Proverbs 1:32-33 “Lady Wisdom’s First Appeal, Part 3: The Reason”

(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.”

Lady Wisdom has given her plea to repent of neglecting the Word of God. She has given her warning that you will reap what you sow if you ignore her plea. She now gives the reason for listening to her plea.

Lady Wisdom first gives two results of rejecting her plea.

1.   Wisdom called the simple to turn to her (v. 23) but instead they turn away and it “will slay them.” The fool thinks he can reject God (Psalm 14:1) without consequences. This rejection will lead to their eternal destruction.

2.   These fools remain complacent, secure in their worldliness. The presume upon the kindness of God. This will also lead to their eternal destruction.

By way of stark contrast, Lady Wisdom now gives the results of listening to her:

1.   Dwell safely – The Believer has the protection of heaven (Psalm 121; 91:3-7; Joshua 1:5)

2.   Be secure without fear of evil – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.” (Psalm 46:1-3)

As Proverbs 1 concludes, we are present once again with the two paths: the path of the fool and the path of wisdom. The path of the fool seems appealing at first and the path of wisdom seems arduous. In the end however, the path of wisdom is the only path that provides safety, security, and happiness.

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Related Scriptures: Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 1:24 & 30

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“Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3;

Proverbs 1:24-30 “Lady Wisdom’s First Appeal, Part 2: The Warning”

(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.

In this second part of Lady Wisdom’s appeal, the warning for not heeding her appeal is given. When Lady Wisdom first appealed to the simple, they rejected her completely. She called, but they refused her. She stretched out her hands to rescue them, but they had no regard for this merciful act. She offered them wise counsel so they would change the direction they were heading, but they disdained her words. They would have none of her rebuke. Instead of choosing the path of wisdom, they have chosen the path of the fool (1:7).

What happens now is a direct result of the path they have chosen. The accumulation of unwise decisions now brings calamity, terror, destruction, distress, and anguish. Do not miss the great principle of this passage: they are reaping what they have sown. The disaster is a direct result of their rejection of wisdom as shown by verse 31: “Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies.”

When the disaster hits, the fool realizes he has no idea what to do to solve his problems. But it is too late. Now he wants wisdom, but he will not get it. Wisdom must be gained day by day, built upon over time. Wisdom now laughs at the fool. He calls out to gain wisdom, but wisdom does not answer.

Why doesn’t wisdom answer? Verse 7 states “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” The fool did not choose the fear of the Lord then, nor does he choose it now. He wants a wise answer to his problems, but he wants it without the Lord. It can’t happen. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Rejecting the Lord means rejecting wisdom, for there is no wisdom apart from the Lord. By not choosing to fear the Lord, the fool is despising Lady Wisdom’s rebuke, which was to repent from neglecting the Word of God. There is no hope for gaining wisdom if God and His word are rejected. The rejecter must then “eat the fruit of their own way” without help from God, whom he has rejected, or from wisdom, whom he has also rejected by rejecting God.

(The painting is “The Sower” by Jean Francois Millet – 1850)

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Related Scriptures: Isaiah 3:10-11; Jeremiah 2:19; Galatians 6:7-8

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“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” – Galatians 6:7-8

Proverbs 1:20-23 “Lady Wisdom’s First Appeal, Part 1: The Plea”

(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.”

In verses 20-33, we have the first of two appeals from Lady Wisdom. (Four times in Proverbs, wisdom is personified as a noble lady that should be pursued 1:20-33; 3:13-20; 8:1-36; 9:1-18.) Similar to the Father’s appeal in verses 8-19, this appeal has three parts:

1. The Plea (v. 20-23)

2. The Warning (v. 24-29)

3. The Reason (v. 30-33)

The first principle to note is that Wisdom is not hidden. Observe the following:

1.   She wants to be found so she “calls aloud”, “raises her voice”, “cries out”, and “speaks her words”.

2.   She wants to be found so her pleas are in public places where people are. She is “outside”, “in the open squares”, “in the chief concourses”, and “at the openings of the gates of the city”.

