Sunday, October 27, 2024

How Long Will You Love Simplicity? - Proverbs 1:22

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “Wisdom cries without; she utters her voice in the streets. She cries in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she utters her words, saying, ...”, and in chapter one and verse twenty-two of Proverbs Solomon asked, “how long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?” where we read,

How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?

and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

The verse begins, How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?. Solomon began with the words, “how long” or “for what length of time”, “you simple ones” which means “you, people who are, open-minded, foolish and naive”, “will you love simplicity” or “shall you, simple people, have affection for and desire foolishness and naivety”? Solomon asked for what length of time people who are foolish would continue to desire and be passionate about their foolishness and naivety.

The verse goes on to say, “and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?” Solomon continued with the words, “and the scorners” or “and people who mock, deride and talk arrogantly” “delight in their scorning” which means “covet, take pleasure in, lust for and desire to be within their, the scorners', mocking, deriding and arrogant talk”, “and fools” or “and people who are dullard, stupid, silly and arrogant” “hate knowledge” which means “exist as odious and utterly an enemy or foe to perception, skill, discernment, understanding and wisdom”? Solomon for what length of time people who arrogantly mock and deride would continue to do so, and why would people who are stupid and silly were odious toward discernment and wisdom.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon appealed to people who are foolish, take pleasure in mocking and are dullard and arrogant. His questions concerned remaining in their foolish, mocking and arrogant state. The idea is that “wisdom” is available for them to come out of their pernicious ways, but they are stubborn and unwilling to change. God knows, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”, (See Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (See Romans 6:23) “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (See John 3:16), however, “this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (See John 3:19) God offers salvation to everyone who will believe and trust in His Son Jesus who came into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we humble ourselves, repent of our sins and receive Him into our hearts, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us from “foolish, mocking and arrogant” ways as we receive His wisdom rather than the world's.

Next time Solomon says, “turn you at my reproof”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".








 

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