Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. Psalms 141:5.

Lately, I’ve been meditating seriously on Psalms 37 verses 23 -24: the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way. Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with his hand. The good side of the two verses is to be reckoned to the Lord, for he will guide the feet or paths of his saints, but the bad side of it should the responsibility of any of his saints by taking right decision, as to what is the will of the Lord to avoid falling as he lead them; for the Lord always leads us in the pzths of righteousness and not into sin. Even, if we are led as Christ was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the tempter; it is for his glory in our triumph, not for our fall and to bring reproaches his holy name.

Sometimes, we don’t think deeper enough about the consequence of a hasty spirit or action to deviate from looking straight a-head of us to establish our ways before the Lord; but impulsively act as father Abraham did when he hearkened to the counsel of Sarah to have a child by her housemaid – Hagai, which he did, which was a fall: and Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram. Genesis 16:16.

For a while, it may appears as if the enemy is winning and rejoicing, Sarah had been defeated by her own counsel, and Hagai is now puffed up, but soon shall she and her son be cast out. Things seems to go altogether wrong for a while for the man, but afterwards, God appeared to him again by saying, Abraham, walked before me and be perfect. Genesis 17:1. Thus, we see that though, the righteous man fall, he will not be utterly cast down, for the Lord uphold him with his hand: rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the Lord thy God? Mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. Micah 7:8-10.

When we are in trouble of  desperate need of something, and been waiting for a while, this is where the pressures are increased by the enemy to derail us from the will and time of God through wrong counsels, sometimes of the godly peaople around us, but used by the enemy against us. The fall of Abraham was not occasioned by God, he will never tempt any man to evil or sin. Though there will always be evil side attractions and distractions along the way, Abraham’s problem was the impatient displayed to fall along the way by which he was led by God: let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand or to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27.

There is nothing flattering about God or of his word. His promises are exceeding great and precious, but are not flattering. His goodness, faithfulness, steadfastness, fearfulness, dreadfulness are real. Divine threats against sin and unrepentants sinners are to be taken seriously in preparation for eternal recompense of rewards according to every man’s work- good or bad.

Back to the actual text before us from Psalms 141 verses 5, we see one of the reasons David was so much loved by God (a) because he will owns to his sin and will not hide his iniquity: confess your fault one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. James 5:16: (b) Humbled in heart, David stands to be corrected, ready to receive rebuked, to be helped and straightened by the righteous men and women around him. Note: rod and reprove give wisdom (Proverbs 29:15), but correction is grievous unto him that forsakes the way: and he that hates reproof shall die. Proverbs 15:10.

And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself. Job 19:4. This is true but one sinner destroys much good as well. This is the reason why some righteous men will not hold their peace, but will show you where you are wrong (Job 11:3), to protect others from falling to the same error of your ways. To err is human, but nobody should be beyond reproof if they erred, but the spiritually arrogant thinks they are beyond correction or immune to be disciplined and to take responsibility for their errors.

Here, we see David, the great anointed of God, the man after the heart of God, and sought after God for the rod of the righteous to smite him (which do you prefer? Should I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? 1 Corinthians 4:21), for it shall be excellent oil, which shall not break his head. Psalms 141 b.

Excellent oil upon his head, meaning that their prayers, instructions in righteousness or any disciplinary measure will be supportive and helpful to make his restoration more easier before God. Note: if you will not allows the good and honest men around you to humble you by the word of God, when you are humbled by your sin, to correct you, if you have erred, that you may break away from your sin by righteousness, and your iniquity by showing mercy to the poor, because you think you are anointed, and none should touch his anointed, when God will visit your sin, it will be more humiliate like when king Nebudchanezzar was sent into the bush to eat grass like the beasts of the field for seven years: when thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makes his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Psalms 39:11.

This is what the bible calls the faithful wounds of a friend. When your friend is able and is allowed to look at you in the face to tell you that you are damned wronged, you are to be blamed; you take it humbly in contrition to increase in wisdom and to walk better in the fear of God: for faithful are the wounds of a friend. Proverbs 27: 6 a. But if you lose the company or favor of a friend who will not be corrected for his error, thank God, such do not worth or merit your company, such is fool, and you should not be a companion to a fool, they shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20.

