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Wisdom Contributes to Peaceful Relationships

Proverbs 14:9 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
⁹Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but among the upright there is good will.

Fools mock at the guilt offering: Fools (כְּסִיל kesil) hate knowledge as they lack good judgment. Their character is stupidity and rudeness, one who completely lacks understanding and is rebellious in his ways. (Prov. 1:22) Foolishness; Folly: (אִוֶּלֶת ivveleth) The foolishness of the foolish one, who has the trait of acting stupidly or rashly because he is devoid of wisdom or understanding, the Hebrew noun focusing on the evil behaviors which occur in this state. Foolish worshipers, when they are knowingly wicked (sinful), expect to earn God’s favor, even while they avoid the guilt offering (repentance and prayer), yet they do not gain it.

Guilt offerings (אָשָׁם asham) were offerings because of sin, because of the guilt brought on by any kind of sin. They were for personal sins that the person had gotten because of guilt, and they were a little different from the other sin offerings in that they seemed to have served the purpose of satisfying or restoring a right. The right that was restored was either with God or a right with the nation of Israel that had been violated. It restored one so that they had goodwill. The guilt offering was to appease God on the right that had been broken, restore a person, or recover specific covenant rights for the wrongdoer because he was repentant. This guilt offering of the repentant person enabled him to gain deliverance from the punishment that would have resulted from his sin. (Compare Isaiah 53:10) The modern-day guilt offering equivalent for the Christian would be a deep feeling of guilt over wrongdoing and to repent of his ways by going to God in deep heartfelt prayer, followed by going to God’s Word, seeking the wisdom to not repeat the sin again. If the Christian’s relationship with God has grown strained over repeated sin to the point where he is unsure if God hears his prayers, the wrongdoer should then go to the pastor. God will hear the prayers of a righteous man, and the pastor can walk the repentant one through the Scriptures to find a way to overcome the sin’s hold on this wrongdoer.

but among the upright there is good will: The upright (יָשָׁר yashar) are God’s true believers, his holy ones, who are diligently seeking and searching to know, love, and obey God and to live righteously as one can within their human imperfection. – Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 5:12.

He who is driven by godly wisdom will have peaceful relationships with God and others. Stubborn fools mock the idea of making a guilt offering (amends) for the wrong (harm) that they have committed, but an upright person is prudent in his way to do what is right. This is the reason that the upright one experiences a restored relationship with God and others. A biblical mindset (wisdom) will be brought about by a more in-depth study of God’s Word, giving us practical guidance and helping us live Christlike lives in this world currently under Satanic influence.

Wicked people are hardened in their wickedness by making a mockery of sin and ignoring the guilty conscience that they had at one time. After repeatedly ignoring their conscience, it has grown desensitized, callused, and unfeeling to the point where they are no longer moved to prayer, repentance, and looking to God’s Word. It all starts with making light of their sins, first when temptation comes upon them and then after they have committed the sin. In time, they will see sinful behaviors as acceptable and good behaviors as bad. (Isa. 5:20) At this point, they have turned off their ability to feel guilt, and like a bull rushing to the slaughter, they rush to sin. (Jer. 8:6) If they are living a double life, at this point, they might have even convinced themselves that they still have a good relationship with the Father. They no longer care what sins they involve themselves in and see those who say otherwise as being foolish. However, as the proverb clearly states, “Fools mock at the guilt offering.” They do not even realize, as they make light of or make a mockery of sin, they are making light of or mocking Christ. (Amos 2:13) However, “among the upright, there is good will.” A good person is, in fact, encouraged by his goodness as he finds favor with God. When the upright person sins, he sees it as an offense against God; his guilt runs deep, and he rushes to repent, seeking the favor of God.