Year One, October 25

Hear, That Your Soul May Live1

It was in the days of his glory, before sin had darkened his sun, that Solomon collected and composed the Book of Proverbs. It is a goldmine of wisdom, a treasure chest of instruction.

  

Proverbs 1:20-31

20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,

in the markets she raises her voice;

The right way is not to be kept secret or mentioned to only a few. Wise teaching and counsel should overflow whether it is popular or not. The Bible and those who faithfully preach it should not be avoided. If any perish, it should not be because the plan of salvation was not made public. Wisdom is among us and speaks clearly and in earnest.

21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;

at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?

How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing

and fools hate knowledge?

23 If you turn at my reproof,

behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;

I will make my words known to you.”

The Lord Jesus, represented by wisdom, pleads with loving words from the heart. People are foolish and they love their foolishness. Some of them are so in love with sin that they sneer at the only instruction that can save their souls. The Lord reasons and pleads with them. It is not the will of the Redeemer that the sinner should die. His infinite love is put on display to prevent them from committing suicide of the soul. Notice how seriously he asks, “How long?” and how graciously he promises the help of his Holy Spirit so they can understand his instructions. Jesus pleads with each one of us. Have we obeyed his call?

24  “Because I have called and you refused to listen,

have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

25 because you have ignored all my counsel

and would have none of my reproof,

26 I also will laugh at your calamity;

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.

28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;

they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

29 Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

30 would have none of my counsel

and despised all my reproof,

31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,

and have their fill of their own devices.”

Not until calls of love have failed does the Lord change to words of stern rebuke. But when grace has been ignored, and even insulted, justice must speak in tones of thunder. The Lord Jesus wept over sinners in the days of his flesh. He continues, through his Church, to plead with them, warn them and offer his love to them. But he will not always do so. The time is coming when he will have no pity on those who reject him. Then he will reject the cries and pleas of his enemies. They say that the sweetest wine makes the sharpest vinegar. And so the very gentleness and tenderness of Jesus will make him the more terrible when his patience finally turns to wrath. Oh! may none of us ever be spoken to with the terrible words we have just read. They are full of weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.2 Is it not right that the ones who perish are the ones who refused to be saved? Should not those be rejected at the last day who willfully rejected the Redeemer all through their day of grace? Is it not a most righteous rule that people should reap what they sow?3 Is it not only fair that those who choose to follow their own fantasies will not be rewarded for turning their backs on the Savior?

Will any member of our family be so insanely wicked that they refuse to accept God’s loving invitations to follow his Son? May God not let that happen!

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¹ Isaiah 55:3

² Matthew 13:42; Luke 13:28

³ Galatians 6:7-8