Proverbs 1:20-33 If we refuse to regard God's voice, our cry for help in times of trouble will not be regarded
Proverbs 1:20-33 (NKJV)
20 Wisdom calls aloud outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the [waywardness] of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil.”
Why does the book of Proverbs exist? Simply put, God loves you and He wants to keep your butt out of trouble! God did not start with Proverbs, He started by creating a universe that "speaks" to us (Psalms 19:1-3). His glory and His voice are on display for all to see and hear! Everywhere we go, God is speaking. This passage reveals the extent to which God has gone to "speak" to us. He is constantly crying out. If we refuse to stop, listen and consider His voice, our butts will not be delivered! When distress, anguish and worse come our way and we pray for help, He will not answer! The good news is that if we choose to regard His voice (Isaiah 55:6), He will respond and pour out His Spirit to us (Proverbs 1:23).