Wisdom Wednesday: Fools Hate The Knowledge of God
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.”
-Proverbs 1:22 NKJV
In this passage, Solomon is providing instruction to a young person on living life. His emphasis is on the important need to listen to instruction and learn wisdom and knowledge of God.
The first chapter introduces a sequence of exhortations:
- The purpose of the Proverbs collection is to know wisdom and instruction by understanding instruction. (1:1-24.)
- A wise and understanding person will listen and learn (1: 5-6.)
- The fear or reverence of the Lord is the beginning of gaining wisdom (1:7.)
- Listen to the instruction of your parents. But watch out for sinners that will entice you! They will ultimately take your life away from you. (1:8-19)
Then, in verses 20 and 21, Solomon personifies wisdom as a woman calling out to youth in the public squares, at the top of the walls, and the gates. In verse 22, she cries out: “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.”
She distinguishes three personalities who reject the instruction.
- Simple, naïve, or untaught youth (Hebrew peṯî)–these youth are wayward (1:32), believe everything (14:15), do not hide from evil (22:3; 27:12). They remain naïve because they do not learn.
- Scorners or scoffers—These are the youth that actively reject the instruction or appeal to wisdom. They are the same scorners that are mentioned in Psalm 1:1; we are not to sit (live) where these scorners are gathered.
- Fools–These youth have said in their heart that God does not exist. “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God. They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.” (Psalm 14:1). Going beyond rejecting and scorning instruction, these youth make the judgment to reject God and His authority. These are wicked young people.
In the next verse, to these three, Wisdom appeals. “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. (Proverbs 1:23)
This is the grace of God to those who turn (respond) to reproof (repent, turn around), and God will provide His spirit to provide an understanding of His word.
If God, as Wisdom, appeals to these three personalities, so should we. We can all identify simple, scorner and foolish personalities around us. Let us appeal to them to turn and accept His Spirit, Who will instruct them in the way of wisdom.