Today’s Blog: Roll back the scroll!
TODAY’S PROVERB: . . .I in turn will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when dread comes on you . . . Proverbs 1:26, TLV
It’s time! Time to roll back the Proverbs scroll and begin again. Each month we return to chapter one. We do this because the Holy Spirit will always give us: new insights, deeper insights, and reminders of wisdom we have forgotten.
I love the little peeks into the New Covenant people that they did this as well. Like Timothy and his mother and grandmother.
“You, however, continue in what you have learned and what you have become convinced of. For you know from whom you have learned, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to make you wise, leading to salvation through trusting in Messiah Yeshua. All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness, so that the person belonging to God may be capable, fully equipped for every good deed.”
PAUL, 2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17, TLV
Which is why I wanted to preface this blog with the continuity of Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. Because, this verse is a rough one, right? Wisdom will mock souls when calamity comes on them? Scary.
Why is Wisdom doing that? Which souls is Wisdom mocking? In the previous verses, Wisdom explains:
“You are repulsed at my rebuke.
WISDOM, PROVERBS 1:23-25, TLV
Behold, I pour out my heart to you.
I will make my words known to you.
Because you refused when I called,
and did not pay attention when I stretched out my hand,
since you ignore all my advice
and would not accept my rebuke . . .
It’s just the Old Testament, right?
At first glance, we may simply explain away this almost cruel response as, “Well, this is the Old Testament. The New Testament is all about grace.”
Before we make that mistake, we need to understand context — especially within the New Covenant.
We need to remember that there were those moments when our loving Heavenly Father, and even our Messiah Jesus essentially said, Enough already. I am not messing with you anymore. From the fig tree without fruit, to the money changers in the Temple, to Ananias and Sapphira, to most of the book of Revelation, there will be moments when a person reaches the last chance.
As believers and followers of Jesus, our salvation does not rest in our works and perfect decisions. We are covered by the blood atonement of Yeshua. But, don’t we still need to try to do the right thing? Is His love and law truly written in our hearts (Jeremiah 31:32)?
But, this proverb and those events throughout Scripture where judgments happen, are for those who are repulsed by GOD’s calling, or rebuke, or warning, or love.
So what does that mean to us? This verse should move us to compassion for those who could experience the ultimate judgment — an eternity without the presence of GOD. Pray. Speak truth. Be a hand of love and kindness to represent the love and kindness of our Father. It’s a reminder that there may be people in our lives who are on that road.
Maybe we’ve been praying a long time for them. A long time. Let this be a reminder: Don’t give up. Press in. Whatever the Holy Spirit impresses on us to do, do it. Just do it. And that’s no laughing matter.
May we press in, my friends.
Proverbs 1:26 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs
