He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
A Grand Comparison: Wisdom Will Accept
Correction; Foolishness Will Despise It: Prov 9:7-9
7) He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that
rebuketh a wicked [man getteth]
himself a blot.
8) Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he
will love thee.
9) Give [instruction] to a
wise [man], and he will be yet wiser:
teach a just [man], and he will
increase in learning.
INTRODUCTION:
When correction is
given, how is it received? This is the
subject of Solomon’s next comparison….
EXPOSITION:
7) He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that
rebuketh a wicked [man getteth]
himself a blot.
Here,
the foolish are described as a:
1.
scorner – a mocker of the truth
2.
wicked man – one who is condemned, awaiting judgment, guilty before God
The
wise are to take great care in trying to correct the foolish. Why is this the case? Because it may hurt the one trying to help
the fool…
1. the person who attempts to instruct and
correct the fool will only bring to disgrace and embarrassment.
2. the person who attempts to point out error
and rectify it will only place upon himself a blemish.
Why
does our attempt to help the foolish result in our harm?
It
is because a fool will not accept help…. The unfruitful efforts of the helper will
make him appear to be impotent, unpersuasive, lacking authority, and wasteful
of their time and energy.
“Then shall they deliver
you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all
nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be
offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” (Matthew 24:9-10)
8) Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he
will love thee.
3.
When an attempt is made to reprove the scorner, the attempt will only be
resented and become a foe to those they have tried to help.
These
are the very principles why we are told….
“Give not that which is
holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample
them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” (Matthew 7:6)
This
attitude of a foolish person is now compared to that of a wise person….
1. A wise man will appreciate the warnings and
corrections that are given to him, which will result in him loving those who
are trying to help them along the way.
9) Give [instruction] to a
wise [man], and he will be yet wiser:
teach a just [man], and he will
increase in learning.
2. when truth is handed to the wise man, he will
listen, understand, believe and apply it to his life. It will be of great benefit to both the
teaching and the wise student.
3. when experiences are shared with the saved,
he will add these lessons of experience to his own life. IN doing so, he will be able to avoid many of
the mistakes that others have made.
“Blessed [is] the man that
walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he
meditate day and night. And he shall be like a
tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly [are] not so:
but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly
shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the
way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” (Psalms 1:1-6)
SUMMARY:
As
servants of Christ, may He give us wisdom to understand the true spiritual
condition of those around us. When we
perceive that they are in need of genuine salvation, let us share with them the
gospel message and, in general, avoid trying to correct the many individual
sins that we may see in their life.
Without Christ as their Savior, it is fruitless to expect them to rid
their lives of sin because they are yet spiritually blind and in the bonds of
sin.
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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