Proverbs 1:28-32

Today we will finish the first chapter of this book. These last verses continue the message that this whole chapter has stressed. Those that seek wisdom will prosper, but those that have ignored and not sought wisdom in their lives will regret it. Let’s read them:

Proverbs 1:28-32 (NKJV)

28 “ Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;

They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

29 Because they hated knowledge

And did not choose the fear of the LORD,

30 They would have none of my counsel

And despised my every rebuke.

31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,

And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,

And the complacency of fools will destroy them;

33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,

And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

Verses 28 thru 32 seems to say that God’s patience can be exhausted when we turn from Him and ignore Him CONTINUALLY, and I believe that this is verified by other verses in several books of the Bible. Think about the people that He brought out of Egypt… Time after time, He gave them a chance to see the miracles that He was willing to perform for them… He parted a sea, He caused water to flow from a rock, He gave them food (manna, quail, etc.) and still they grumbled instead of praising Him and worshipping Him… even WORSE, they kept on following other gods in their hearts and sometimes, blatantly.

Moses, Joshua and Caleb all kept their eyes on God and followed Him, praising, worshipping and BELIEVING in Him… having FAITH in Him, and they were brought through the years of wandering. Moses had other issues between him and God, but Joshua and Caleb entered the promised land. (Read also: Jude 5 – 6 and much of the books of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the other prophets)

Verse 29 talks about these foolish people who do “NOT choose the fear of the LORD…” Remember, that “fear” is used with the meaning of awe, respect, wonder, admiration or astonishment… sometimes parts of ALL of these words. They refused to hold Him in the highest regard in their lives… make HIM their God.

Verse 30 says that they wouldn’t listen to His advice (counsel) and “despised” His rebukes. Often people “got ticked” (angry, mad) when God “spanks” them, though He says that He disciplines all those that He loves, just as a parent will discipline a child that they love so that the child will learn the right things to do in this life (ways of righteousness).

Hebrews 12:5-11 (NIV)
5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!

10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Verse 31, stated in another way, means that “what we reap, we will sow…” or “bad things in… bad things out.” The things in chapter one must be VERY IMPORTANT to God because it has said the same things over and over in several different ways to try to get the idea across to people that would know God’s wisdom.

Verse 32 warns again, that death and destruction lay in wait for those who shun God’s laws, teaching, discipline, etc. Those things that make us “simple” or “foolish” in His eyes, and Verse 33 finishes the chapter. We looked at this verse earlier, and you might want to go back and reread the notes on it. It pretty much boils down to the fact that God promises to take care of us when we put Him first in our lives.