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LESSON V.—SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 1893

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 17, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 24.

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LESSON V.—SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 1893.

WISDOM'S WARNING.

[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.]

Lesson Scripture, Prov. 1: 20-33.

  1. Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; she uttereth her voice in the broad places;
  2. She crieth in the chief place of concourse; at the entering in of the gates, in the city, she uttereth her words;
  3. How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and scorners delight them in scorning, and fools hate knowledge;
  4. Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you;
  5. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
  6. But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof;
  7. I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
  8. When your fear cometh as a storm, and your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you,
  9. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me diligently, but they shall not find me;
  10. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord;
  11. They would none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof;
  12. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
  13. For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
  14. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, and shall be quiet without fear of evil.
Golden Text.—"See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not, when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape, who turn away from him that warneth from heaven." Heb. 12: 25.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

  1. What is wisdom? Job. 28: 28.
  2. Who does David say has a good understanding? Ps. 111: 10, second clause.
  3. Where does wisdom cry? Lesson verses 20, 21.
  4. What questions does she ask? Verse 22. See note 2.
  5. What admonition does she give? Verse 23, first clause.
  6. What precious promise is given? Verse 23, last clause. See note 5.
  7. Why are the "simple ones" reproved? Verse 24; Isa. 65: 12; 66: 4.
  8. What have they set at naught? Verse 25.
  9. What will be the result of such a course? Verses 26, 27; Rom. 2: 8, 9.
  10. When brought face to face with their impending doom, what will the deluded victims at last do, and what will they gain? Verse 28; Micah 3: 4. See note 7.
  11. What had they hated and rejected? Verses 29, 30.
  12. In whose counsel does one walk who rejects the counsel of God? Ps. 1: 1, first clause.
  13. What is the disposition of the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly? Verse 2.
  14. Then where do we find the counsel of God?
  15. What shall be the reward of those who reject the counsel of God? Lesson verse 31; Ps. 1: 6, last clause.
  16. What of those who hearken to the counsel of God? Verse 33.

NOTES.

1. THE book of Proverbs, excepting the last two chapters, was written by Solomon. Of this fact Dr. Clarke says, "There has scarcely been any dispute concerning either the author or divine authority of this book, either in the Jewish or Christian church."
2. IN this lesson wisdom is personified. It is the voice of God pleading with a wicked world that has been deceived by the adversary. "How long ye simple ones?"—ye who have been seduced or deceived. The knowledge of the true God is everywhere. God has manifested himself unto all the world in his works. "The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made." But to those who will hear the instruction of his word he becomes more and more manifest. The voice of wisdom is the voice of God, whether heard in nature or in his revealed word.
3. "THE fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments." Ps. 111: 10. Obedience, then, is essential to a full understanding of God's will. The acme of wisdom is to have the Spirit of God working in us, "both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Phil. 2: 13; Heb. 13: 21.
4. GOD is continually stretching out his hands toward a deluded world, and imploring them to return unto him. As Paul says: "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 2 Cor. 5: 20.
5. "I WILL pour out my Spirit unto you." God not only beseeches the deceived victims of rebellion, but he offers them the power of his Spirit to walk in his way. "I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." Eze. 36: 27. This is the promise of the new covenant, a special manifestation of which was witnessed on the day of Pentecost. That was the "early rain," and it is our privilege to enjoy the "latter rain" by the same Spirit.
6. THE counsel of God is just the opposite of the counsel of the ungodly, and the Psalmist says, "Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly." Ps. 1: 1. Of such an one it is said, "His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Verse 2. It is said of Christ, "I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." Ps. 40: 8. Then to reject the counsel of God is to reject his law. The law of God is also a reproof, for "by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3: 20), and to point out sin is to reprove it.
7. THE Spirit of God will not always strive with man. That was manifest in the flood (Gen. 6: 3), and in other judgments that have been executed upon the wicked. And the time will come when, too late, they will see their mistake and endeavor, in the midst of desolation and distress, to find that which they have rejected. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." Amos 8: 11, 12.