Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: Tuesday, June 28, 2022 - Proverbs 2:20-33
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Proverbs 1:20-33
[20] Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
[21] at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
[22] “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
[23] If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
[24] Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
[25] because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
[26] I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
[27] when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
[28] Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
[29] Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
[30] would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
[31] therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
[32] For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
[33] but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (ESV)
The Call of Wisdom
Divine Wisdom is available to everyone because Wisdom is declared publicly. Preachers (real preachers and teachers, those faithful to the Word and not the world) of the Word of God do not hide it but proclaim it in the open. Does Solomon mean we are to be street corner evangelists? Not necessarily, but it can be done that way. Solomon says that being without Wisdom is inexcusable because it is freely available to every one by God's grace.
Wisdom now admonishes us, showing her exasperation toward the foolish and asking how long they will remain in willful ignorance and gullibility. Those who reject Wisdom are the same as those who reject the prophets of old, Jesus Himself in His ministry on earth, and His servants called to preach and teach since His resurrection and ascension. This is the Law showing the ignorant they are sinners and then calling sinners to repentance. Wisdom then moves to the Gospel – showing the penitent sinner their need for God's grace and the Holy Spirit.
This is a warning. Those that ignore Wisdom's call are in a desperate situation. For those without the hope we have in Christ, our fear arrives like a storm, and calamity arrives like a whirlwind; trouble and distress sweep over with the force of a hurricane. You will be swept away if you stand out in the middle of such a storm.
Remember our lesson from yesterday? The wise fear of the Lord, and the fool does not. The fool is the one who despises God's Word and does not read and take it to heart. Fear of the Lord means we cling to Him above all else. If you fear God, you do not have to be afraid of anything. The one who is anchored in the Word will not be swept away.
We see the contrast in this text between the panic of the fool who rejects Wisdom and the security of those who heed Wisdom's call. God offers eternal security in Christ, freely inviting all to hear His Word, believe, and be saved by the power of the Holy Spirit. Under the care of Christ, the faithful are made wise and can withstand any assault.
Sounds good, right? But what does all that really mean? Do we need to stand in the path of a tornado, and if we survive, we know we have Wisdom and faith? I don't recommend trying that. Rather, take a look around at what is going on! We are in a whirlwind of sorrow and Godlessness. Have you ever felt as though you can't take it anymore? Sure we have!
On top of that, false teachers hold out counterfeit hopes that you can make this life better – not only can you rise above everything and survive but thrive and have whatever you want – security, happiness, whatever – if you believe enough. Follow the bad shepherd, slip him some cash, and it will all go away. That siren song tries to drown out Wisdom's call.
The wise who have the beginning of understanding can tune out the seduction of the false teacher's song. The wise can rise above the crass offerings of the world. Those that fear the Lord know this life is not all there is. They understand that picking up the cross and following Christ is not easy. Life in this world is unfair. Many of the unjust live what anyone would consider wonderful lives. Many of the faithful have to literally cross a raging river each Sunday just to get to church. Many who love the Lord suffer burdens and challenges that nearly break them.
But the wise also know this life is fleeting, a mere blip in eternity, and their reward in the life of the world to come is assured in Christ. The fool will have a very rude awakening, to put it mildly. As we continue reading Proverbs, Wisdom will explain herself in more detail, taking the generality we read today and expanding it with specifics that speak to those who listen to her song to aid and comfort the wise who struggle in this life under the cross.