Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. Proverbs 3:34

How does God respond to those who scoff at Him?  The first half of our proverb for today reveals that to us - then shares some very wonderful news with us about how the Lord responds to those who are afflicted. 

God is a God of grace and mercy - but He is not happy with those who mock and scoff at Him and His Word.  Here in Proverbs 3:34 we find a strong statement about how God reacts to the ones who are scoffing at Him.  We read that God responds with scoffing toward them.  The "scoffer" is one who mocks God.  He derides the Lord and holds Him in utter contempt - even boasting against the Lord.  What God promises to these who mock Him is mocking in return.  The difference here is that the human who is insane enough to mock God, does nothing to God by His mocking.  He is powerless to have any affect on God's glory or anything to do with God.  On the other hand - God's mocking and utter contempt comes with an eternity of consequences - literally!  The mocker who thinks himself so powerful has less effect than a flea has as it crashes into an aircraft carrier as it speeds through the ocean.  So the one hurt by these actions is the mocker himself - whose mocking is only storing up wrath for himself when God ultimately comes to humble the arrogant.

The promise though is not just scoffing to the scoffer - but also grace to the afflicted.  The word afflicted here is the Hebrew word "anaw" which has a much wider range than just the afflicted.  It means one who is poor, oppressed, afflicted, and humble.  This "afflicted one" is not proud, haughty, self-advancing, or self-assertive when it comes to standing before God.  He is humble.  He puts himself intentionally in a low and meek position.  He does not view himself in comparison to men - either presently or in the past.  He takes a good look at God and does the only wise thing a man can do - he chooses humility.  One Hebrew commentary even suggests the idea of affliction here is that of self-affliction.  He sees who he truly is in the sight of God - and chooses to humble himself in the dust before a God whose glory and majesty dwarfs him in a way that cannot be expressed in human language.    Yet this humbling of himself is what makes him a candidate for God's grace.  God looks at this humilty and desires to bless him.  This is nothing more than the promise in James, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  That is pretty much what the writer is saying to us here.  May God see us remove ourselves from among the scoffers - and align ourselves with every haste to the ones who humble themselves and give God glory!

"How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? Proverbs 1:22

If they only knew . . . this is the way that a lot of statements begin about those who reject Biblical truth and the Biblical world view.  But this statement assumes that the only problem that is present is a lack of information - a lack of education.  Yet today's proverb seems to present a different picture.  There are those who even if educated would persist in their worldview and ignorance.  Could it actually be that there is a deeper problem in the human race than a lack of education?

Three descriptions are given here about how people view their world.  The first is the person who is naive.  According to what is written in this proverb, the naive ones actually love their naivete.  They enjoy their simple-mindedness.  The word used here is "pethi" which means to be naive.  The picture that this paints for us though is of someone who is very open minded.  In fact to them the greatest character trait that you can have is to be as open-minded as possible.  The root for this word means to be wide open and spacious.  It refers to someone whose mind is as wide open as can be - to everything - to every view that is out there.  The only thing this person cannot tolerate is a view that is considered narrow in its focus.  The naive person thinks that everyone would be able to get along - if we would all just accept each others views as equally valid.  This is the case even when the views in question are diametrically opposed to each other.  This is the post-modernist whose most valued idea is tolerance.  They love their open-mindedness so much that they will pretty much gut the real truth of any position so that everyone can have their opinion, be right for themselves, and never a threat to each other. 

The writer asks, "How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?"  The fact is that all views can't get along with each other.  There has to eventually be a right and a wrong.  There are some worldviews that are just flat out wrong.  Look at Mao in China.  To say that his view of communism, which was responsible for the murder of over 50 million people is ludicris!  To say that Hitler's position is equally valid with that of Mother Theresa is insane.  Yet the naive want everyone's view to be equally valid.  They love their naivete so much that they will frontal lobotomize themselves when it comes to thinking to have every view just as valid.  Europe took this view as Hitler rose to power - and each and every step along the way, Hitler took advantage of it to Blitzkrieg his way accross most of northern Europe.  He wouldn't have been stopped except that at some point the naive ones realized that their open-mindedness could not fit him and his views of the world. 

