# 404 The Proverbs – ‘A manual for living’ (MSG). Proverbs 1:20-33. “The absurdity of choosing folly.”

The Cambridge Dictionary defines personification as “the act of giving a human quality or characteristic to something which is not human.” It is a poetic technique used in the Book of Proverbs for Wisdom, and it is used at least 4 times in 1:20-33, 3:14-18, 8:1-36 and 9:1-12.

And so, we read in Proverbs 1:20-33 of “Lady Wisdom” (Message) or “Wisdom’s Rebuke” (NIV).

Goldsworthy says: “The author… portrays wisdom as a woman engaged in a kind of evangelism, calling any who will hear to receive what she has to offer. There is an urgency in the warning that highlights the place of true wisdom in life.” (# 53)

Hence, we read that she calls aloud, she raises her voice… she cries out… she makes her speech. (vv. 20-21)

And to whom is “Lady Wisdom” speaking to? It seems to a difficult group of people called here the simple [who] love [their] simple ways… mockers [who] delight in mockery and fools [who] hate knowledge? And the message for them is to Repent. (vv. 22-23)

And if they repent, she promises that she will pour out my thoughts [heart] to you, I will make known to you my teachings. (v. 23) In other words, they will receive the vital gift of true wisdom, to enable them to live life well.

“Wisdom is both the human task and the gift of God. The gift comes first in the gracious revelation of God to us. The human task is to respond to what God says about our humanness. As we do so, we find that God responds to our response by increasing our wisdom.” (# 53)

Sadly though, her audience responds foolishly!  It says that they refuse to listen when [she] calls and no one pays attention when [she] stretches out [her] hand, … [they] disregard all [her] advice and do not accept [her] rebuke. (vv. 24-25)

Concerning this refusal and disregard of Wisdom, Keller, quoting Kidner, calls it “the absurdity of choosing folly.” He continues that “life lived without God will bring futility, because the things of this world cannot fulfil the deepest heart longings… [this] fulfillment [can only be found in] a relationship with God…” (# 51)

“Wisdom” continues to then explain the consequences of their refusal to listen and rejection of her message as follows:

²⁶ I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
    I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

Basically, it is the truth of Galatians 6:7-8 which states:

⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

“The disaster is not wisdom’s doing but the inevitable outcome of folly. It is not seen here as divine intervention but as that which is built into the order of the universe.” (# 53)

And then, sadly, it is too late! They have made their bed and now they have to lie in it! So, it continues:

²⁸ “Then they will call to me but I will not answer
    they will look for me but will not find me,
²⁹ since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.
³⁰ Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,
³¹ they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
³² For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

“Since life is a gift, it is the height of folly to reject it and still expect it to be offered.” (# 53)

But there is hope for those who do listen and respond appropriately, as Wisdom says:

³³ but whoever listens to me will live in safety
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.” 
 

Today, for you and me, there is a choice: if we choose to fear the Lord the result will be to live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.

As I have quoted previously, “The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” (Oswald Chambers – quoted in Chapter 12 of “The Awe of God”) (# 54)

In 1 Corinthians we read that Christ [is] the power of God and the wisdom of God… [and that] Christ Jesus … has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption… [and we are called to] declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.  (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30 and 2:7)

It is relationship with Jesus that we can truly live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm – and that for all eternity!