(Proverbs 13:13 KJV)  Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

The world “despises” (936) the “word” (1697).  I think it is interesting that in the OT world people were thinking about the word, or Word.  This almost sounds like the NT, talking about the “word” (1697).  It is equated with “commandment” (4687) {end}.  We don’t have the John 1:1 reference to Jesus as the Word, but you can see that the idea would not be foreign.  The Bible has ideas that run through it.

Our culture is turning its back on the values that God has taught us.  There are consequences to that.  It is almost like there is an evil quotient, E.Q, that is slowly building up.  When it reaches critical mass there will be some kind of explosion, political, social, environmental.  We keep acting like there will be no price to pay for the behaviors that are becoming so common.  When you study history you see cultures that get more decadent as they get more mature.

This gives a negative balance on the scale of salvation and "destroys" us.  The NASB says "puts us in debt” (2254).  Our modern world has forgotten the seriousness of debt.  Historically debt was the road to slavery.  Literal slavery, not the distortions you get today.  If you could not pay your debts you began selling what you owned, then your family and finally yourself.  In more modern times you were thrown into debtors prison until you paid your debts.  Not we have bankruptcy which has become a national pastime.  Our debt of sin cannot be paid that way.  It will destroy us.  This is why grace is such an awesome gift.  The debt is out of our reach but God has provided a way.

So this is a message of hope for us.  We do not despise the Word.  We do fear the commandment.  We are rewarded by the knowledge of our salvation and will be rewarded with an eternity in God’s presence.