Turn at my rebuke. Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Prov 1:23
What a wonderful promise from the Lord.
Who would not want God’s Spirit poured upon them; to feel His sweet presence in all that we do, not just at church but at work, at school, at a ball game, in Wal-Mart; anywhere you are.
And who would not want to understand the Word of God; to have scripture jump out at you with feeling and passion. To be able to discern God’s will for your everyday life.
But to feel God’s Spirit poured out and to understand His word comes with a price, turn at my rebuke, or repent when I speak to you.
I think our nation has turned her back on God; that we have sold ourselves out to the heathen nations.
The church has the knowledge to turn the nation and world around, but does not speak up or has too few voices shouting, “Repent!”
Very few want to pay the price of repentance but would rather continue to live in sin.
Now, this next scripture is a continuation of our beginning verse.
Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer, they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them and the complacency of fools will destroy them. Prov 1:24-32
Strong words!
And they aren’t my words, they’re God’s words. He said it.
To read it seems to give us little hope of surviving but that’s not the nature of our loving God.
So if we finish this verse we see the hope that is set before all of us. Take it for what it’s worth.
But whoever listens to me will dwell safely and will be secure, without fear of evil. Prov 1:33
Repent; listen to God and dwell safely and without fear!
It’s not too late!