The Scoffer
Proverbs 9:7-12
Let’s return to our imagery from last week. You are out in the cold about to perish when you come across a cabin in the woods. A fire inside is blazing, and food is cooking. The host has invited you in to warm up, eat, and find refuge there. What a relief.
But, before you go in, you hear the sound of wolves in the darkness. You wonder if they too are cold and hungry and wouldn’t also like to come in and dine. So rather than going into safety you follow the howls of the wolves deep into the darkness. Your intent is good, you feel sorry for the wolves out there in the cold. But you seem to lack one critical piece of knowledge you should know if you’re going to survive in the wilderness—they’re wolves! Not only will they not join you at the table with lady wisdom, they will turn on you and devour you. Sadly, lady wisdom would’ve warned you about the danger of the wolves if you had just gone in and dined with her.
One of the primary wolves in the Proverbs is the scoffer. He is a bad dude. He is considered to be one of the fools in Proverbs. Like the know-it-all fool, the scoffer is not teachable. He arrogantly believes he already knows everything. But where he differs from the know-it-all fool, the scoffer not only doesn’t want to hear what lady wisdom has to say, he doesn’t want anyone else to hear her either. He is filled with anger and bitterness. He is driven by a need to mock and attack anyone who sits down to dine with lady wisdom. For the scoffer, bitterness is a way of life and he’s determined to make sure everyone is as miserable as he.
So what do you do with a scoffer? It may sound right to go out into the night to invite the wolves to come in, but that’s not going to end well. He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you.
It’s tempting to think that standing up for God means we must correct everyone who states something you disagree with. We argue about this and correct that. This may be done over the back fence, in the hallway at school, in the office, or on social media. But here’s a newsflash: They’re not listening. The scoffer isn’t teachable. As a result, we get attacked. The ugly mud gets splashed on us. We feel dishonored or devalued. We get drawn into unproductive conversations that only serve to damage our witness. That’s why lady wisdom says, “Don’t do it.”
It's easy to fool ourselves into thinking we’re really doing a great work for God by putting the wolves in their place. “So there!” The truth is all too often we’re just venting. We’re adding to the breakdown of shalom with all the anger and fighting. The Gospel doesn’t come off as good news when it’s delivered in anger.
Contrary to the scoffer is the wise man. Reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. One requirement for skillful living is discerning the difference between those who are open to listening and learning, and those who are scoffers.
This difference is not insignificant. It’s not just about who will listen and who won’t. It’s about guarding our witness. Mix it up with a scoffer and you’re likely to either get caught up in the mudslinging or be dishonored by an unfair but avoidable attack by a vicious wolf.
One other consideration, we can spend a lot of time arguing with people who don’t want to hear it and miss opportunities to help those who would gladly listen. If some don’t want to come in out of the cold, you can’t force them. But there will always be those whom God has prepared and are more than ready to come in and dine at lady wisdom’s table. They want to listen and learn.
Lady wisdom adds, for by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. And if you scoff, you alone will bear it. This is considered one of the strongest personal accountability verses in the Old Testament. You reap what you sow. If you are willing to sit down and dine with lady wisdom, she will lead you to the path of life. But scoffers will pay the price of their own choices. They are not victims. They choose to remain out in the cold. They mock what God has to say. And if they won’t listen to God, they certainly won’t listen to you.
Jesus did not spend His time here on earth chasing down people who didn’t want to hear what He had to say. Most ignored Him or mocked Him. But for those who followed Him, life would never be the same. Skillful living requires we discern between the seekers and the scoffers. It’s not our job to silence and judge all the wolves. God will do that. We need to remain faithful to take the good news of Jesus to those who are willing to listen. Trust me, there are plenty of people lost in the wilderness, who are ready and willing to dine at the table of lady wisdom if we invite them to do so.
Spend some time this week asking God to reveal to you one person whom He has prepared to come in and dine with lady wisdom. Before the week is over, figure out one practical thing you can do to help this person take one step in the direction of lady wisdom’s table.