Wisdom Warns
Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.
30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof.
Have you ever prayed over your donut expecting the sugar its made of to change the unhealthy nature of its effect; when in all reality, we just got fatter by our insulin getting pissed about the placebo our mind is selling. “We’re getting phatter!” “No! You’re NOT!”—Insulin yells back. I do this, also, with caffeine; it’s actually a very bad habit, and even worse to lie convinced its truth by the mere “justification” of a prayer. Can you imagine, we’re in a court of law, the judge just gave us the verdict: *The gavel comes down, WHAM!* “Guilty!” “BUT BUT, JUDGE! I’M JUSTIFIED BECAUSE I PRAYED BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE MURDER—SO IT DOESN’T COUNT!” “Son, are you an idiot?”
NOT ACCEPTABLE
Okay, the judge doesn’t have to say that, but… is it a fair question if put another way? “Son, why are we in court of law if lawlessness is justified in prayer?” What do you think? If we Christians say we believe and yet continue in our sin as we pray for forgiveness, is the sin justified? Is it not wise to become educated about what we are eating, of which once learned, to stop eating the sin with prayer as though we’re right with God when… we’re not. James 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. If I know that caffeine can cause infertility in me, and yet pray it doesn’t, will not change the truth about that drug even if someone else has four kids being completely ignorant (or not) of that fact about “too much” caffeine. And that’s not to tempt people who don’t want kids either, so don’t think you can get away with that, said facetiously. What do you think? Is it important that we Christians exemplify the nature of prayer appropriately, and understand the risks involved to the choices we make or don’t make? I think so because we are the Church, the Light to the world, a Beacon of faith, truth, hope, and Love. James 5:19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
- Why do you, and I, not accept counsel?
- Do you, or I, know someone who struggles with reproof?
- What does accepting the counsel of Wisdom look like?
- How can we learn to accept reproof?
- How can we serve those who struggle against reproof?
RECOURCE
Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23 “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”
COMMENTARY
Matthew Henry (P1-V30) Commentary
[4.] Now they are eager upon their own way, and fond of their own devices; but then they will have enough of them (v. 31), according to the proverb, Let men drink as they brew; they shall eat the fruit of their own way; their wages shall be according to their work, and, as was their choice, so shall their doom be, Gal. 6:7, 8. Note,
- First, There is a natural tendency in sin to destruction, Jam. 1:15. Sinners are certainly miserable if they do but eat the fruit of their own way.
- Secondly, Those that perish must thank themselves, and can lay no blame upon any other. It is their own device; let them make their boast of it. God chooses their delusions, Isa. 66:4.
"NOT WITH INK" 