December 1

Dec 1 – Today from Proverbs 1 we look at verse 22
"How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?"

The book of Proverbs reveals that there are basically four types of people in the world. Chapter one calls children (of all ages), to strive to become wise. This is the first type of person. Today’s verse reveals the other three types; the simple, the foolish and the mocker (or scorner – KJV). Wisdom (personified) calls out to each of them, revealing the basic characteristics that make them the way that they are. They are characteristics of choice – they have no excuse.
The simple love simple ways. Fighting against social currents is too exhausting. Developing abilities to excel and make things happen is too bothersome. It is easier just to stay in the flow of the mainstream and accept whatever comes your way in life. Generally speaking, the simple are only harmful to themselves.
Fools hate knowledge. We must go back to verse seven to get a clearer understanding of what this means. Verse seven teaches, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Fools may casually assent to the possibility of God, but they do not revere God. They don’t take Him serious. Fools look to take from life what they can, and trust only in their own devices. Life is a game to them, and each fool has their own rules and outcomes as to what determines a winner. Fools cause greater harm than do the simple. Generally speaking, they are not malicious – the harm they cause is a by-product of their own self-serving ways.
The mockers are the power-mongers. They are not satisfied to gain from life merely by means of their own devices and self-rule. They seek to extend their rule to include others, and to impose the rules of their game upon others. They mock God by becoming a god. They mock the purposes of God for man by imposing their purposes for man upon men. Mockers bear malice in their hearts toward any who would seek to infringe upon their self-made fiefdoms or to unseat them all together. The mockers in the world inflict the greatest damage upon mankind. They become wife-beaters and child-abusers. They become corporate powers who step on the ‘little people’ in order to advance their personal goals in life. They become political manipulators who work the systems to increase their power base. They become dictators who oppress entire nations. They become terrorists who will not tolerate anyone who stands in the way of their goals. If you carefully read the book of Proverbs, it mirrors the teaching of the Bible in that the mockers are to be sought out and brought to justice by the proper governing authorities (the Bible does not support vigilantism). When the mockers are properly struck, the simple ( e.g. Proverbs 19:25, "Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence.") – and even the foolish – take note and learn that it is unwise to ‘graduate’ to become a mocker.
Of the four types of people on earth, only one brings good rather than harm to the innocent, and that is the wise. No wonder the Teacher would have us pursue wisdom – it glorifies the Father.