It is a sign of prodigious folly for a man to take pleasure in sin, which gives mortal wounds to the soul, provokes the wrath of the Almighty God, and could not be expiated, but in the groans and blood of a Redeemer. And yet all wicked men take pleasure in sin. It is with the utmost propriety, that Solomon gives the name of fool to the wicked and allows the character of wisdom to none but the godly.
The godly are not wise in every instance of their conduct, for weakness and temptation too often betray them into sin yet they hate sin, and long to be rid of their indwelling corruption. This is the difference between the disposition of godly and wicked men, with relation to sin. Wicked men may for many reasons abstain from the outward commission of sin but godly men hate sin, and everything that leads to it.
Sin is not only practiced by the wicked but it is loved by them. Folly is their joy, and therefore they sin even without a temptation. It is their food and drink to sin, and they roll iniquity under their tongue as if it were a sweet morsel. They do not hate those sins that are condemned by God's Word but the Word that condemns them. They dislike salvation itself because it is a deliverance from sin.
But the wise man's employment is to walk uprightly. He hates the sin that dwells in him, and loathes himself for his impurities. He takes pleasure in holiness, and loves the law of God, because it testifies against his iniquities. He joins earnestly with the Psalmist in that prayer, "O that my ways were directed to keep your statutes!" And instead of being satisfied with such a degree of holiness as may amount to the lowest evidence of true grace he will not count himself completely happy, until his grace is completed in the glory of the heavenly state!
[George Lawson]
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Proverbs 10:23 ... It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
Proverbs 14:9 ... The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Proverbs 15:21... Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
Proverbs 19:28 ... There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
Isaiah 66:3 ... He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
2 Peter 2:13 ... And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
Psalm 12:8 ... The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.❤
