Posted on 09/21/2019 7:37:22 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge” (Proverbs 21:11).
“When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise,” a scorner mocks the Bible, God, and the authorities. When these people are punished, others learn from it. They are simple in the sense that they think, “Boy, I sure don’t want to get punished like that!” That is not a stupid kind of simple, but a simple-mindedness. David said, “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalms 119:130).
The Bible talks about the simplicity which is in Christ in Second Corinthians. A simple person doesn’t question it—they just believe it. A man has to be complex and sophisticated to start questioning faith and start criticizing it and denying it. The only reason people do that anyway is to justify their way of life. A simple person says, “Yea, that’s right! That’s me!” They just don’t try to use their intellect to cover up their faults. They freely admit them and take care of them with God.
“Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge” (Proverbs 19:25).
Punishment will always profit somebody. It might profit the one punished, or it might profit those seeing another being punished, and it might profit the one administering the punishment.
“. . . and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge,” that is because he is humble. James said: “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).
When a fool is instructed, they don’t learn a thing. It goes in one ear and out the other. Children are also like that which is why we must repeat a thing, repeat a thing, and repeat a thing until it sinks in. Some parents throw up their arms and exclaim that they just can’t do anything with their child and give up. The child wins and continues to grow up into an adult fool. Nobody ever said that it was easy to be a parent. You can do something with a wayward child, “train him up.” The Bible promises that even if you don’t think you are getting anywhere with the child, when he is old, he will not depart from the character principles you instilled in him as a child. The Bible promises that, so just believe what the Bible says.
Let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread!
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Glory and praise to God , again thanks to you Pilgrim for posting Gods word . I seek it out daily .
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