Proverbs 19.25 says, smite a scorner, and the simple will beware, and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. In our previous proverb devotional, we discussed the first three words, smite the scorner. So let's begin by being reminded that yes, sometimes that can involve physical violence. Go back and listen if you think that sounds harsh or even incorrect. We also point out that in some cases, the scorner must be smitten with non-violent responses. That could include termination of employment or student status, shunning and end of personal relationships, in some circumstances criminal prosecution and even imprisonment. We won't rehash or re-argue that point. It is what it is. And we now move on to the main point. And the simple will beware. The simple is someone that otherwise intelligent wise people would recognize as simply being stupid. In our overly sensitive age, calling someone stupid or just pointing out their words and or deeds are stupid is labeled as being HATEFUL! That's because our generation loves lies. But the Bible is true. Let every man who contradicts the Bible be called stupid, foolish, and a liar. The simple are void of knowledge and wisdom. The simple are dumb, stupid, ignorant, and unteachable. And that last point is really the point. You know, there's nothing wrong with being ignorant or even stupid if you are teachable. Some folks were raised by ignorant, stupid parents or guardians. It's not their fault that they are stupid insofar as they are then teachable and are trying to learn, grow, and become wise. The fact is, I was pretty stupid or simple up to the time I got saved. It wasn't my parents' fault. It wasn't even my school's fault. It wasn't the church's fault that we attended. I was just unteachable. I refused to listen and learn. I thought my parents were stupid. And even though I had very little knowledge of anything important, I somehow thought that I knew more than my parents. That in and of itself is incredibly stupid. So what happened? I was smitten. Smite a scorner and the simple will beware. Suffer the consequences of my own choices. I was betrayed by so-called friends who shared my attitude as a scorner. Life just came down on me hard. I found myself face down in the dirt. It was as if everyone and everything in my life heard those words, smite a scorner, and that was me. And the blows landed hard and fast. And what happened? And the simple will beware. I snapped too. I repented toward God with faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. I put my full faith and trust in the shed blood of Jesus, in death on the cross, and in the power of his resurrection victory over sin and death. I committed myself then to being teachable, to learning God's word and then living by God's words, not being a hearer only, but a doer of the word. And my life has been forever changed. Now, I've still done some stupid things and said some stupid things. None of us will ever be sinless, but we should sin less. And I immediately recognize it now when I'm out of line with God's word. And as quickly as I'm willing to, and it should be immediate, confess my sins then to the Lord and He forgives me. and I set my intentions to never repeat that particular error and to try to do better. I love how Psalm 116.6 puts it. The Lord preserveth the simple. I was brought low and he helped me. Amen. I thank God to have been smitten and brought low where the Lord began to then help me and lift me up as much as I was teachable and as much as I gave myself to follow his word. And he does that because we serve a wonderful Savior. God is merciful. Amen.