The second group are the scoffers.  These are the ones who scoff and mock at the things of God.  They belittle them as subpar thinking and subpar reasoning.  They don't know how to build up - just tear down.  They love their own scoffing, delighting in it every step of the way.  They see it as a great thing when someone denigrates Christ, the Bible, or the church in some way.  But their scoffing becomes such a lifestyle that they can offer nothing positive in reply.  They only become bitter, self-centered critics who have nothing to offer anyone - except a constant cry to destroy and level anything related to God.

The third group are the fools.  These are the spiritual dullards and dupes who don't want to be bothered by the facts.  According to this passage they hate knowledge.  This word speaks of knowledge, knwoing, learning, discernment, and insight.  They do not want God's wisdom in their lives and will reject it when it is offered. 

Now here is the amazing thing about this passage.  None of these three types can have their lack of wisdom repaired by education alone.  Their problem is not a lack of information.  It is that they don't want the information.  They enjoy their simple-mindedness, their scoffing, and their foolish worldview.  They need something more than just information and knowledge.  They need a change in their heart as a result of a work of God's Spirit in their minds.  How do I know this?  Because of the very next verse in chapter 1.  These three groups are encouraged to "turn to God's reproof.  They will have to see their views as wrong, and be willing to turn from them to God's correction.  They need the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon them where they will then be able to receive the words that are spoken to them.  Their problem is a heart level problem - not just an education level one.  They delight in their views - and reject anything that would threaten them.  Until there is a heart change - there will be no embracing of any kind of educational outreach to them. 

This is actually the view of classic Christianity.  The problem with mankind is not just one of proper education.  We can educate someone for decades and unless there is a heart change wrought by the grace of God, they will continue to reject the truth.  As Romans chapter one puts it, God's wrath is revealed against the unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness.  They want their sin.  They want their foolishness.  They want their unrighteous ways.  No amount of education that leaves their hearts unregenerated will do them any good whatsoever.  There must be repentance and a change initiated and completed by the work of God's Holy Spirit.  If that does not happen - they will simply continue to reject the truth and embrace their unrighteousness - whether it is dressed up as naivete, scoffing, or foolishness.  What we see here is that only the grace of God can take a man and change him from a fool into a wise man.  Oh, that we would pray that God's grace would touch the hearts of men to convert them from darkness to light - and from the foolishness of this world to the wisdom of God.

When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, Turning the wicked to ruin. Proverbs 21:11-12

Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, "Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil."  Punishment is not just for the one who does the evil deed.  Society at large also receives instruction when punishment is handed out for crimes and evil deeds that are done.  Today's proverb helps us understand this.

The scoffer is the first person we see in this proverb.  We see him being punished for something he has done.  It is important to see that while others are instructed and given wisdom from this punishment, the scoffer is not one of them.  A scoffer is incorrigible in his evil.  He mocks God and does not care or concern himself with wisdom.  He himself is the beginning and end of what little wisdom he desires.  When this scoffer eventually breaks laws in his quest to poison society against God, he receives the punishment due for his crime.  It is sad to see though that by the end of this proverb - and even the following verse - the scoffer learns nothing.  He will continue in his scoffing behind bars - living to curse God and in so doing - have a curse upon his own life as he continues in his patterns of self-destruction.

But there is help for others in seeing this fool's punishment.  The naive or simpleton watches and learns wisdom.  This is not the typical word for wisdom here, but is the Hebrew "sakal," which means to be prudent, show discernment, and to be instructed in a way to go.  The naive watch the actions of the scoffer receive their due punishment and consider his end.  As a result they learn not to walk in those ways - if only to avoid the punishment.  The truly wise man though watches and receives real instruction - and as a result receives knowledge as well.  Knowledge is "daath" which means a knowing that gives him practical wisdom and knowledge as to how to walk each day. 

The righteous is the last type of person who watches the punishment of the wicked.  He looks and considers not just this one action that is receiving punishment, but he looks at the entire life of the scoffer.  He considers his entire house (family, business, children, etc.).  The Hebrew here is a little difficult to translate - and here is it rendered "turning the wicked to ruin."  That gives the idea that the righteous man is out to destroy the wicked here.  The Amplified Bible though, gives the best sense of the Hebrew here when it translates this passage, "The [uncompromisingly] righteous man considers well the house of the wicked—how the wicked are cast down to ruin." 

