11:4-23

Context: Israel lusts for meat and despises the Lord; God promises to give them flesh until it comes out their nostrils.

Romans 15:4

Context: Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.

Historical References

Eli and his sons (Hophni and Phinehas)

Context: Eli's sons were wicked priests; God judged them for despising Him by honoring themselves above God.

Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 11)

Context: The Israelites despised God's provision of manna by lusting for meat and complaining, leading to God's judgment.

David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12)

Context: David's sin of adultery and murder was described as despising God's commandments and despising God Himself.

Pharaoh's refusal to let Israel go

Context: Pharaoh's response 'I know not the Lord, neither will I let thy people go' is an example of despising God's command.

Important Quotes

It is possible that a real, genuine Christian, a true believer, can despise his Heavenly Father.

Significance: Central thesis that even believers can despise God, challenging common assumptions.

For them that honor me, will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

Significance: Key verse establishing the lex talionis principle.

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.

Significance: Shows the reciprocal nature of despising God's Word and prayer.

You cannot separate God from his word.

Significance: Foundation for the argument that despising Scripture is despising God.

There's no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world ruled by God.

Significance: Emphasizes God's sovereign providence, making complaining a direct offense against Him.

I'm not coming because my mind is made up and I don't want you confusing me with a bunch of scriptures.

Significance: Illustrates the attitude of despising God's Word by refusing to hear biblical teaching.

As a dream, O Lord, when one awakeneth, so when thou awakenest, thou shalt despise their image.

Significance: Sobering conclusion that God will ultimately despise those who despise Him.

Discussion Questions

In what ways might a genuine Christian unknowingly despise God in daily life?

Context: Weaver argues that Christians can despise God by despising His Word, promises, and providence.

How does the principle of lex talionis (law of retribution) affect your understanding of God's justice?

Context: God makes the punishment fit the crime: those who despise Him are lightly esteemed.

Why is refusing to hear God's Word equated with despising God Himself?

Context: Weaver states that you cannot separate God from His Word.

How can we guard against despising God's providence when circumstances are difficult?

Context: Complaining about circumstances is a form of despising God's sovereign control.

What does Proverbs 28:9 teach about the relationship between obedience and prayer?

Context: Turning away from hearing the law makes one's prayer an abomination.

How should the Old Testament examples of Israel's rebellion serve as warnings for us today?

Context: 1 Corinthians 10 says these things were written for our admonition.

What does it mean to 'despise prophesying' (1 Thessalonians 5:20) in a modern context?

Context: Weaver warns against despising preaching and teaching of God's Word.

Applications

Examine your walk

Summary: Evaluate whether you are walking in uprightness fearing God or walking perversely despising Him.

Evidence: Proverbs 14:2 presents two mutually exclusive ways of living.

Treasure God's Word

Summary: Do not despise God's Word by neglecting to read, study, obey, and apply it.

Evidence: Despising God's commandments is despising God Himself (2 Samuel 12).

Claim God's promises

Summary: Actively trust and claim the promises of God rather than ignoring them.

Evidence: All God's promises are yea and amen in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Stop complaining

Summary: Recognize that murmuring about circumstances is despising God's providence.

Evidence: Israel's complaining in Numbers 11 was despising the Lord.

Receive correction

Summary: Do not be a fool who despises instruction; instead, be prudent and accept reproof.

Evidence: Proverbs 15:5: A fool despises his father's instruction.

Pray with humility

Summary: Ensure your prayers are not hindered by a refusal to hear and obey God's Word.

Evidence: Proverbs 28:9: Turning away from the law makes prayer an abomination.

Learn from biblical examples

Summary: Study Old Testament narratives as warnings to avoid the same sins.

Evidence: 1 Corinthians 10:11: These things were written for our admonition.

Do not despise chastening

Summary: Accept God's discipline as a sign of His love, not as something to despise.

Evidence: Hebrews 12:5: Despise not the chastening of the Lord.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T16:48:30Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T08:00:43Z

