Read Proverbs 1:20-33.

Introduction⤒🔗

 Free Gold!

That’s what was being offered.

“I was on a summer vacation in the Black Hills of South Dakota,” writes this gentleman, “and we pulled into the old mining town of Rockerville. Just a few dozen steps from the highway was an abandoned gold mine, and rushing by alongside of the highway was the creek from which had been mined $200,000 worth of gold in one day. Someone had left behind some old tin plates so that tourists could help themselves and pan for profit.”

This gentleman goes on to relate how he took one of the plates, went to the mine, dug up a plateful of dirt, and then swirled it in the fast-flowing waters of the creek. He confesses that he kept at the process for several hours, and in the end his efforts were rewarded with a few flecks of gold and even a small gold nugget.

What was particularly striking was he closing comment, “I was surprised,” he writes, “that only one other person made use of the opportunity.”

The prospect of free gold was an offer most people chose to pass up. Did they view it as not being worth the effort? Did they see it as being too good to be true? Did they have better things to do?

In the passage of Scripture presently before us we are confronted with the offer of wisdom from God. As we shall see, this is an offer we dare not refuse.

Take Heed to God’s Wisdom, so that You May Experience His Blessing←⤒🔗

In verses 20-21, the wisdom of God is described as coming to the busiest intersection of the city and crying out for people to listen. God has a great desire for us to receive and possess His wisdom, and He offers His divine wisdom to us. Historically, these verses may poetically be describing the incident recorded in 2 Chronicles 17:7-9, when King Jehoshaphat sent out the Levites to teach the Word of God:

In the third year of his reign he sent his officials…to teach in the cities of Judah; ⁸With them were certain Levites…and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹They taught throughout Judah taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

Personally, we have access to the Word of God, and the LORD is urging us to make use of it: consult it, accept it, trust it, obey it, live by it.

In verse twenty-two, we find the wisdom of God identifying three types of people. First, there are the naïve: “You who are naïve, how long will you love your simple ways?” The “naïve” (or, the “simple”), comes from the Hebrew root word, פָּתהָ, which has the meaning, “to open wide;” hence, as applied here, the word has the sense, to be susceptible or vulnerable to any and every influence; to be wide open to anything that may come along. Thus, the naive is the one who lacks discernment, (the ability to judge and evaluate alternatives); the one who even lacks a standard by which to make such evaluations and judgments. The naïve is the one who is impulsive, aimless, without direction; the one who “goes with the flow” of the crowd because it is easy, because he wants to conform, because he doesn’t think. The naïve is the one who does not look beyond his immediate actions to the long-range consequences; he does not have a long-range perspective. The words of the Beetles’ song, Nowhere Man, well sum up the character the Bible identifies as “the naïve:” “He does not have a point of view, He knows not where he’s going to...”

The second type of person is the scoffer: “How long will scoffers delight in scoffing?” Scripture defines the scoffer as one who refuses to receive rebuke or correction: “A wise son accepts his father’s instruction; but a scoffer does not pay attention to a rebuke” (Prov. 13:1). Furthermore, the scoffer is the one who seats himself in the judgment seat, making himself the self-appointed judge of truth and values: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of scoffers” (Psl. 1:1). “The seat of scoffers” appears to be a reference to the judgment seat; the scoffer is assuming the position of judge. The scoffer assumes the position of God, (making himself the judge and standard for judgment), and from that position he cynically and mockingly rejects all that comes from God, falsely assuming that he himself is immune to the judgment of God—note Isaiah 28:14-15a, “hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem. ¹⁵you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and we have made a pact with Sheol; when the overwhelming scourge passes through the land it shall not reach us.’” The scoffers were confident that they were immune to God’s judgment, which is here described as “the overwhelming scourge [or, flood].”

The third type of person is the fool: “[How long will] fools hate knowledge?” The fool is the one who refuses to receive knowledge (or wisdom and instruction). Note Proverbs 1:7b, “fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The fool does so because he thinks he knows it all: “The way of a fool seems right to him” (Prov. 12:15a).

The wisdom of God directly addresses the simple, and only indirectly addresses the other two: “You who are naïve, how long will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in scoffing and [how long will] fools hate knowledge?” (vs. 22). This is so because there is hope for the naïve, whereas the other two are very much set in their ways. We are again reminded of a sobering spiritual principle: conscious, persistent rejection of the truth of God, (as is the case with the scoffer and the fool), eventually results in a callousness that prevents one from receiving the truth, note Romans 1:28, “since they refused to acknowledge God in their thinking, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper.”

In verse twenty-three, the wisdom of God issues to us a command and a promise: “If you would respond to my rebuke, I would pour out my Spirit upon you and cause you to understand my teaching.” If you turn to the wisdom of God and heed its command to walk in the ways of God, the Holy Spirit will give you understanding and will help you to walk in the way of God’s truth.

