Proverbs 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
We see the effects of rejecting God all around us. We know our governments are not even calling upon the Lord. They are not seeking His wisdom. However, the majority of religious groups are also not hearing from the Lord. They act as though they are spiritual. They pray and they talk of a Jesus, but they have rejected God’s wisdom. They are making a lot of noise and they have managed to draw people their way, but their way is not God’s way.
God is no fool. He does not bow to the whims of man. When a man rejects God’s way of salvation and God’s way of family, etc., and they insist on going their own way, they should not expect the God of creation is going to listen to them.
We know Israel came to the place where God did not answer them. In fact He brought the Babylonians in to destroy Jerusalem. He sent the Jews into exile for 70 years. In 70 AD God sent the Romans into Jerusalem and they destroyed the second temple and trampled Jerusalem under foot. Israel has suffered much throughout history because they rejected God. God has not forsaken Israel. He is punishing them, but they will not be destroyed.
True Christians need to observe what God is doing. True Christians do not believe in replacement theology. However, true Christians need to understand that we are supposed to honour God. We do not take our direction from the many apostates around today.
There are lost people who are going through the motions of seeking God, but they are not finding the true God because they have rejected Him.
In verse 29 we see that the false religionists hate knowledge. They are not interested in studying the Bible faithfully. They only use certain passages that fit with their false theology. God says they did not choose the fear of the LORD. That is key to the true Christian life. It is important to understand that we cannot pick and choose what we think is important. God has given us a book, called the Bible. Not every book that is called a Bible is the Word of God. Anyone who gets saved will come to understand this fact. The lost do not have spiritual discernment. They cannot understand what the big deal is. They do not mind contradictions. That is obvious by the politicians they support. The mentality that we should hold our noses and vote for the best of the worst is a ridiculous philosophy which has brought us to where we are now. When wicked men get the support of the people, they assume they are important. Outright rejection of corrupt men would send a clear message. That is the position that God tells us to take.
Wicked men do not want anything to do with the true God and with true wisdom. They have a god. Jeroboam was told by God that He would give him ten tribes out of the twelve of the nation of Israel. Soon after Jeroboam took possession of those ten tribes he set up idols in Bethel and Dan. He still wanted a god, but not the true God.
God loved Jeroboam and the ten northern tribes. He sent one of His prophets to rebuke him. Jeroboam would have had him killed; however, God protected that true prophet. Another corrupt prophet deceived that true prophet and he died because he disobeyed God’s clear command. Later Jeroboam’s son was sick and he wanted to know if he would recover. He sent his wife to ask a true prophet whether their son would live. That prophet told her that their son would not live, but he would be the only one of Jeroboam’s family that would receive a decent burial. The rest would not receive that because they had a religion, but not the truth.
Jeroboam was given true counsel prior to becoming king. He was given wise counsel as king, but he rejected that. He did not want the truth. He even despised God’s reproof. God’s wisdom was an affront to him. This is the case for many today as well. God’s wisdom is an affront to them. They have their minds made up and they have their false gods and they do not want to be told they are going the wrong way.
Verse 30 tells us that people who reject God will reap the harvest they have sown. They think they are building a successful life. They think all will go well with them. They think retirement will be pleasant and in the end all will be well. Some do not believe in an afterlife. Others assume they will go to their imaginary heaven because after all, they were “good” people. God says they will eat the fruit of their own way. They will be filled with their own devices.
God warns of the consequences of rejecting the true God. Most people never take Him seriously until it is too late. After death, there is no coming back. There is judgment then. Those who are saved because they heeded God’s wisdom, will find a good end. Those who rejected God’s wisdom will face torment from the moment of death. That is a fact that cannot be altered.
Verse 31 tells us that the turning away of the simple shall slay them. Keep in mind the simple are the naive. They are the ones who imagine things, rather than trusting the truth. They assume things because they want to, but they have no assurance from God’s Word that what they imagine is true. That is why they love the perversions. That is why they love topical studies that can be designed based on their biases.
The prosperity of fools shall destroy them. There are people who handle money like water. They live for money and they think money will make them happy. With money they can purchase tickets to travel to various places. They can go to different functions and think they are enjoying life. They think that because they are fools. They do not listen to God and they develop their own morality.
In verse 33 we are reminded that those who listen to God’s wisdom shall dwell safely. Life does not revolve around worldliness and materialism. It revolves around knowing the true God. It revolves around living in the fear of the LORD. Those who choose that way shall be quiet from fear of evil.
It is far better to live in the fear of the LORD than in the fear of evil.
Where are you living today? As we see here, man has a free will. You can choose your path. You also need to know there are predetermined consequences to the choices you make. God wants to bless each person. He proved that when He created the world and the Garden of Eden. He provided everything needed for Adam and Eve to live successfully forever. He designed that world for children to be born and also enjoy His blessings forever. Adam was told how he could continue to enjoy the blessings of the Lord. He was also told what would happen if he chose a different path. He knew what would happen, yet he chose a different path. He then found out by experience that his choice was wrong. It was too late to go back. He could be forgiven, but the consequences of his sin would last until the destruction of this heaven and earth.
Today, we can know God’s forgiveness and be granted eternal life. However, the curse of sin is still real. The Charismatic lies do not change that. Those who follow that are as the fools God speaks of in this chapter and elsewhere. They reject God’s wisdom and choose lies instead. They do not want to hear from God. They reject anyone who would speak the truth. A few will be broken and wake up before it is too late. Most will discover first hand the consequences of their rejection of God’s wisdom. Be sure you are not one of them.
Pastor Bartel