James H. Cagle
“He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Proverbs 29: 1 KJV).
Some people boast of their stubbornness and hardheadedness as strength, but it can be a weakness that brings about our destruction. When we stand up for the Truth, and for what’s right, we should be unyielding. But when we’re wrong, we should yield and give way to what’s right.
To be reproved is to be rebuked or censored; to be shown from the Word, God’s disapproval of something we’re doing. It is to be clearly shown that we are disobeying God and living contrary to His will. To reprove and rebuke is the responsibility of the Preacher (2 Tim. 4: 2). It is also the responsibility of the parents (Prov. 22: 6) and faithful friends (Proverbs 27: 6).
The reason for rebuking someone is to turn them from their sinful path because they are headed for destruction. Some people ignore the reproof and go on in their sinful way to see how many warnings they will get. But one warning is enough for God to judge us. He is not obligated to give us more warnings, though He often does out of His mercy and patience.
We think about a person as being stubborn and hardheaded, but as our text says, it is the neck that is hardened. When a person turns, they turn the head first and then the body follows. But the head turns on the neck. The neck actually turns the head. If the neck is stiff and hardened because of a rebellious spirit then the head won’t turn and the man will not change direction.
Of course, this is an analogy of a sinful person who has been reproved and warned, but in spite of all the warnings they’ve received they will not repent and turn from their sinful path.
This stubborn, hardheaded, stiff neck, rebellious sinner who assumes on God will meet with sudden destruction and swift judgment. Their destruction will be so swift that there will not any time be given them to repent before they are taken away. They will die in their sin that they refused to give up. Their destruction will be “without remedy,” that means there will be no means of counteracting their error and evil, or of changing God’s final plan to destroy them. God will not give them another opportunity to repent and get saved or get right with Him. No prayers they pray and no pleas for mercy will be heard. It’s too late for that. Of a naughty and wicked person, it is said, “His calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy” (Prov. 6: 15).
Are you assuming on God in thinking He will give you one more warning? But how many warnings have you had? You may not get another warning.
