Proverbs 19:24-29 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 19:25-29, which read,

v.25 - Strike the scoffer and the naive may become shrewd, but reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.

Three types of people are mentioned in this proverb.  The first is the scoffer who is someone who is not following after God and knows it and is suffering the consequences of not doing so.  He is being struck for the foolishness of his life.  

The striking of the scoffer and the reprove of the one who has understanding gets the attention of the second type, the naive. The naive is someone who is at a formative stage to go the foolish route or the wise route.  They are taking in what they hear and see and need direction to respond.  

The third is the one who has understanding as someone who is following after God.  Those who are wise also need to be reproved.  The effect on the naive will be either to be shrewd or gain knowledge.  If they are focused on the foolish they may devise plans to not get caught in their foolishness.  If they are focused on the wise they will learn a lesson to continue to submit to God's will.  One is a "may" action if looking at the scoffer's life and one is a "will" action if looking at the one who has understanding life. 

v.26, 27 - He who assaults his father and drives his mother away is a shameful and disgraceful son.  Cease listening, my son, to discipline, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Solomon gives us the actions of the scoffer or the fool that the naive is observing.  One practice is to not care for those who have cared for them.  The son is driving out his parents when they are now in need of him.  He has received something from them but is not willing to give back.  He is showing ungratefulness in his actions.  

Where did this ungratefulness come from?  He stopped listening to the discipline of his parents.  Words of knowledge were being given to him but rather than taking it in, the fool stuffed his ears with other talk.  He ends up shameful and a disgrace.  He is wandering with no direction but not because he wasn't given it from those who love him.  

To the naive, look at how someone is treating his or her parents.  How are they providing for those who have provided for them?  What is their response to the wisdom given of those superior to them?  

v.28 - A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice, and the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.

The foolish will also try to scam the system.  They will speak ill of what is in place to govern us and provide justice that we as a society needs.  They will add to the problem rather than seek to solve the problem.  There will always be things wrong in our society but by committing another wrong will never make it right or excuse the wrong you are committing.  One wrong done by another is not license that you can do wrong too.  We have seen lately how this proverb has played out in different parts of our country when we have allowed our foolishness to respond with disorder instead of maintaining order.  

v.29 - Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and blows for the back of fools.  

This kind of action will not go unpunished.  Justice will prevail.  It might not be as immediate as we would want it to be or maybe we will not see it in our life time but the Bible says it is coming.  Those who think they are getting away with not following after God will receive what they deserve.  God does not veer from this dialogue of judgment in the Bible from the beginning to the end.

I think my take away point this morning is that the naive are watching.  What are they seeing?  Are they seeing us being reproved who are doing our best to follow after God but falter at times or are they seeing us getting struck because we have abandoned God's ways?  Are they seeing a respect for authority or are they seeing us mocking them?  Are they seeing a truthful witness or are they seeing a "what's in the best interest of me" witness?  What are the naive coming away with, that they may become shrewd or that they will gain knowledge?  Let us pray.

"Lord our actions bring about reactions.  Those reactions to our actions can either honor You or dishonor You.  We are being watched by some that we know and some that we don't.  May we see the bigger witness that we have today.  May we see the impact that You have allowed us to have and provide those naive with good material to work with even when we need to be reproved.  May their eyes focus on those who are wise and not the foolish.  Amen."

Pastor Adam