Tag Archives: Proverbs 1:20-33

Less Shouting, More Listening

bible, faith, God, Lectionary, life, Religion, theology, , ,

How I love to shout,
to share my opinions,
to make it sound
as if I have all the answers
and know everything.

I think I am right
and anyone who thinks differently
is wrong.
And I don’t want to hear
anything else.

But if I will just hear
that other voice,
your voice,
speaking,
teaching,
guiding,
even rebuking,
I would learn so much,
be so different;
know your ways
become more like you,
be a much more useful person
and save myself
a lot of grief.

Lord,
help me to listen.
Still me,
quieten me,
that I may hear the other,
you
and know what you think
– which is so much more important,
so much better,
so right.

Word of God Speak

Proverbs 1:20-33 (CEV)

Wisdom Speaks

20 Wisdom shouts in the streets
    wherever crowds gather.
21 She shouts in the marketplaces
and near the city gates
    as she says to the people,
22 “How much longer
will you enjoy
    being stupid fools?
Won’t you ever stop sneering
    and laughing at knowledge?
23     Listen as I correct you
    and tell you what I think.
24 You completely ignored me
    and refused to listen;
25 you rejected my advice
and paid no attention
    when I warned you.

26 “So when you are struck
    by some terrible disaster,
27 or when trouble and distress
surround you like a whirlwind,
    I will laugh and make fun.
28 You will ask for my help,
    but I won’t listen;
    you will search,
    but you won’t find me.
29 No, you would not learn,
    and you refused
    to respect the Lord.
30 You rejected my advice
and paid no attention
    when I warned you.

31 “Now you will eat the fruit
    of what you have done,
    until you are stuffed full
    with your own schemes.
32 Sin and self-satisfaction
bring destruction and death
    to stupid fools.
33 But if you listen to me,
you will be safe and secure
    without fear of disaster.”

Being Wise

bible, follow, God, Religion, ,

What do we consider to be wisdom?  Saving for a rainy day?  Learning the lessons of a previous generation?  Looking both ways before we cross the road?

There are many ways to be wise – and many ways to ignore wisdom and think we know better.

Proverbs 1:20-33

Wisdom Speaks

20 Wisdom shouts in the streets

    wherever crowds gather.
21 She shouts in the marketplaces
and near the city gates
as she says to the people,
22 “How much longer
will you enjoy
being stupid fools?
Won’t you ever stop sneering
and laughing at knowledge?
23     Listen as I correct you
and tell you what I think.
24 You completely ignored me
and refused to listen;
25 you rejected my advice
and paid no attention
when I warned you.

26 “So when you are struck
by some terrible disaster,
27 or when trouble and distress
surround you like a whirlwind,
I will laugh and make fun.
28 You will ask for my help,
but I won’t listen;
you will search,
but you won’t find me.
29 No, you would not learn,
and you refused
to respect the Lord.
30 You rejected my advice
and paid no attention
when I warned you.

31 “Now you will eat the fruit
of what you have done,
until you are stuffed full
with your own schemes.
32 Sin and self-satisfaction
bring destruction and death
to stupid fools.
33 But if you listen to me,
you will be safe and secure
without fear of disaster.”

So, do we listen, or sneer and ignore when good advice comes our way?

Wisdom seeks to offer correction – advice for the right way, and so often it goes ignored.  BUT we pay no attention at our peril.

We are reminded that

In the book of Proverbs the word “wisdom” is sometimes used as though wisdom were a supernatural being who was with God at the time of creation.

and I think it is in that context that this passage is best read.

 

How often are we “stuffed-full of our own schemes” instead of listening to God’s?  How often do we plough on, without listening to that still small voice of God?  How often do we rush on ahead, paying no heed to what God is saying and doing to us?

 

How different might life be if we did?

Lord,

you know the best ways,

the right ways

– help me not to run away with my thoughts and ideas,

but to hear yours

– and act on them