“Wisdom does not wait for an audience to come to her; she has a mission both in the home and in public. The setting of Proverbs 1 is in the streets, the “out of doors”, the marketplace. Wisdom cries ALOUD. Her podium is the most prominent place at the hub of the city, where she speaks with full lungs and a clear voice above the din and bustle of daily life.
‘Lady wisdom is no gentle persuader.’ She shouts, pleads, scolds, reasons, threatens, warns, and even laughs. Pulpit bashing and hell-fire preaching if ever there were! All quite unlady-like.’ On the highest walls--the most advantageous points to be seen and heard--she calls out with a clear voice to make her proclamation heard far and wide. She begins her sermon with an urgent appeal to the gullible (‘the scoffers’) to stop rejecting her, and to respond to the stern rebuke she is about to give lest they be thrown to the dogs inside the city. In Proverbs 1:22 she shouts…“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?”
Her question vents her exasperation at the apparently hopeless, yet urgent situation. These youths in her audience have crossed the threshold of the age of accountability. They should have already made a decisive commitment to wisdom before now. Instead, they love being simple. They delight in their scoffing. Lady Wisdom lumps the gullible together with fools and mockers, warning them against a progressive hardening. In Proverbs 1:24 she says… Because I have called and you refused to listen. I have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded. I also will laugh at your calamity and mock when terror strikes you.’”

The Responses…

1. Faith
2. Scoffing

“Wisdom does not wait for an audience to come to her; she has a mission both in the home and in public. The setting of Proverbs 1 is in the streets, the “out of doors”, the marketplace. Wisdom cries ALOUD. Her podium is the most prominent place at the hub of the city, where she speaks with full lungs and a clear voice above the din and bustle of daily life…

2. The Rhoda Lesson
(When praying seriously, expect God to respond)

3. The Scoffers Lesson
(When confronted by the offer of Jesus, respond in faith)

“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without heart.”
-John Bunyan (1628-1688)

Practical Lessons

1.The Barnabas Lesson
(When facing a ministry opportunity, don’t go it alone)

Reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; (Proverbs 9:8)

A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. (Proverbs 13:1)

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, (Proverbs 14:6)

“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride. (Proverbs 21:24)

The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind. (Proverbs 24:9)

“Every person will have to decide for themself whether or not they can afford the terrible luxury of unbelief”
-A.W. Tozer (1897-1963)

“In all unbelief there are these two things: a good opinion of one's self and a bad opinion of God.”
-Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

“If Jesus Christ were to come today, people would not even crucify him. They would ask him to dinner, and hear what he had to say, and then make fun of it.”
-Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

“It is ironical that the group… praying fervently and persistently for Peter’s deliverance should regard as crazy the person who informed them that their prayers had been answered!”
-Dr. John Stott