Clean Transcript

Despising God

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

All right, let's open our Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Proverbs, chapter 14, and look, if you would please, at verse 2. Proverbs, chapter 14, and verse 2. The title of the message is Despising God. Despising God. So, look in Proverbs, chapter 14, verse 2. The Bible says, "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him." Look at that one more time.
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We're going to go over it several times. "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him." Each one of us have used the word despise over and over. And we use that word in regards to almost everything. We despise persons, things, events, actions, attitude, conduct, personalities, and sometimes we even despise our own lives. But usually when we use the word despise, we're talking to someone and in a fit of anger or loss of control, we say, "I despise you."
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Many people have not understood that there is such a thing as a temporary despisement. And usually once we calm down and we get everything back in perspective, we're sorry we said that. We may dislike things about that individual, but we certainly do not really and truly despise them. There is not only a temporary despisement, but there is also a permanent despisement, which I'll talk about a little bit later.
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And so, I'm building up to tell you this, and this is not a side note. This is a fact. We often despise God. And I'm not talking about the wicked, I'm not talking about the lost, I'm not talking about the ungodly, I'm talking about Christians. It is possible, and I will show it to you, it is possible that a real, genuine Christian, a true believer, can despise his Heavenly Father. Now, we know and understand what it is for the wicked to despise God, but for a child of God to despise his Heavenly Father, is something that we've not really considered. So have you ever considered the fact that we can despise God? Have you ever pondered on how we despise God? And by the way, let me just go ahead and tell you concerning our English word despise. Here's what it means.
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It means to regard with contempt, distaste, disgust, disdain, scorn, and to loathe. In other words, we scorn God, we loathe God, we disdain God. And I'm going to show you before I finish today that the Hebrew words mean exactly the same as our English word.
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Now, the truth of the matter is this. This is a grievous sin and God does not take this sin lightly. In fact, the truth of the matter is, in God's retributive justice, there is something known as the lex talionis. That is Latin for the law of retribution. That is where God makes the punishment fit the crime, or God makes the punishment fit the sin. So before I begin, I want to give you a good, clear illustration. I want you to turn in your Bibles, hold Proverbs 14, but turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 2, if you would. 1 Samuel chapter 2.
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Now, I want you to note here's a story of Eli and his sons. You remember that Eli was an elderly priest. His two sons were priests in his stead and his two sons were exceedingly wicked and vile. And although Eli rebuked his sons, he did not restrain them. And God now is turning to judge not only Eli, but his sons as well. So if you look in 1 Samuel chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 23. Well, let's read verse 22.
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Now Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they were adulterers, they were fornicators. That's not all, but that's one of their main sins. And he said unto them, "Why do you such things? For I hear of your evil doings by all this people. Nay, my sons, it is no good report that I hear. You make the Lord's people to transgress." And then he says this, "If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?"
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Now watch this last sentence. "Notwithstanding, they hearken not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would destroy them."
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Now, these boys were exceedingly wicked. So let's skip down to verse 27. "And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt at Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?" Now look what he said, "Wherefore kick you at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation and honors thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people." Now, if you would read all of the story, God did prescribe certain parts of the sacrifice for the priest. But when the people would bring the sacrifice, the priest's servants would go out and say, "No, he's not going to have it like this.
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He's going to take this part and he's going to take that part. He wants it roasted. He didn't want it sodden." And they would steal the sacrifice. And notice, if you would, now verse 30. "Wherefore, the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord said, be it far from me."
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"For them that honor me, I will honor and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days come that I will cut off an arm and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, and all the wealth which God shall give Israel, and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart, and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon my two sons, upon Hophni and Phinehas, and one day shall die both of them."
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Now God says, "You have despised me, you've honored yourself and you've honored your sons above me, and now all of this curse comes upon Eli and his household." Now I want you to go back to verse 30. Look in verse 30, 1 Samuel 2. "Wherefore the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord said, be it far from me." Look at this principle.
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"For them that honor me, will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed." Now, the Hebrew word for lightly esteemed is the word qalal, and it means to be cursed, to be treated as light and insignificant, to appear trifling, and to be made despicable and to be lightly esteemed. So God says, "Those that despise me, those that count me as a despicable being, I'm going to despise them."
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So let me repeat this again. In God's retributive justice, there's the principle of lex talionis. That is the law of retribution where God makes the punishment fit the crime. Eli and his sons despised God and God ended up despising them.
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Now we have to understand the context of Proverbs chapter 14. So I want you to go back there and not only look at the context, I want us mainly to look at the words in verse 2 so that we can comprehend how this would apply to us today. I'm just going to show you it's absolutely possible for a Christian, a child of God, to despise his Heavenly Father. So, if you look in verse 2 of Proverbs 14, the Word of God says, "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him." Now, first of all, you must take note of the word walketh. The Hebrew word is the word halak.
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And it means to walk, to proceed, to traverse, and to walk about. Now, walking is a continuous action, and it indicates a way of life. For instance, you walked in here and sat down, you'll get up and walk out, you'll walk to your car, you'll go to your home, you'll get out, you'll walk there. In other words, we're constantly moving, we're constantly walking, and usually, we are traversing in certain paths and certain ways.
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We do things the same every day. We are creatures of habit. We have our walk. We have our way.
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Now, I want you to look at verse 2 again. "He that walketh."
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Now, a walk is a way. Your walk is your way. Your walk and your way is your way of life. It is how you live. If you look back in your Bibles, hold Proverbs, but look back in your Bibles to Psalm 1, and look at verse 6, Psalm 1 verse 6, and look at what the scripture says. This demonstrates our walk. Psalm 1 verse 6, the Bible says, "For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous," or the walk of the righteous, "but the way of the ungodly shall perish."
