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CHOICE OF WISDOM (Book study series - Proverbs) - Message no. 6 Every person has to make one major choice in his life, either God’s way or man’s own way. Here in our passage from verses 20 to 33 we can see that Solomon instructed his son to choose the wisdom of God not his own wisdom. To follow God’ wisdom or man’s own wisdom is a must for every individual and whatever choice a person makes have eternal consequences in one’s life. I - ACQUAINTED TO THE WISDOM OF GOD – v.20-21 Proverbs 1:20-21 “Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,”
Kawikaan 1:20-21 "Ang karunungan ay sumisigaw nang malakas sa lansangan; kanyang inilalakas ang kanyang tinig sa mga pamilihan." TAGALOG
There is no excuse for anyone that they do not heard or does not know about God’s wisdom. There are preacher and servants of God faithfully proclaim the Word of God to give an alarm, make people aware and be acquainted and exposed to the wisdom of God. Most people were exposed or acquainted to the Wisdom of God. The plural noun of the word “wisdom” is used in verse 20. The plural noun “wisdom” when used with singular verb “crieth” “cries” or “shouts” signify the fullness and force or power. God’s wisdom was cried out by three classes of people: (during the days of Solomon)
1. Prophets
2. Priests
3. Wise men (Sages) – Jeremiah 18:18; II Chronicles 17:7-9
However, the evil seducers, robbers and murderers have a hidden plot of ambushing innocent blood (Proverbs 1:11) while God’s messengers proclaiming God’s truth openly in public places of people’s life (Jeremiah 7:2; Jeremiah 5:1; Jonah 3:4) Where these God’s messengers communicate the God’s Wisdom publicly: (Proverbs 1:20-21)
1. In the streets specially at markets (v. 20)
Proverbs 1:20 “Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:” KJV
Proverbs 1:20 “Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square” NASB
Proverbs 1:20 “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice” ESV
Kawikaan 1:20 “Ang karunungan ay sumisigaw nang malakas sa lansangan; kanyang inilalakas ang kanyang tinig sa mga pamilihan.” TAGALOG
2. At noisy head place with large number of found (v.21a)
Proverbs 1:21a “She crieth in the chief place of concourse.” KJV
Proverbs 1:21a “At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;” NASB
Proverbs 1:21a “at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;” ESV
Kawikaan 1:21a “Siya'y sumisigaw sa mga panulukan;” TAGALOG
3. At Entrance gates of city where the leaders sat (v.21b)
Proverbs 1:21b “in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying.” KJV
Proverbs 1:21b “at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:” ESV
Kawikaan 1:21b “sa pasukan ng mga pintuang-bayan, kanyang sinasabi:” TAGALOG
Solomon assumes that his son will hear and learn of the wisdom of God that is why Solomon mentioned these places so his son so that his son will go and gain wisdom from God’s word and spiritual benefits from these places. II – ACQUIRED THE WISDOM OF GOD – v.22-23 There is always an open invitation to all people so they can gain the wisdom of God. Therefore, there is no excuse for whatever consequences occurred in their lives because God always offers His wisdom to anyone.
God’s wisdom cries out to the three classes of people: (Proverbs 1:22-23)
1. To the simple minded who are naïve and untaught people – v.22a
Proverbs 1:22a “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?” KJV
Proverbs 1:22a “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?” NASB
Kawikaan 1:22a “Hanggang kailan, O mga walang muwang, kayo'y iibig sa inyong kawalang kaalaman?” TAGALOG
2. To the liberal minded who are mocker of the truth - v.22b
Proverbs 1:22b “and the scorners delight in their scorning,” KJV
Proverbs 1:22b “And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing” NASB
Kawikaan 1:22b “Hanggang kailan ang mga manunuya ay matutuwa sa panunuya,” TAGALOG
3. To the moral perverse minded who are fool – v.22c
Proverbs 1:22c “and fools hate knowledge?”
Kawikaan 1:22c “at ang mga hangal ay mamumuhi sa kaalaman?” TAGALOG
God promised two things to those people who will turn to the reproof of God’s word of wisdom:
1. The Spirit of God will be poured out to that person – v.23a
Proverbs 1:23a “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you,”
Kawikaan 1:23a “Sa aking saway ay bumaling kayo; narito, ibubuhos ko ang aking espiritu sa inyo.” TAGALOG
2. The Scriptures of God will be known of that person – v.23b
Proverbs 1:23b “I will make known my words unto you.”
