“SCORN!”

“He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.” (Proverbs 9:7)  Forsake the foolish, and live: and go in the way of understanding. (Proverbs 9:6) 

PRE-AMBLE by Robert

In the opening, I would like to post the Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s complete definition of Scorn. 

Full Definition

• 1: open dislike and disrespect or derision often mixed with indignation
• 2: an expression of contempt or derision
• 3: an object of extreme disdain, contempt, or derision: something contemptible

I believe this information reveals a deeper understanding of how to deal with those who do not have spiritual wisdom as described in 1Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

As we progress into the article, The Holy Spirit will expose several situations we need to be aware of, so we do not frustrate the Lord. Reference to King Solomon’s wisdom through Matthew Henry’s Commentary supplies a number of cautions and pearls of wisdom. “We have heard what Christ has to say, to engage our affections to God and godliness. And one would think the whole world should go after him but here we are told how industrious the tempter is to seduce unwary souls into the paths of sin, and with the most, he gains his point, and Wisdom’s courtship is not effectual.“

Commentary of  C. I. Scofield (1843 – 1921) identifies the enemies workings and how it is presented through an analogy: “Who is the tempter–a foolish woman, Folly herself, in opposition to Wisdom. Carnal, sensual pleasure I take to be especially meant by this foolish woman (Proverbs 9:13) for that is the great enemy to virtue and inlet to vice that defiles and debauches the mind, stupefies conscience, and puts out the sparks of conviction, more than anything else. This tempter is here described to be, 1. Very ignorant: She is simple and knows nothing, that is, she has no sufficient solid reason to offer where she gets dominion in a soul she works out all the knowledge of holy things they are lost and forgotten. Whoredom, and wine, and new wine take away the heart of the best men and make fools of them (2) Very importunate. The less she has to offer that is rational, the more violent and pressing she is and carries the day often by dint of impudence. She is clamorous and noisy (Proverbs 9:13), continually haunting young people with her enticements.” 

OPENING PRAYER by Robert

Father in heaven, as a humble servant I place before your throne this petition to break the bonds of error from the minds of those in the darkness shrouding our world. I petition Lord, for the breaking and removal of the blinders from their eyes so they may see your truth. Lift them out of the darkness, so they realize they are journeying to the pit of eternal damnation. Father fill your flock with wisdom and determination so they might sharpen their two-edged swords. Bring us spiritual strength that we might go forward as warriors in your name. All this I pray in the name of Yeshua, Amen and, Amen.

OPENING STATEMENT by Robert

Commentary of  C. I. Scofield (1843 – 1921) on Proverbs 9:6-7 : “The bitter words of a scorner can make wisdom appear foolish, and cover virtue with a confusion which should belong only to vice “Speak not in the hearing of a fool; for he will despise the wisdom of thy words” [Proverbs 23:9] Indeed, there is no character so hopeless as that of the scorner; there proceeds from him, as it were, a fierce blast, which blows away all the approaches which goodness makes to him. Reproof cannot come near him; [Proverbs 13:1] he cannot find wisdom, though he sought it; [Proverbs 14:6]. And as a matter of fact, he never seeks it [Proverbs. 15:12]. If one attempts to punish him, it can only be with the hope that others may benefit from the example. It will have no effect upon him [Proverbs 19:25] To be rid of him must be the desire of every wise man. For he is an abomination to all, [Proverbs 24:9]. And with his departure, contention disappears [Proverbs 22:10]. They that scoff at things holy, and scorn the Divine Power, must be left to themselves until the beginnings of wisdom appear in them-the first sense of fear that there is a God who may not be mocked, the first recognition that there is sanctity which they would do well at all events to reverence. There must be a little wisdom in the heart before a man can enter the Palace of Wisdom; there must be a humbling, a self-mistrust, a diffident misgiving before the scorner will give heed to her invitation.“

Commentary of  C. I. Scofield (1843 – 1921) continues. “He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame. He who tries to correct a scorner (see on Proverbs 1:22 and Proverbs 3:34), one who derides religion, loses his pains and meets with ribald mockery and insult. It is not the fault of messengers or message that this should be, but the hardness of heart and the pride of the hearer make him despise the teaching and hate the teacher (Matthew 24:9). He that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot; rather, he that reproveth a sinner, it is his blot. Such proceeding results in disgrace to himself. This is not said to discourage the virtuous from reproving transgressors but states the effect which experience proves to occur in such cases. Prudence, caution, and tact are needed in dealing with these characters. Evil men regard the reprover as a personal enemy, and treat him with contempt, and hence arise unseemly bickerings and disputes, injurious words and deeds. To have wasted teaching on such unreceptive and antagonistic natures is a shameful expenditure of power. St. Gregory thus explains this matter: “It generally happens that when they cannot defend the evils that are reproved in them, they are rendered worse from a feeling of shame, and carry themselves so high in their defence of themselves, that they take out bad points to urge against the life of the reprover, and so they do not account themselves guilty, if they fasten guilty deeds upon the heads of others also. And when they are unable to find true ones, they feign them, that they may also themselves have things they may seem to rebuke with no inferior degree of justice.”