Who is Lady Wisdom’s plea for? The plea is for the “simple ones.” She rebukes them, asking how long they will love being simple? Lady Wisdom points out that the simple cannot remain in that state for ever. They will turn into scorners and fools. The simple stand at two paths that diverge (1:7) and must choose which path to follow. Lady Wisdom beckons the simple to follow her, to turn at her rebuke. If so, Lady Wisdom will pour out her spirit, making her words known to the simple one and thereby converting him into a wise man.

It is important to note at this early stage in Proverbs that Wisdom represents the entire counsel of God’s Word, not just these Proverbs. The truth that the Word of God will convert the soul and make one wise is attested throughout Scripture.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” (Psalm 19:7)

“The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)

Therefore, the plea of Lady Wisdom is to repent [“turn at my rebuke”] of neglecting the Word of God.

(Since there is much to learn here, each part will stand as its own post. The next post will discuss the warning for rejecting Lady Wisdom’s plea.)

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Related Scriptures: Proverbs 10:17; Revelation 3:19

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 “Very few men are wise by their own counsel, or learned by their own teaching; for he that was only taught by himself had a fool as his master.” – Ben Jonson

Proverbs 1:8-19 “A Wise Father Instructs a Son to be Wise”

My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait to shed blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the Pit; we shall find all kinds of precious possessions, we shall fill our houses with spoil; cast in your lot among us, let us all have one purse” – my son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird; but they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.

The first nine chapters of Proverbs include ten appeals from a father to his son. This first appeal is the typical format: the wise and loving father exhorts his son to pay close attention to the following instructions. The son is to esteem these lessons as a highly valued possession that is designed for his benefit.

This first appeal comes from both the father and mother as they exhort their son not join those greedy for gain. There are three sections to the wise father’s instruction.

First, the parents give the situation. The son is approached by a group of his peers who try to convince the son to join the group. This is peer pressure to join the ‘in crowd.’ These would-be friends promise companionship and all kinds of precious possessions. They entice with their words “Sure, we’ll have to break a few laws, but think of all the money we’ll have. You don’t have to do it alone, we’ll do it together.” The father wisely does this to point out the temptations so the son won’t be caught off guard.

The second part of the appeal is the warning to unequivocally reject any and all pleas from this ungodly crowd. The father’s words: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path.”

The third section of the instructions is the reasons for doing so. In this case, the sinners run to evil for their gain and trap themselves, running their own lives. The son can now recognize that even though he might gain some so-called friends and quick cash, he will embark on the path of the fool, the path of destruction. He will ultimately destroy his own life and losing both his friends and treasures.

While children should heed the instructions of their parents, the wise parents realize the importance of explaining the reasoning behind such instruction. The explanation will give the complete picture and thereby help keep the truth in the soul. This connects knowledge with understanding, both of which are aspects of wisdom.

(The lower painting is “The Rich Fool” by Rembrandt, 1627. See Luke 12:20)

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Related Scriptures: Proverbs 13:20; Psalm 1:1; Romans 16:18; Ephesians 5:11

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“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin

Proverbs 1:7 “Two Paths”

Thee fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Two paths are described in this verse. The two paths are the path of the wise and the path of the fool. These paths are described and developed from this verse through chapter 9.

For the first path of wisdom, Solomon starts at the beginning. The first step to true wisdom and knowledge is the fear of the Lord. Knowledge without a reverence toward God is not useful and leads only to false conclusions and pride. (Compare Ecclesiastes 1:18 with Ecclesiastes 2:26 & 7:12.)

Knowledge is to knowing with certainty, to understand clearly. Often, we gain our knowledge through teaching from another person. It is not unusual for us to say we know things, meaning we have been taught them. We are relying on the veracity of the teacher or the informer. This is why the fear of the Lord is so important in knowledge. What we learn from God, from His Word – the Bible – can be trusted with absolute certainty. The veracity of the Bible is never in question for it is the very words of God. Study it, and you will gain real knowledge.

