The Third Day of Lent
Posted on February 20, 2026 by under
Scripture: Proverbs 6:12-19 (NKJV)
6:12 A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth;
13 He winks with his eyes, he shuffles his feet, he points with his fingers;
14 Perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, he sows discord.
15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
16 These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.
Devotion
Yes, God used “six seven” before your kids or grandkids did. By it, He indicates that some of the things listed overlap, all spring from the same root, and all bear the same judgment: all are contrary to His natural order of things and, therefore, called “abomination.”
That’s not the demarcation of “a sin that’s worse than the other sins not being named,” but things that ultimately make as little sense as having false gods. An idol, as anyone can see, is not a viable candidate for being the true God, since it is made by human hands, doesn’t eat or drink, or move, or talk. Devising wicked plans, running to do evil, lying, making false accusations or giving false testimony, shedding blood not in self-defense or defense of others, stirring up division, or boasting on the basis of things that either are given to you or only possible because of things you can’t supply for yourself (air, health, etc.) are all utterly senseless activities that contradict how God established the world. When you are caught doing them, there is nothing that simply makes them go away. If man does not catch up with you and judge you for them, God ultimately will. It doesn’t matter how you number them; in His eyes they each deserve the fullness of His judgment, which is what ‘seven’ signifies throughout Scripture.
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
