Blog - Proverbs 1:26

If you like this blog, then you will like Get Wisdom, Get Understanding which is Pastor Wagner's commentary on Proverbs chapter 1 which is available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle. Find out more here. For all the blogs in this series, click here: Proverbs Commentary. Proverbs 1:26 "I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;" (Pro 1:26)

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Having not heeded wisdom's repeated warnings, but choosing rather to hate knowledge (Pro 1:22) and refuse reproof (Pro 1:25), the simple receive their reward: calamity. Calamity is "the state or condition of grievous affliction or adversity; deep distress, trouble, or misery, arising from some adverse circumstance or event" (OED). This result of stubborn ignorance should come as no surprise, for the LORD declares, "my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hos 4:6). The judgment for repeatedly rejecting wisdom is not a slap on the hand or a mild reprimand; but rather grievous affliction, deep distress, and misery. If this seems severe, remember that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb 10:31). If it seems far-fetched that such calamity could result from rejecting wisdom's counsel, then just ask the approximately one fourth of all young adults who are suffering the grievous affliction of sexually transmitted diseases because they rejected wisdom's ample warning to "flee fornication" (1Co 6:18). I also will laugh at your calamity. Here we learn that the Almighty has a sense of humor, laughing at the calamity of fools who hate knowledge and despise reproof. Every instance of the LORD laughing in scripture is the laughter of derision (the action of deriding or laughing to scorn; ridicule, mockery - OED). When "the kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers [took] counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed" (Psa 2:2) it was prophesied that "he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision" (Psa 2:4). When "the wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth...the Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming" (Psa 37:12-13). The workers of iniquity lie wait for the righteous, "but thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision" (Psa 59:8). As a father pities his children, so "the LORD pitieth them that fear him" (Psa 103:13) and He "is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit" (Psa 34:18), but He laughs to scorn those who continually reject His counsel. This may seem cruel of God to laugh at the anguish of sinners, even though they brought it upon themselves, but recall that these fools set at nought (to scorn) God's counsel (Pro 1:25). In that they scorned Him, God simply responded in kind, "answer[ing] a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit" (Pro 26:5). When the wisdom of God walked the earth and spoke the truth to men "they laughed him to scorn" (Mat 9:24). Turnabout is fair play: as Jesus said to the wicked, "woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep" (Luk 6:25). God will not only laugh at those who despise His words, but will also mock when their fear cometh. Notice that the LORD said that He will mock when, not if, their fear cometh. The judgment that follows the rejection of God's reproof is not a possibility but a promise. To mock is "to hold up to ridicule; to deride; to assail with scornful words or gestures" (OED). Those who delight in scorning and mocking God's judgments will one day be suffering under severe adversity only to look up to God in the heavens who will be howling with laughter and shooting out His lip in ridicule of them.

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