The Complacency of Fools vs. the Security of the Wise
I will try to keep this very simple and to the point. When it comes to Proverbs 1:26-32 there is no way to sugarcoat the brutal honesty of God's Word. We saw in verses 24 and 25 four distinct ways man manifested his lack of desire to listen to God's Words of wisdom:
1. Refused His call
2. Did not regard His outstretched hand
3. Disdained His counsel
4. Would have none of His rebuke
Verses 24 and 25 both begin with the word "because" implying the reason for what follows. It is important to understand that the remainder of this chapter is wisdom's (God's) response to these four things man had done to express his complete lack of interest in listening to and doing God's will. When man, in his arrogance tells God; "I have no need of you, depart from me", what follows is what God has to say in return.
Let us look at verses 26-30 from the NKJV:
"I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes.
When your terror comes like a storm and your destruction 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 have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke."
Specifically this is WISDOM'S response to being rejected by man's arrogance. I say this because God is able and willing to extend mercy whereas wisdom is not "alive" so it cannot. But, when reading Deuteronomy and the entire section dealing with the blessings of obedience and the curse of disobedience; it is obvious there are dire consequences to deliberate disobedience to God's commands.
Wisdom provides the means to handle all that arises in life which otherwise would destroy man's accomplishments. Wisdom provides the knowledge and understanding of what is necessary to be done to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. Wisdom provides a way to be the very best spiritual "scout" possible in that it enables a person to "be prepared". Wisdom allows a person to have answers to perplexing conundrums and riddles that totally baffle even the world's most intelligent minds.
Wisdom derived from learning and applying God's Word enables a believer to have peace in the midst of the storm, answers in the midst of confusion, confidence in the midst of catastrophe and provisions in the midst of disaster. Without wisdom, the result will be fear and terror when the storms come crashing through. Without wisdom, the result will be closed doors when appealing to God for answers.
Without wisdom, all turns into a never ending nightmare while trying desperately to know what to do as everything crashes down. Without wisdom, there is no way to find God when the tornado hits, the hurricane comes ashore, the flood rises, the earth moves or the fires burn. Without wisdom, there is nothing but confusion, terror and anguish when calamity comes.
This is all so sad for it can be avoided so easily. IF people would only love knowledge, and make the deliberate decision to FEAR the Lord then wisdom would not be the evasive leaf floating in the wind. If people would cling to God's counsel and be willing to be subject to His rebuke then wisdom would be gained and quietness and confidence would be the state of the heart instead of turmoil and terror.
But, man is stubborn. He has been that way since the Garden of Eden and will stay that way until the end. Man does not like to become subject to anyone, especially a God he cannot see or feel. Man would rather take his chances doing things "his way" then put his trust in an invisible God or words of the page of an old outdated book. Man, by his own choice, willingly turns his back on the only true source of answers, peace and safety and places his full confidence in his own ability to control nature, provide for himself and be his own god.
With this background, I now present to you two of the most remarkable verses in all of Proverbs. Verses 31 and 32 explain more of what is happening in this world than just about any other verses:
"Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies.
For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them."
Man deserves everything and anything that is coming upon him. Man has brought it all upon himself through his arrogant and willing rejection of God's counsel. By his failure to turn to God for advice, answers, instruction and wisdom; he has assured his very failure and tragic end. Man will eat the fruit of his own way and be filled to overflowing with his own desires. "As a man sows, so shall he reap" truly describes the state of those who have turned their back on God.
Those who have looked God in the eye, spit in his face, turned and walked away from Him have signed their own death sentence. Those who sit back in the lap of their complacent luxury, depending upon and trusting in their material fortunes instead of God are nothing but fools who will be destroyed. Four hundred million dollars cannot stop a hurricane from destroying everything man builds to pamper himself. All the wealth of the world cannot stop a little virus from killing the human body if it gets lodged therein.
Fools are everywhere and they have the loudest voices. "Trust me, for I have all the answers" they scream into television cameras and yell over radio waves. Unfortunately, because God is nowhere to be found, these liars will sink with their adorning multitudes when the Titanic finally hits the next iceberg.
Is there any hope? Of course there is, and verse 33 gives the wonderful alternative to the gruesome verses preceding it:
"But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil."
My fellow believers, PLEASE plaster Proverbs 1:33 upon the very walls of your heart and mind. This verse is your lifeline and rock to hold on to when things get really bad, as they are bound to become shortly. God has given us a promise of safety, security and NO FEAR. But, there is a condition attached to the promise. We must:
1. Listen to and respond to His call
2. Grab His outstretched hand
3. Cleave to His counsel
4. Love His rebuke
As for me and my household, we want to dwell safely, be secure and live without fear of evil. Thus, we vow anew to humble ourselves before God and His Word and Do what He says no matter how difficult. I pray everyone also chooses to do the same.
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Author: blessings2you
Location: Warrenton Missouri USA
Gender: Male
Age: 57
Blog Entries: 828 (archive)
Blog Comments: 1357
god called me to serve him when i was 16 years old while on a church work trip in new mexico in 1969. in the 40 years since; i attended bible school/leadership training, been ordained to the christian ministry and worked full time for a non-denominational ministry for nearly ten...
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in 1969 god stepped in and transformed my life as a sixteen year old teenager. after a couple of years of intense emotional ups and downs, i decided i needed a firm foundation in my life that went beyond emotional experiences. it was the decision to become involved with a...
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