Prudence or knowledge

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

PRUDENCE OR KNOWLEDGE

Prov 19:25

25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

NIV

Here again we have a contrast between the foolish and the wise. The mocker is one who makes mouths at, this could mean simply a person who likes to talk a lot about the foolish things of life. But in a deeper sense as we are familiar with in the 1^st Psalm the, sitting in the seat of mockers, implies giving God lip service. The idea here is that when a person who either speaks about foolish things or speaks foolishness about his religious knowledge is flogged, or chastened, corrected made to look unwise in the eyes of other, the rest of the people who may behave in the same manner as this one did find a more deceptive way to say the same thing this person has been. They do not actually learn anything other than to be better at sneaking in their foolish thoughts. On the other side, the discerning man, the one who is separate mentally, has understanding, receives his rebuke as a means to gain more understanding and to better himself as an individual, making the needed changes in his lifestyle and spiritual disciples in order to improve in his relationship with others and with God. It is far too easy to put up our defenses when we are rebuked in some way. Whenever someone attempts to correct our manner of speech, or the words we use, or a behavior or attitude that is not pleasing to God, we need to see it for what it is. The only reason God rebukes us is because he cares, he loves us so much he wants the very best for us. Most of the time our closest friends, our loved ones care and love us and want to see us do things the right way, and when we are in error, a rebuke, a correction  is needed. If we are discerning people, if we are people with understanding then we will receive it and use it to better our character. Only the foolish think they know it all, the wise know there is far more to learn. The foolish see no need to grow, the wise knows growth is the only way to gain more growth, which leads to a better understanding, which leads to more willingness to accept correction. Let us be the discerning one.