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So you have two different ways right here. You have the way of the ungodly, you have the way of the righteous. You have the walk of the ungodly, you have the walk of the righteous as well. So, go back if you would now to Proverbs 14, look again at verse 2. We understand the word walketh. "He that walketh in his uprightness." Now the Hebrew word for uprightness is the word yosher, and it means that which is straight, that which is moral, that which is ethical, that which is right and righteous and meet. So when he says, "he that walketh in his uprightness," he's talking about he that is walking according to the word of the Lord, according to the law of God. He's walking in obedience to God. So he says, "he that walketh in his uprightness." Notice if you would, verse two again, "he that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord." So this validates the interpretation of walking in his uprightness because fearing the Lord means that we obey him. When we fear God, we reverence him.
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We honor him. We respect and fear him. Consequently, we obey him. So the contrast is going to be, I trust, exceedingly clear. So watch it now. "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord." Here's the second part. "But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him." So you have those that love the Lord that walk in uprightness and obey him. You have those that hate the Lord and they're perverse in their ways and they despise God.
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Now, let's look at the words. He says, "but he that is perverse." The word perverse is the Hebrew word and it means one that departs, one that turns aside, one that goes wrong, one that becomes crooked. That's what the word perverse means. So again, look, if you would, at the context. When he says, "he that walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he that is perverse, he that is crooked," what? If someone is crooked, if someone departs from the way, in this verse, whose way are they departing from? And whose way are they leaving? Obviously God and His Word that is true. Now watch it. He says in verse 2, "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him." Now the word despiseth is the word bazah, and it means to hold in contempt, to regard with contempt, listen, to treat as vile, worthless, and despicable. Wow.
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Now you put this together, please. There is one who walks in his uprightness, in his obedience, and he fears the Lord. And there's one that is perverse, crooked, in his ways, in his walk, in his life, and he despises God. So I want you to note now closely that uprightness and fearing God are opposites of perverseness and despising God. So I want you to listen to me very carefully. Here we go. We're talking about two ways. We're talking about two walks. We're talking about an individual who walks in his uprightness and fears God. And we're also talking about an individual who's perverse in his ways and despises God. So listen carefully. It is impossible, absolutely, totally, completely impossible for both of these to be in one person simultaneously. What do I mean? I mean you're either walking in your uprightness and fearing God, or you're walking in perverseness, in sin and wickedness, and you're despising God. You cannot have both actions, both attitudes, in one person at the same time. It's absolutely, totally impossible.
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So you're either obedient and walking in righteousness and fearing God, or you're disobedient and you're perverse in your ways and you're despising God. So let me show you. Turn over now to Proverbs 19. Proverbs 19. Look, if you would please, at verse 3. Proverbs 19, verse 3. The Bible says, "The foolishness of man perverteth his way, and his heart fretteth against the Lord." Now, we talk about walking perversely back in 14:2, now we see the foolishness of man perverted his way and his heart fretted against the Lord.
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Now, the fool in the Bible is not a mentally deficient person. The fool in the Bible is someone who will not listen. Someone who will not receive correction. Someone who will not receive instruction. Someone who cannot be taught. So, let me show you. He said now, "the foolishness of man perverted his ways." Foolishness is opposition to truth. So, look back in your Bibles to Proverbs 15 and verse 5. Look at this. Proverbs 15 verse 5.
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Follow me now, three verses. Proverbs 15 verse 5, "A fool despises his father's instruction: but he that regardeth the reproof is prudent." So there's the difference between a prudent man and a fool. What did he say? A fool despises his father's instruction. He will not listen. Look in Proverbs chapter 18 and verse 2. Proverbs 18 verse 2. "A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself." So a fool's not interested in understanding, being taught. All he's interested in is playing and doing whatever pleases him and satisfies him. He has no desire for instruction. So if you'll look now to Proverbs 27 and verse 22. Proverbs 27, verse 22.
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The Word of God says, "Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle," you're pushing him down, you're beating him down, "yet will not his foolishness depart from him." Why will his foolishness not depart? Because he's not going to receive instruction. He's not going to receive chastisement. He's not going to receive correction.
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Now, if you'll put this together and go back to Proverbs 19, verse three, look at this. "The foolishness of man perverted his way." What is it that perverts our way? The fact that we will not listen, the fact that we will not learn, that we will not receive instruction, that we refuse to be instructed. So it's the foolishness of man that perverted his way. Now, listen to me. When you will not receive the truth, when you will not be taught the truth, you will believe a lie. Those who refuse to hear God's truth already believe a lie. So, he says that the foolishness of man perverteth his way.
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So, obviously the word pervert here is the Hebrew word salaph. It means to twist, to pervert, to distort, to subvert and to turn upside down and to overthrow.
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Now I'm going to give you a good illustration. I want you to hold Proverbs 19 verse 3 and I want you to turn in your Bibles to Isaiah 47 and I want you to look at verse 10. Isaiah 47 and verse 10.
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Now I'm talking about despising the person of God. I want you to look at this. Isaiah 47 and verse 10. Look what God says, "For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness, thou hast said, None seeth me." Now look what God says, "Thy wisdom and thy knowledge," that is humanistic wisdom and knowledge, knowledge apart from God, "thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee, and thou hast said in thine heart, I am and none else beside me." In other words, I'm my own God, I make my own law, I do what I will. And so God says, it's your wisdom. It's your understanding. It's your knowledge that perverts your way, because your way is not my way.
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And your thoughts are not my thoughts, saith the Lord. So obviously, when you go back now to Proverbs 19 verse 3, look at this. It's the foolishness of man. He won't be taught by God. He won't accept the word of God. He won't receive the preaching and teaching of God. And so he is perverted in his way, in his walk, in his life. Moreover, look at the latter part of that verse. "And his heart fretteth against the Lord."
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Now the word fretteth is the Hebrew word za'aph and it literally means to fret, to be wroth, to be vexed, to be angry and to be enraged. So it means then that the foolish man is basically enraged against God. He hates God. He's angry with God. So here is the truth. It is true that the wicked man and the foolish man fights against God, hates God, is angry with God, but it's also possible that I'm going to show you for a Christian to do the same thing, not in the way the wicked does, but we indeed do it. So look in your Bibles to the book of Proverbs chapter 19 and verse 16. You see, whenever we despise God, His person, we despise His word. Okay? Now watch this. Proverbs 19, verse 16. So God says if you keep the commandments, that is, if you walk in the way of my law and of my word, you keep your own soul.
