Happy is a Heart Opened by the Lord – (Proverbs 21:11)

Daily Bible Study
This passage very much parallels Proverb 19:25 which replaces the word punishment with the word strike. What this passage has done is it has shown us different types of people or three different characters or degrees of rebellion against the Lord. First, we have the scoffer who is a lost cause. While in this stage of rebellion, he can never learn, not even punishment will give him understanding. Without the Holy Spirit's work on his heart, he has no hope of gaining wisdom or understanding, because his heart is completely closed off to anything good or decent. His heart, which has become completely stone, cannot and will not receive the things of God, no matter how many blows they receive. This is a person whom only the Holy Spirit can reach. Moreover, this is often the person whom God has to humble and work on for some time, in order to reverse the affects sin and a fallen world have had on their hearts. Next we have the simple, though still in rebellion has enough sense to learn from watching the consequences endured by the scoffer. The simple, have not yet transformed their heart completely into stone, they can still hear, listen and respond to God's wisdom.

The Holy Spirit can touch the heart of the simple, and place a believer in their path from whom they can hear the Gospel message and receive God's grace. And finally we have the wise, these are those who follow the Lord. Those who have been saved by faith and God's grace. They can learn from instruction and have the ability to perceive the consequences and effects on life wickedness brings. The difference between these three is where they stand in relationship to God. The wise are those who in humility and meekness follow the Lord. The simple, are those who, though still in rebellion are open to hearing and responding to the Gospel message. And finally there is the scoffer, this is a person who is completely closed off to God, a person who often requires God's humbling work to break up the stone of their hearts. We were all dead in our trespasses and sins. However, when the Holy Spirit changes our heart we have the ability to respond to God's call, which in turn brings salvation and renews our hearts and minds by God's work in us and in our lives. Our salvation brings wisdom from God, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and from the study of God's word, the Bible. It's the Holy Spirit who illuminates our understanding of scripture, in light of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.