Things God Hates

Proverbs 19:12

"The king’s anger is as dangerous as a lion’s. But his favor is as refreshing as the dew on grass."

Another version says it like this…

"The king’s anger is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like welcome rain."

B. If your walk is dry and empty…you need the touch of the Lord’s FAVOR upon your life. It is refreshing like sweet rain on a spring day.

Proverbs 16:15

"When a ruler is happy and pleased with you, it’s like refreshing rain, and you will live."

C. Look, when you have the Lord’s FAVOR in your life, you will experience times of incredible refreshing.

D. We have looked at so many different characters in the Bible who had FAVOR—I wish I had the time to really tell all of their stories:

1. Ruth found FAVOR with Boaz – A type of Christ.

2. Hannah found FAVOR with the Priest Eli – Samuel the prophet was born and 1 Samuel 2:26 says…

"And the child Samuel grew on, and increased in FAVOR both with Jehovah, and also with men."

3. Nehemiah found FAVOR with the King—accomplished the mission of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

4. Esther found FAVOR—so much so that the King offered her up to half his kingdom.

5. King David found FAVOR—even though he often failed. His heart was after the things of God.

II. Body.

A. Therefore, there is no doubt that the Bible promotes the principle of FAVOR. It is clear—God wants to bless us with FAVOR.

Psalm 119:58

"I entreated Thy favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Thy word."

F. This word "entreated" is an interesting word. It means to "be rubbed or worn even to the point of being wounded."

G. In other words, the Psalmist is saying, "I want Your FAVOR so badly; I am going to rub up against you in prayer even if it wounds me."

H. The idea here is that if we really want God’s FAVOR…we have to go after it and seek Him until we find Him.

Transition: The second way to get FAVOR according to the book of Proverbs is a three-step process:

2. Listening, Watching, and Waiting brings FAVOR!

A. Go with me to Proverbs 8:32-36.

B. Note these three things in verse 34:

1. Listening – To listen is to perceive with interest and to obey.

Note: The Bible is filled with instructions to listen: 284 references to the word. However, God’s intent is that we listen with the heart to obey…that is what brings FAVOR.

2. Watching – To watch is to stay awake or to be alert. Notice it is DAILY.

Note: The NT is abundant with encouragement to be on the alert—especially in reference to the return of Christ.

3. Waiting – To wait is to stand guard, to observe, or to give heed.

C. God is saying to the Body, "Listen to me with the intent to obey, stay alert on a daily basis, and wait for Me by standing guard and giving heed to Me."

D. When we cooperate in this way…we "obtain" (produce or furnish) FAVOR from the Lord. Verse 35.

3. Teaching and Understanding produce FAVOR!

A. Turn to Proverbs 13:14-15.

B. Teaching is not enough to produce FAVOR. Do you understand that just because we are being taught this principle of FAVOR does not mean we are walking in FAVOR?