Please Support the Bible Translation Work of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

$5.00

Wisdom’s Rebuke

Proverbs 1:24-25 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
²⁴Because I called and you have refused,
I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention,
²⁵because you have ignored all my counsel
and did not want my reproof,

The judgment that will be given to unrepentant sinners at Armageddon is well deserved. It is, in short, rejecting Jesus Christ and his ransom sacrifice (Matt. 20:28; Heb. 10:26-31), and refusing to accept the gospel, which would have saved them from their inherited sin. (Gen 6:5; 8:21; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 5:12) Christ in these last days has called out to us, to warn us of the danger ahead; he stretched out his hand to offer us protection and mercy. Many have willfully and purposely mocked and simply shoved his hand away, refusing the help offered. Others simply couldn’t care less and ignored his outstretched hand. Those in the last days are no different from those in Solomon’s day, who were in love not with Jehovah but rather foolish pursuits and could not be made wise then and cannot be made wise now.

They were hard-hearted to all the attempts by God to redeem them. God stretched out his hand in compassion and kindness in that he offered them one prophet after another, which were rejected. Then, he sent Christ to reprove and counsel them. However, many ignored all of God’s counsel through his Son and did not want his loving reproof, so they used the Roman government by way of Pontius Pilate to crucify him. Those were purposely deaf to reproof and good counsel. These hate knowledge that comes from the Word of God (Prov. 1:29), hate the light of divine truth because it has exposed their evil ways. (John 3:20) It is simple, they detested the idea of being told that which they did not want to know because it exposed them to the darkness that dwelled within them. They had no fear of Jehovah, which was the beginning of wisdom. Rather, they chose to walk in the way of their ‘deceitful heart that is desperately sick.’ (Jer. 17:9) They chose to walk in Satan’s world, as they are mentally bent toward evil.

Those who reject the fear of Jehovah show that they have no knowledge. Those who reject the sovereignty of God will surely face eternal destruction under his wrath and curse, and the gospel itself can no longer save them. These would not take the mercy of God when he stretched out his hand, either willfully refusing to or paying no attention to it, so they justly deserve his justice. (Prov. 29:1) In the judgment of the great day of God Almighty, they will receive eternal destruction for not feeling shame or regret about their actions and attitudes.

One may wonder how God can love those who ignore his counsel by arguing against it or refusing it, rebellion and defiant to his authority. He finds no delight in those who refuse his direction, and his patience will not last forever. However, he does take delight in the ones who endeavor to do what he instructs them. They are the ones he blesses, but the proud, arrogant, stubborn persons who pay no attention when he stretches out his hand;[1] these he cuts off from his help when they need it.

Both verses 24 and 25 use the phrase because (or since) you. The rebellious, defiant ones have chosen to ignore the counsel of wisdom; they will not receive the benefits that would have come from heeding her counsel. Wisdom has called (in the sense of “invited” or “advised”) and stretched out her hand, but these stiff-necked ones have refused to pay attention (listen) to her advice. Instead, they have ignored all [her] counsel, rejecting it as unnecessary, and they resisted any of wisdom’s timely corrections. Those who neglect God’s counsel, who refuse to search for him while he may be found, and who put off their drawing close until they see the signs of the time that evidence Jesus second coming will discover that they have waited too long. Such a course would suggest a lack of faith and wisdom and would be disrespectful and disdainful of God’s grace. – 2 Corinthians 6:1-2.

[1] Stretched out my hand refers to the gesture of inviting or requesting someone to come toward the one calling.