The Backslider – Part 1

Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 

‘The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.’ The backslider in heart will be satisfied with his ways, but a good man will be satisfied when he is free from his own ways (2Cor. 5:17-18).

‘Backslider’ [Hebrew: cuwg] to flinch; to go back; to apostatize. Backslider is used only once, but backsliding is found 16 times. We should always check our own state of heart and attitude against Scripture to make sure we are not backsliding.

The ways of backsliders: They will not listen to God (Lev. 26:14). They will not obey commands. They despise God’s statutes (Lev. 26:15). They abhor God’s judgments. They break God’s covenant. They forget God (Deut. 8:11). They forsake God (Deut. 32:15; 2Chr. 15:2). They provoke God (Deut. 32:16). They turn again to folly (Ps. 85:8). They turn aside to sin (Ps. 125:5). They turn from righteousness (Ezek. 3:20; 18:16-24; 33:12-18). They cast God behind them (Ezek. 23:35). They trust their own righteousness (Ezek. 33:13). They are bent on backsliding (Hos. 11:7).

To be continued…