Proverbs 1:20-33
Proverbs 1:20-33
New King James Version (NKJV)
The Call of Wisdom
20 Wisdom calls aloud outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction 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 have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil.”
My Thoughts:
- So let’s start with (v. 22) we read “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.”
- The thing about the simple ones is that they do not even see the need for the knowledge and instruction and because of this non-understanding they openly mock at it. We see the fools actively hate and oppose this knowledge.
- In (v. 26) we read “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes,”
- Terrible experiences come to those who reject wisdom, we see the simple ones rejecting this offer of salvation and even mock it but there will be a time when the simple ones will cry out for mercy and be faced with a final judgment.
- Let’s finish with (v. 32) “For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;”
- The path to wisdom leads to life but the person that turns away from the path of wisdom is turning to the way of self-destruction.
- This turning away of the simple ones is the backsliding some do and we read that this will also bring the path of self-destruction, even though they believe that they will be saved. There is a question asked of me all the time; can a saved man be lost? I believe that the answer is yes (Jer. 8:5).
Thought of the Day
“Those who reject Christ as Savior will face Him as Judge”
We were in a small boat on the far side of the lake and the fish were biting when we heard a rumble of thunder in the distance. Looking up, we saw a mass of dark clouds in the west.
I ignored the suggestion of my fishing partner that it might be wise to start back to the cottage—I wanted to keep fishing. Then it happened! The storm was suddenly upon us. We tried to start the motor but it wouldn’t go! My friend tried to row, but the rain came in sheets and the waves tossed our little aluminum boat. We survived, but I learned a lesson. Don’t delay when a storm is brewing.
Another type of storm is coming—a day of judgment. It may seem far off, and you don’t feel you have to hurry to prepare. You may be in good health and in the prime of life. But listen, the storm may come upon you unexpectedly.
Proverbs 1 says that disaster will strike the person who foolishly ignores all warnings (v.27). And the author of Hebrews warned, “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (9:27).
To heed God’s warnings is true wisdom. Have you sought shelter in Christ? If you haven’t, it’s time to stop “fishing” and seek safety before it’s too late. Turn from your sin to Christ. Do so today.—Mart De Haan
Oh, turn to Christ while still you may;
Too late, it soon will be—
A glorious life you then will have
Throughout eternity. —Anon.
Personal Reflection and Discussion
- What do you think (v. 33) are saying?
- What other things do you see in the text?
Prayer Activities
- Call your Partner and discuss this devotional.
- Continue to have a prayer list and continue to praying for them.
- Pray with them and ask for the following;
- For God to help us not to become as the simple ones are and continue in our zeal for Christ.
- For God to give us the understanding and the knowledge of His plan for salvation.
- For the individuals on your pray list.
- Let’s use (Psalms 122:1-2) for today’s prayer verse.
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We are all foolish, simple ones at times. Hopefully not so much now as we strive to follow Jesus, but still we are human. That means we are still simple on so many levels. In these verses wisdom is calling to us. When we reject wisdom we must face the consequences of our choices. Rejection of wisdom is rejection of God’s laws. In the end this rejection will slay those who turnaway. Verse 33 Offers the promise of life to those who will listen and follow. Though the road may be hard, they will find safety and ease in the Fathers arms.
God calls to us all, calling us to knowledge and wisdom…and ultimately life. Some think chrisitianity is based on blind faith; I disagree. Like we see here God calls us, through the Holy Spirit, to understand and choose. God wants us to use our brains and reason, not all is dependent on our understanding, some is to be taken on faith, but a faith that is already strengthen through past experiences to help build our trust in Him. It think it’s the only verse where the Holy Spirit is described by a gender. With this it’s easy to see the trinity as a family; Jesus being the only begotten son, God the father, and the Holy spirit protrayed as the mother, teaching and guiding. We see here compassion and patience, but also tough love, but mostly warning to choose life.
Sometimes people think that the statement “it all comes down to freewill” is the easy way for Christians to explain things we do not understand but the truth is, it would be so much easier for us and for God if we just did what we were told. But because of His love for us we have the chance to choose our path.