Which voice do we choose, the voice of wisdom or the voice of folly? To help us in our choice, I suggest we guard those eye and ear gates.
They are gateways also known as entranceways.
Today, as we progress in the book of Proverbs,
Let’s read out loud the next portion, Proverbs 1: 20-33
“Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;
at the end of the noisy streets she cries out,
in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:
How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?
If you had responded to my rebuke,
I would have poured out my heart to you,
and made my thoughts known to you.
But since you rejected me when I called
and no one gave heed when I
stretched out my hand,
since you ignored all my advice
and would not accept my rebuke,
I in turn will laugh at your disaster;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you–
when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me.
Since they hated knowledge and did not choose
to fear the Lord,
since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,
they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Wow! Lots to unpack! This is difficult for me since I am so big on the love of God. Also, compassion and love are very high in who I am in the Lord. Yet, this is Truth.
This is clearly a warning against rejecting wisdom.
Wisdom is crying out aloud in the streets looking for a place to settle. What does that mean?
Well, Job said it this way, “Where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?” Job 28: 12-13
Job concludes by discovering that wisdom cannot be found in stones and metals, in deep mines in the earth; nor can it be bought with these precious stones or metals.
Wisdom can only be found in God and in the fear of Him.
As a young man and woman confront life in a social context, two voices will lure him or her:
- The voice of wisdom.
- The voice of folly
In the midst of life and decisions, we must learn to exercise discretion.
The earlier we learn how to implement discretion and guardedness, the quicker we will learn wisdom.
The term “simple ones” denotes one that is without moral direction and inclined to evil.
Don’t be simpletons, establish moral direction early on in your life.
Wisdom is like a fountain. Her words would constantly refresh and strengthen as we embrace her.
When we respond with wisdom, and heed God’s warning, we will be constantly strengthened by wisdom itself.
God is continually stretching His hand to us, yet if we ignore Him and all His advice, He has no choice but to turn on us. He does this not because He doesn’t love us.
This is not an expression of heartlessness but a reaction to the absurdity of fools, who laugh at wisdom and bring disaster on themselves.
This is what it means when calamity overtakes you.
There came a time when God refused to listen to Israel after they rejected Him.
Those who find wisdom find life and blessing.
As we conclude, remember these words, “Whoever listens to Me will live in safety and be at ease without fear of harm.” Proverbs 1: 33
Finding Wisdom, Finding Life And Blessing, Is Finding Jesus, Who Is Wisdom, Supreme Wisdom.
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