Daily Devotions – The Warning of Wisdom

Daily Devotions – The Warning of Wisdom

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

Proverbs 1:20-33 (ESV)

The Call of Wisdom
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, 31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. 32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; 33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Chapter one finishes with a long warning spoken by “Wisdom.” As I explained last Sunday, ‘Wisdom’ isn’t just some helpful facts, wisdom is actually a person, and that person is Christ, and his wisdom is delivered to us through the Holy Spirit. In this speech, Wisdom takes dead aim at one of our most self-destructive qualities: we are not only unwise, we take pride in scoffing at knowledge, acting like we know more than the experts in the field. Think of how many times you thought your favorite sports team would have done better if they had taken your advice! Or how many times you are too proud to read the instructions or ask for directions. Throughout the Bible, whenever our pride causes us to act like know-it-alls and scoff at God’s help, God consistently punishes us in the same way: God gives us what we want, and allows us to “eat the fruit of our own way.” (1:31). (See also Romans 1:24) God will not bail us out from the consequences of our own foolishness. Instead, God allows us to experience the consequences, so that we will be motivated to repent, seek him, and change our ways. Pray for God to help you see the ways that you are scoffing at wisdom, and ask for his help to melt your pride.