A Tetrad of Teachers for Tumultuous Times - Part Two
“To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity.” Proverbs 1:3 (KJV, emphasis added)
I invite you to consider with me the following rhetorical questions for the introduction of this week’s blog: What’s going on? What just happened? What did I just hear? What is happening to our country? All of the aforementioned questions are connected with with the following news headlines:
“Protesters Demand Cops Let Themselves be Stabbed or Shot” New York Post
“More than Five Million Acres have been burned in West Coast Wild Fires” The New York Times
Wildfire Smoke from West Coast drifts through Midwest, reaches NYC and New England” Fox News
“2 L.A. Deputies Ambushed while sitting in their Patrol Vehicle” Los Angeles Times
“'Sterilizing children' bill heads to Calif. Senate floor amid public outcry” The Christian Post
“California reduces penalties for pedophilia with 'willing' kids” WBSM
“Coronavirus deaths in the United States near 200K as global, World Health Organization Declares COVID-19 a 'Pandemic.'” The Washington Post
“Chicago homicides up 52%, with vast majority of victims Black or Latino” Fox News
What turbulent, treacherous, and tumultuous times we are all traveling in! Our opening text turns our attention to a tetrad of teachers found in the Word of God. And the good Lord knows we need their instruction in these unprecedented times! I would also submit to you that not only are these unprecedented times, they are also the last days!
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” 2 Timothy 4 1-4 (KJV)
Our passage calls us to place ourselves in a position to receive four kinds of instruction: wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity. However, have you ever considered these four types of instruction as instructors? I invite you to consider with me their insight and instruction for the times we live in.
For today’s blog, we will focus on wisdom. We know that wisdom begins with exercising the fear of the Lord.
Scripture personifies wisdom by speaking of her vigorous exhortation and invitation to sit under her instruction and receive correction.
“Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” Proverbs 1:20-23 (KJV)
Ms. Wisdom goes out of her way to reach the ignorant, mocking haters of knowledge. And for those who are willing and humble enough to sit and submit to her instruction there is a promise to personally experience the wisdom of God. If only our protesters (Antifa, Black Lives Matter), politicians (both Republicans and Democrats including our governors, mayors and city councilmen), professional athletes and entertainers, Center for Disease Control bureaucrats, National Institutes of Health and Big Pharma officials, and media personalities would humble themselves and thereby halt their hellish, heartless and hate-filled agenda!
It is the fools that forward the flames of anarchy, insurrection and destroy the foundation that fixed this country in faith and freedom. We all need to sit in wisdom’s classroom. However, her course of instruction is more expensive and essential than any tuition in the world.
“Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” Proverbs 8:10-11 (KJV)
“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” Proverbs 16:16 (KJV)
I invite you to join me next time as we close this series with a discussion of the other three remaining teachers for these turbulent times. I close with an exhortation from the Word of God:
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7 (KJV)
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR