“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 1:32-33
Turning away from the wisdom revealed in God’s Word — even if some who do so prosper for a time in this world — leads to death and destruction. But those who hear and heed God’s Word, repenting of sin and evil in their lives and looking in faith to the LORD God for mercy in Jesus Christ and His cross, will dwell in safety and be at ease in the face of evil.
Grant that I hear and heed Your Word, O God, repent of my sinful ways and look to You for mercy in the wounds of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“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.” Proverbs 1:28-31
Those who reject the counsel and wisdom of God’s Word and choose not to walk in “the fear of the LORD” will “eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies.” When they call on the LORD, He will not answer. When they seek Him, they will not find Him. Why? Because they reject the truth God reveals in His Word.
Grant that I respect and honor You, O LORD, hear Your Word and walk in Your ways. Amen.
“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.” Proverbs 1:24-27
Those who reject and mock the true wisdom God reveals in His Word will have the tables turned when they receive the fruits of their foolishness and their lives lie in ruin. Those who refuse to repent of their sinful ways and look in faith to Christ Jesus and His cross for pardon and forgiveness will suffer both the temporal and the eternal consequences of their sin and their spurning of the truth.
Grant that I both hear and heed Your Word, O LORD, repent of my sins, and look to Christ for forgiveness and the strength to amend my ways. Amen.
“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.’” Proverbs 1:20-23
The wisdom of God is recorded in the Bible for all to read. It is preached in the streets and public places for all to hear. It calls upon sinners to repent of their foolish and sinful ways and look to the LORD God for mercy. It asks people how long they will continue in their foolishness. It also makes those who hear “wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).
Grant that I hear Your Word and heed its message, O LORD, repenting of my sins and looking to You for mercy in the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
The preacher in Ecclesiastes gives us the sum of his words in the final verses of his writing. Wisdom calls upon us to honor our Maker and Redeemer because every work, every thought, every desire — including our every secret — will be exposed and judged by God, whether it be good or bad! There will be no secret or hidden sins on that day! The only remedy, the only escape from God’s just condemnation is to take refuge in the blood of Jesus, shed upon the cross to atone for our sinful ways! “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).
Have mercy upon me, O God. I have sinned in my thoughts, desires, words, and deeds, and I deserve nothing but Your eternal wrath and punishment. Cleanse me in the shed blood of Christ Jesus, my Savior, and spare me in the day of Your righteous judgment. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
