In Romans 1.18-32, Paul condemns sinful human behavior and perfectly describes a scoffer, though he doesn’t explicitly use the term.
“They know God’s decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die, yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them” (Romans 1.32).
In the Old Testament, labeling someone as a scoffer is possibly the most serious designation we can make.
After the wicked and sinners, the first Psalm positions the scoffer as the most evil of the three.
Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked
or take the path that sinners tread
or sit in the seat of scoffers. (Psalm 1.1)
The scoffer turns what is right upside down and encourages people to follow their crooked pathway. Not only do they harm themselves, but scoffers also try to get other people to follow their wrong-headed schemes.
The first Psalm portrays the scoffer as mere chaff, the leftover residue after wheat harvest. It declares that scoffers won’t fare well in judgment and will ultimately perish.
The wicked are not so
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous,
For the . . . way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1.4-6)
Unteachable
No doubt, Lady Wisdom has something to say about a scoffer and our relationship with them. In her understanding, scoffers prove themselves unteachable.
They not only resist instruction but also react negatively to any effort to impart the Lord’s wisdom.
Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.
Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
rebuke the wise, and he will love you. (Proverbs 9.7-8)
The fact that there are scoffers in the world today is as old as the writings of Proverbs and Paul. We can pray for them. We can give them counsel hoping they’ll receive it.
But by all means, let’s not follow what they have to say.
Wisdom and the Wise
Unlike the scoffers, the wise demonstrate teachability. They are open to learning, even if it means receiving correction for their actions.
Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still;
teach the righteous, and they will gain in learning.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (Proverbs 9.9-10)
I appreciate Bruce Waltke’s interpretation of the fear of the Lord. He references Deuteronomy 5 and 6, along with Proverbs.
In essence, he suggests that the fear of the Lord entails three elements: (1) Living in a loving relationship with God, (2) humbly accepting His guidance, and (3) obediently following it.
This perspective shows how the fear of the Lord grants access to God’s wisdom and insight.
Two Contrasts
Just as Psalm 1 describes the end of the scoffer, it pictures the blessings of living in the fear of the Lord.
They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper. (Psalm 1.3)
With similar language, Proverbs highlights the result of choosing wisdom over folly.
For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it. (Proverbs 9.11-12)
If I were to produce a commercial comparing the choices of scoffing or embracing the fear of the Lord, I’d emphasize the advantages of fearing the Lord: fruitfulness, prosperity, longevity, and wisdom.
This underscores the value of abandoning the notion of being a scoffer in favor of following the Lord.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 