When God offers us His wisdom, we do well to receive it. Today the wisdom of God is offered to us in the Person of Jesus Christ the One in whom the fullness of God’s wisdom dwells. The Apostle Paul’s desire for the Colossian Christians is that they “may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:2b-3). Christ reveals Himself to us in the completed Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

Take heed to God’s wisdom, so that you may experience His blessing; the wisdom of God declares, “whoever listens to me will live in safety and will be at peace, without fear of calamity” (Prov. 1:33). If you live by the wisdom of God, you will be at peace with God and be spared from the ultimate calamity, the judgment of God.

Take Heed to God’s Wisdom, because You will Regret Refusing It←⤒🔗

Verses 24-26 declare that if we reject God’s counsel, God will laugh at our calamity. These verses are speaking about a persistent rejection of God’s word: “you refused to listen when I called” (vs. 24); “I stretched out my hand, but no one paid attention” (vs. 24); “you ignored all my advice” (vs. 25); you “would not accept my rebuke” (vs. 25). Here we may also take note of the LORD’s rebuke of Israel at a later time in the history of the covenant nation:

...they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears. ¹²They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore, there came great wrath from the LORD of hosts.Zech. 7:11-12

The inevitable result of rejecting God’s counsel is calamity (i.e. disaster): “I will laugh at your calamity” (vs. 26a). The reference here is to the Day of Judgment. 

On the Day of Judgment, the response of God towards the sinner who has spurned and rejected God’s counsel is scornful rejection: “I will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when what you dread overtakes you” (vs. 26).

Verses 26-28 declare that when the Day of Judgment comes, it will be too late to seek God’s mercy:

I will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when what you dread overtakes you; ²⁷when what you dread overtakes you like a storm and your calamity sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you. ²⁸Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

We do well to pay close attention to the further counsel of Scripture with regard to this matter:

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call to him while he is near. Isa. 55:6

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor. 6:2b

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. Heb. 4:7b

Let us take to heart the case of Felix as described in Acts 24:24-26;

Several days later, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified and said, 'That is enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.' ²⁶He hoped...that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and spoke with him.

When Felix refused to respond in repentance to the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit withdrew, leaving Felix hardened and callous to any subsequent preaching by the Apostle Paul.

Whereas initially Felix was terrified by the preaching of righteousness and the judgment to come, subsequently, he could entertain the Apostle Paul without conviction of sin and even hope to gain a bribe from him in exchange for Paul’s release. As noted above, when Felix refused to respond in repentance to the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit withdrew, leaving Felix hardened and callous to any subsequent preaching by the Apostle Paul.

Verses 29-31 warn that if we reject the way of God, we will inevitably suffer the consequence that results from going our own way:

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, ³⁰they would not accept any of my advice, they despised my rebuke, ³¹therefore, they will eat the fruit of their way and be filled with [the consequences of] their own decisions.

We must also take into consideration the New Testament warning contained in Galatians 6:7-8,

Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will also reap: ⁸the man who sows to please his sinful nature, shall reap destruction from the sinful nature; but the man who sows to please the Spirit, shall reap eternal life from the Spirit.

The wisdom of God goes on to warn, “The aimlessness of the naïve will kill them” (vs. 32a). That spiritual instability, that spiritual and moral aimlessness and drifting—being like a weather vane atop a roof in a strong and ever shifting wind—the refusal to submit to Christ’s yoke and become His disciple, will eventually prove to be deadly to the soul and result in eternal condemnation. Let us heed the words of the Lord Jesus Christ when He says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29). The gospel call is the call to become Christ’s disciple. Note, also, Hebrews 5:9; “[Christ] became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

Furthermore, Proverbs warns, “’the ‘security’ of fools will destroy them” (vs. 32b). The Hebrew word, שֵׁל וְ תַ , translated “security” has both the meaning of “quietness” and “carelessness,” or “negligence.”

Thus, what is referred to here is that false confidence the fool entertains—namely, the confidence that all will be well with his soul, even though he ignores and rejects the commandments of God and refuses to surrender his life to Christ the Savior. That false confidence will eventually destroy him, consigning him to the righteous judgment of God.

Conclusion←⤒🔗

By means of this passage of Scripture, we are confronted with the offer of wisdom from God. As we have seen, this is an offer we dare not refuse.

May we each one take heed to the word of Christ, (the One who Himself is the wisdom of God incarnate): “the words I have spoken to you are spirit [i.e. spiritual, pertaining to the Holy Spirit and the kingdom of God], and are life” (Jn. 6:63).

