Wisdom's Call
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
1. Where the voice of Wisdom is heard. Wisdom doth not speak alone among the wise. She doth not sound forth her voice alone in cloistered circles, where the sanctified meet to discuss the ways of righteousness. Mark the force of, these words:
1. "Wisdom crieth without."
2. Wisdom "uttereth her voice in the streets."
3. Wisdom "crieth in the chief place of concourse."
4. Wisdom crieth "in the openings of the gates." (5) Wisdom uttereth her words in the city.
Here is something worthy of note. God seems to be saying, let Wisdom sound forth her call where the people congregate. Let all men know the folly of sin, and the beauty of holiness. Let no one be left untouched, untold, unwarned, unled.
We might put it in the way of the New Testament call to world-preaching of the Gospel.
1. Go to thine own house and show what God hath done.
2. Go to the byways and hedges.
3. Go to the next towns also.
4. Go to the streets and lanes of the city.
5. Go to the end of the earth, all nations.
6. Go to every creature.
Surely the more Satan seeks to hide our message of love and light and life, the more abundantly must we sound it forth.
Wisdom, like the Gospel, and the Gospel, like Wisdom, must give its call everywhere. It is all wrong for saints to closet the sound of the gospel story within the heavy walls of the sanctuary; that does not aid the wayfaring man, the people of the street. We must carry Christ to the ones without; we must utter our voice on the street. Let the "nice people" call us "Salvationists," what do we care? We will obey our Lord. We must sound the call in the chief places of concourse, in the opening of the gates, and everywhere the masses congregate.
2. Why Wisdom raises her voice.
(1) True wisdom has an interest in the lives of others. Have we had a kindness shown? We should pass it on. What have we, that we did not receive? Then, if we are recipients of something, shall we not share our blessings? How can we whose souls are lighted with wisdom from above, stand still and see the unwary carried on into the pitfalls which the ungodly have made for the youth of our land?
(2) True wisdom sees the danger in the way, and knows the only hope of salvation from them all. It is for this cause that Wisdom crieth in the streets. Shall the one who sees the house afire refrain from crying out to those who sleep within? Shall the one who sees the sorrow, the shame, the wreckage of sin, refrain a warning voice?
He who thinks only of himself and of his own, is an ingrate and has not the love of God in his heart. Suppose I am safe and sheltered: shall I therefore care nothing for the safety of others?
When Jesus saw the multitudes He had compassion upon them. He said on one occasion, "Give ye them to eat"; on another occasion He said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." He made Himself a Covert from the storm, and the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary land. Let us go and do likewise.
3. Wisdom holds a tremendous responsibility. It is written: "If the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned: * * his blood will I require at the watchman's hand."
Again it is written: "If thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; * * thou hast delivered thy soul." Thus God doth hold us responsible for a true testimony, O Church of God, what wilt thou say in the day of judgment, if the wicked charge thee for their doom? Let us cease to cry, with wicked Cain, "Am I my brother's keeper?"
I. A QUESTION THAT SHOULD BE ANSWERED (Proverbs 1:22)
Here is the question that each young man and young woman needs to ponder and to answer: "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?"
1. Shall we refuse Wisdom's call? Shall we reject Wisdom's warning? Shall Wisdom call unto us in vain?
Does a flowery path, perfumed with the odors of the apothecary always lead to realms of bliss? Does a cup, merely because it stirreth itself, and showeth itself red, alway at the last, bear blessings? Nay! Satan is a master in painting roseate pictures, and in promising a false glory. He can put mirages in a young man's sky. Remember the old adage, "All is not gold that glitters."
Stop! Look! Listen! There is danger ahead. Heed the cry of Wisdom and turn and live.
2. How long will the youth of the land refuse to hear? Do you say you must have your fling; you must taste the sweets of the world's ways? Think you it will be easy to stop when once you are entangled in a yoke of carnal bondage.
How long will you play with fire? How long will you leave the Saviour standing outside the door of your heart, and pleading to enter? How long? How long? It cannot be safe to go your way. The river is running swifter, and daily it grows wider even the river you must cross to reach the Master's side. Satan's power is increasing, his grip is tightening.
With all of our hearts we call upon the unsaved to turn to the Lord; hear ye His voice and walk in His ways!
II. A GRACIOUS PROMISE TO POUR OUT HIS SPIRIT (Proverbs 1:23)
1. There is the call to turn to the Lord. It comes from God Himself. It breathes forth the willingness of the Lord to save. It seems to say, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but would that all should turn and repent."
How many are the loving and earnest calls of the Lord. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord." "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God." "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."
