Posted on 08/31/2019 6:21:40 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you" (Proverbs 1:20-23).
This is the reason that the Book of Proverbs was written:
“Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying" (Proverbs 1:20-21).
The thing to learn about here is that while wisdom is something to be sought after and cried for and so on; it's not like it is hidden completely so that somebody that wants it can't find it. If they can still write “Jesus saves” on trash bins downtown, and if you occasionally see a billboard that says “Jesus loves you,” then whatever else is the case there is still the testimony even in the world that the Bible is the answer. So, it's not like we live in absolute blatant darkness.
We continue in verse 22, “How long, ye simple ones, will you love simplicity?” How long are you going to stay like you are? How long are you going to continue to make the same mistakes? How long are you going to play dumb? How long are you going to not heed reproof? How long will you not listen? How long will you acknowledge that a cliché is probably true without putting it into effect in your life?
“How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you" (Proverbs 1:22-23).
Okay, “I will pour out my spirit unto you.” There are only four places in the Bible that the Lord talks about pouring out his spirit. We are not really talking about the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. What you'll find in the scriptures is there's one place in the book of Exodus where the men that were making the priestly garments and the Temple accoutrements had the spirit of God spirit poured out to them to be able to do that. You will find in another place that Joshua wound up with God’s spirit poured out on him, and you will find in Isaiah Chapter 11 that the Lord Jesus Christ had “the spirit of wisdom” poured out on him, and then there is this fourth category of people. Now, I know the spirit is connected with having the spirit poured out in the sense of salvation and Pentecost but notice Paul’s prayer in Ephesians chapter one.
“Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him" (Ephesians 1:16-17).
Again, we are talking about the spirit of wisdom when we talk about this pouring out. Joshua had the spirit of wisdom, Bezaleel had the spirit of wisdom given to him “to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass” (Exodus 31:4), Christ, in Isaiah 11 had the spirit of wisdom poured out unto him.
Okay, this is to be true of us as well. Paul prayed for you that you would have “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.” In other words, Christian, just because you got saved doesn't mean that you are wise, and wisdom is something to be clamored after and cried for and longed for. The crying need in America today is for wise Christians. We have seen a varied crowd of folks in Proverbs 1: Fools, scorners, and simple ones. What God is looking for are some wise men and women to carry the banner of the Cross forward. Will you volunteer? It is within reach for any that have the desire, and God is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20).
Let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread!
If anyone would like to be added to the ping list, please let me know either by post or by p.m.
I’d love to be added to this ping list, please!
Absolutely added! God bless.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.