Proverbs 1:17-19
Good Morning,
I hope you are enjoying life, walking in the Spirit, and active in your service for Jesus and others.
Today, we will see wisdom crying out to see if there are any interested takers. Verses 17-19 continue the instruction concerning the folly of those who are so filled with greed that they choose to become a robber and murderer to advance themselves. Verse 19 states, "So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof." Not only is sin wrong, it also isn't smart!
Notice the appeal and invitation of wisdom as it is personified, "Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets. 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city, she uttereth her words..." You see, problems come when we reject what God offers and we turn to the things of the world. It is dangerous and foolish for any person to turn their back on God's counsel. Notice the queries of verse 22, "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?" Three categories of sinners are noted: (1) simple ones, (2) scorner's, and (3) fools. They all are related. Simple ones refer to those who are naive, especially to godly principles. Scorners are those who mock righteousness and the things of God. Fools are those who rebel against wise instruction. Wisdom cries out asking how long will they reject her godly counsel? The answer is apparent. The ungodly to this day ignore godly wisdom.
Turning points are huge when we are headed in the wrong direction. Notice the sweet invitation found in verse 23, "Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you." The counsel of God personified in wisdom is to turn at His reproof. The idea is of repentance—turning back to God. That call remains to this day. A wicked and Christ-rejecting world to this day is called to turn to God. And for the minority that does, God promises to pour out the blessing of His Spirit and teach His Word to them. Notice that God actually refers to His words. The very words of God are inspired and remain important. Beware of those who would diminish the very words of God.
There are great consequences when God offers Himself to us and we reject Him and His counsel. Tomorrow we will learn of those consequences.
May you walk in the joy of forgiveness and be blessed as you meditate upon these words.
Your Friend and His,
Pastor Abbott