Proverbs 1:24

24 "Because ¹I called and you ²refused, I ³stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;

Proverbs 1:24 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 1:24

Because I have called, and ye refused
This is to be understood not of the internal call of Wisdom, or Christ, which is by the special grace of his Spirit; is according to an eternal purpose, the fruit of everlasting love, peculiar to God's elect, and by a divine power; and is also a call to special blessings of grace, and to eternal glory; and which is always effectual, unchangeable, and irreversible, and can never be refused, rejected, and resisted, so as to become void and of no effect: but of the external call by the word, to the natural duties of religion, and to an attendance on the means of grace; which may be where no election goes before, no sanctification attends, nor salvation follows, ( Matthew 20:16 ) ( 22:14 ) ; and this may be refused and rejected, as it often is; as when men, notwithstanding that call, do not attend on the ministry of the word, or, if they do, it is in a negligent careless way; or, they show an aversion to it, despise, contradict, and blaspheme it, as the Jews did, who were the persons first called to hear it; see ( Matthew 22:2-5 ) ; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
this is a gesture of persons calling to others, as orators and preachers, requiring silence and attention; and when eager and fervent, and importunate in their discourses; it is attributed to Christ, ( Isaiah 65:2 ) ( Romans 10:21 ) ; but, notwithstanding all Wisdom's eagerness, zeal, warmth, and importunity, expressed by words and gestures, it was all disregarded; no attention was given to it, which is here complained of.

Proverbs 1:24 In-Context

22 "How long , O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?

23 "Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

24 "Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;

25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof;

26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes,

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 65:12; Isaiah 66:4; Jeremiah 7:13
• 2. Zechariah 7:11
• 3. Isaiah 65:2; Romans 10:21