To Whom is God Speaking?
“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. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” (Proverbs 1:22-33)
QUESTION
Do you believe that what is said in Proverbs 1:23-33 is for God's elect? Is God going to do that to his elect people?
ANSWER
First off, that passage is speaking to “my son” (Proverbs 1:8). It follows that this is a family discourse, not an address to all of humanity. It uses the metaphor of natural sonship to depict spiritual sonship - as in son’s of God, born of adoption via election. The non-elect are not sons. They are therefore not the intended audience for this instruction.
So, is God going to do that to his elect people? The simple answer is, “Yes.” The chastising rod of correction that is often applied to God’s wayward people is a very well-established truth in the scriptures (Hebrews 12:6-8). Consider Lot (Genesis 19:30ff), Solomon (I Kings 11:1-8), David (II Samuel 12:10ff), Samson (Judge 16:21), etc. That is a frightening reality and one that is too little considered among professing evangelicals, who clumsily ascribe all such judgments to “those who will end up in hell.” The unfortunate result of which is that they fail to see that there are consequences of disobedience FOR THE ELECT. This warning is for THEM. This is precisely what is said in the book of Hebrews:
“For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.” (Hebrews 10:30a)
How many times have you heard this verse invoked in a way that intends, “God’s going to send you to hell if you don’t straighten up”? I can honestly say that the vast majority of times I’ve ever heard this quoted, it was done as a warning against eternal damnation. While the eternal damnation of the non-elect is true, this is not remotely what this passage is talking about. We know that because the verse goes on to say…
“And again, The Lord shall judge HIS PEOPLE.” (Hebrews 10:30b)
This is talking about the temporal judgment of God’s people who persist in disobedience. It is NOT talking about eternal damnation. It is a great error to misapply this statement to the matter of eternal damnation. God’s people can be very harshly punished in this lifetime for their sinful actions and the bible is FULL of ensamples (I Corinthians 10:11).
- Elder Daniel Samons
FOLLOW UP QUESTION
The reason I brought this passage up to you in the first place is the point that I believe that God does speak things to the wicked... in spite of their unregenerate state..
ANSWER
I don’t doubt that the bible depicts God speaking to the unregenerate (Matthew 25:41). But many imply that God is extending a conditional offer of eternal life to the unregenerate when he speaks to them. That is false. There are passages that might lead someone to that erroneous conclusion. Take for example the Lord’s statement, “but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). That seems as if there is a conditional, works-based offer of eternal salvation being extended there. However, when considered alongside the broader testimony of scripture, such as, “There is none good but one, that is, God” (Matthew 19:17), and, “With men this is impossible” (Matthew 19:26), that conclusion is illogical.