Someone's Missing

Wisdom calls out!

She calls, “to you, O men” and “to the sons of men.” (Ch. 8:4) The references to 'men' and 'sons of men' might be understood as 'mankind.' So, wisdom calls out to everyone. She wants everyone to listen and learn and gain understanding.

Yet...two are singled out.

   O naïve ones, discern prudence; 
   And, O fools, discern wisdom.
   --Proverbs 8:5

Who are the naïve and the fool?

The Hebrew term for ‘naïve’ is rooted in the idea of ‘being spacious or wide open.’ The naïve person is ‘open-minded.’ However, being open-minded works in two ways. Not only is the naïve likely to believe a lie, he is just as likely to believe what is true. He is just as likely to make choices that lead down a path of evil as he is to choose the path of good. The trouble is that he is too open-minded to tell the difference. He needs wisdom and discretion.

The Hebrew term used in this verse for ‘fool’ carries the idea of ‘heaviness’ or being ‘fat.’ Used in a good sense, heaviness is related to strength; in a bad sense, laziness and inactivity of the mind, so stupidity and folly.

The fool needs wisdom and discretion to activate his mind and motivate him toward things that are good and beneficial.


So, Wisdom called to two, but did you notice that she called to only two?
Wisdom called the naïve and the fool, but one is left out.
Someone is missing.

In the first chapter of Proverbs Wisdom reflects on a trio: The naïve, fools, and scoffers.

   How long, O naïve ones, will you love simplicity?
   And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing,
   And fools hate knowledge? (1:22)

Yet, when Wisdom calls out in chapter 8, why does she not call out to the scoffer?

Perhaps it is because the nature of the scoffer. You have probably been around a scoffer. Another word we use for scoffing is mocking. The scoffer rejects wisdom and laughs at instruction.

• The scoffer already knows! 
• The scoffer will not listen! 
• The scoffer does not take advice! 
• The scoffer is confident (though it is really only pride)!

(Read ahead in Proverbs 9 to see how to deal with the scoffer.)

Wisdom is wise. She calls to those who can listen, who can be taught.
It is not a pleasant question, but one that must be asked:
Is wisdom calling you, or...are you...

                                                            ...missing???

“It’ll Be Alright...”

Solomon told a story that unfolded before him as he watched from the window of his house. He described a young man who was naïve and who lacked sense. (Read the entire chapter of Proverbs 7 for a complete picture.)

Of course, Solomon did not know the young man’s character by merely looking at him. He watched. He observed. The actions of the young man told his own story so that when Solomon wrote, he described the young fool accurately:

   And I saw among the naïve, 
   I discerned among the youths, 
   A young man lacking sense.
   --Proverbs 7:7

What was it about the young man that identified him?

Solomon was writing to his own son to warn him to stay away from the adulteress. She seduces with flattery, food, fun, and frivolity.

It is clear that the young man did not turn down the street of the adulteress to go directly to her house; she had to woo him, seduce him... and she did just that.

'Adulteress' is more of a technical term; seductress is more descriptive.

The story climaxes in verse 22: “Suddenly he followers her...” and he was destroyed.

How did he end up in such catastrophic circumstances so that his strength of will was ‘suddenly’ broken and he gave in to the adulteress?

You can imagine his cries ‘after’ the fact, after he had been seduced and his life ruined:
   "I never intended to..."
   "I didn’t know..."
   "She..."

However, Solomon warned his son, “Do not stray into her paths.” (v. 25) The simple truth is that he should have known; he did not have to stray.

We understand that...

• No one strays into financial success;
• No one strays into a successful career;
• No one strays into physical fitness.

Success and excellence require thinking, intention, watchfulness, and planning. We should not think that spiritual maturity is any different.

The young man that Solomon observed was described as naïve and lacking sense because he was spiritually thoughtless.

When we hear our kids (or kids, when you hear yourself) shrug off parental warnings with:
   "I don’t see anything wrong with it."
   "Oh mom, you worry too much."
   "You just don’t understand."
   "Oh dad, it'll be alright."

When we hear these kinds of unthinking responses in the context of questionable entertainment choices, questionable friends, or questionable activities, we should recognize spiritual immaturity. Yet, we must see it for what it really is: Moral thoughtlessness (i.e. naïve and lacking sense).

Along life's journey a person often encounters a 'Y' in the road. It is a time to pause...and think..."What will be the likely outcome?" Some paths are to be avoided.