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You are in essence despising your own soul and you shall die. So, the Hebrew word for despise here is exactly the same word that is used in Proverbs 14 and verse 2. So, the despisement of God's law, the despisement of God's commandments always end in death. There are multiple ways to die. You may die physically, you may die spiritually, you may die financially, you may die familially, you may die ecclesiastically, you may die mentally, you may die emotionally, many ways to die. However you violate God's law, however you despise God and his word, you're going to die in that area.
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That's just plain. Now, if you'll turn in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 26, I want you to watch this. Leviticus chapter 26 and let's begin reading there with verse 13. Leviticus 26 and verse 13. Look what God says. Leviticus 26 verse 13. "I am the Lord your God which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their bondman.
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And I've broken the bands of your yoke and made you to go upright." That is to be moral, to be ethical, to walk in that which God has commanded. "I made you to go upright, but look in verse 14. But if you will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments, and if you shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that you will not do all my commandments, but that you will break my covenant, I also will do this unto you.
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I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague that shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. You shall sow your seed in vain, and your enemies shall eat it." And you can read all the way down for all the curses that come upon despising God and his word.
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Now, I'm going to point something out. I have had this question asked of me innumerable times. And here it is. I've had Christians ask me, "Pastor, I prayed about something. I pray and I pray and I pray. But seemingly my prayers are never answered. Why are my prayers unanswered?" Well, there are a lot of answers that I could give you, but I'm going to show you what I believe is one of the main ones.
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If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Proverbs chapter 28, Proverbs 28. And I want you to look at verse 9, Proverbs 28 and verse 9. Look what the word of God says. Proverbs 28, verse 9. Proverbs 28, verse 9. Here it is. "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination." Now, of course, you know the word abomination means a stench in the nostrils. God said, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination."
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Now remember, I told you about the lex talionis. That's where God makes the punishment fit the crime. So here we go. Listen carefully. Proverbs 28, verse 9. "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination." So here's the question. If you will not hear God, why should God hear you? If you despise his words, do you not understand why he despises your words?
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You follow what I'm saying? It's the lex talionis.
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Now, it's important to understand that the easiest and simplest way to despise the person of God is really to despise his word. You refuse to read it. You refuse to study it. You refuse to obey it. You refuse to apply it. And when you refuse to do those things, you are despising God. In other words, you consider his word unimportant and unnecessary in your life. You count it a waste of time. You're disdaining it. You're treating it with contempt and as if it is insignificant.
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We're not like David when David said in Psalm 119 verse 127, "Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold." The truth of the matter is, you cannot separate God from his word. David said it like this in Psalm 138 and verse 2. So whoever despises God's word, despises God himself. I don't have to repeat this. I've given it to you before, but I hope you remember in 2 Samuel chapter 12, when God was judging David because of his adultery with Bathsheba and killing Uriah, her husband, with the sword of the children of Ammon. Goodness! What did Nathan say? He said, and he was quoting God, "Thou hast despised my commandments." And in the next verse, God said, "Thou hast despised me." So you cannot despise God's commandments, you cannot despise God's word without despising the God who gave the word. So if you do not wish to despise the person of God, do not despise his word.
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"He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him." So you can not only despise the person of God, but you can also, secondly, despise the promises of God.
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Now, you know as well as I do that God gave the promised land to Abraham and his seed. But what happened? You can read all about it in Numbers 11 through Numbers 14. The people barely ate the wine and complained and sighed and even ten of the twelve spies brought back a bad report. They said, "It's a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof. It's no promised land whatsoever. Besides that, there are giants in it." In fact, God said, "Despise ye my promises."
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Now God does not lie. God himself is truth. In 2 Corinthians chapter 1 in verse 20, the Bible says, "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us." All the promises of God are yea and amen. Solomon, praying in 1 Kings chapter 8 in verse 56 said this, "Blessed be the Lord God, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he hath promised, there hath not failed one word of all his good promise which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant." He said nothing has failed. God gave us a promise and God fulfilled it.
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Have you ever wondered why at times your heart is filled with unbelief? Have you ever wondered why seemingly you think the promises of God are for others, but they're not for you? And have you ever considered the fact that when you look at the promises and the blessings of God in the Bible, you think, "Well, they're there, but I'm not worthy." Well, here is the truth. You're not worthy and you never will be worthy. But if you're in Jesus Christ, he is the one who makes you worthy.
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We have no righteousness of our own. We have no obedience of our own. We have no works of our own. We have absolutely zilch, nothing, zero. But Jesus Christ has everything. And the Bible tells you, in Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places." Did you know the Bible says, in 2 Peter 1 and verse 4, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption of the world through lust." In other words, God has given us all of these promises. We cannot dismiss the promises of God. We cannot despise the promises of God. Each of these promises are for his children and we must relish them and we must love them and we must live in them and live by them and live through them. He does not fail, neither do his promises. So we can not only despise the person of God by despising his word.
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But we can also despise the promises of God. Because clearly, we just ignore them and act like they're not even there. Never claim them. Never seek for them. Never ask God's blessing whatsoever. Wow. Now watch this. Here's a third thing. You can despise God's person. You can despise God's promises. And thirdly, you can despise God's providence. Despising God's providence is one of the most simple ways, it's the easiest way, it is the way that we sin against him unthinkingly because the truth of the matter is we often despise his providence because we do not think of him. We're fallen human beings, we are sinners, and it's natural and easy for us to do so. Things do not always go right for us. Things do not go according to the way we plan. Things do not go the way we want them to go. And sometimes we're upset not only about what has happened, but what is happening, and even what may happen. I don't know how we can be upset about that, but when we think about that, it upsets us as well.
