Pro 1:27-28 | KingComments | STEP | All works of creation stand where Wisdom has placed them and they serve Her ( ). Only the inveterate sinners refuse to respond to Wisdom’s call and take the place that befits them before Her ( ). She has held out Her hand invitingly to them (cf. ). But the sinners rejected the most important counsel of all, that of Wisdom ( ). Even Her “reproof”, which serves to draw them to Herself, has no effect because they are unwilling to accept it. It is a conscious, self-willed choice against Wisdom. The sinners have “refused” everything that Wisdom has offered ( ), they have ‘not paid attention” to it ( ), “neglected” it ( ) and “did not want” it ( ). She endured them for so long, but they despised that forbearance ( ). After “because” of comes “I will” in . They have laughed at and mocked Wisdom. Therefore, Wisdom will laugh over them at their downfall. Her laughter is a terrible laughter ( ). It is a scornful laughter because now comes upon them what She has warned them about. Wisdom called sinners, but they did not listen. Then the opposite happens (cf. ). Wisdom will scoff when the stubborn sinners will be seized by their fear ( ; ). They will be destroyed by their fear ( ). As by “a whirlwind”, they will go down in “distress and anguish”. In , it says in what way Wisdom gives substance to Her laughter and mockery. She distances Herself from the sinners – as if She can no longer bear them – and now speaks not to them, but about them to others. She warns those others not to follow the sinners’ example. Wisdom will not respond to the sinners’ call for help when they will call to Her in their distress, because they did not want to respond when She called Her warnings to them. It is an awful thing when God departs from men ( ), how much more so when it is also a time of need ( ). Wisdom explains why She does not listen to sinners when they call to Her in distress. It is “because they hated knowledge” ( ). The unwise want to remain foolish. The foolish not only prefer foolishness, but they despise knowledge. They simply do not want to be taught. It is a conscious choice not to choose the fear of the LORD. Those who are like this miss the beginning of knowledge; they cannot become wise and therefore remain foolish. They did not want to listen to the counsel of Wisdom that She presented to them ( ). All Her reproof, which served to induce them to listen, “they spurned”. Those who so stubbornly refuse to open up to Wisdom cannot be helped. They will find out when they are given the bitter fruit of their self-willed way to eat ( ). They will reap what they have sown and get what they deserve and want for themselves ( ). They will be satiated “with their own devices”. How that happens is explained in . The word “for” indicates that. Their apostasy from the living God means their death. The fools’ love for their carefree rest is like a rocking boat floating on the river in which they are sleeping. Without their noticing, the little boat slowly but surely drifts toward the waterfall where it plunges down and crashes. The peace they embrace is the peace of death. Their stubbornness and complacency will kill and destroy them.

‏ Proverbs 1:27-28

Consequences of Not Listening

All works of creation stand where Wisdom has placed them and they serve Her (Psa 119:90-91). Only the inveterate sinners refuse to respond to Wisdom’s call and take the place that befits them before Her (Pro 1:24). She has held out Her hand invitingly to them (cf. Isa 65:2). But the sinners rejected the most important counsel of all, that of Wisdom (Pro 1:25).

Even Her “reproof”, which serves to draw them to Herself, has no effect because they are unwilling to accept it. It is a conscious, self-willed choice against Wisdom. The sinners have “refused” everything that Wisdom has offered (Pro 1:24a), they have ‘not paid attention” to it (Pro 1:24b), “neglected” it (Pro 1:25a) and “did not want” it (Pro 1:25b). She endured them for so long, but they despised that forbearance (Rom 2:4 ; Rom 9:22).

After “because” of Pro 1:24-25 comes “I will” in Pro 1:26. They have laughed at and mocked Wisdom. Therefore, Wisdom will laugh over them at their downfall. Her laughter is a terrible laughter (Psa 2:4). It is a scornful laughter because now comes upon them what She has warned them about.

Wisdom called sinners, but they did not listen. Then the opposite happens (cf. Eze 8:18). Wisdom will scoff when the stubborn sinners will be seized by their fear (Job 15:24; Dan 5:5-6 ; 30). They will be destroyed by their fear (Pro 1:27). As by “a whirlwind”, they will go down in “distress and anguish”.

In Pro 1:28, it says in what way Wisdom gives substance to Her laughter and mockery. She distances Herself from the sinners – as if She can no longer bear them – and now speaks not to them, but about them to others. She warns those others not to follow the sinners’ example. Wisdom will not respond to the sinners’ call for help when they will call to Her in their distress, because they did not want to respond when She called Her warnings to them. It is an awful thing when God departs from men (Hos 9:12), how much more so when it is also a time of need (1Sam 28:15).

Wisdom explains why She does not listen to sinners when they call to Her in distress. It is “because they hated knowledge” (Pro 1:29). The unwise want to remain foolish. The foolish not only prefer foolishness, but they despise knowledge. They simply do not want to be taught. It is a conscious choice not to choose the fear of the LORD. Those who are like this miss the beginning of knowledge; they cannot become wise and therefore remain foolish.

They did not want to listen to the counsel of Wisdom that She presented to them (Pro 1:30). All Her reproof, which served to induce them to listen, “they spurned”. Those who so stubbornly refuse to open up to Wisdom cannot be helped. They will find out when they are given the bitter fruit of their self-willed way to eat (Pro 1:31). They will reap what they have sown and get what they deserve and want for themselves (Gal 6:7-8). They will be satiated “with their own devices”.

How that happens is explained in Pro 1:32. The word “for” indicates that. Their apostasy from the living God means their death. The fools’ love for their carefree rest is like a rocking boat floating on the river in which they are sleeping. Without their noticing, the little boat slowly but surely drifts toward the waterfall where it plunges down and crashes. The peace they embrace is the peace of death. Their stubbornness and complacency will kill and destroy them.