May God grant us to respond in the same way as the Apostle Peter: 

Lord, to whom [else] shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹We have believed and know that you are the Holy One of God.Jn. 6:68-69

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. How is wisdom described in Proverbs 1:20-21? What event may provide the historical background for this poetic personification of divine wisdom? See 2 Chron. 17:7-9 What does this reveal to us about the LORD’s desire for us to receive and govern our lives by His wisdom? Where is the wisdom of God made available to the Christian today? See 2 Tim. 3:16-17 Are you regularly reading the Bible and responding to it with faith and obedience?

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public square; ²¹at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech. Prov. 1:20-21

Note: Divine wisdom is poetically portrayed as a woman because, in Hebrew, the noun [ חָכמְהָ] occurs in the feminine gender.

In the third year of his reign [King Jehoshaphat] sent his officials...to teach in the cities of Judah; ⁸With them were certain Levites...and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the cities of Judah and taught the people. 2 Chron. 17:7-9

All Scripture is breathed out by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

2. Whom does wisdom address directly, and what question does “she” ask? See Prov. 1:22a How does Proverbs describe “the naïve”? See Prov. 14:15 Like “the naïve,” do you indiscriminately accept any and every teaching presented to you? Or are you like the Bereans? For what two attributes are they commended? See Acts 17:11,

You who are naïve, how long will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in scoffing and [how long will] fools hate knowledge? Prov. 1:22

The naïve believes every word, but a prudent man carefully considers his steps. Prov. 14:15

Now [the Bereans] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word [i.e. the teaching imparted by Paul and Silas] with all readiness [of mind], examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so. Acts 17:11

3. What other types of people are mentioned in Proverbs 1:22b, c? Why does wisdom not address them? What are some characteristics of “the scoffer”? See Prov. 13:1b; 2 Pet. 3:3-4; Isa. 28:14a, 15b How does Scripture describe “the fool”? See Prov. 1:7b; Prov. 12:15a Are there any ways in which you tend to imitate “the scoffer” or “the fool”? What does the LORD urge us to do? See Psl. 32:8-9a,

You who are naïve, how long will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in scoffing and [how long will] fools hate knowledge? Prov. 1:22

...the scoffer does not listen to rebuke. Prov. 13:1b

You may be sure that in the last days scoffers will come, [expressing their] scoffing, and living for their own [evil] desires. ⁴They will say, Where is [the fulfillment of] the promise that he will come? (2 Pet. 3:3-4)

Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem. ¹⁵Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and we have made a pact with Sheol; when the overwhelming scourge passes through [the land] it shall not reach us, for we have made deceit our refuge and we have taken shelter under deception... Isa. 28:14-15

The “overwhelming scourge” is a reference to the LORD’s impending judgment upon the sinful nation.

...the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. Prov. 1:7b

The way of the fool is right in his own eyes... Prov. 12:15a

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. ⁹Do not be like the horse or the mule... Psl. 32:8-9a

The horse is known for being headstrong, and the mule for being stubborn.

4. What assistance does wisdom promise to those who heed “her” rebuke and look to “her” for instruction? See Prov. 1:23 As Christians, what promise does the Lord Jesus give us? See Jn. 14:16-17a, 26; Jn. 16:13a Will the Holy Spirit ever lead us in a way that is contrary to the Scriptures, which are “breathed out by God” (2 Tim. 3:16) and which as such are the depository of truth?

If you would respond to my rebuke, I would pour out my Spirit upon you and cause you to understand my teaching. Prov. 1:23

¹⁶I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever, ¹⁷the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive him; because it does not see him, nor does it know him. [But] you know him; because he abides with you and will be in you...²⁶But the Counselor whom the Father will send in my name, that is, the Holy Spirit, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Jn. 14:16-17, 26

...the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all the truth. Jn. 16:13

5. What warning is given to those who reject or neglect the wisdom of God, which is contained in the Scriptures and communicated to us by the Holy Spirit? See Prov. 1:24-26a What promise is made to those who seek God’s wisdom and live by it? See Prov. 1:33; note, also, Isa. 48:17-18 Do you comprehend how perilous it is for you to reject Christ, who possesses the fullness of God’s wisdom (Col. 2:3) and has become the wisdom of God for us (1 Cor. 1:30)?

Because you refused to listen when I called—I stretched out my hand, but no one paid attention; ²⁵you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke. ²⁶Therefore, I will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when what you dread overtakes you... Prov. 1:24-26

But whoever listens to me will live in safety and will be at peace, without fear of calamity. Prov. 1:33

This is what the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says, I am the LORD your God, who instructs you for your benefit, who leads you in the way you should go. ¹⁸If only you had paid attention to my commandments, your peace would have been like a river and your righteousness [would have been] like the waves of the sea. Isa. 48:17-18

...in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col. 2:3

Christ Jesus...has become for us wisdom from God: righteousness and sanctification and redemption.1 Cor. 1:30