SUBJECT TO INTERPRETATION

 BIBLE STUDY: PROVERBS LESSON #5

NETTIE-ISM: Now this has nothing to do with Proverbs but, a Facebooker commented to me that the Bible does not speak of people going to heaven or hell when they die. I believe eventually we will spend eternity either with our Creator or apart from Him. I believe when we die our bodies return to the ground. I believe our spirit returns to the Spirit of GOD. And, I believe our souls sleep until the resurrection. Not everyone believes what I believe, many people believe in a variation of this others believe I am 100% off base. I will not know what is true and what is not true until I am in His presence. 

PROVERBS 1:20-22 NEW KING JAMES VERSION
20) Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares. 21) She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words:  22) “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.

I consider myself a simple person but not simple-minded. I am not materialistic, nor do I tend to go along with the crowd to get along. However, I struggle with the simple style of many of today's churches. 

This get’em in and get’em out church mentality that facilitates growth and allows the church goer to fulfill their weekly or bi-weekly obligations is loved by many. Unfortunately, though the coffee and donuts are great, being served wisdom would be better. It takes time to help people develop an understanding of His ways.

ISAIAH 55:8 KING JAMES VERSION

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 

We have eliminated much of the ‘old’ ways in exchange for a simplified way of doing church and life. We have dumbed down our personal relationship with GOD. 

“Wisdom calls aloud outside” (Proverbs 1:20a). isn’t that interesting? Now I know this is subject to interpretation but as I read it I could see the Spirit standing outside the doors of the church wanting to come in. What are the chief concourses that is spoken of in verse 21? It is like the highest point, a place in which positions wisdom to be heard. No one is listening to wisdom. No one is listening to the Truth of YHWH’s words.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:2-21 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

20) Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  21) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

In order to make the word of GOD more palatable many churches have become more like the world. It is interesting to see the number of people who are attending Global Vision Church during this COVID-19 time. The church is meeting: outside, under a tent, close together, in the summer heat of Tennessee. The world demands air conditioner in the summer and heat in the winter; they also don’t need a long message. When I listen to Pastor Greg Lock of Global Vision church I hear a message that is not politically correct but biblically sound- he has not submitted to the ways of the world. 

YHWH speaks in Isaiah and reminds us: His ways are not our ways. Verse 22 of Proverb ends with:“Fools hate knowledge”.   

                  written by Marsha L F Randolph

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