Proverbs 1:23 If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you. (ESV)
The specific terminology in this chapter refers to “wisdom,” (verse 20) but the implication is very much that it’s talking about God. After all, God is the ultimate source of all wisdom. Verse 29 specifically references “the fear of the Lord” as something those who hate wisdom reject. Several passages in the Bible link wisdom and the fear of the Lord, the most famous perhaps being Proverbs 9:10. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” With that awareness, the dire statements in this chapter of the fate of those who hate wisdom make perfect sense. We cannot reject our Creator with impunity! God is incredibly gracious and forgiving, if we will only repent of our rebellion. In this verse He promises His Spirit to those who will turn to Him. Yesterday I spoke on Hearing God, and here He says He will make His words known to those who turn to Him. What a beautiful promise! The problem is, some people don’t want to hear His words. They are so fixated on doing their own thing that they reject any instruction, and so invite destruction on themselves. That’s tragic! Sadly, it’s not in the least unusual. I just heard from a friend that her younger brother died recently in full rebellion against God, and she has to live with the awareness that her brother is in hell for eternity. On top of that, she said that he raised his own sons to have the same attitude he had. That in itself isn’t unusual, and in the case of God-fearing people it results in generational blessing, but in a case like this, it compounds tragedy. We can’t change anyone’s heart but our own, but we can speak the truth in love, and we can pray God’s mercy on them. After all, that mercy was necessary for us as well!
I had the blessing of being raised by strong, faithful believers, but the man I just mentioned was as well. Everyone’s salvation depends on their own choices. We are indeed saved by grace through faith, which is a gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8-9) but free will is real, and we can reject that gift. For myself, I need to be vigilant that I don’t reject anything God says to me, but always respond in grateful obedience. For those around me, I need to remember that they are at least as worthy of God’s love as I am, and so seek to be a channel of that love to them, in word and deed. Sometimes that love can call for strong words, but I am not to draw back. We had a situation just yesterday that will require that I speak very firmly to someone. I am not to let a fear of the rupture of a relationship get in the way of expressing God’s love to them. Human beings are complicated and difficult, but God loves us anyway, and I’m to let His love flow through me as He intends, and not just as my human emotions might prefer.
Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me operate always in Your wisdom and not my own, because my own isn’t worthy of the name. Help me fear You alone, not in terror but in total respect, so that I will be fully obedient to everything You say to me, for the sake of the Body of Christ and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!