A Reproving Spirit

(Proverbs 1:23 KJV)  Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

I have been coming across this call to “reproof” (8433b) recently.  I checked and the Hebrew word is used sixteen times in Proverbs.  What is interesting to me here is that reproof is one of the ways in which the Lord speaks to us.  It is a learning tool of the Holy Spirit.  I would guess this supports the idea that we learn more through struggle than we do through pleasure.

It is true for me and I think it is true for people in general.  Think of the cycle that Israel would go through.  God would bless them and they would prosper.  In prosperity they would begin to focus their confidence on material success and withdraw from God.  God would warn them and be ignored.  Finally you would have tragedy that brought revival.  Revival would bring blessing and the cycle repeats itself. 

So?  This is why Bible believing churches used to have revival services on a regular basis.  It was not a ritual, it was a renewal.  We don’t see it much in the church any more.  That means it is up to us to search our souls and listen to what God wants to teach us.