These are only a few of the Lord's calls to sinners to turn unto Him, They are as if one were drowning, and a hand were reached out to save; they are as if one were being dragged down by an enemy into some horrible pit, and a rescuer stood by to deliver. All of this makes the way of the sinner so inexcusable. It is not as though the wicked were in a helpless and hopeless estate, with none to save. Not so. The lover of their soul stands ready to save.
2. There is the promise of the Spirit. " I will pour out My Spirit unto you." How gracious is this assurance, The Spirit is, in truth, the Spirit of wisdom and of the knowledge of Him. To the sinner walking in the ways of death, there comes not only a sure deliverance, but also One, even the Spirit, who will come in to illumine the heart in the things of God.
3. There is a second promise. "I will make known My words unto you." The way of sinning is a way foreign to the good Word of God. Those who forsake their way and their thought, will be given God's Word, which will lead them into God's way and thoughts.
Dear child of God, do not forget to read frequently the blessed Word of God. Keep the sacred Word ever with you. Let it be your daily meditation. Search its pages by day and by night. Let it dwell in you richly, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, strengthening you, and admonishing you in the things of God.
Let the Word be to you more than gold, yea, than fine gold; let it be to you sweeter than the honey and the honeycomb.
III. WHEREIN LOVE AND MERCY PLEAD (Proverbs 1:24)
1. "I have called." How many are the calls of Jehovah. Every word of God is a great big "Come" of invitation to the sinner.
"Come unto Me, it is the Master's voice,
The loving heart of God bids thee rejoice."
"Come; for all things are now ready." The supper is prepared, the feast is spread, the invitation is given, " Come and dine." "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." " Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." "If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink." "Whosoever will let him come."
2. "I have stretched out My Hand." This is more than "Come." This is "Come," with a tender and loving urge. One would think that a mere invitation would be more than enough to get any sinner started toward God, and Home, and Life. But no; God must take the place of a suppliant, and stretch out His hands.
Consider a disobedient and a gainsaying people, like Israel, and yet, unto just such a people we read that God says, "All day long I have stretched forth My hands." It is all expressed in one verse, "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings." Such is the heart of God toward those who are hastening their way into the nets which Satan has spread.
3. "My hands." What a graphic picture! The hands stand for helpfulness, succor, rescue. When Peter was sinking beneath the waves of Galilee, he cried, "Lord, save me." Then Christ stretched forth His hand and took Peter's hand. Think of Jairus' daughter as she lay dead: "He * * took her by the hand, and the maid arose."
Thus our key verse bears a call of love, "I have stretched out My hand." Praise God for the helping hand, the outstretched hand of our Lord.
IV. WHEREIN LOVE AND MERCY ARE REFUSED (Proverbs 1:24-25)
1. "Ye refused." Here is the attitude of the unsaved sinner in a nutshell, simply but forcefully stated. "Ye refused." Proverbs 1:10 reads: "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." However, instead of saying no to sinners, the son is saying no to the Saviour.
Here is the way the Holy Spirit sums it up in another Scripture: "And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready." What happened? "And they all with one consent began to make excuse, * * [saying], I pray thee have me excused." That was no more than a polite way of refusing.
It is still true, even as Christ said, "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life."
2. "No man regarded." The depth of sin deepens. Here is more than a refusal here is a shut ear; a blank refusal; a hardhearted refusal; a rebuff; a brutal disregard. The voice which pleads means nought to them. They can sit by without regard. It is as though one were crying and they stopped their ears, closed their eyes, with no sense of pity or care.
3. "Ye have set at nought all My counsel." This is no light matter. The Word of the Lord is forever settled in Heaven. Heaven and earth may pass away, but His Word shall not pass away. The man, therefore, who makes light of the counsels of God, and rejects His Word is the more guilty.
4. Ye "would none of my reproof." The warnings of God are thrown to the winds, as altogether unbelievable. Reproof is made a matter for jest. There is no hell, no punishment for sin; no judgment, no anything.
V. REWARD THEM ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS (Proverbs 1:26-27)
1. "I also will laugh." "I will mock." There is an eternal principle in the judgments of God, Did they laugh? They will be laughed at. Did they mock? They shall be mocked. Did they kill with the sword? They shall be killed with the sword. "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her."
Here is a verse that sums it all up: "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." It seems very smart to the sinner to laugh at God. It will be quite another thing to be laughed at; it seems funny to mock God, and it draws the applause of the godless in this age of Christ rejection; it will be another matter, in the day of judgment, to be mocked.
2. When the tables are turned. "When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you."
It may not be pleasant to consider but it is a part of Wisdom's words there is a time coming when they that laugh now, will mourn and weep. There is a time coming when they who rejoice in sin, shall weep and wail in their miseries.
We have seen, with our own eyes, more than one man, who, in health and worldly prosperity, mocked God and laughed at salvation; yet, in the hour of death he pleaded for mercy, and found it not.