The righteous man can and should work to make sure that the laws of the land reflect the laws of God.  In that way he does work to see the house of the wicked turned to ruin.  That is what is ultimately best for a society.  But what is being communicated here is that what the righteous man does is note that the entire household of the wicked comes to ruin because of his ungodly behavior and his attitude of scoffing at God. 

When we watch the demise of the wicked on television and in the news we need to receive instruction from it.  Our hearts should not be drawn to such stories for the juicy gossip content.  That is the attitude of the world, who learns very little from such things.  We should watch and grieve the destruction from the standpoint of seeing that a lifestyle of arrogant scoffing and derision of God leads to destruction.  We should also receive the instruction that God means for us to receive.  Honoring and glorifying God is the wise man's lifestyle.  As the house of the wicked crashes to the ground we should remember that Jesus Himself taught us that the foundation of a man's house - whether it is founded on obedience to God's Word or not - will be the deciding factor on whether it stands or falls.

A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, He will not go to the wise. Proverbs 15:12

Why is it that even when there is wise and godly counsel available, people do not take advantage of it?  A southern saying that I heard a while back may help us on this situation.  The reason a scoffer does not go to a wise man is the same reason a criminal does not hang out with the police. 

The proverb here tells us that a scoffer does not love someone who corrects or reproves him.  The scoffer is the one who mocks the things of God.  He makes fun of God's commandments and laws - and derides God Himself.  He does this because he does not believe and because in his infinite arrogance he prefers his limited little pea-brain's ability to think - rather than the mind of the infinite God as it is revealed in the pages of Scripture.  But he is not content to just reject the things of God - he scoffs at them - and seeks to get others to reject them as well.  He is the "anti-evangelist" if you will - or at least an evangelist for his own foolish thinking. 

What is fascinating about the scoffer is that we read that he doesn't love anyone who reproves him.  He is filled with pride and arrogance and therefore always thinks that he is right.  In his own mind he is irreproveable - beyond correction.  In this way it is only fitting that the one who thinks there is no God would consider his own wisdom and counsel very god-like.  He is a god unto himself - and resents it when someone would deign to question his omniscience. 

There is a consequence to this arrogant man's rejection of reproof.  As a result of it, he will not go to the wise.  He rejects them - and their much needed counsel.  This is a sad state of affairs because they could greatly use wise counsel.  Thus this arrogant scoffer will remain a law unto himself - an island of self-sought, self-taught, self-exalting wisdom - that is nothing more than foolishness and arrogance disguising itself as sage counsel. 

This is why the wise man needs to embrace and welcome correction and reproof.  Please do not misunderstand me - these things are seldom pleasant when they come.  In fact they can be very difficult to hear as they are spoken to us.  That is why I am grateful that Scripture tells me that discipline is not pleasant, but painful when it arrives.  But I am also counselled in James and in Hebrews that when received it will bear fruit - creating a harvest of righteousness, truth, wisdom, and understanding when I welcome it and learn from it.  Remember that the next time God in His love allows correction and rebuke to come into your life.  Don't be like the scoffing fool who does not love the ones who reprove him.  Be like the godly man who turns his ear to wise and godly rebuke.  It will help open our ear to wisdom itself, and will bless us by turning us from unwise, arrogant, and unprofitable ways.

The eye that mocks a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it. Proverbs 30:17

This proverb is one of those that seems a little harsh when you first read it - especially if you've ever been disrespectful to your parents.  Your average kid might say, "You mean to say that if I scorn my parents, I'm doomed to have scavenger birds peck my eye out and eat it?"  Since we know that not every rebellious child and teenager has had his eyes destroyed by a flock of ravens and eagles - we know that this passage has more to teach us than just a scary warning that probably would not work on kids anyway.  But just what is this proverb trying to show us?

