January 5, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom. 24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. 27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. 29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. 31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
The fear of the wicked and the fear of the Lord are once again contrasted. The fear of the wicked is a shortened life while those who fear the Lord have a prolonged life.
Along with the fear of the wicked comes several descriptions which define who and what they are.
We find the wicked or the fool enjoys bragging about their escapades of mischief. It is described as sporting. 23 “It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.”
Proverbs 26:18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
To make sport is to kid around and make fun or brag about something done in cruelty or taking advantage of another.
In Genesis 26, Issac was sporting, playing around, having fun, with his wife married couples often do. Genesis 26:8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
In Judges Samson was captured and had his eyes removed and was tied to pillars of a building while the people laughed, taunted and made sport or ridiculed and made fun of him.
Judges 16:25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
Judges 16:27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
God rebukes Israel for having fun with their idolatry and adulterous worship of false gods and idols. Isaiah 57:4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
Second Peter gives us a definition of false teachers and religious leaders who sport themselves in false worship not knowing they themselves are deceived. They count it a pleasure to riot and feast in such deception.
2Peter 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;
A truly wise person will see the truth and know what is right and what is wrong with such sporting.
Proverbs 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
Proverbs 10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
There is a difference in those being content and happy in the Lord and those who are in it for the “sport.”
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
