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| Desert Tortoise |
Occasionally we see these amazing turtles here in the Antelope Valley, especially up near Red Rock Canyon and between California City and Ridgecrest. It is only the encroachment of man that has threatened them in the last 200 years, and they are now an endangered species. This is another example of how mankind can foolishly interact with nature, when a much more suitable and thoughtful approach could have been taken. We are all like that, acting first, and thinking later about how to fix what we've done. Although they are an endangered species there is no shortage of land for them and with care we can help them repopulate. Unfortunately our help is neither timely nor well thought out.
Solomon begins this section of the first chapter with interesting words. However, before we look at those words we need to understand something about wisdom. In our world there are many who think themselves wise. Anyone who thinks he or she is wise is not. You and I don't possess great wisdom in and of ourselves! There is one person who is all-knowing or omniscient. His name is God, and He is the God of the Bible. In Him alone is wisdom, and any wisdom you or I may obtain must come from Him. That is a humbling thought, and keeps us from the snare of this world.
How many in their own wisdom have proclaimed that they have the answers we are all seeking? Too many. Yet we continue making the same mistakes, the same blunders, acting out our foolishness time and time again when we do things our way. Only God's way offers the answers we seek.
Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the city, she utters her sayings: "How long, O naive ones, will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?
Proverbs 1:20-22 NASB
Solomon is quite clear in his rather uncomplimentary description of us. It is truly naive to think that we can know anything apart from God. He is the Author of knowledge. God is Truth. Apart from Him there is no knowledge or truth. You and I have certainly seen that in my generation. In America the truth of God has been exchanged for a lie and the results have been chaos and anarchy. Reason has been lost in the philosophy of materialism. Let me show you.
When I graduated from high school 99% of the students who began high school completed it. The biggest problems teachers had were students running in the halls and chewing gum in class. I could count on the fingers of one hand the "bad" kids in my grade. There were perhaps one, maybe two girls who were sexually active. Today, in Los Angeles County, less than 50% of students graduate from high school. 80% of the students or more are sexually active. Teachers worry about students carrying guns and knives to school, and murders on campus. Why? What changed? In 1962 we took prayer out of the schools, and in 1963 we took the ten commandments out of schools. Our nation turned its back on God and His truth and we are reaping the results today. In 1950 3 in 100,000 people had a sexually transmitted disease in America. Today one out of three has a STD. We threw away wisdom and knowledge and in our arrogance said that we had the answers. In my book the results prove that we (note that I am including myself because I am just as prone to turn my back on His knowledge as anyone else) don't have answers. Only God does.
So Solomon's words now begin to hammer home the message:
"Turn to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I called, and you refused; I stretched out my hand, and no one paid attention; and you neglected all my counsel, and did not want my reproof; I will even laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, when your dread comes like a storm, and your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me, because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD. They would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof. So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be satiated with their own devices. For the waywardness of the naive shall kill them, and the complacency of fools shall destroy them. But he who listens to me shall live securely, and shall be at ease from the dread of evil."
When I graduated from high school 99% of the students who began high school completed it. The biggest problems teachers had were students running in the halls and chewing gum in class. I could count on the fingers of one hand the "bad" kids in my grade. There were perhaps one, maybe two girls who were sexually active. Today, in Los Angeles County, less than 50% of students graduate from high school. 80% of the students or more are sexually active. Teachers worry about students carrying guns and knives to school, and murders on campus. Why? What changed? In 1962 we took prayer out of the schools, and in 1963 we took the ten commandments out of schools. Our nation turned its back on God and His truth and we are reaping the results today. In 1950 3 in 100,000 people had a sexually transmitted disease in America. Today one out of three has a STD. We threw away wisdom and knowledge and in our arrogance said that we had the answers. In my book the results prove that we (note that I am including myself because I am just as prone to turn my back on His knowledge as anyone else) don't have answers. Only God does.
So Solomon's words now begin to hammer home the message:
"Turn to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I called, and you refused; I stretched out my hand, and no one paid attention; and you neglected all my counsel, and did not want my reproof; I will even laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, when your dread comes like a storm, and your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me, because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD. They would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof. So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be satiated with their own devices. For the waywardness of the naive shall kill them, and the complacency of fools shall destroy them. But he who listens to me shall live securely, and shall be at ease from the dread of evil."
Proverbs 1:23-33 NASB
Wow! As you look at the highlights you'll notice that I used different colors. Green is always something directly from or about the Lord. Orange is always something that is contrary to God's will. Yellow is about our actions. Red is a key thought or result.
God cries out to His beloved children to listen, to repent (turn to my reproof), and He will make His wisdom ours. Notice how accurate Solomon is in regards to our response to that call. I have a problem listening. So do you. Remember that. This is something we have to work on daily.
God's response to our refusal to listen is frightening. This is the same truth that is communicated in Romans 1:18-32. Children, hear me. We will not like God's truth all the time. Most of the time it will reveal our shortcomings. Do not suppress the truth by continuing in wrong behavior! That way leads to calamity, distress, and anguish. Always. Until we actually repent (turn to His reproof, turn away from our sinfulness) our prayers will go unanswered. Even worse, we will be satiated with our own devices! That way leads to excess. All addictions come from this root! Beware!
Being naive of God's truth is the path to death and destruction. Don't miss that. Those last two lines should echo in our minds every time we are ready to ignore God and His truth. Going our own way will ultimate leave us empty and dead. Just like this empty shell on the right, we will find that our lives have no substance, nothing worthy or good. The last verse is like a cool breeze on a hot day. If we listen to God we will live securely. We will be at ease from the dread of evil.
That doesn't mean we won't struggle. Life is a struggle in a sinful and broken world. But our struggles won't consume us or overwhelm us. And that doesn't mean we won't feel overwhelmed. I've felt overwhelmed by many things, but feelings aren't facts. Feeling overwhelmed and being overwhelmed are two different things. I have the confidence that if I follow the Lord and live by His wisdom I will be safe, even if I'm facing death.
I am not ashamed of the good news from God's Word, or of His wisdom. It is powerful and offers salvation to all who believe. In His Word He reveals His righteousness, and when I see that, I have faith. The righteous man lives by faith. Trust the Lord my beloved grandchildren. Trust Him with all your heart.
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| Empty Tortoise Shell |
That doesn't mean we won't struggle. Life is a struggle in a sinful and broken world. But our struggles won't consume us or overwhelm us. And that doesn't mean we won't feel overwhelmed. I've felt overwhelmed by many things, but feelings aren't facts. Feeling overwhelmed and being overwhelmed are two different things. I have the confidence that if I follow the Lord and live by His wisdom I will be safe, even if I'm facing death.
I am not ashamed of the good news from God's Word, or of His wisdom. It is powerful and offers salvation to all who believe. In His Word He reveals His righteousness, and when I see that, I have faith. The righteous man lives by faith. Trust the Lord my beloved grandchildren. Trust Him with all your heart.
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