David’s imploration before God speaks against the hypocrisy, non- resistance and hardness of heart to sin in the church today. Remove your eyes, and say nothing – do not judge: do as if you hear nothing, because everyone is doing the same thing. Why should you judge him or her? Don’t offend the sister or the brother, just leave them alone – Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 1 Timothy 5:20.

First, you’ve judged yourself that you might not be judged by God by accepting the righteouse to smite you. But who are these righteous men to whom David asked God to send his way for reproof, correction and his restoration through their prayers? If your action is not judged in the balance of the word of God, how can it be said that you are wrong or right? There should be spirit-filled, fearless and honest, just, godly and righteous men and women, who have first removed the beam out of their own eyes. These are scripturally and morally qualified ( Luke 1:6: Psalms 119:1-3) in the sight of God to cast out the mote out of anyone’s eyes in the church for correction in meekness, and to chastises in love, and to pray for the restoration of any of their brethren overtaken in any fault (Galatians 6:1): but truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. Micah 3:8.

This is the call of the righteous man, not of the sinner or of the hypocrite in the church – the true spiritual man that judges all things, and he is not judged by any man, because he is just and true, an Isrealite indeed, in whom is no guile. 1 Corinthians 2:15. You should not judge others for any of their faults when they fall if you are doing similar or same things like they are, otherwise, you will be judged and condemned by the same jusgement and condenmation you sentenced them to. First, you should sort out your moral and spiritual problems with God before you can be in any moral or spiritual position to help others: therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judges: for wherein thou judge another, thou condemn yourself; for you that judges does the same things. Matthew 7:1-5. Romans 2:1.

There are haters and hypocritical mockers in the church who (a) wrest your words and try to turn or use it against you: all their thoughts are against you for evil. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark your steps, when they wait for your soul: surely they will not escape God’s judgment for these iniquities: Psalms 56:5-7: (b) they spread the rumors around, and falsely exalts themselves against other’s sin as if they are genuine saints, and rejoices in your fall. This is the attitudes of the children of Satan, but the saints never rejoice at other’s fall, nor puffed up at the error of their fellow believers, but bear their burden of error in prayer to God, that they might fulfil the law of Christ’s love (Galatians 6:2): whosoever is glad at calamities of whatever nature (sins or other problems), shall not go unpunished. Proverbs 17:5.

The rod and staff of God is for correction throught the reproofs and comforts of scriptures, but the un-broken Christians will condemn the just, and separate from the ways of him that rebukes them in love. The Pharisees are not righteous as they appeared to be. This is the reasons Christ denounced and cursed them as hypocrites. While Christ was on earth, he was always on the loggerheads with the hypocrites righteous Pharisees who they hated reproof and correction: but the chief priests and the scribes gave their testimony about Christ that he says and teaches the ways of God rightly, neither did he accepts the person of anyman. Luke 20:21.

Those who are walking in the counsels of the ungodly are not blessed, because they are not opened up to correction, self seekers, mockers and pleasers they are, one of the spirits of the last days, from such, turn away. We are not children of God, if we flatters others for whatever reason or purpose (Job 32:21), by seeking to please others against the word of God. Galatians 1:10. It is expected of the servants and children of God to speak the gospel or situational truth with one another in love, without respect of any person, without the fear of any reprisal of man: to speak as the oracle of God, is to say things as exactly as they are: to speak, exhort, rebuke with all scriptural authority. Titus 2:15.

Today, where is the remnant of Stephen, irrespective of the consequence, ready to speak the truth of God’s word that the hearers should be pricked in their hearts for the word spoken, left to brokenness, only to be healed by the balm of Gilead?

Where are the remnants prophet Micah, who will not mind to be judged for speaking the true mind of God, imprisoned to be fed with the bread of affliction and to drink water of sorrow, willing to lose their respect, position and acceptance before other prophets who are prophetic liars, deceitful and greedy for money. Where are those true and righteous prophets, who are ready to be falsely accused as an enemy who never speaks anything good because they will not call evil good just as Ahab falsely accused prophet Micaiah to never been on his side to flatter him as other prophets did? And Jehoshaphat said, is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides that we might enquire of him? And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, there is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, let not the king say so. 1 Kings 22:7-8. Unfortunately, Ahab refused and resisted the the rod of the righteous sent from God to stop him from going to the war, but was killed by the sword of the enemy, for the vengeance of his sin against Naboth who was slain for his vineyard by the wicked counsel of Jezebel.

