“[Skillful and godly] wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding [and he recognizes it], But the eyes of a [thickheaded] fool are on the ends of the earth.” Proverbs 17:24 AMP
I love the straight forwardness of the Amplified translation! It really puts it in a clearly understandable way! We are once again faced with the contrast between a person who is pursuing truth and the one who seeks to deceive himself. In the opening section of the verse, we are told that “Skillful and godly wisdom” is in the “presence” of a person who seeks understanding. The tensing of the words used here implies that aa person of understanding continually dwells in the presence of God’s wisdom. Learning to remain in the presence of God is a difficult task now a days! There are so many things that are attempting to distract us away from the presence of God. The Apostle Paul warned the believers not to be deceived.
The book of Deuteronomy warns us that,
Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away [from the LORD] and serve other gods and worship them,” Deuteronomy 11:16 AMP
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived;”
1 Corinthians 6:9 AMP
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. 8For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
Galatians 6:7-8 AMP
John addresses the issue also.
“Little children (believers, dear ones), do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who practices righteousness [the one who strives to live a consistently honorable life—in private as well as in public—and to conform to God’s precepts] is righteous, just as He is righteous.”
1 John 3:7 AMP
In each of these cases, the word deceived means, “to be in a state of a wrong view about a situation, implying the one deceived bear some responsibility as a kind of self-deception; To speak in a manner which may deliberately give harmful information while speaking carelessly or callously.” Satan is constantly trying to distract you away from the foundations of real truth. That is why the Scripture tell us to “take every thought captive before the throne of God! Our minds can get us into all sorts of trouble. It is generally undisciplined and under the influence of the chemical reactions caused by our emotions leading to a justification of our actions. That is the danger about the “if it feels good, do it!” way of living.
Our verse goes on to warn us about the danger of walking away from God’s truth; we become fools! Remember that a fool is someone who is in a state of being completely void of understanding leading to a rebellion against the truth! The fool is constantly looking for new and inventive ways of justifying his or her sin and own lifestyle. The word used to describe such a person is “thick-headed.” They are so devoid of an interest in the truth that they cannot even consider the matter at hand. The writer of Psalms 86 said,
“Teach me Your way, O LORD, I will walk and live in Your truth; Direct my heart to fear Your name [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder]. 12I will give thanks and praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; And will glorify Your name forevermore. 13For great is Your lovingkindness and graciousness toward me; And You have rescued my life from the depths of Sheol [from death].”
Psalm 86:11-13 AMP
Let our lives be like that of the writer! Because He delivered us from the penalty of our sin, we now desire form a heart of love to obey Him who set us free! Have an obedient day dwelling in His grace! Pastor Ken