Shannon Bond, Pastor of Cherokee Baptist Church Proverbs 9:7–12 (ESV) 7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. 8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Scoffer...that’s a word you hear every day. You used it in your morning crossword, right? To scoff means to express scorn, contempt, or derision. Here, Solomon tells us there are some people who just won’t listen to wisdom. When you try to correct a scoffer, he heaps abuse on you. 'Who died and made you boss? Why don’t you take care of your own business, Mr. Goody Two-Shoes! It’s people like you that make me sick, thinking they are all high and mighty, thinking they know it all, harassing folks who don’t measure up to their self-righteous standards. Get out of my sight!' The word is better displayed than defined. Notice the parallel phrases in v. 7: the scoffer is a wicked man. It’s useless trying to correct or reprove him. It’s like trying to remove a nut that is rusted onto the bolt. You’ll probably strip the nut and bang up your knuckles pretty good in the process.
In verse 8, Solomon contrasts the scoffer and the wise man. The scoffer hates those who correct him. The wise man loves those who correct and reprove him. In verse 8, Solomon shows how the wise man drinks in wisdom, making him wiser. Notice again the parallel in v. 9: wise man...righteous man. Contrast that with v. 7: scoffer (one who hates wisdom)...wicked man. You cannot separate scoffing and wickedness, nor can you separate wisdom and righteousness. Instruction and learning in wisdom lead to righteousness. Despising the instruction and correction of wisdom leads to wickedness.
Again, Solomon reminds us in v. 10 that wisdom isn’t disconnected from the Lord. God is wisdom. It’s not just that God is wise. He is wise because he is wisdom, not that he became wise. There is also a connection between fear of the Lord, wisdom, and righteousness. To know the Lord is to fear the Lord and to live according to his wise and righteous commands. This results in a long and full life.
Verse 12 might seem a little weird. Wise people and scoffers can affect those around them. No doubt. But no one can be wise for you. No one can scoff for you. Wisdom and scoffing, though not existing in a vacuum in that they affect others, are individual choices. Ultimately, God will not be wise for you, neither will he scoff for you. Individuals make their own choices, and they live with the consequences of those choices.
Are you a scoffer or a wise man?