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We just don't like it. And hence, we bellyache, and we complain, and we just do not understand. You heard me say this innumerable times. I'm going to say it again. There's no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world ruled by God. We only have God's sovereign providence and God brings to pass things in our lives for our good and his glory. Now, we may not think that they are for our good, but they are ultimately for our good. He makes them redound for our good. We may not understand, we may not like it, we may not appreciate it, but it is still ultimately for our good.
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And so what we end up doing is what ancient Israel did in complaining and bellyaching and whining, and we do it incessantly. I want you to turn back in your Bibles, if you would, to Numbers chapter 11. I'm going to read a little passage for you. And I want you to watch and see what has happened here. Numbers chapter 11 and let's begin with verse 4 and we'll read all the way through verse 23. OK. Watch this. Numbers 11 verse 4.
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"And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting. And the children of Israel also wept again and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?" Look what they said. "We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely, the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlics. But now our soul is dried away. There's nothing at all besides this manna before our eyes." And the manna was of coriander seed, and the color there was the color of bdellium.
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"And the people went about and gathered in, grounded in mills, beat it in the mortar and baked it in pans and made cakes of it, and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. And when the dew fell upon the camp of the night, the manna fell upon it. Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent, and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased. And Moses said to the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? And wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Have I conceived all this people?
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Have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth a sucking child, unto the land which thou swearest unto their fathers? Whence should I have flesh to give unto all these people? For they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand. If I have found favour in thy sight, let me not see my wretchedness. And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers among them, and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. Now watch. And I will come down and with thee there—this is significant—and I will take the spirit which is upon thee and will put upon them and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee that thou bear it not thyself alone." Don't you look what God said. God said, "Moses, you
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said you're unable to do it by yourself, fine, I'll give you some help." But look what he did. "I'll take some of the spirit off you and give to them." In other words, Moses was capable through God in and of himself, but it was a burden to him. And so God gave him these other 70.
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Now watch, if you would, verse 18. "And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves again, I guess, tomorrow, and you shall eat flesh. For you have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt. Therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and you shall eat. You shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days, but even a whole month, until it come out your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you, because that you have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? And Moses said, The people among whom I am are 600,000 footmen. And thou hast said, I will give them flesh, and they may eat a whole month.
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Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them to suffice them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them to suffice them? And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxen short? Thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. And Moses went out.
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Now, I want you to know something. Look at this, if you would, please. God had given them manna. The manna was not just from heaven. The manna was from God. The manna was an absolutely perfect food. It was everything that they needed for their nourishment and for their sustenance. But they were not content with what God gave. They wanted meat. And they remembered what they used to eat in Egypt when they were in slavery.
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In fact, these people were so intent. They were even talking about making a captain and going back into Egypt just so they could have their fish and onion and garlic and leeks. God said, "You want meat? I'll give it to you. I'll let you have it. And you can eat it till it comes out your nostrils. You'll be tired of it. You won't care anything about it."
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Let me tell you something. When I was 12 years old, I went to spend a week with my aunt and uncle. They had a bakery. I ate doughnuts. I ate cream filled doughnuts. I ate plain doughnuts. I ate chocolate covered doughnuts. I ate jelly doughnuts. I ate more doughnuts than you can shake a stick at. And I got news for you, after that week I was so sick of donuts I don't even like them today. That's what God said here. And by the way, you need to read the rest of this and also in Psalm 105 I think it is where when God gave them the quail,
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guess what? While the flesh was in their teeth, God slew the fattest of them. Do you realize sometimes one of the greatest judgments that we experience is when God lets us have what we want. When we want something so badly, even though it's contrary as well, God said, "All right, I'll give it to you." And then when you get it, you wish you'd never, ever had it.
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Now, if you look in Numbers 11 in verse 31, the Bible says this, "It was chewed. The wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague. And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah. Because there they buried the people that lusted." Wow. It's a bad judgment when God gives us what we want, when we want something contrary to his word and his will.
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Now, somebody's going to say, "Well, wow, I'm glad I wasn't in the Old Testament and I'm glad I wasn't there with Moses and those people." Can you learn from what happened to them? Let me show you. Turn in your Bibles, first of all, to Romans chapter 15. And then secondly, I want you to go to 1 Corinthians chapter 10. But we're going to Romans chapter 15 first. Then we'll go to 1 Corinthians. Look in Romans chapter 15 and verse 4. Romans 15 verse 4. Look at what is said. Romans 15 verse 4. "For whatsoever things were written aforehand," that's the Old Testament. Everything in the Old Testament. "Whatsoever things were written beforehand were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."
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There is a lesson to be learned from Numbers 11. There's a lesson to be learned from every illustration, every story, every scripture in the Old Testament. Once there was written a four time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
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Now turn to first Corinthians chapter 10. And let's begin reading there with verse 1. Watch this. 1 Corinthians 10, verse 1. The apostle Paul says, "Brethren, vulgar brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea," that's the crossing of the Red Sea, "and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the
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same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink for that drink that they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them. And that rock was Christ."
