November 1

Nov 1 – Today from Proverbs 1 we look at verses 25 & 26
"Since you ignored my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock you when calamity overtakes you –"

For those of us who know God, who have seen Him in the life and character of our Lord Jesus Christ, this just doesn’t sound like His voice. Actually, that’s because it’s not. Whose voice is it? By going back to verse 20, we discover that it’s the voice of wisdom. The Teacher uses the literary technique of teaching a principle by giving voice to an inanimate object. Wisdom ‘laughs and mocks’ when those who ignored her call in better times suddenly fall on hard times. The Hebrew term for mock in this passage means to imitate a foreigner or to speak unintelligibly. The point the Teacher is making is that if one fails to study and practice wisdom as they process daily life, they will not understand its basic principles and applications when it is most needed in life – in times of extreme difficulty and disaster. ‘Wisdom from above’ (based on the values taught in scripture), is indeed a ‘foreign language’ to the heart of man’s fallen nature. His fallen heart is tuned to the ‘wisdom of this world’ (the values embraced by this world system). When a person who never bothered to study the language of wisdom from above is thrust into a situation where only such wisdom can provide and protect – that person is doomed to suffer the consequences. Diligence studies wisdom and applies her instruction in such times. But many are complacent to study wisdom, and when her instruction is most needed, it is unintelligible – it makes no sense whatsoever. "The complacency of fools will destroy them" (Proverbs 1:32).
What then is God’s voice in such matters? He says, "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn form their wicked ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil way! Why will you die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33:11). Here there is no doubt who is speaking, and there is no hidden meaning. Here God calls His people to turn from the deceitful values of this world system and embrace life as He meant it to be. In the ‘New Covenant’, sealed with His Son’s own blood, "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9). This is the voice of our Father. He is worth listening to.
Wisdom calls us to abandon ourselves anew to Him each day – regardless of circumstances. Don’t put off seeking wisdom because the circumstances of life do not demand it. That’s called complacency. When circumstances suddenly change and it is critical to apply wisdom, it may be too late. Her voice may sound very foreign to you.