Proverbs 19:29 commentary

29 ¶ Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

The scorner is linked to the wicked man in Proverbs 9:7. He is the opposite of the wise man by contrast in the following verse. He doesn’t listen to rebuke in Proverbs 13:1. Even when he looks for wisdom he can’t find it in Proverbs 14:6. He won’t go to the wise for advice and he doesn’t like people who correct him as per Proverbs 15:12. He is proud and haughty; arrogant, and his wrath, his constant anger, is a reflection of his immense pride as well. See 21:24. In Proverbs 22:10 we see that he’s the cause of contention and strife and reproach and when he’s kicked out all of that goes with him. In 24:9 he thinks sinful, foolish thoughts and he’s an abomination to men.

Are you a scorner? Just look in the mirror and ask yourself, are you incapable of listening to sound advice and instruction because of your stupid pride and arrogance? Think you’re all that and a bag of chips to boot? You’ve got it all figured out, don’t you? You don’t fellowship with other Christians because you don’t want to be accountable for your awful attitude to other people struggling with your problems. You won’t hear a sermon in person or on the internet or radio because you don’t want anyone telling you what to do. Because of your childish pride you won’t even permit the God who created you to speak to you through His words in the Bible. When you do read the Bible you twist it around to justify your own wicked behavior. Scornful men are real big on a man’s place and position in the home and how any bad things they do is a result of them not getting their “propers”. Scornful women pretend humility with their martyr complex. “I’ve tried so hard and no one appreciates me.” Scornful children look at their parents as just the roadblock to fun and friends.

Some of you scorners wreck your family, drive yourself into poverty, ruin your children’s futures, lose your jobs, and run afoul of the law all because of your P-R-I-D-E. How’s that working out for you? Not very well, I suspect.

I’m going to give you some advice. I used to be a scorner and lost quite a bit of the good things God gave me in life because of that attitude. So, I know whereof I speak. But, oh, that’s right, you are a scorner so you aren’t going to listen to me. You probably stopped reading a few sentences ago. Well, here’s some advice anyway. Maybe you’ll come back to it one day after Satan has happily knocked your knees out from under you and you’re laying on your face in the dirt with no place to look but up.

First from James;

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Then from Peter, who was almost just like you are at one time, proud and full of himself;

1Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

I know what you’re thinking when things go off the rails. Since you aren’t capable of self examination you wonder, why is God doing this to me?

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

My advice for you is to humble yourself. God is not lucky to have you on board. Get over your pride. Kneel before Him and pray for forgiveness. Let the Holy Spirit work on you through the words of God in the Bible. Let the Word (Jesus Christ) of God dwell richly in you. The only cure for you, if you are saved, is to pray each morning and read the Bible before you go to work. Oh, you have to get up too early? Then go to bed earlier and turn off that stupid idiot box you’ve been indoctrinating yourself and your children with and start having daily devotions after supper with prayer and Bible reading. Tell your children what God has done FOR you that day and stop talking about what some half wit on your commute did TO you.

Oh, but you don’t understand, Fred, you just don’t know what my life is like. No, Sparky, its you who don’t understand. Read the Proverb again. You’re a fool like I was. The stripes I received and the judgment I earned included a child I loved dearly committing suicide. What are you in line for?

Here’s the medicine you need. Read, to the exclusion of all else if you have to, the Bible every day. Swim in it. Learn by example from the Old Testament, the Tribulation letters, and the Gospels, see what Christ did for you and how He behaved, and read God’s instruction’s for the Christian from Romans to Philemon. Read that or hear it every day and pray about it. Wait on the Lord and stand back and watch God work. Don’t try to do it yourself. Your empty promises and vain vows have already been broken a dozen times. You can’t do it yourself. You have no capacity inside you to resist your own flesh and pride. You’ve proven that. Now, you are completely dependent on God. Trust Him. Plead with Him to do a mighty work in you through the Holy Spirit. Then watch in awe as He works.

Or, you can just stay a scorner and a fool; continue sitting in front of the TV smoking your cig, drinking your beer, wine, or hooch, cursing your boss, other drivers, your spouse, children, neighbors, the government, etc. etc. under your breath. Judgment and stripes are coming if they aren’t already being applied. You make the choice.