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Now, look at the first five, "but with many of them, God was not well pleased." That is all but two, "for they were overthrown in the wilderness." Now look at verse six.
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"Now, these things were our examples. To the intent, we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and arose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of the serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer." Look in verse 11, "Now all these things happened unto them for examples and they're written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come." So God is saying that everything that happened is for our admonition. I confess we find and we complain and we murmur and we bellyache all the time.
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I catch myself whining and bellyaching any time I have to stop at a railroad crossing for a train that's 40 miles long. And I try to say, "Well, Lord, let me just at least pray while I'm sitting here." I mean, you know, you can't do anything. You really can't read, but you can pray. But, you know, we don't like it because it gets in our way. We built it. It's kind of like that old adage. You heard it.
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"I complained when I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet." There's always someone far worse off than we are.
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Now let me tell you something. If we ever understand this simple truth, we do not deserve anything. We do not deserve the least of God's mercies. If we understand we really don't deserve anything from God except justice, it would tend to make us a little more thankful and more appreciative for his mercies toward us and what we do have. I may not have a new truck, but at least I have a truck. You follow me? I'm just simply pointing out the fact when we deserve nothing and we understand we deserve nothing, it makes us more appreciative of everything that God has given us.
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Now, let me try to tie some things together and make some applications. Here's the first one. We have to keep our hearts and minds in such a way that we have to learn not to despise God's person, His promises, or His providence. Will you stop and think about this. If God says, "Thou shalt not steal," and I come over to Brother Jim and I try to steal from him.
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I'm not just taking that which does not belong to me. I'm despising the God who said "Thou shalt not steal." I'm saying I don't regard his sovereignty. I don't regard his command. I'm like Pharaoh. When Moses said, "Thus saith the Lord, let my people go." Pharaoh said, "I know not the Lord, neither will I let thy people go." No, no, no. I'm going to do what I'm going to do. It's a despising of God. Sometimes when we do sin against God, God chastens us. And do you realize, three times in the Bible, we are told that we're not to despise the chastening of God.
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You'll find that in Job 5:17, Proverbs 3:11, and Hebrews chapter 12 in verse 5. Moreover, God tells us that we're not to despise prophesying, 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 20. That is, we're not to despise preaching and teaching of the Word of God. Many people do. Many people despise it. They won't go to church. And even some Christians despise it when they hear something they don't have to like or they don't have to agree with or they don't understand and they get upset. Instead of asking, they just get angry and turn around and walk off. God says that we're not to despise anything of his, especially his word.
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Let me give you one good illustration. Years ago, I was preaching in Alabama. And my text that Sunday morning was 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 verses 1 through 10. Okay? I don't know if you know what verse 4 says in 1 Thessalonians 1, but here's what it says. "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of the Lord." Now, I didn't preach on the doctrine of election, but since there's only 10 verses in 1 Thessalonians 1, I read all 10 verses. After service that morning, I had an older gentleman come up to me and he said, "You should not have read that verse." I said, "What verse are you talking about?" He said, "Well, verse four." I said, "Why should I have not read it?"
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"Because it's in the Bible. And if it's in the Bible, I should read it." He said, "Well, you shouldn't read it because there are some people who don't understand election and it upsets them." I said, "What you're telling me is you don't understand the doctrine of election and you are upset." Well, he said, "Yes." Well, I said, "I'll tell you what." And I was sitting in a motel. I said, "Did you realize the word elect, election or its equivalent occurs 73 times in the New Testament alone, not counting the Old Testament, 73 times in the New Testament. I said, if you will come to my motel room after dinner, I will take the Bible and go through all 70 passages and try to give you an understanding of the doctrine of election." He said, "Fine." Well, I hurried through dinner, rushed to the motel room and was feverishly writing down all these passages so I could show him and teach him.
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And then my phone rang. I answered the motel phone. "Brother Weaver, this is so and so." "Yes, sir. I'm expecting you in just a few minutes." Well, he said, "That's why I'm calling. I'm not going to come." I'm quoting verbatim exactly what he said. He said, "I'm not coming because my mind is made up and I don't want you confusing me with a bunch of scriptures." I'm just simply saying it is possible to despise God. And we do so by despising his word, by despising his promises and his providence as well.
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It's so easy to sin, so natural to sin, because we're sinners. We need to learn to pray with David. When David prayed in Psalm 19 and verse 13, "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me." We also need to pray, "Keep back thy servant from easy unthinking sins, so that we will not sin against thee," because we can sin without even thinking, that is for sure.
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Now, I want to mention one more time the lex talionis. And that is where God makes the punishment fit the crime. I told you in the introduction, there is such a thing as a temporary despisement, but there's also such a thing as a permanent despisement. When you think about the ungodly, when you think about the unsafe, when you think about the wicked who live their entire lives despising God, ignoring God, counting Him as insignificant, unworthy of their attention, and they live their life according to the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, they die despising God. And Asaph in Psalm 73 and verse 20 said this concerning God, "As a dream, O Lord, when one awakeneth, so when thou awakenest, thou shalt despise their image."
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I'm going to tell you something. If there was no other punishment for the wicked except this, in my eyes, it would be sufficient. I could look at Joshua and I could say, "Joshua, I despise you." What could I do besides, I might could try to hurt him, I might could try to do something. What I could do would be absolutely nothing. But when you stop and think, when the sovereign, supreme, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, immutable God despises someone throughout eternity.
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That has to be the horror of horrors. Hmm. It's the lex talionis. They despise him. He despises them. You reap what you sow. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. And Lord, I pray that you would help us to walk in uprightness, fearing thee, and not, Lord, to walk perversely, despising Thee. We pray, Father, for light. We pray, Father, that we might walk pleasing unto Thee and honoring to Thee, glorifying Thee and giving Thee praise and honor and worship. Thou deservest all praise, honor and worship. We give Thee thanks for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And we ask, Father, for Your will to be done in each life, in Christ we pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T16:48:30Z

