Lesson 275 - Senior
Memory Verse
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).
Cross References
I The Call Of Wisdom
1. Proverbs are given to teach wisdom, [PRO:1:1-6]; [MAT:13:10-11]; [MAK:4:10-12].
2. Parental instruction is an ornament of grace, [PRO:1:7-9]; [EXO:20:12].
3. Avoid evil enticements, [PRO:1:10-19]; [1TS:5:22]; [1CO:15:33].
4. The voice of wisdom is heard everywhere, [PRO:1:20-23]; [PS:19:1-6]; [LUK:9:6]; [ACT:8:4]; [ROM:1:18-21].
5. Judgment is meted to the scorner, [PRO:1:24-32]; [PRO:29:1].
II The Reward for Answering the Call
1. Hearkening brings a reward, [PRO:1:33]; [JER:38:20].
2. A diligent seeker will find God, [PRO:2:1-5]; [JER:29:13]; [MAT:5:6]; [MAT:13:44].
3. The Lord giveth wisdom, [PRO:2:6-9]; [JAM:1:5].
4. Discretion shall preserve thee, [PRO:2:10-22]; [DAN:4:27].
Notes
Wisdom Personified
"Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:”
"She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she
uttereth her words” [PRO:1:20-21]).
There is a prophetic strain that runs through the Book of Proverbs. When Solomon was writing these stirring words there must have been in his heart a spirit that caught the note of God's plan for humanity in ages to come. This Wisdom that is spoken of is nothing more or less than a Person: Wisdom personified is Christ Jesus -– not the wisdom of the world, not the wisdom that men are seeking today in this world, but the wisdom which is from above.
The Son of God stood in that last great day of the feast and cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” [JHN:7:37]). In this passage of Scripture we see that "wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets.” Jesus stood in the streets; He was found in the market places; He taught in the great concourse where people were gathered.
God's Wisdom
The wisdom of God is all contained in Jesus Christ. In the Epistles we read that in Him "dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” and in Him "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” [COL:2:3], [COL:2:9]). The Word of God is declared to be the wisdom of God; and when a man or a woman cherishes the Word of God, and lets those precepts be written and engraven upon the fleshy tables of the heart, he is wise unto salvation; he then knows the thing that is worth knowing above all things -– his spiritual standing in the sight of God. Paul, speaking to the Corinthians, said, "We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” [1CO:1:23-24]).
The Folly of Neglect
The cry of wisdom in the streets was, "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?” Those "simple ones” are people who are carelessly going on in the world, not thinking of the God of their salvation, nor considering their latter end. There is a note of warning sounded in the Word of God, which says, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” [HEB:2:3]). Some people today are just neglecting their salvation and thinking that the goodness of God will overlook their carelessness and eventually will open the Gates of Heaven to them and give them a royal welcome into the City of Gold; but the Scriptures declare plainly and unmistakably that there is no escape for the "simple ones” who neglect so great salvation.
Worldly Wisdom
You may be concerned about earthly wisdom, and you may be pursuing the course that the world is taking today. There is a mad rush for knowledge in this world, a desire for learning and higher education. Schools, colleges, and universities that are being built all over the world are monuments to the mad search after knowledge and understanding. We cannot begin to comprehend the wonderful research and discoveries that men are making today. But with all this worldly knowledge men's souls are being lost -– just as hopelessly lost as the unrepentant soul of the poor ignorant man in the uncivilized jungles.
The Scorner
Knowledge is crying out in the streets; wisdom is sounding forth her voice: "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning?” [PRO:1:22]). There is another class of people who are mocking the very name of Jesus, holding this Bible in ridicule, saying, "We need a new Bible suited to a modern age.” They are lost as surely as those who neglect so great salvation. "How long... will... fools hate knowledge?” [PRO:1:22]).
God did not call men fools because they were imbeciles -– not at all! They were called fools because they did not consider their latter end, because they did not take into consideration that which was of utmost importance to the welfare of their immortal soul.
Jesus spoke of a man who had much goods laid up in store for many days; but in the very time of his most secure moments God spoke out of Heaven and said, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” [LUK:12:20]). God did not call him a fool because he was mentally deficient; God spoke to him because he had neglected the wisdom, which was from above. He was self-centred; he sought for those things which would satisfy his carnal desires, and he found them; but right in the midst of his prosperity he heard the voice of God say, "Thou fool”. He had not heeded the Voice of Wisdom that cries to all men everywhere, "Turn you at my reproof” -– repent, prepare to meet God.
The End of Those Who Refuse
Oh! The sad state of those who refuse to turn from sin, to whom the voice of God will say: "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: "I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh” [PRO:1:24-26]). The Word of God declares that those who have rejected Him and His call shall "eat of the fruit of their own way” [PRO:1:31]).
A burning hell and eternal torment are such fearful things to contemplate that it seems impossible that any sane-thinking, rational person would fail to hearken to the voice of God. Yet thousands are on the way to destruction with very little concern as to where they will spend eternity. On their downward way they smile and make light of the Gospel invitation; but it will be a different story when the tables are turned and God says, "I also will laugh at your calamity.” How will the puny smile or mock of the scorner fare when "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh”; and "the Lord shall have them in derision” [PS:2:4]).
A Search for God
The man who wants to escape the judgments of God must hearken to His call. God is merciful and faithful; but no one is saved without the exercise of his own will in true repentance. We are called upon not just to listen, but to apply our hearts to understanding. "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God” [PRO:2:2-5]).
The search for hidden treasures has led men to chop their way through dense jungles, to cross perilous icy passes, to plunge into the depths of the ocean, and to risk their lives in many other daring ventures. The call of Wisdom is certainly to no lesser zeal or activity. It is God's will that men should muster the same courage, fight with the same tenacity, and search with the same diligence, in order that they might obtain the secrets of the Kingdom of God.
Greater wealth than the earth reveals is found in the knowledge of God. Earth's treasures are temporal, while the wisdom of God is eternal. Many a quest for the treasures of earth has ended in death and disaster, but the fear of the Lord leads to life everlasting. The challenge of the Gospel is that men of courage stand against the opinions, sneers, and ridicule of the scorner, defy the armies of Satan, and uphold the truth of the Word of God. The paths of righteousness, of judgment, and of equity, and every other good path are free of access to all who apply their hearts to understand the ways of God.
"The upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.”
"But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it” [PRO:2:21-22]).
Questions
1. For what purposes are proverbs?
2. What is the attitude of the fool toward instruction?
3. To what is the instruction of parents likened?
4. What is the way of those that are greedy of gain?
5. Who are the "simple ones” mentioned in [PRO:1:22]?
6. What is the fate of those who refuse the call of God?
7. What parable did Jesus give that is similar to [PRO:2:1-5]?
8. Where is the seat of wisdom in the individual?
9. What are some of the rewards of those who find wisdom?