The Rebuke of the Wise

I think that we can legitimately say that according to God and to the Bible, much of what we learn about what is good and right for us do in this life, is taught to us by the words of godly people, and their example. It does not come to us automatically by our own experience of life; it comes to us by being told things which we at first might not want to hear, by people who are wise. And certainly Solomon is not talking about those people who are worldly-wise rebuking us; he is talking about those people who are wise in the sight of God. They know God, and as a result of knowing God, coupled with their experience of life; they have something to say to you. And sometimes it may come to you as a rebuke. So, 1st of all – We want to think about why it is better to hear this rebuke than the song of fools. And then 2nd – We want to think about how it is good for a wise man to convey a rebuke. And then 3rd – We want to think about how it is better to be patient in spirit in relation to both giving rebuke and taking rebuke. May God be working in our hearts as we think about these things.