Despising God

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver examines Proverbs 14:2 to show that walking perversely is equivalent to despising God. He argues that even genuine Christians can despise God by despising His Word, promises, and providence. Using the principle of lex talionis (law of retribution), he warns that God despises those who despise Him, and calls believers to walk in uprightness and fear the Lord.

Introduction: The Reality of Despising God

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 14:2

"He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him."

Look at that one more time. We're going to go over it several times.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 14:2

"He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him."

The Principle of Lex Talionis Illustrated in Eli's House

Using 1 Samuel 2, Weaver shows how Eli and his sons despised God by honoring themselves above Him, and God responded by despising them—making the punishment fit the crime.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 2:22-30

"Wherefore the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord said, be it far from me."

Look at this principle.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 2:22-30

"For them that honor me, will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."

Exegesis of Proverbs 14:2: Two Contrasting Walks

The Foolishness of Man and Despising God's Word

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 19:3

"the foolishness of man perverted his ways."

Foolishness is opposition to truth. So, look back in your Bibles to Proverbs 15 and verse 5. Look at this. Proverbs 15 verse 5.

Follow me now, three verses. Proverbs 15 verse 5,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 15:5

"A fool despises his father's instruction: but he that regardeth the reproof is prudent."

Now I'm talking about despising the person of God. I want you to look at this. Isaiah 47 and verse 10. Look what God says,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 47:10

"For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness, thou hast said, None seeth me."

Now look what God says,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 47:10

"Thy wisdom and thy knowledge,"

that is humanistic wisdom and knowledge, knowledge apart from God,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 47:10

"thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee, and thou hast said in thine heart, I am and none else beside me."

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 19:16

You are in essence despising your own soul and you shall die. So, the Hebrew word for despise here is exactly the same word that is used in Proverbs 14 and verse 2. So, the despisement of God's law, the despisement of God's commandments always end in death. There are multiple ways to die. You may die physically, you may die spiritually, you may die financially, you may die familially, you may die ecclesiastically, you may die mentally, you may die emotionally, many ways to die. However you violate God's law, however you despise God and his word, you're going to die in that area. That's just plain. Now, if you'll turn in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 26, I want you to watch this. Leviticus chapter 26 and let's begin reading there with verse 13. Leviticus 26 and verse 13. Look what God says. Leviticus 26 verse 13. "I am the Lord your God which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their bondman.

Unanswered Prayers as a Consequence of Despising God's Word

Weaver cites Proverbs 28:9 to show that turning away from hearing God's law makes one's prayers an abomination, illustrating lex talionis: if we despise God's words, He despises our words.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 28:9

"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination."

Now, of course, you know the word abomination means a stench in the nostrils. God said,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 28:9

"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination."

Despising God's Promises

Now God does not lie. God himself is truth. In 2 Corinthians chapter 1 in verse 20, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 1:20

"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us."

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:3

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places."

Despising God's Providence

Learning from Old Testament Examples

Weaver cites Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 to show that Old Testament events were written for our admonition, warning against lusting, idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, and murmuring.

Applications: Guarding Against Despising God

Conclusion: The Horror of Being Despised by God

Weaver concludes with the sobering reality of lex talionis: those who permanently despise God will be despised by Him for eternity, which is the ultimate horror.

Despising God

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	32262042284333
Subject	Biblical Worldview
Course	The Fear of God
Genre	Sermon
Date	2026-02-22
Dictation Name
Book	Book 067: The Fear of God — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	82

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Reality of Despising God: Weaver introduces the topic by noting that people often use the word 'despise' casually, but the Bible teaches that even Christians can despise God. He defines 'despise' as regarding with contempt, distaste, disgust, disdain, scorn, and loathing.
The Principle of Lex Talionis Illustrated in Eli's House: Using 1 Samuel 2, Weaver shows how Eli and his sons despised God by honoring themselves above Him, and God responded by despising them—making the punishment fit the crime.
Exegesis of Proverbs 14:2: Two Contrasting Walks: Weaver explains the Hebrew words for 'walketh,' 'uprightness,' 'perverse,' and 'despiseth,' demonstrating that one either walks in uprightness fearing God or walks perversely despising Him—both cannot coexist.
The Foolishness of Man and Despising God's Word: Drawing from Proverbs 19:3 and other passages, Weaver argues that refusing instruction and despising God's commandments is equivalent to despising God Himself. He emphasizes that despising God's law leads to death in various areas of life.
Unanswered Prayers as a Consequence of Despising God's Word: Weaver cites Proverbs 28:9 to show that turning away from hearing God's law makes one's prayers an abomination, illustrating lex talionis: if we despise God's words, He despises our words.
Despising God's Promises: Weaver warns against despising God's promises by ignoring them or failing to claim them. He references Israel's unbelief in the promised land and affirms that all God's promises are yea and amen in Christ.
Despising God's Providence: Weaver explains that complaining about circumstances is a form of despising God's providence. Using Numbers 11, he shows how Israel's lusting for meat was despising the Lord, and God gave them what they wanted as judgment.
Learning from Old Testament Examples: Weaver cites Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 to show that Old Testament events were written for our admonition, warning against lusting, idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, and murmuring.
Applications: Guarding Against Despising God: Weaver applies the message by urging believers not to despise God's person, promises, or providence. He warns against despising chastening, prophesying, or any part of Scripture, and shares an illustration of a man who refused to hear biblical teaching on election.
Conclusion: The Horror of Being Despised by God: Weaver concludes with the sobering reality of lex talionis: those who permanently despise God will be despised by Him for eternity, which is the ultimate horror.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Christians can despise God