Of course, the second path is the path of the fool. “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1 & 53:1) “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4) Because the wicked man, the fool, is proud and refuses to acknowledge God, he must gain his knowledge from that which is around him. Romans 1:20-22 explains how this happens: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.”

If you have trouble receiving instruction (correction & discipline) or prefer entertainment to gaining wisdom, please heed the warnings given in these verses. It is never too late to change direction in life. The choice is yours. You have the Word of God, read it, learn the fear of the Lord, for that is the beginning of wisdom, and the first step to becoming wise.

(The painting is “King Lear and the Fool in a Storm” by William Dyce, circa 1851)

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Related Scriptures: Proverbs 9:10; 10:14; 17:27; 24:3-4

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“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot

Proverbs 1:1-6 “A Rightly Steered Life”

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

 A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.

Most of the book of Proverbs was written by Solomon to pass wisdom on to his sons. Solomon begins by giving his sons the purpose and objectives of his writing:

1. To know wisdom and instruction.
2. To perceive the words of understanding.
3. To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity.
4. To give prudence to the simple.
5. To give knowledge and discretion to young men.

Solomon doesn’t want his son to simply hear what he is about to say. He wants his son to meditate on these Proverbs so as not to forget them. The young man who pays attention and internalizes these truths will be greatly blessed. (Proverbs 8:32-34; Psalm 1:1-4; 119:1-2)

However, these Proverbs are not only for young men. Solomon points out that all wise men and men of understanding can benefit by attaining wise counsel. We often think we know more than we do. Gaining wisdom requires enough humility to realize that you need to ask questions.

Albert Barnes notes that the phrase “will attain wise counsels,” means literally, the power to “steer” his course rightly on the dangerous seas of life. Certainly Solomon, as all parents, want there children to be able to steer their lives with wisdom throughout their lives. “Steering your life rightly” is the goal of Proverbs. If you pay attention, you will learn to steer the greatest ship of all: the ship of your life.

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Related Scriptures: Proverbs 1:7;10:1; Psalm 1:1-4

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 “To admit ignorance is to exhibit wisdom.” – Ashley Montagu

Proverbs 8:32-35 “The Blessings of Wisdom”

“Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD; but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.”

The blessings of wisdom come naturally. As you seek wisdom and learn to be wise, wisdom will guide you in right decisions which will lead to blessing. Blessings are a by-product of wise living.

There are constant opportunities to learn to be wise. Instruction can come from the Bible (especially the Bible), parents, your pastor, etc. When you hear instruction you have two paths: be wise or disdain it.

The first path is the one where you listen to it and learn from it. You are choosing to be wise. You are the blessed man who listens, watches, and waits for wisdom. You are anxious to fill your life with wisdom. You have a love for wisdom. You will find life and obtain favor from the Lord.

The second path you can take when you hear instruction is to disdain it. If you choose to disdain instruction, you will be the man at the end of the passage who sins against wisdom. You wrong your own soul. You will not find blessings because you hated wisdom, which is the same as loving death.

It is hard to understand why someone would choose the second path, but it happens with most people. Pride may cause someone not to listen to instruction. This person may think they know it all & therefore refuse to listen. This is frequently seen in rebellious teenagers who arrogantly refuse to listen to their parents. But it is also seen in Christians, who refuse to listen to God. They hate hearing the Bible taught and instead want someone to ‘tickle their ears’ with feel good messages. These Christians will never become wise.

Another reason some people choose the second path and disdain wisdom is because they are lazy. The attitude here is that they want wisdom now. But wisdom comes over time. You must seek wisdom diligently and patiently. You must “listen, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” It takes work of the long haul. Few Christians are willing to spend lots of time in the Word of God studying to show themselves approved. But the effort required pales in comparison to the riches you will gain for doing so.

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Related Scriptures: Psalm 27:4; Proverbs 3:13-18; Acts 17:11; Romans 10:16-17

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But goodness alone is never enough. A hard cold wisdom is required, too, for goodness to accomplish good. Goodness without wisdom invariably accomplishes evil. – Robert Heinlein