The key comes in understanding why a bird - especially a scavenger would have any interest in an animal's eyes.  You see both of the birds mentioned in this passage are scavengers.  That means that they both eat dead things.  But one practice that ravens have as they approach carrion is that they need to be sure it is dead.  That can mean the difference in having a meal and being one to the raven.  Therefore when a raven suspects an animal to be dead - he goes straight for the eye.  The raven lands near the animal and sees if the animal makes any movements.  Then when the raven detects that things are clear for the most part - he subjects the animal to the ultimate test as to whether it is alive or dead.  He pecks at the animal's eye.  If an animal does not move to protect the eye, it is dead.  As the raven picks out the eye of the animal - it assures him that the animal is dead.  Often early in the meal that follows, a larger predator - which is where the young eagle comes in - will arrive and take over the meal from the raven, who wisely knows when he is outmatched. 

Now, let's take what we've learned from nature - and apply it to what is said in this passage.  When a young person feels his oats enough to begin mocking his own father and mother it is a very dangerous sign.  The reference to the raven and the young eagle is not a direct threat - but rather a reminder.  He is spiritually dead.  This is not so much a threat of future aviary retribution - but of the spiritual reality of where this young man or woman is.  God promises us that the one who honors his mother and father will live long on the earth.  Great blessing is in store for the child who learns about respect, honor, and submission in subjection to his parents.  These are vital lessons to learn if he or she is going to be successful in life - and after life is over.  These come through properly relating to one's parents.  If we don't learn them in the home - we will face learning them out in the world where the cost to learn them is far higher than it is with mom and dad. 

One last thing that we need to note here is that we are not talking about open rebellion here - but the "eye" that mocks father and mother.  This is as much a look as it is an action.  I remember my mother telling me not to look at her in that tone of voice.  It was a little bit of a joke - but not really.  She knew, and so did my father, when my eyes were revealing what was really going on in my heart.  The eyes are the window to the soul - and reveal much of what is truly going on in our hearts.  Thus we need to be careful to not only watch our words concerning our parents, but also the way our eyes function as well.  Quite often we might be obeying in our outward members - but our eyes reveal another story altogether.  Remember then, that when the scavengers come looking for the dead - they come looking for those who are dead in their eyes.  When a wise man seeks to determine whether someone is spiritually alive or dead - he can learn much in how a person treats their parents. 

Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease. Proverbs 22:10

How do you get rid of strife and contention in a group?  That is what God wants us to be instructed in today in Proverbs.  He is about to tell us about the horrific fellow known as the "scoffer."  Wherever this man is - there is trouble and strife about to break loose.  When we learn how to identify and rid ourselves of him and his ilk, we will find that the dishonor and disunity will go away as well.

The word scoffer refers to someone who loves to mock, scorn, deride with great contempt to anyone but himself.  The scoffer loves to express his utter contempt with someone with whom he disagrees.  He knows nothing of positive criticism - he only knows of mocking and seeking to scorn his enemies.  It is not enough for him to merely disagree - he must do it in the most disagreeable way possible!  He knows only how to show complete and absolute contempt toward those he finds in his philosophical crosshairs. 

A wise man knows that mocking his detractors will usually yield him some serious enemies.  Very rarely does this tactic yield converts to his way of thinking.  Heaping a mocking shame and disgrace on others is not a positive way to communicate a message which you desire to use to change someone's mind and thinking.  But that is what the scoffer excells at in life.  As a result when he comes around you will also find contention, strife, and dishonor.  He will use his words to strike up fights among people.  He loves to fight - and loves to accelerate an argument to the point of intense strife.  He also loves to see dishonor come to his opponents.  He cares little what happens to the organization in which he is wreaking his havoc.  He only cares for his own ungodly thoughts and desires.  The more damage he can render to his opponents - the better he sees the outcome of his actions. 

There is one response to such a man - get him out!  Scripture says that we are to "drive out" this kind of man.  Too often we want to try to win him over to our way of thinking.  That is NOT going to happen - because he is un-winnable while he is a scoffer.  The New Testament tells us to reject a factious man after a warning.  We are not to have a three strikes policy with such dangerous men.  Get their contention-stimulating behavior and conversation thrown out of the assembly of God's people.  This man knows nothing about how to walk in unity with others.  He only airs his own opinions and contentious thoughts.  He cares nothing for those of others.  The best thing we can offer him - is the way out.  This may sound hard - but when dealing with a scoffer, you are not dealing with someone who can be won over.  Therefore the best thing to do is to follow the godly advice of Solomon - drive him out!

