Proverbs 1:33

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about God’s protection:

Proverbs 1:33(NIV)

But, whoever listens to me (Wisdom) will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.

Proverbs 1:33 (ESV)

but whoever listens to me will dwell secure

and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

For those who believe that the Proverbs are also promises (some would believe they are principles and guidelines, not always promises) the above proverb is a wonderful pledge to grasp. The context of Proverbs chapter one is that we have a choice to follow the fools of life or to choose to follow God and live in the fear of the Lord, which produces wisdom. That wisdom, when chosen, leads to a life safe and without harm. Perhaps the thing to realize is that in this life, surrounded by sin and chaos, we can find peace as we follow the principles, guidelines and promises of God. When followed they will produce a life that is protected and secure in the sovereignty of God. So, if I am walking in wisdom the only thing that will happen to me fits into God’s plan for my life. Now, that is a place of safety and ease!!  It is really a simple formula, actually. Living a victorious Christian life boils down to Proverbs 1:33, "But he who listens to me shall live securely, and will be at ease from the dread of evil." That is the key to life: Just Listen to God. Of course, that is the rub ... listening is so hard to do. We have so many more voices shouting out to us. We tend to "listen" to them more than we want to "listen" to God's voice. This book of Proverbs is about "listening" to voices. In 1:20 we read that wisdom "shouts" out in the streets. This whole book of Proverbs is about Wisdom shouting out and our listening to it. However, it is a book that also warns about how foolishness shouts out and beckons us to respond; to listen to it. In the first nine chapters in particular we will see the contrast between wisdom's shouting out and foolishness shouting out. If we listen to wisdom we have success and are free from the fear of evil. But, if we heed the voice of foolishness we have calamity and disaster. Who will you listen to?

This verse doesn’t say we will be “free from harm.”  It says, as we obey God’s Word, we will not live in FEAR OF HARM!  The key is that harm may hit us, even if we obey God’s Word.  But, listening and obeying God’s Word will set us free from the fear of harm. What a blessed promise from God.