By Proverbs 18:1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.
I do my morning studies in a corner of my basement. My office consists of a desk pushed in a nook next to our exercise equipment. I am isolated as I do my study. The sun has not risen, and my wife and kiddos are all sleeping. As I read Proverbs 18:1 this morning, I wonder what is the intended meaning. Am I breaking out against all sound judgement as I pray, read, and type?
The commentaries I looked at tell me this person who isolates himself is more than our cultural catch-phrase antisocial. It is a person who is an enemy of society. A person who gnarls his teeth at everyone around him, not wanting anyone to come near or offer wisdom. This person desires no input from others. They are wise in their own eyes, and show their teeth to anyone who says otherwise. I am not like this person, and I am guessing you are not either. Yet this person lives down the river from where each one of us are at; it is just a matter of how far down. You may arrive on his shore in two days, and I might be there in thirty minutes. The exhortation of the proverb indicates neither of us should let the river carry us to his dwelling place. We should put our ores down and begin paddling in the opposite direction. But what does the other house look like?
This person’s house is like the wise woman’s house of wisdom I mentioned in a previous post HERE. It is a house where the bread is buttered and warm, the wine is in abundance, and the instruction is continual. There is community, fellowship, laughter, and joy. No one in this house is gnarling their teeth in the corner. This house is filled with smiles and sound judgement, or sorrow with simple rejoicing. Life is hard, and pain is real. And this woman’s house has plenty of room for prayerful tears.
The only time Jesus isolated himself was to be alone with his Father. Let’s go and do likewise.
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. -Proverbs 18:1
Leading Family Devotions 