Scorners set a city aflame, But wise men turn away anger. Proverbs 29:8

As I sit here are write this day's "Little Bit of Wisdom," I am in a local bookstore in front of the political section.  No place is really a better example of our proverb today that this section.  Scorners in America are setting our nation aflame.  Hopefully before our nation bursts into a conflagration of mutually hated political groups - racial groups - and economic groups, we will have wise men rise up who will turn away our anger and propose solutions for our nation - without all the incindiary rhetoric.

The scorner is the one who is causing so much harm in this proverb.  The Hebrew word used here is "lason" and it means a scoffer, a mocker and refers to someone who is foolish, arrogant, and who believes their own bragging talk.  Elsewhere in the Scriptures this one is referred to as a babbler.  Their lack of wisdom from God makes them think that they themselves are god.  Thus they begin to consider themselves infallible on certain matters.  Their lack of any Biblical wisdom also means that they have a worldview that is based out of a fallen, selfish, God-despising heart.  They laugh and scoff at the 10 commandments - and think that life is far better without the Word of God clouding their minds and thinking.  These men come up with philosophies that reject God, exalt man - and that in the end encourage sin and wickedness.  Their scorning talk about God and how life should be - sets the city on fire.  What is meant here is that they inflame the minds of the people against God and His ways.

As history progresses we watch God rejected - and the world set on fire again and again with philosophies that bring destruction to mankind.  Darwin's theory of orgins that rejects God seems innocent enough - but the philosophies that degenerated out of it have caused great destruction.  Adolph Hitler took Darwin's theory seriously and came to believe that the Germanic people were the super-race.  The logical conclusion of Darwinian origins was that survival of the fittest required the destruction of the weaker and less desirable elements of the world so that the next step of evolution could come unhindered.  That kind of "inflamed thinking" led him and the leadership in Germany to systematically murder over 6 million people.  In the African continent we've watched in horror as philosophies and the inflamed rhetoric of national and racist pride have led one tribe and ethnic group to practice an ethnic cleansing of another group which they hate.  The ensuing slaughter that took place in the name of ethnic pride was nothing short of a nightmare.  When men reject God and His Word - bad things happen.  When the hiss of their viper-like philosophies begins to catch the world around them on fire - the end game makes for destruction on a scale that is hard to comprehend. 

Wise men know that such passions are rottenness in men's bones.  Their desire is to be the sons of God who are peacemakers.  They seek to turn away wrath - knowing that these passions when loosed are like pandora's box.  They are difficult, if not impossible to recapture.  All of Europe was set on fire by the twin philosophies of Nazism and Facism.  The world has yet to see the full damage that has resulted from the godless political philosophy of Communism.  Wise men will do all that they can to expose these false philosophies for what they are - the dangerous fires of scoffers who desire to set an entire city - if not an entire country aflame. 

There is an ultimate end to the scorner's tale.  Their will be an eternal fire that will burn the adversaries of God.  The ultimate scorner, Satan himself, has be behind the carnage that is produced by rejecting God and His Word.  He started it all with the question, "Has God said?" in the garden - and has been asking that question to the sons of Adam ever since.  All their wicked philosophies are simply the lie he uttered to Eve when he said, "You will not die!"  He has sought to inflame minds to think that God is withholding something from them when He forbids sin.  Countless billions have listened to his lies - and unfortunately they will be ultimately set afire for eternity in the lake of fire for their rebellion.  But . . . a wise man will turn away wrath.  Mankind deserves the wrath of God that will come for their rebellion.  But the Lord God has provided a way of salvation in Jesus Christ.  He has poured out wrath on His only begotten Son - having Him bear the wrath and punishment on the cross.  He died, was buried, and resurrected on the third day - all according to God's wise plan to turn away wrath.  Now, truly wise man take the good news of that truth - of that infinite mercy - and proclaim a provision of grace to rebels.  These wise men - as they watch the Spirit of God convict men of their sin - show them Jesus Christ - and grant them repentance and faith - turn away wrath one person at a time.  May God increase their number among mankind - and may the flames of the scorners be put out in the minds of those who are granted that His glorious grace that comes through Jesus Christ His Son.