Proverbs 1:30

God and Wisdom will desert you. When you need them most, and you call for their help, they will not answer or be found. Why? Because you rejected their counsel and reproof.

Lady Wisdom, representing God and the wisdom He offers in scripture, is a wonderful and gracious woman offering knowledge and understanding to any that will come to her. Solomon’s personification of wisdom this way is attractive and inviting (Pr 8:1-5; 9:1-5).

But God and Wisdom are not to be trifled with! If you reject her, you violate your own soul, and you must love death (Pr 8:36). This is the most serious matter of your life, and you should pay careful and close attention to this proverb and its warning (Pr 1:24-32).

If you reject wisdom, you will suffer painfully for it. The true God is not far away (Jer 23:23-24; Acts 17:27). He offers wisdom to any man (Pr 1:20-23). But the fools here would have none of wisdom’s counsel – they had no time or interest. These scorners despised wisdom’s reproof – they resented correction. They must love death (Pr 8:36)!

In this proverb, Lady Wisdom explained why she turned some over to fear and would not hear their cries for help (Pr 1:24-31). They had rejected her kind offers to be wise, so she punished them by forsaking them in time of trouble. This is most fair, and rather than irritating or discouraging you, it should motivate you. Let others reject her, but not you!

What is wisdom? It is the power of right judgment – the ability to perceive correctly, see hidden errors or lies, prioritize competing factors, say the right thing, or do the right thing. It is closely related to discretion, knowledge, prudence, and understanding. With wisdom, men can avoid pain and trouble in their lives and find peace and prosperity instead. Without wisdom, men will fall victim to their own ignorance and stubbornness.

How does Lady Wisdom counsel or reprove? Creation proves a Creator God with eternal power (Ps 19:1-6; Rom 1:18-21). She also gives parents, husbands, employers, civil rulers, and preachers, like Solomon here, to teach small or large amounts of wisdom (Pr 1:1-6; Eccl 12:8-10). But her greatest presentation of wisdom is in the Bible – the inspired book of wisdom from God (Deut 4:6; Ps 1:1-3; 19:7-11; II Tim 3:16-17).

How can you reject or despise Lady Wisdom’s counsel or reproof? You can live your life ignoring your obvious Creator (Ps 10:4; 14:1; 36:1-2). Evolutionists will be destroyed for their absurd and profane efforts to get rid of a Creator God. You can also reject your parents’ instruction, which destroys your guaranteed success (Eph 6:1-3). Any parent has infinitely more knowledge than any young child. God ordained parents for this reason.

How can you reject or despise Lady Wisdom’s counsel or reproof? You can neglect, mock, or disobey the Bible. The pages of Scripture contain the most wonderful history, poetry, laws, and revelation of things unknown to natural man. They are packed full of wisdom from heaven. When was the last time you read it? Meditated on a reading? Memorized some verses? Heard it preached plainly and authoritatively? Be warned!

The world arrogantly and recklessly rejects the counsel and reproof of God’s wisdom. They presume they can get away with it. Here is what God is doing: “These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver” (Ps 50:21-22).

Where do you stand? God’s counsel and reproof are in the Bible. David, one of the greatest men in history, wrote this about God’s laws: “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Ps 119:128). Is this your attitude? This is the spirit of those persons that God and wisdom will protect and prosper.

Where do you stand? On capital punishment? Same-sex marriages? Abortion? Corporal punishment of children? Reverencing husbands? Moodiness? Baptism by immersion? Honoring civil rulers, even in your heart? Serving a church? Forgiving personal enemies? Honoring parents? Backbiting others? Giving liberally? Drunkenness? Gluttony?

Where do you stand? On labor unions? Anger? Defrauding a spouse? Music? Praying for rulers? Hospitality? Submitting to an unfair boss? Believers’ baptism? Loving pleasure or loving God? Divorce? Purloining? Sound doctrine or entertainment at church? Horoscopes? Daily prayer? Holy living? Television? Friends? Fornication? Saving money? Pornography? Filled with the Spirit? Loving scripture above gold or honey?

Where do you stand? If you reject the counsel and reproof of God and Wisdom for any of the example topics just listed, then pain and trouble are coming. The short proverb before you is what most men do – they reject God’s instruction and rebel against His correction. If you do not have time or interest for the Bible, read your future in Proverbs 1:20-33.

Where do you stand on the Lord Jesus Christ? He is the Son of God sent into this world nearly 2000 years ago to establish the kingdom of God among men. The Jews rejected Him and crucified Him, so He destroyed their capital city in the most terrible judgment ever seen on this planet (Matt 24:21). He is coming soon to do worse to the whole earth. Where do you stand regarding God’s Son? Kiss Him today in faith and love (Ps 2:10-12).