Proverbs 1:24 - 27

The last time we studied together, we looked at this long passage about the pluses and minuses of seeking after wisdom. We studied the first and last verse of this passage, which had very encouraging words to say. This time, we will look at the verses in between which are about those who choose NOT to seek God’s Wisdom. Today, we will start by looking closely at Verses 24 thru 27:


Proverbs 1:24 - 27 (NKJV)
24 Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,


26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you




Remember, we are talking about wisdom, which is portrayed as a woman in these passages. Verse 23, talks about being given God’s Spirit to guide us and help us understand when we DO seek His ways. In the rest of these verses, though, we see a picture of those that refuse to seek after God’s wisdom. Remember, too, the way Hebrew poetry works… the second line sometimes reinforces and strengthens the first. In Verse 24, we see this in that “Wisdom” called, and was refused… so she stretched out her hand, but was ignored. How often have we heard that “still, small voice” deep in our hearts and refused to listen, and then something else got our attention a little more forcefully, but we still ignored it, and ended up regretting it.


Verse 25 starts the explanation of what happens when we “disdain” (disdain - lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike) the wise things and ignore the “rebuke” or admonition (see last blog) we find when we seek Godly wisdom. Verse 26 indicates that once we have ignored wisdom and gotten ourselves into a “calamity,” (calamity - An event that brings terrible loss, lasting distress, or severe affliction; a disaster 2. Dire distress resulting from loss or tragedy) and the problem starts to overwhelm us, then it will be to late, and we WILL experience “terror” (terror - 1. very great fear, panic, or dread). We won’t be able to back out of the problem… we will feel as though we are being laughed at or mocked.

Verse 27 is another of those examples of poetry where each line builds on the one before it to stress the “horror” that can come about from ignoring the wise path. It talks about the terror coming like a storm. Some storms come with a lot of forewarning, while others, like tornados or whirlwinds, suddenly appear and cause complete destruction. We have seen the effects of these horribly destructive winds on the news way to often. The “distress and anguish” brought about by them are clearly etched in the tears and horror-filled faces of those that have lost everything.



I am not saying that those that are hit by earthly storms aren't following God, because the scriptures tell us that everyone goes through problems in this life, but if we are following God and being wise, we will have been given "spiritual" help to get us THROUGH the storm or even to have been routed AROUND the storm area (or into a spiritual "cellar" or place of safety.)


These verses paint a devastating portrait of the life of those who don’t choose to follow a path of Godly wisdom.



LB NOTE: Many people who are blessed even if they aren’t following God, DO follow the general principles or "paths" of wisdom in their lives, and wisdom, in itself, usually leads to a more abundant life.