Sermon – Proverbs 1:20-33 Repent and be Saved

 Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City

Sermon – Proverbs 1:20-33 Repent and be Saved

September 13, 2015

            This morning we return to the Book of Proverbs and hear from Miss Wisdom.  We already know that it is better to follow Miss Wisdom and not follow Miss Folly.  We know that Miss Wisdom says that it is wise to be generous with those in need because this corrects the imbalance sin has caused in an otherwise world of abundance.  Today we will see what happens if, sadly, someone chooses not to be wise and does foolish things.  We will get to this, but first let's pray.

            May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer.

            Let's begin with a word about Miss Wisdom.  Miss Wisdom is not a real person.  There was no flesh and blood woman named Wisdom in biblical times.  Rather the author of Proverbs is using a literary technique called personification.  What's happening here is that the biblical author is explaining an abstract concept by giving it characteristics of a person.   The abstract concept is that you should be wise by following God's instruction for life.  The author personified this by saying that Miss Wisdom says you should be wise by obeying God's instruction.

            We use this technique of personification all the time.  From 1977 to 2011 General Motors referred to their service department as Mr. Goodwrench.  There was no mechanic named Mr. Goodwrench.  GM called their service departments this name to express the abstract idea that they provide good service.  In the same way that GM used the name Mr. Goodwrench the author of the Book of Proverbs used the name Miss Wisdom. 

            With this is mind let's go back to Miss Wisdom and hear some of her advice.

Proverbs 1:20-22

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
    she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall[d] she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:

22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate knowledge?

            Accord to the first chapter of the Book of Proverbs there are three kinds of sinners.  The first are the simple.  The simple are indifferent to the Word of God.  They just don't care what the Bible says.  They don't claim to be atheists because that would require too much thought.  And the simple don't think.  If you ask someone like this to come to church they might say yes and they might say no.  They may come for a concert or a meal, but they couldn't care less about worship and Bible study.   They may even consider themselves to be Christian, but their faith would be nominal at best.  And they are the first to leave a church if it is not to their liking.  They will tolerate your faith as long as you tolerate their indifference.  These are the simple.

            The second kind of sinner in the Book of Proverbs is the scoffer.  The scoffer mocks believers saying that what you believe is a myth.  Scoffers believe in secular fundamentalism.    They are confident that one day science will explain everything.  They believe in a world evolved from nothing, and do not believe in a purposeful world with a creator.   Many scoffers worship their evolved world with a faith called environmentalism.  And they mock you and me for our belief in a creator God.

            This past summer we showed a movie entitled God's Not Dead.  In this movie we saw a debate between a scoffer and a Christian.  The Atheist professor in the movie was a scoffer who mocked Christian students.  But one of the Christian students was not indifferent to his teaching.  He challenged this Atheist professor and beat him in a debate.  We have the truth; the secular fundamentalist atheistic mockers believe a lie.

            And the third kind of sinner, according to Proverbs, is the fool.  The fool hates the word of God.  Many fools are mistaken about what the Bible says.  They think that the Bible teaches that men are superior to women.  They think the Bible tells us to hate homosexuals.  And they hate the Bible for telling them what to do.  They reject any biblical teaching that would limit their behavior.  They say we are fools for believing the Bible.   We rarely see fools in church because they spend Saturday nights at Seacrets getting drunk and hooking up with a one night stand.  They are hung over on Sunday mornings when we come to church. 

            So there you have it.  Three kinds of sinners:  the simple who are indifferent about faith, the scoffer who mocks our faith, and the fool who hates our faith.  All three reject the God's wisdom as recorded in the Bible, but they still have a chance.  Let's go back to Miss Wisdom.      

23 Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.

            So here is the offer to sinners.  Repent and all God's wisdom is yours.  If you are simple and indifferent about God's wisdom, give it a chance, read your Bible, come to worship, attend Bible studies and let God speak to you.  The same advice goes to the scoffers and the fools.  Repent, turn to the God of the Bible and listen to him.  Do this and God's wisdom is yours.

            But if you don't do this there is a price to pay.  If sinners don't turn to God and receive instructions for living from his word they will find that God won't be there when they need him.  Let's listen to Miss Wisdom.

24 But since you refuse to listen when I call
    and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
25 since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
    I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
    they will look for me but will not find me,
29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.
30 Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

            And so for sinners who are indifferent about God, or mock our faith, or despise God's word the day will come when the blessings from God they now enjoy will be withdrawn.  They will experience illness or the death of a loved one.  They will lose a job or the bank will foreclose on their homes.  Their spouse will leave them, and children hate them.  When these terrible things happen, those who have ignored or turned away from God will find that God won't be there when they need him.  When disaster strikes sinners will be all alone.  No one will hear their prayers.

            But if sinners turn from their indifference, turn from their mockery, turn from their hate, and turn to Almighty God then God will be with them no matter what happens.  Let's hear the good news from Miss Wisdom.

33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

            The promise of scripture for all who believe is that God will with us and continues to bless us no matter what happens.  We might lose our health, or lose a relationship, or lose our money, or lose our job, or lose our home, but God will always be there to comfort us, strengthen us, bless us, and hear our prayers if we accept his wisdom. 

            And so brothers and sisters I urge you this day to put away your indifference, put away your mockery of the faith, put away your hatred of scripture and turn to the God who created you.  Talk to him in prayer and meditation on scripture every day in your devotions.  Worship him every Sunday.  And you will find that when you need God, he will be there for you.  This is good news.  Let pray to this wonderful God.

            Father in heaven you are the most important thing in our lives.  We respect the faithful people around us.  And we love your holy word.  We pray this is the name of the Word of God our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.