Stop Signs on Go Street

(Proverbs 21:13 KJV)  Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

The KJV uses “stoppeth” for “shuts” (331).  A stopper is something that used to be used to block a drain.  It was an object put in place to keep material from passing.  They were common before the current style of having a knob to pull up that closed a valve in the drain.  You kept the offending material from entering.  We can do that same thing when God has a message for us.  What kind of object, actions, thoughts or attitudes do we put in the way to keep the free flow of God’s compassion from flowing?

We have many methods of ignoring the Holy Spirit.  We can avoid reading passages that might convict us.  We can rationalize our behavior.  We can procrastinate.  Whatever method we use, God’s purpose is put on hold.  The object of our action suffers.  We lose.  God is not happy.

So?  Each of us knows the areas we are resistant to.  We may have them covered up so that we don’t think of them.  God deals with me by bringing this verse to my hard nose once a month.  You may need a different lesson.  Listen and obey.