Text Verses: Proverbs 1:20-25

Solomon turns from teaching his son – to proclaiming the rebellion and the rejection by the mass of the people in the city to Wisdom (or God; or the Truth; or the Preachers of Truth).

God has always had a Messenger of Truth on the earth. From Adam to Abel to Seth to Enoch to Noah; to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, the Prophets; to John the Baptist to Jesus to the Apostles; and now to the Pastors of the Churches; even the Written Word of God. (See Hebrews 1:1-3.)

Solomon is describing the Who, the Where, and the What in Proverbs 1:20-25 concerning His Message of Truth. In yesterday’s devotion, we looked at the Who and the Where. (Please read this if you happened to miss it.)

Today, we continue with…

The What

“How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?” (Proverbs 1:22)

1) “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?”

The “simple ones” are void of understanding of the truth. Evidently, they had the ability to perceive truth; but because of their rebellion to truth, Solomon said “How long… will ye love simplicity?” Sometimes God’s People plead ignorance; saying they never heard this or that from God. But, Solomon said the truth is, they love simplicity (or ignorance). Many feel if they claim to not know, then they are relieved of the responsibility to respond to truth.

2) “And the scorners delight in their scorning.”

“Scorners” are full of scorn or contempt. Contempt involves both anger and disgust. As a verb, “to scorn” is to disdain, despise, detest, hate, or loathe. The scorners are those who do despite to the Spirit of Truth.

“Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29)

The scorner, for a period of time (until conversion or judgment), delights in his contempt of truth (or of his scorning of Grace). The sad thing is that writer of Hebrews is warning God’s People in Chapter 10, verses 29-39, especially verse 30c, “The Lord shall judge his people.” (See Deuteronomy 32:36.) And Solomon is doing the same.

3) “And fools hate knowledge”

Solomon identified the “fools” earlier: “… fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7b).

Thus, Solomon identifies his audience: the simple ones, the scorners, and the fools. In verse 23a, Solomon reveals Wisdom’s Message to the rebellious people of God: “Turn you at my reproof.” The word “reproof” means “blame or censure for a fault”; or a “rebuke,” a “reprimand.” Here “my” refers to Wisdom, or God; “you” refers to the simple ones, the scorners, and the fools.

Solomon further explains Wisdom’s reproof in the next few verses:

“…behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you” (Proverbs 1:23b)

Solomon was making reference to God’s actions on the Day of Pentecost, in 34 AD, ten days after Christ’s Ascension to heaven, as recorded in Acts 1 and 2.

But in the immediate context of Solomon and the City of Jerusalem, as well as on the Day of Pentecost, the truth proclaimed here is:

“I will pour out my spirit unto you” – this is the Spirit of Truth. It is a Promise of God. (See Galatians 3:16; Joel 2:28.)

“I will make known my words unto you” – the Spirit of God is called “the Spirit of truth.” (See John 14:16-26; especially verses 17a, 26; also see 1 John 2:20, 27.)

Spiritual discernment comes only by and through God the Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 2:9-16.) He alone is the Revealer of all Truth.

Then in Proverbs 1:24-25, Solomon reveals their problem:

“Because I have called, and ye refused;” (Proverbs 1:24a)

“I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;” (Proverbs 1:24b)

“But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:” (Proverbs 1:25)

These statements are given to show God’s action to them, and their response to God’s Truth, which was refusal and rejection. (See Psalms 107:10-12.) Their heart was hardened against the Truth.

This was manifested fully in Jesus’ time in the attitude and actions of the Pharisees and the leaders of the Jews against Jesus, as they convinced Pilot to have Jesus crucified.

“But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.” (Luke 7:30)