Insolent

in·so·lent

[ˈinsələnt]

ADJECTIVE

1. showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect:

   "she hated the insolent tone of his voice"

   synonyms: impertinent · impudent · cheeky · ill-mannered · bad-mannered · unmannerly · rude · impolite · uncivil · discourteous · disrespectful ·
   

   [more]

   insubordinate · contemptuous · audacious · bold · cocky · brazen · pert · insulting · abusive · fresh · lippy · saucy · sassy · smart-alecky · contumelious

As I was reading Psalm 119, I noticed this word used several times, for example:
You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. Psalm 119:21
The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. Psalm 119:51
The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; Psalm 119: 69
Let the insolent be put to shame, they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Psalm 119:78
The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law. Psalm 119:85
Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me. Psalm 119:122
The word INSOLENT is used 13 times in the ESV version of the Bible. It is the version I use most times these days. When I was growing up, the church I was raised in used the King James version and it uses the word Proud in the above 6 verses.  I have no particular motive for looking into this word. As I read the Bible I try to look at something that catches my attention. Today INSOLENT caught my attention.  That caught my interest right there, the King James that I was raised on did not even use that word in these verses. In fact it is not used at all in the King James version. Proud is not used in this list of synonyms above.`This word caught my attention, so where do I go with this in this blog? Showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect, I think that describes a lot of what is happening in our country today. Rudeness like during the last presidential campaign, individuals would go up on stage a grab a mike from a political candidate speaking.  Lack of respect like when people will post a picture of President Obama on the back of a sewage truck and post it on facebook. Or when a post went around about a sewer facility being named after George Bush and posted as being funny. Rude, arrogant and disrespectful describes a lot in our political arena today. Psalm 119 is mostly about learning and living according to God's ways. his laws, and his precepts, his commandments. Insolent persons do no not want to learn God's ways. Perhaps that is something to think about. Insolent shows up in the New Testament in Romans 1, in a negative list: And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.  Romans 1:28-32 As I look at this list I do not want insolent to be used to describe me any more that the many other words in this list.  I am a follower of God and I do want to learn his word, his ways, his laws, his precepts. God's ways  give life even Eternal Life. Insolence leads to destruction and eternal damnation.   Here again in the new Testament, Paul uses that word insolent to describe himself before his conversion.  I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  1 Timothy 1:12-14.  Paul received mercy and was forgiven of his sins, as any insolent person today can receive from Jesus Christ our Lord. It does take a repentant heart to clean that out or any sin out of our lives.  Jesus came to save sinners, not to condemn. Thank you Jesus,   for forgiving me of my sins.  God bless, LVZ.