Devoid of Understanding

"…at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, and saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, a young man devoid of understanding." (Proverb 7:6-7)

The Hebrew word translated as “simple” in this passage literally means “foolish”. The Amplified Bible gives an alternative meaning: “empty headed and empty hearted.”

The Complete Jewish Bible renders the verse like this:

“For I was at the window of my house, glancing out through the lattice, when I saw among the young men there, among those who don't think for themselves, a young fellow devoid of all sense.” (Proverb 7:6-7 - CJB)

However the word is translated…. “foolish”, “empty headed and empty hearted”. or “one who doesn’t think for himself”….it is NOT a good thing.

The truth is that the word “youth” means a young one and, spiritually speaking, a person can be a spiritual “youth” well into his adulthood….should he choose to never mature.

I’ve met people in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s who were, spiritually speaking, “youths.”

The common denominator among them, it seems, is that they “don’t think for themselves”. Almost every one of them…if not all…let some spiritual leader do their reasoning for them when it comes to things they consider to be in the category of “spiritual”.

So, they remain “simple”, “foolish”, “empty headed and empty hearted”. Or “one who doesn’t think for himself”. It’s their own doing.

But, there is something the writer of Proverbs considered to be even worse than being merely “foolish”.

“a young man devoid of understanding." (Proverb 7:7b)

This is a person who is willingly and completely unaware of what is happening all around him.

This Proverb reveals him to be easy pray for temptation and sin.

Brothers and sisters, we need not suffer from either of these conditions.

For the first condition, all we have to do is choose to be ACTIVE in our growth in the Lord. Let’s choose to read the Word for ourselves, ACTIVELY listen as others share what the Lord is teaching them, PONDER what God is showing us as He reveals to us and PRACTICE what we are learning. We must let it become out habit…our “new normal”, if you will.

Should we do that, we will cease to be simple, foolish people. We will mature as believers and that will delight our Father.

Addressing the second condition, all we have to do is recognize that we live in a spiritual war zone and CHOOSE to be ACTIVE in our vigilance as we are commanded to do:

(Jesus speaking) “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

and (the Apostle Paul speaking):

“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men (not like foolish children), be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints…” (Ephesians 6:18)

and (the Apostle Peter speaking):

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

It’s not like we haven’t been warned.

Let’s stop being easy prey to the devil and his schemes.

Let’s be wise and aware.

Let’s fight this spiritual war GOD’S way….and win.

Pastor Mike McInerney

Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.

Decatur, TX

© November 7, 2018

(For use with permission)