Be it to be found in the husband to the wife, the wife to her husband, the parents to their kids, the shepherd to the flock, or the servant to his master, there is no excuse before God, but he’s against everyone who hold back the truth from his neighbor, and will not speak it in truth, but will flatter them for financial gain, promotion at work, approval and praise of man, or in the name of living together in peace through deception of flattering word:  let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away. Job 32:21-22.

Apart from been the cowards, which shall be rejected outside of heaven at the end, one of the problems of the flatterers is seeking to avoid intimidation of becoming a victim of speaking truth for the fear of repercussion, which shows that they are not walking in the sanctifying truth of the love of God, perfect love casts out fear – whatever fear. If we cannot speak the truth in love as required by the Lord, you are not using the rod of the righteous that are bold as lion, are you really of the truth, and walking worthy of his calling? Ephesians 4:25.

Like Prophet Nathaniel who was sent to correct David for his sin of adultery and murder, and to announce the judgement of God against his sins, the righteous don’t flatter, but they declare the whole counsel of God as they received it. This is why the judgment of flatterers, either a believers, pastors, propehts, wife, husband, friends are now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. Flattering words are lies and deception to whomsoever is concerned, just as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety: both the serpent and the woman and the man were cursed and punished for hearkening to the serpent’s flattering words. ‘You shall not die. Your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be equaled to God, knowing good and evil. 2 Peter 2:3.

The messenger who was sent from the King’s palace had earlier appealed to prophet Micaiah on his way to the palace to forget about speaking any truth, that his prophetic words should correspond with the other prophets who has spoken sweet words to deceive the King. But King Ahab knew the prophet Micaiah for his intergrity and honesty, how dare was a changed in tune this time around? So, the king begged him not to flatter him, for it was unusual of him to give the same prophesy like the rest of his manipulative, deceptive and lying prophets, so king Ahab knew all this while that he has been living in a lie, but he loved it so. ‘And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good. And Micaiah said, as the Lord lives, what the Lord says unto me, that will I speak. So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. And the king said unto him, how many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord? And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, these have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? 1 Kings 22:13-18.

The world is becoming more aggressive and intolerant of the gospel truth. They want the gospel without offense, just to make void the effects of the cross of Christ and to nullify the power of the good news. The larger parts of the people in the church are cleaving to the flatteries of the sugar-coated words of the false prophets, apostles, pastors, doctors of the law, the scriptures cannot be broken – this is another gospel, be careful. Daniel 11:34. They themselves loving it so to nourish their itching ears in opposition to all the scriptures given by the inspiration of Gid, which is profitable for teaching, correction, reprove and instruction in righteousness for their perfection in Christ Jesus, lest they should be like children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every winds of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Ephesians 4:14.

The true ministers of the gospel should know that God is their exceeding great reward: they should be willing and ready to suffer rejection and adapt to any situation they found themselves for speaking the truth as they ought; be faithful to the word, not corrupting the scriptures and avoiding sweetening the word of God by good speeches for filthy lucre sake – financial gain. Believers should pray for one another, that they should be able make the word know and speak as they ought to without apology (Ephesians 6:19-20), that the word of God should be freely spoken without intimidation, within the church or outside of it, lest they devalued its worth, power and effects, so that it should be glorified. 2 Thessalonians 3:1.

King Herod was flattered for having the voice of God or speaking like God, but was instantly destroyed by God for receiving such flattered commendations. Whosoever speaks what you love to hear to make you happy, though you are wrong, lest you become angry, really never for once loves you: a lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. Proverbs 26:28. Those who are with the conscience sealed with a hot iron are given over to reprobate mind. They will not discern the voice of their flatterers or the deceptive kisses of their enemies (Proverbs 27: 6 b), until all perish in their deceptive friendships (Job 17:5): the transgression of the wicked says within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. Psalms 36:1-4.  

Open rebuke is better secret love. Proverbs 27:5. You may cry and feel hurt by your pride when you are rightly rebuked and corrected to bring a good change into your life: it is good and will be an excellent oil to shine forth in the glory of the new man, which after God, is created in righteousness and in true holiness, than to resist correction sent to save you from death. It is not good to keep friendship with a friend that flatters you; he is an enemy of your soul – a man that flatters his neighbor, spreads a net for his feet. Proverbs 29:5.