The sinner often has a perverted idea of the love and goodness of God, He thinks that he can mock away his day of grace, and that in the hour of distress or death, he can command the Spirit to hasten and save.
"I will mock," is, indeed, in the Old Testament, but it is written for our admonition upon whom the end of the ages is come. Besides, all Scripture is written for reproof, and for correction. Thus we feel free in pressing this one home.
VI. THE TIME WHEN FEAR COMETH (Proverbs 1:27-28)
1. This age is the age of mercy. God does not now render His wrath. As men go about in their evil way, taking His Name in vain, mocking His very existence, ridiculing His Spirit's call, criticizing His Word. God remains "silent, so far as punishment is concerned. There is coming, however, a day of wrath and judgment; and for this the wicked are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
2. The day of wrath will be a day of fear for the wicked. How graphically does the Word speak: "The great day of His wrath is come and who shall be able to stand?" In that day the wicked will fear. So will they fear as they stand before the Great White Throne. Fear, distress, and anguish will all come upon them.
3. In the day of their fear they will call on the Lord. Here are the words of our key verses:
(1) "Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer."
(2) "They shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me."
Think you that there may be a second chance another opportunity after death another altar call to sinners to repent? Never! No, such will never be. The wicked may call, but God will not hear. They may seek, but they cannot find.
4. In the day of their fear, the tables will be turned. God once called, and they refused; God stretched out His hand and they would not regard: now they call, and God will not hear; they stretch out their hands and He will not regard.
If the sinner wants to be saved, let him seek the Lord while He may be found, and call upon Him while He is near. Let him come while love still pleads.
VII. GOD'S REASONS FOR HIS JUDGMENTS (Proverbs 1:29-33)
1. God displays the refusal of the wicked
(1) They hated knowledge. The way of truth they might have known. It was cried forth on the streets; in the chief places of concourse it was heard; in the gates it was made known. They, however, refused knowledge because they hated it.
(2) They did not choose the fear of the Lord, They seemed to say, Who is this Lord that we should obey His voice? They said, Your wisdom is folly. They professed themselves to be wise, too wise to hear the voice of the true Wisdom; therefore they became fools, and changed the glory of Christ and of God into an image made like unto birds and beasts. They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, therefore God gave them up.
(3) They would none of Wisdom's counsel, and despised her reproof. They flaunted every word of Heavenly wisdom. Its warnings they cast aside. They trusted in their own counsel. They knew more than God knew. They cast His reproof off as foolish pratings.
2. God states the reasons for His judgments.
(1) They shall eat of the fruit of their own way. They, so to speak, prepared their own judgment, and are now about to eat of the harvest of the seed which they themselves sowed. It is for this cause that God wrote: "The wages of sin is death."
God's judgments are stored up by the sinners who reject Him. They make their doom. Each sinner receives no more than the rewards of his own deeds.
(2) They shall be filled with own devices. No man in hell can say, "God did it." They are the ones who did it. God gave them only what they themselves prepared. It was their own turning away that slew them; it was their own following after the promised prosperity of fools that destroyed them.
3. A final word of assurance. How marvelously do the last words of our chapter sound forth: "But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." Now, therefore, is the time to hearken and to believe. If now we hearken, then we shall not fear.
AN ILLUSTRATION
The same Wisdom which pleads is the Wisdom that passes the sentence of death.
A young man was once driving a two-horse buggy down the crowded streets of a large city when suddenly the horses, taking fright, got beyond his control, and there he sat not knowing at what moment he might be hurled to instant death, for which he knew that he was utterly unprepared. Just as a catastrophe appeared inevitable, a stranger sprang in front of the flying horses and clutching at their bridles, at imminent risk to himself, held on to them until the frightened animals stopped, and the young man was able to jump out and thank his benefactor for having saved his life.
Some months after, this same young man stood in a felon's dock, charged with the crime of willful murder, of which the jury had just found him guilty. Before pronouncing sentence, the judge asked the prisoner if he had anything to plead in extenuation of his crime. Instead of giving a direct answer, the prisoner, looking intently at the judge, said, "Sir, don't you remember me? Don't you recall the occasion when you stopped two runaway horses in this city and saved the young man's life who was driving them?" "Yes," said the judge, "I'm not likely to forget that incident." "Well," went on the prisoner, "I'm that young man." "Ah," replied the judge after a pause, "I recognize you now; but what has that got to do with your crime and its punishment?" "Sir," pleaded the prisoner with his very soul in his voice, "you saved my life then; won't you spare it now?" For a moment tense silence fell upon the court; presently it was broken by the voice of the judge. "Prisoner at the bar," he said, "I am here in only one capacity, to administer justice; and," he added solemnly, "when I saved your life then I was your saviour; now I am your judge." And he condemned the guilty man to death. E. G. Carre.