Proverbs 1:20-33
These verses are titled “The call of Wisdom” in my Bible, and on June 1, I read these words and did not follow the leadership of the Spirit in sharing the thoughts that entered my mind. It is now the early morning of the fourth, and not being able to sleep I once more encounter these words. I believe these words are for now, and as Wisdom speaks to you and me she is asked two questions in verse 22, that a wise person should ponder.
“Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?”
God has not been silent; He has many men and women who are speaking out, some in sermons, some in music, many in book form, and also workplace ministry, who masquerade as doctors, salespeople, business owners, and a host of others. But it seems the simple, and I’m not referring to a person I.Q. or status in society, but to a refusal to listen, and to agree that we are in trouble, in our personal life, our nation, and the world. Wisdom also asks, “How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?” It is a question I have no answer for, in fact I’m amazed at how easy it is for our society to allow evil men and women to change what has been established from the beginning, such as marriage, the gender of a person, and especially those who call it choice for a woman to kill her unborn child.
But I have some very bad news, God has spoken and we should give serious thought to verses 23-33, “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
My hearts desire and prayer is that we listen to the LORD and ask him to guide us into Truth; Jesus is Truth!
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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