We will next consider just a few
verses in chapter 9. The truth they
declare is so evident in world society today.
Proverbs 9:7–10 “He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself
shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a
scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give
instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he
will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and
the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
I remind you that the context of this
passage is a teaching about wisdom. In
that regard I think it is important to look at the truth of verse 10 first—“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
wisdom….” Solomon is clear in
declaring that the wisdom about which he is teaching is rooted in a holy
reverence for YHWH, the self-existent, eternal God. He is the one and only God, the Creator of
all we call our reality.
Isaiah 45:5 “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no
God beside me….”
Isaiah 45:18 “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens;
God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he
created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there
is none else.”
Isaiah 45:22 “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the
earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”
With that foundational truth, we can
now rightly identify the “scorner,” the mocker.
Those who choose to reprove or correct a scorner of wisdom, will only be
shamed and insulted for their efforts.
There are very vivid examples of this truth in the professing church
today as we witness so many who claim Jesus as Savior very boldly distort the
truth of God’s word to fit their own agendas and belittle those who stand
firmly to the truth as declared in scripture.
Those who choose to rebuke the
wicked/ungodly/immoral person can expect to be vilified and abused. It seems that cultures throughout the
world today declare this truth.
It seems to me that the Spirit is
saying through Solomon that your words of rebuke against a mocker are
wasted. However, if you point out to a
wise person the error of his/her ways, he/she will treasure you as a
friend.
It is obvious to me that pride is
again the issue. Those who are
self-righteous and hard of heart are not able to receive rebuke because they
are not willing. They have set themselves
against God and the truth He declares; they have no fear of God.
When the wise person receives rebuke
or teaching from the truth of God’s word, his heart is receptive because he
“fears” God. His desire is to honor God
in what he says and does. His initial
response might be one of surprise and dismay, or it might be one of relief to
finally be held accountable. He/she will
truly appreciate the one through whom God shares His wisdom, His truth. I might also say that we should follow the
LORD’s example when rebuking one another; it should be done in love.
Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten….”
When talking to the grandchildren, I
often remind them that we only discipline them because we love them; we care about the kind of person they will grow to be. We should only rebuke or chasten one another
in love with a heart to produce good in the one being rebuked.
1 John 4:7 & 11 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is
of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.... Beloved,
if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
Paul adds that our rebuke should be
done from a heart of goodness and patience.
Romans 15:14 “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren,
that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to
admonish one another.”
2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
To fear the LORD is to know the
LORD. To know the LORD is to discover
the truth about Him as revealed to us through His Son, His Word, and His
Creation. To deny that revelation only
positions one as a fool and leaves you with no excuse on the day of judgment.
Hebrews 1:1–2 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners
spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days
spoken unto us by his Son….”
2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works.”
Psalms 19:1–3 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the
firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto
night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is
not heard.”
Romans 1:19–20 “Because that which may be known of God is manifest
in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from
the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that
are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
Psalms 14:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”
Proverbs 14:16 “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but
the fool rageth, and is confident.”
No comments:
Post a Comment