Kawikaan 1:23b “Ang mga salita ko'y ipapaalam ko sa inyo.” TAGALOG
III – AVOIDED THE WORD OF GOD – v.26-32 There are consequences that can devastate those people who rejected the Word of God. A. Adversity of a person was laughed by God – v.26a
Proverbs 1:26a “I also will laugh at your calamity” KJV; ESV
Kawikaan 1:26a “ako naman ay tatawa sa inyong kapahamakan” TAGALOG
This a heavy consequence when God will just laugh at their calamity. They could not ask God for help, as God laugh at their adversities in life. Notice the preposition “at” mentioned in verse 26 it refers to time and the word “calamity” here means heavy misfortune or adversities in life. B. Afraid person was mocked by God – v.26b-27
Proverbs 1:26b-27 “I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you” KJV
Proverbs 1:26b-27 “I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.” NASB
Proverbs 1:26b-27 “I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.” ESV
Kawikaan 1:26b-27 “ako'y manunuya kapag ang takot sa inyo ay dumating, 27 kapag ang takot ay dumating sa inyo na parang bagyo, at ang inyong kapahamakan ay dumating na parang ipu-ipo; kapag ang hirap at hapis ay dumating sa inyo.” TAGALOG
These people who rejected the wisdom of God feared when destruction, distresses, and anguish come upon their lives but God will mock at their fear. God laughs and God mocks on their hurtful and dangerous condition because they avoided or rejected the Word of God. Notice the word “fear” in KJV or “dread” in NASB or “terror” in ESV could refer to a disaster which a person has a reason to be afraid. And the word “mock” used later in verse 26 have much intensity or heavy impact than the word laugh in the opening of verse 26.
God’s major abandonments described:
1. Unanswered Prayer from God – v.28a
Proverbs 1:28a “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer”
Kawikaan 1:28a “Kung magkagayo'y tatawag sila sa akin, ngunit hindi ako sasagot;” TAGALOG
God will abandon those who reject the Word of God, even though their prayers are serious and consistent. They call to God, but God will not answer their prayer. God does not want to answer their prayers, it seems that God abandoned them. 2. Unfound Presence of God – v.28b
Proverbs 1:28b “they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me”
Kawikaan 1:28b “hahanapin nila akong mabuti, ngunit hindi nila ako matatagpuan.” TAGALOG
Notice they seek God diligently even early, but God will not be found by these seeking evil people, that is one of the results of God’s abandonment for these people who rejected the wisdom of God. God’s serious judgments on those people who are always in His mind:
1. Repugnance of People – v.29a
Proverbs 1:29a “For that they hated knowledge.”
Kawikaan 1:29a “Sapagkat kinamuhian nila ang kaalaman” TAGALOG
God seriously judge these people because they hated the knowledge of God that God offered them. They dislike it and even were antagonist against the offered knowledge of God. 2. Refusal of People – v.29b
Proverbs 1:29b “and did not choose the fear of the Lord.”
Kawikaan 1:29b “at hindi pinili ang takot sa Panginoon.” TAGALOG
God seriously judge these people because refused to fear the LORD. It’s dangerous not to fear the LORD. Remember the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But they refused to fear the LORD. 3. Rejection of People – v.30a
Proverbs 1:30a “They would none of my counsel” KJV; ESV
Proverbs 1:30a “They would not accept my counsel” NASB
Kawikaan 1:30a “Ayaw nila sa aking payo” TAGALOG
God seriously judge these people because these people did not accept God’s instruction and counsel. 4. Respectless of People – v.30b
Proverbs 1:30b “they despised all my reproof.”
Kawikaan 1:30b “hinamak nila ang lahat kong pagsaway” TAGALOG
God seriously judge these people because these people despised, belittled or disrespect all God’s reproof, they considered it worthless. God abandons those evil people to their own foolishness (Proverbs 1:32)
Proverbs 1:32 “For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.” KJV
Proverbs 1:32 “For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.” NASB
Proverbs 1:32 “For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them.” ESV
Kawikaan 1:32 “Sapagkat ang pagkaligaw ang pumapatay sa walang alam, at ang pagsasawalang-bahala ang sumisira sa hangal.” TAGALOG
We can clearly see that God abandons them to their own foolishness as the verse says the complacency or prosperity of fools destroy them. God abandon them as their foolishness killed them. IV – ACKNOWLEDGED THE WISDOM OF GOD – v.33
Proverbs 1:33 “But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” KJV
Proverbs 1:33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.” NASB
Proverbs 1:33 “but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” ESV
Proverbs 1:33 “But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.” NKJV
Kawikaan 1:33 “Ngunit ang nakikinig sa akin ay tatahang tiwasay, at papanatag na walang takot sa kasamaan.” TAGALOG
In verse 33, there are joyous results for a person who acknowledge or responds to the wisdom of God.
If a person chose the wisdom of God not his own wisdom, choose the way of God not his own way, God surely as He promised will make that person’s life prospered, happy and live safely or secure, at ease without fear or dread of disaster. Every person must carefully make a choice of wisdom in life. What is your choice? Solomon urge his son to chose the wisdom of God.
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