Wisdom's Calling: Is God Reaching Out

Ref. Proverbs 1: 20-33
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7)
Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; At the head of the noisy (streets) she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:
“How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
“Turn at My reproof, Behold, I will pour out My Spirit on you; I will make My words known to you. “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out My hand and no one paid attention; And you neglected all My counsel and did not want My reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, When your dread comes like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. “Then they will call on Me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find Me, Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. “They would not accept My counsel, they spurned My reproof. “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices.
“For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. “But he who listens to Me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil.”
Notes:
Wisdom is knowing God’s mind so that we might know what the next best move should be. In the first nineteen verses Solomon advises his son, Who you should not be listening to. How not to be listening to Satan’s enticements; and instead make the right choices, the right decisions in life. Who among us, can remember back when we wish we would have not listened to someone’s enticements? . . . Someone’s ill advise?
Now in verse twenty, Solomon advises who you should be listening to. The Hebrew word translated “proverb” means “to be like” and deals with ethical and moral aspects of life. They are practical and not theoretical, and point the way to godly character.
Wisdoms call: The truly wise person will hear the Word of God and obey it.
“Turn from sin.” Turn to My reproof, Behold, I will pour out My spirit on you; I will make My words known to you ( vs. 23). If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, then it begins right here with repentance. We must turn from our sin out of our fear of the Lord. Renounce it publicly. God desires it with the activity of wisdom.
We are being naïve not to want God’s reproof. For God says “ scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, fools despise wisdom and instruction, and fools hate knowledge. The word “fool” in Scripture refers to one who is arrogant and self-sufficient, one who orders his life as if there were no God. The fool says in his heart “ There is no God!” ( Psalm 14:1).
But there is another reason, another aspect here. A word of warning from God that we cannot ignore. We have dopler radar to tell us of an up coming storm. And they are usually pretty accurate as to when they will arrive. God is not forecasting “ sunny skies” but rather an impending storm. Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; vs.24, And you neglected all My counsel and did not want My reproof; vs. 25, I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, vs. 26, When your dread comes like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you vs.27.
Notice He did not say, “If” but “when” your storms come. One of the things the Bible says about God, is that it is impossible for God to lie. Don’t misunderstand what the meaning of reproofs from God are in someone’s life. There is plenty of evidence from Scripture that God chastens us because He loves us, everyone whom He calls a son.
And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly, or faint when you are reproved by Him; for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and punishes every son whom He receives. Endure it as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons ( Hebrews 12:5-7).
There is hope for us, for those of us who receive God’s reproof and repent. As we turn from our sin, and turn to the Lord, When have His word of promise, that for all eternity we will be with Him. In verse 33, of the text, “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil. A promise from God that the wise will not be forgotten.
Prayer, Lord Jesus, We cry out to You with hearts that need Your blessings. Give us wisdom to make right decisions that will bring honor to You, and will purify our hearts.
Let the words we speak draw us closer to Your presence, and closer to each other. We recognize, O Lord, that You are in control of all things. Help us in this nation to hear Your voice, and turn from our sins at Your reproof, so that You will protect us from evil. And lead us in the right path, the path of righteousness for Your Name’s sake. Let us faithfully support those elected to office, giving honor to their position, being faithful in prayer, that those whom You have chosen to lead this nation, will fulfill their duties and obligation and responsibilities to the people of our country.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.