Proverbs 14:6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. 7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. 9 Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.
These verses give a number of insights about two different kinds of people… two different hearts. Solomon shows us the contrasts between the knowledge that comes from God and the arrogance of the foolish person…
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, ...
Why can’t the scoffer find wisdom? I suppose it is because he never admits he’s wrong about anything....
Then the last part of this verse; for a man of understanding… a man who knows he is broken and lacking. ... it’s an easy thing to seek godly knowledge... he hungers for it...
7 Leave the presence of a fool,...
This one is pretty clear… the understanding person sees how a foolish person doesn't have good council to give and neither are they open to it.
You know we become like those that we choose to and enjoy fellowship with. So we leave off from their companionship.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, ...
The prudent person is wise in that he discerns his own way... he sees his brokenness and need... he does not seek out fellowship with the foolish.
9 Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.
The guilt offering that the Jewish people gave to the Lord in Solomon’s day was a lamb without blemishes. It pointed to the promised Messiah...
Leviticus 5:17 “If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible. 18 They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven. 19 It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of wrongdoing against the Lord.”
When God opened the eyes of people to realize they were sinners… for example they now see how years before they had treated someone without love and were to offer an unblemished lamb as a guilt offering to the Lord.
John the Baptist said this: John 1:29: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Some people thought this the guilt offering was a foolish practice... but it pointed to the one who offered the only hope for the sins of mankind…
We see a lot of people today that mock believers saying believing in Jesus has always been for weak people. They are right!
We are utter weaklings in that we are pushovers for sin.
... Well, the father of lies, satan himself who first tempted Eve… he has made us slaves to sin. We are weaklings to the furthest extent.
The good news is that as Romans 5:6 says: For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Why is that awesome? The guilt offering has been paid!!! Jesus the Lamb Of God who never sinned and is without spot or blemish freely laid down his life on the Cross and was paid the wages of our sin. God imputes his righteousness to all who look to him in faith… to all who with joy turn away from delight in sin to delight in him. Thats our initial repentance. We, who once treasured various promises of sin as we sought after the next possibility for satisfaction… Now God has given us eyes to see Jesus as the greatest treasure worth leaving all to follow the rest of our life. As believers, God gives us the same power that raised up Jesus from the grave to live victorious lives over sin. And so we live lives in circles of repentance as we grow in Christ the rest of our lives. When we fall we humbly look back to the offering of Jesus on the Cross who has already paid the wages of our sin. In joy we take up our cross and follow him.