Proverbs 9:8

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hates thee (Proverbs 15:12). There are times when reproof only hardens and exasperates. “It is not proper,” “for the good man to fear lest the scorner should utter abuse at him when he is reprimanded, but lest, being drawn into hatred, he should be made worse.” “Bad men sometimes we spare, and not ourselves if from the love of those we cease from the rebuking of them. Whence it is needful that we sometimes endure keeping to ourselves what they are, so that they may learn in us by our good living what they are not” (ibid; 20:47, Oxford transl.). Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. So Psalms 141:5, “Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me, it shall be as oil upon the head; let not my head refuse it” (comp. Proverbs 19:25; Proverbs 25:12; 

Matthew Henry’s comments add even more understanding: “Who are the tempted–young people who have been well educated these she will triumph most in being the ruin of. Observe, 1. What their real character is they are passengers that go right on their ways (Proverbs 9:15), that have been trained up in the paths of religion and virtue and set out very hopefully and well, that seemed determined and designed for good, and are not (as that young man, Proverbs 7:8) going the way to her house. Such as these she has a design upon, and lays snares for, and uses all her arts, all her charms, to pervert them if they go right on, and will not look towards her, she will call after them, so urgent are these temptations (2) How she represents them. She calls them simple and wanting to understand, and therefore courts them to her school, that they may be cured of the restraints and formalities of their religion.“

“This is the method of the stage (which is too close an exposition of this paragraph), where the sober young man that has been virtuously educated is the fool in the play, and the plot is to make him seven times more a child of hell than his profane companions, under colour of polishing and refining him, and setting him up for a wit and a beau. What is justly charged upon sin and impiety (Proverbs 9:4), that it is folly, is here very unjustly retorted upon the ways of virtue but the day will declare who are the fools.“

“How diligent the tempter is, to seduce unwary souls into sin! Carnal, sensual pleasure, stupifies conscience and puts out the sparks of conviction. This tempter has no solid reason to offer; and where she gets dominion in a soul, all knowledge of holy things is lost and forgotten. She is very violent and pressing. We need to seek and pray for true wisdom, for Satan has many ways to withdraw our souls from Christ. Not only worldly lusts and abandoned seducers prove fatal to the souls of men; but false teachers, with doctrines that flatter pride and give liberty to lusts, destroy thousands. They especially draw off such as have received only partial serious impressions. The depths of Satan are depths of hell; and sin, without remorse, is a ruin, ruin without remedy. Solomon shows the hook; those that believe him, will not meddle with the bait. Behold the wretched, empty, unsatisfying, deceitful, and stolen pleasure sin proposes; and may our souls be so desirous of the everlasting enjoyment of Christ, that on earth we may live to him, daily, by faith, and ere long be with him in glory.“

CLOSING STATEMENT by Robert  

The following is guidance garnered from Matthew Henry’s comments: “Christ has prepared ordinances to which his people are admitted, and by which nourishment is given here to those that believe in him, as well as mansions in heaven hereafter. The ministers of the gospel go forth to invite the guests. The call is general and shuts out none that do not shut out themselves. Our Saviour came, not to call the righteous, but sinners; not the wise in their own eyes, who say they see. We must keep from the company and foolish pleasures of the ungodly, or we never can enjoy the comforts of a holy life. It is vain to seek the company of wicked men in the hope of doing them good; we are far more likely to be corrupted by them. It is not enough to forsake the foolish, we must join those that walk in wisdom. There is no true wisdom but in the way of religion, no true life but at the end of that way. Here is the happiness of those that embrace it. A man cannot be profitable to God; it is for our own good. Observe the shame and ruin of those who slight it. God is not the Author of sin: and Satan can only tempt, he cannot force. Thou shalt bear the loss of that which thou scornest: it will add to thy condemnation.

CLOSING PRAYER by Robert 

 Father in heaven, as a humble servant I place before your throne this petition to break the bonds of error from the minds of those in the darkness shrouding our world. I petition Lord, for the breaking and removal of the blinders from their eyes so they may see your truth. Lift them out the darkness, so they realize they are journeying to the pit of eternal damnation. Father fill your flock with wisdom and determination so they might sharpen their two-edged swords. Bring us spiritual strength that we might go forward as warriors in your name. All this I pray in the name of Yeshua, Amen and, Amen. 

Remember, these messages are given by a humble servant obedient unto our Lord Yeshua as a Watchman. This I pray for all. ”Our Heavenly Father brings us to the river which bringeth forth fruit so we may partake of its sustenance and be filled spiritually with nurturing wisdom, and humble dedication in service to Yeshua. “Blessings to All.”  As you go forward in peace, knowledge, and strength 

Robert