“Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.

Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.

So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you.

But correct the wise and they will love you..

Instruct the wise and they will be even wiser” (PV 9:7-9)

We are commanded to pray, praise and seek God’s wisdom in all circumstances! This should become our life style. In the Book of Proverbs, chapter 9, we are called to choose one of two options. There are two women calling in the city. Each has a house.

Mrs. Wisdom lives in a palace. She has prepared her banquet and calls all inside to partake. Her guests love and have fellowship with their host. They also love one another.

Mrs. Foolishness lives in a haunted house, where the food is stolen and the drinks are poisoned. Her guests live in the cemetery; they hate her but visit from time to time when hungry for more disgrace.

This is the background of the chapter. In particular, we are commanded to be careful and wise when there is a need for rebuke. We are to pray for discernment when making the choice to personally invite, counsel and rebuke another.

There are two options:

*We are to rebuke the wise! The result is good for all! The rebuked wise person will increase in wisdom and the same will love you more. Why? The wise person loves truth and is ready to pay the price to have more of it. The rebuke will prevent future damage and loss. The rebuke increases the anointing for ministry.  Faithful rebuke is a manifestation of spiritual covering, a sign of love from God, a form of protection given to His children alone. It is a family mark.

*We are to avoid rebuking the foolish scorner! This is because he will reject your love and concern, increasing his previous sin. The scornful will mock your wisdom and use your words against you. He will hate you and stain your testimony by calling you unloving. The rejected rebuke will become a weapon of violence in the mouth of the mocker. No need for useless pain!

Please observe that we are not to hate a mocker. We are to hate his sin, not the person. The general call and invitation from Mrs. Wisdom goes to all the inhabitants of the city. We are to preach the gospel of grace to all who can listen. But we are not to privately counsel or rebuke a mocker. He is stubborn, proud, un-teachable, rebellious and wicked. He will only waste your time and effort. The reward of rebuking a mocker shall be shame and insult, unnecessary pain you should avoid. The religious mockers are very crafty. They know enough of the Bible to quote back scriptures against you. They will confuse you with their knowledge. Some ‘professional’ mockers are possessed by demons. They can tear down any godly offer. Some of these are employed in ‘a ministry’ of church entertainment. God forbid! Be careful! They are able to make you grieve the Holy Spirit with their occult jokes. You do not ‘joke’ with the devil. He is like a rattle snake. The best thing is to avoid it if you are not prepared to handle it.

For example, the prophet Elijah did not correct, did not rebuke the prophets of Baal. He confronted them and they failed, he killed them all! Then the people of God repented of doubt and came back to Jehovah!

Another example: King Hezekiah sent messengers to all the people that they should come and partake in the Passover Feast. In other words, he called them to be humble, repent and pray for revival. That was a good thing to do. But they insulted the messengers and reject their call. That was the end of that grace. He did not call them again. Some repented later (2Chr 30:10)

Even Jesus was mocked and insulted by the religious hypocrites. He commanded His disciples to ‘leave them alone’. The word in Greek means to abandon, to forsake or to ignore them.

Mockers do not appreciate wisdom, spiritual beauty, holiness and sacrifice. Their mockery is a choice, a life style. They are the enemies of the Cross. We are to abandon them to their own foolishness and give God the room to handle them Himself.

“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy! Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you… so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.” (Mt 7:6; 15:14)

But as for me and the children God has given to me we shall appreciate God’s love as a father!

We shall love truth and we shall pay the price for its entrance!

We shall receive any holy prophetic rebuke, blessing God and thanking the messenger!

‘Let the righteous man smite and correct me—it is a kindness. Oil so choice let not my head refuse or discourage’ (Ps 141:5)

In Jesus name, Amen!