As for the young man that Solomon observed, nothing really happened suddenly, except perhaps, that he came to his senses! But it was far too late for thinking at that point. The young man lacked sense when he first turned the corner without giving it even one moment’s thought . . . and he was not alright!

The Stupid Woman

Hold on ladies!
Don’t get the wrong idea. This is not about women in general, just a certain kind of woman. Most likely, if you are reading this, you are not that kind of woman.

A father warns his son to avoid the ‘stupid’ woman. Who is she?
One verse says it all.

   The woman of folly is boisterous, 
   She is naïve, and knows nothing.
   --Proverbs 9:13

The term ‘folly’ in this verse literally means, stupid. Whatever she may seem to be she is, in reality, a woman of stupidity. Now, what fellow wants to pursue a relationship with a stupid woman!?

The ‘stupid’ woman is boisterous. She is described in detail in Proverbs 7 as someone who is rebellious. She is restless and does not stay at home. Instead, she lurks about in the streets looking for her next victim. Her husband is away. So she lures another man with seductive and deceptive words. She lures him to her house, to her bed that she has already prepared. A trap!

The “stupid” woman is naïve. The Hebrew term for naïve literally means “open-minded,” yet in a bad sense. The naïve person is gullible and lacks sense. You might enjoy this person at a party (as the butt of a joke), but you would never trust her as a companion.

The “stupid” woman knows nothing. She is thoughtless, breaking her commitment to God (2:7). She meanders through life without thinking, without planning, without discernment (5:6). She lives for the moment. After all, you only live once!

The last few verses in Proverbs 9 tell the end of her story, an end that she herself does not know! . . . she is a ‘stupid’ woman. 

Her end and the end of all who embrace her?
Death!

Are they not all stupid who do not follow the Lord!?

An Open-Minded Woman

   The wise woman builds her house, 
   But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
                                                      --Proverbs 14:1

The word foolish is connected with several ideas in the Proverbs: lack of discernment, empty-headedness, lack of discretion, and naiveté.

The woman described here does not take care of her house, that is, her household. She shames her children and her husband by her behavior. She lacks self-control in her speech: gossip, busybody, talebearer. She is a procrastinator. She is filled with indecision because she lacks wisdom. She is primarily interested in herself. Things must always go her way. She is the opposite of the industrious woman of good character in Proverbs 31.

Foolishness is the result of being naïve or simple minded. You might say that she is open-minded but in a negative sense; gullible. She cannot discern situations properly and often wanders in the wrong direction making poor decisions.

   The naïve inherit folly,
   But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
                                                   --Proverbs 14:18

The ‘foolish’ woman is not foolish because she tears her house down; that is the result. She destroys her house with her own hands because she is foolish.

Be wise . . . and build.

The Naive

To give prudence to the naïve,
To the youth knowledge and discretion.
—Proverbs 1:4

Found in the opening verses of the book of Proverbs, this verse indicates the purpose of the entire book. But who are the naïve? What is the meaning of prudence? What is discretion? (Those are not words you hear every day.)

The root meaning of the Hebrew word for naïve means: to be spacious or to be wide open. It carries the idea of being ‘open-minded’ yet in a negative sense.

A wise instructor of mine once quipped, “It is good to be open-minded, but not so open-minded that your brain falls out.” That was a clever way of saying, “Don’t be naïve!” The mind of the naïve is opened wide to accept any thought offered by anyone.

He can be fooled easily but will also follow after wise teaching. He is just as likely to follow a fool or an evil man as he would be to follow a wise and discerning teacher.

Consider the naïve when he encounters two individuals arguing over a question. The naïve is so open-minded, he can openly acknowledge both lines of reasoning. It is not that he cannot make up his mind, or that he acknowledges merit in each line of reasoning. He actually believes both opposing arguments. He lacks the ability to discern one from the other.

The book of Proverbs is offered to the naïve for the purpose of producing prudence and also discretion.

The Hebrew term translated prudence in this verse is generally used in a negative sense. It carries the idea of craftiness. When used in a positive sense, it gives the idea of being shrewd or sensible.

The Hebrew term translated discretion  literally means to consider or plan.

The Book of Proverbs is specifically devoted to those who are naïve. Its purpose is to bring about maturity by teaching the open-minded person to be crafty in his thinking, to stop and think and evaluate situations in life. It is intended to help the young person learn to be sensible. It promotes careful thinking and planning in life so that evil does not destroy.

Young people...what are you waiting for???