It is possible for genuine believers to despise God by despising His Word, promises, and providence.

Weaver states: 'It is possible that a real, genuine Christian, a true believer, can despise his Heavenly Father.'

Despising God's Word equals despising God

You cannot separate God from His Word; despising His commandments is despising Him.

2 Samuel 12: God said to David, 'Thou hast despised my commandments' and 'Thou hast despised me.'

Lex talionis in prayer

If we refuse to hear God's Word, He will refuse to hear our prayers.

Proverbs 28:9: 'He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.'

Complaining is despising God's providence

Murmuring against circumstances is despising the Lord who ordains them.

Numbers 11:20: 'Because that you have despised the Lord which is among you.'

God's retributive justice is certain

Those who permanently despise God will be despised by Him for eternity.

Psalm 73:20: 'So when thou awakenest, thou shalt despise their image.'

Scripture References

Proverbs 14:2: The main text: 'He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.'
1 Samuel 2:22-30: Eli's sons' wickedness and God's judgment: 'For them that honor me, will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.'
Psalm 1:6: The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Proverbs 19:3: The foolishness of man perverteth his way, and his heart fretteth against the Lord.
Proverbs 15:5: A fool despises his father's instruction.
Proverbs 18:2: A fool hath no delight in understanding.
Proverbs 27:22: Though you bray a fool in a mortar, his foolishness will not depart.
Isaiah 47:10: Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee.
Proverbs 19:16: He that despiseth his ways shall die.
Leviticus 26:13-16: If you despise my statutes, I will appoint terror over you.
Proverbs 28:9: He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.
Psalm 119:127: Therefore I love thy commandments above gold.
Psalm 138:2: Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
2 Samuel 12: Nathan tells David: 'Thou hast despised my commandments' and 'Thou hast despised me.'
2 Corinthians 1:20: All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen.
1 Kings 8:56: There hath not failed one word of all his good promise.
Ephesians 1:3: Blessed be God who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings.
2 Peter 1:4: Exceeding great and precious promises are given unto us.
Numbers 11:4-23: Israel lusts for meat and despises the Lord; God promises to give them flesh until it comes out their nostrils.
Romans 15:4: Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.

Historical References

Eli and his sons (Hophni and Phinehas): Eli's sons were wicked priests; God judged them for despising Him by honoring themselves above God.
Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 11): The Israelites despised God's provision of manna by lusting for meat and complaining, leading to God's judgment.
David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12): David's sin of adultery and murder was described as despising God's commandments and despising God Himself.
Pharaoh's refusal to let Israel go: Pharaoh's response 'I know not the Lord, neither will I let thy people go' is an example of despising God's command.

Important Quotes

It is possible that a real, genuine Christian, a true believer, can despise his Heavenly Father.

Central thesis that even believers can despise God, challenging common assumptions.

For them that honor me, will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

Key verse establishing the lex talionis principle.

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.

Shows the reciprocal nature of despising God's Word and prayer.

You cannot separate God from his word.

Foundation for the argument that despising Scripture is despising God.

There's no such thing as luck, chance, fate, or fortune in a world ruled by God.

Emphasizes God's sovereign providence, making complaining a direct offense against Him.

I'm not coming because my mind is made up and I don't want you confusing me with a bunch of scriptures.

Illustrates the attitude of despising God's Word by refusing to hear biblical teaching.

As a dream, O Lord, when one awakeneth, so when thou awakenest, thou shalt despise their image.

Sobering conclusion that God will ultimately despise those who despise Him.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways might a genuine Christian unknowingly despise God in daily life?

[Context]

Weaver argues that Christians can despise God by despising His Word, promises, and providence.

[Question]

How does the principle of lex talionis (law of retribution) affect your understanding of God's justice?

[Context]

God makes the punishment fit the crime: those who despise Him are lightly esteemed.

[Question]

Why is refusing to hear God's Word equated with despising God Himself?

[Context]

Weaver states that you cannot separate God from His Word.

[Question]

How can we guard against despising God's providence when circumstances are difficult?

[Context]

Complaining about circumstances is a form of despising God's sovereign control.

[Question]

What does Proverbs 28:9 teach about the relationship between obedience and prayer?

[Context]

Turning away from hearing the law makes one's prayer an abomination.

[Question]

How should the Old Testament examples of Israel's rebellion serve as warnings for us today?

[Context]

1 Corinthians 10 says these things were written for our admonition.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'despise prophesying' (1 Thessalonians 5:20) in a modern context?

[Context]

Weaver warns against despising preaching and teaching of God's Word.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T08:00:43Z