Pr. 9: Rebuke the Wise

Proverbs 9:10 "Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you."

Like a dinner party host, wisdom in her perfection invites all to come; the simple, those who lack judgment. They are invited to partake of wisdom's food: life and understanding.

She seeks to instruct the wise, those who would listen. To correct mockers, people with no interest in wisdom invites insult. Mockers are people who have it all figured out in their own mind. They have no need for instruction, and will fall victim to folly, suffering and death. I hope I am not a mocker. I hope I have the sense to realize I need instruction (this blog being surface evidence). I want to be wiser still (v. 9). That comes through fear of God at the beginning.

The woman Folly is the opposite, undisciplined, unknowing. She invites people to drink stolen water, and eat food in secret. But inside her house is not the lavish banquet and riches. Rather, death.

Ps. 74: We're Still Your People

Psalm 74:12 "But you, O God, are my king from of old; you bring salvation upon the earth."

Asaph continues his plea to God. It's sort of a re-centering saying, "You're still our God, we're still your people." He recounts the way God saved them from their enemies, presumably the Philistines, and how they have nothing left, no prophets, no place to worship, and no real hope.  

Asaph paints a bleak picture of a people who have turned away from God and who now realize that their salvation and success is only from God, who has turned away, who has lifted his hand of protection, allowing their destruction. God, the ultimate power, and the dominion over creation is the only one who can restore Israel, and who can put a stop to the mockery of his name.

But who is really doing the mocking?

Ps. 71: No Cause for Shame

Psalm 71:20 "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up."

David never wants to be ashamed of coming before God. Though he be mocked for it, God is his source of strength and hope, and therefore, David has no reason to be ashamed. He has been delivered and provided for in so many ways. These are the reasons David continues to pray.

Another striking attribute of David is that he wants to continue to be useful to God when he is old and gray. He doesn't want to pass on until he at least gets the chance to proclaim what God has done for him to the next generation. And God has done so much for him. David realizes the gravity in his testimony. He has faced so much opposition and antagonism. He wasn't the purest man or the nicest guy around, but his walk with God was constantly in a state of renewal and restoration whenever he screwed up. He didn't walk away from God ever. And God never abandoned him.

He will continue to walk on even though those around him don't understand his faith. Even though they talk amongst themselves in scorn, thinking he is crazy or stupid for it. He knows its real.

Ps. 69: Deliverance

Psalm 69:29 "I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me."

I couldn't really say it better. The 69th Psalm is yet another in a litany of Psalms requested deliverance. Being subject to attacks by enemies and mockers is painful. Here, it is compared to drowning. It's scary to be in water and barely being able to keep your face above it. A slight error in judgement leads to death. And you can't breathe underwater. Those who hate and mock are compared to deep waters. And deep waters are scary and mysterious. Man was not created to live in deep waters. Man was created to have both feet on dry soil.

The Psalmist also describes being mocked for dressing in sackcloth, and for his devotion to his faith. Ain't that the truth. Even back a million years ago, devotion to God was made the subject of fun. What better way to mock someone than to give them vinegar to drink when they are thirsty. Vinegar doesn't quench thirst, as I recall. It's bitter, and gross and smelly. What a horrible thing to do to someone.

In spite of this pain, and fear and mocking, David (I assume it's David writing) still trusts God and encourages others to praise God. And I think to myself, "If I am complaining about the nonsense that befalls me in my life, would I have the attitude of exhorting my peeps to praise God?" Probably not. Most likely I would be Captain Bringdown.

Ps. 43: Gonna Praise Anyway

Psalm 43:4 "Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God."

Another brief little Psalm, this sort of continues the thoughts of Psalm 42. While people are mocking him, and waiting for him to fall, the Psalmist says, "Hey, bring me to the altar, and even though God may be silent and distant, and you're mocking me, I'm still going to praise him." Because David (presumably) is guided by God's light and truth, not public opinion. He wears no mask for anyone. While its still agonizing, David continues to praise God, repeating his words from Psalm 42.

Ps. 42: Without God

Psalm 42:11 "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

The language changes here in the 42nd Psalm. Apparently it is a new book, as the first of five books of Psalms ended at 41 chapters. Anyway, this Psalm is a bit more obtuse and poetic. David didn't exactly concern himself with flowery prose in his writings earlier on. Still, the writer paints a pretty clear picture of the agony a person can have when God is not near to him. It doesn't really say if this separation is a result of sin, or just the silence of God. All we know for sure is that this writer is hurting and missing God, is taking flack personally from haters, but still trusts in God to be his vindication.

I suppose we can see what God is, by reading the language. When I see "As the deer pants for water..." I could conclude that God's presence is like a fresh drink of water to one who pants...one who is tired and thirsty. God is that water for thirsty souls. When no water is around, one's tears are the sustenance. Weird. I mean, I guess it sounds weird to me, because I've never felt that God is so far away from me, or has deserted me to the point where I would cry out in anguish. That's not to say I've not been in those situations, but sometimes I can be so coldly logical that I just assume that God is taking a break from ol' Jon, and will get back to me whenever.

Has this person always been without God? No, in fact, he has apparently led processions proclaiming how great God is, in front of lots and lots of people. Now these people are mockers. "Where's your God now?" they must be saying. Laughing at him. Here was this God fanatic, and now his God is nowhere to be found. Haven't we always wanted to see someone all high and mighty, and hoity-toity get his comeuppance? We like to laugh when Godboy falls on his face, like when Flanders didn't get a strike while bowling, and Homer laughed at him.

It's encouraging to see that last verse...there is no need to be disturbed...praise the savior.