Devotion for July, 23, 2008

A Harsh Reality

“Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, They would have none of my counsel [And] despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.” (Proverbs 1:20-33 NKJV)

It is not as if God has not warned the lost man of his approaching danger. Here we see that wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares. There is no excuse for the scorner.

While it may seem harsh for God to laugh at and mock those who call on Him in the midst of their calamity, we must remember their calls are not cries of repentance. Judas was sorry he betrayed the Lord, but went out and hung himself rather than repent. The same could be said about Esau who sold his birthright and after time sought it with tears, but would not repent.

What we have here is similar to the spoiled child who cries “don’t punish me!” He only wishes to escape the punishment. The unwise father belays the correction and deepens the son’s commitment to his foolish behavior. However, a wise father will not withhold correction, and that son will be driven from his foolishness.

That is not to say this passage describes a loving Father correcting His children. Instead, this passage shows the willingness of God to judge His creation. However, as hell is a deterrent so is calamity!

If one will listen to God, he can dwell in safety without the fear of evil. Surely this doesn’t mean that nothing stressful will ever happen to the child of God. However, should that happen God will not turn His back him, but rush in to comfort. Besides that, if a child of God has trouble there is a good end intended (Rom 8:28).

Therefore, let us continue to cry out the Gospel of Jesus Christ in hopes that some will turn in repentance from their scorning through the grace of God by faith. Theirs’ is a bitter end who refuses wisdom until the day of their calamity. If their calamity is in the next life there is no hope. This is likely the calamity spoken of in this passage. Therefore, while they still breathe let us call them in love to surrender their lives to Christ.