"He who reproves a scorner
gets to himself shame; and he who rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love
you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just
man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy is
understanding. For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your
life shall be increased. If you be wise, you shall be wise for yourself; but if
you scorn, you alone shall bear it" (Prov. 9:7-12).
Here we are warned against
meddling with the scorner. To correct such is vain; they willingly put shame
upon you. Let them alone, said the Lord to the disciples (Matt. 15:14). You may
only gain a blot in reproving a wicked person. They have a deeper need—to be
born again. Where no life is, hatred is the result. There is no wisdom in
reproving a scorner, any more than in giving that which is holy to the dogs or
in casting your pearls before the swine. The upshot may be that they will
trample the misdirected word under their feet, and turn and rend you.
Correction and reproof are for
those who have an ear to hear, that they walk not inconsistently with their
profession. Hence we are told here to "reprove a wise man, and he will
love you." A wise man may not always pursue the path of wisdom; he may
need reproof. A fool is one who never hears though always ready to find fault.
A wise man listens and weighs; when he recognizes what is of God, he will love
you.
Another thing that distinguishes
wisdom is the appreciation of what is good and helpful. Egotism is necessarily
unwise and evil, because man is sinful and God is unknown and untrusted. It is
self-satisfied and refuses to learn, having no distrust of its own dark,
selfish, and sinful state. On the other hand, "Impart to a wise man, and
he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase learning."
It is not the great that are wise, nor does age of itself understand judgment.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from
the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning" (Jas. 1:17). Dependence on God is our only right attitude
habitually, and this includes our hearing from one another that which approves
itself to our conscience as His truth. It is well to remember that we are
members of one another, and He despises not any, let him be ever so
lowly. But He hates the proud and will punish the scorner.
The secret of it all is plain.
"The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding."
Creature intelligence is of no value for the soul, for eternity, for
relationship with God. It begins, and must begin, with fearing Him, the True
and the Good, the Righteous and the Holy. There is repentance no less than
faith, and therefore trembling at His Word; this is the direct opposite of
judging God’s Word and trusting in self, justifying ourselves instead of God.
Growth belongs to life in our present condition, and growth is by the right
knowledge of God who has communicated it in His Word for this purpose.
"The knowledge of the Holy" should read "the knowledge of the
Holy Ones."
"For by me your days shall be
multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased." The pious Jew
addressed here looked for long life here below through divine favor. When
divine principles have their just and unimpeded result, every word will be
fulfilled, as when Christ reigns over all the earth. We Christians have a far
different calling now and look for a higher glory. Nevertheless we can say and
do believe that piety is profitable for everything, having promise of life, of
the present one, and of that to come.
It remains true also that "if
you be wise, you shall be wise for yourself; but if you scorn, you alone shall
bear it." God remains in changeless majesty; but in His righteous
judgment, each shall bear his own burden, and reap as he sows, from the flesh
corruption, and from the Spirit life everlasting.
(From "The Proverbs" in The
Bible Treasury, Vol. N3.)