Proverbs 1 Revisited - How Many Spankings Are Required?

[1Timothy115]

Proverbs 1:20-33

20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

 

I don’t believe God is agreeable with all the immorality we see in America’s streets today. America’s leaders and people long ago turned their back to God’s instruction, hating his truth, and even having contempt for his name.

 

So, leaders and the people are blind to God’s presence and have no understanding of his truths in the Bible. While America pushes at the boundaries of God’s tolerance, calamity and desolation are present in all facets of endeavor, and destruction appears to loom on our horizon.

 

The question which should come to mind is, has America gone too far? God’s ultimate transaction is between each individual and Jesus Christ but, he is also deeply engaged in the affairs of nations. America cannot see God’s presence or understand his instruction without receiving Jesus Christ; so, men miss his effort to correct their error. God is consistent and unchanging.

 

When nations deviate from God’s will, it’s comparable to sticking a hand outside the widow of a moving car; there is a noticeable resistance (reproof). To directly oppose God, might be compared to walking into an approaching hurricane; that nation will be blown away. God is always going in one direction.

 

Because America is pushing toward direct opposition, God is permitting America to pursue her own ways. The government of men by men is controlling the affairs of the people. More opposition to God and blatant disregard for his truth with increased immorality is the result. Fear is rampant in every direction America turns both inward and outward.

 

God’s own people have the answer but, they allow their voice to be silenced. They are allowing God’s truth to be trampled under foot and permitting the vile nature of man to win the day. God provided the answer for any nation to come back on course. This requires God’s people to take voice and become actively involved in the affairs of the nation.

 

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

 

Humble yourself before God not the ungodly; praying, seeking God, and making your voice echo God’s righteousness. Renounce wickedness with every opportunity and turn from it yourself.