Story - The Two Listeners at the City Gate
(Inspired by Proverbs 9:7–9)
The city of Elion sat at the crossroads of three
ancient roads, and at its great stone gate, people gathered every morning to
trade, argue, and learn. Merchants displayed their wares, elders settled
disputes, and teachers stood on worn steps offering words to anyone willing to
listen.
Among those teachers was Maaseiah, an old man whose
beard was white as almond blossoms. He did not shout like the others. He spoke
calmly, trusting that truth did not need force to be heard.
One morning, as the sun climbed above the walls,
Maaseiah began to speak.
“Correction is a mirror,” he said. “Some look into it
and wash their faces. Others smash the mirror and walk away unchanged.”
Two young men stood nearby, listening.
The Scoffer: Joram
The first was Joram, sharp-tongued and proud. He was
known in the city for his clever words and quick laughter. People admired his
wit, but few trusted his counsel. Joram believed wisdom was something a man was
born with—not learned.
When Maaseiah spoke about humility and discipline,
Joram scoffed.
“Old man,” he interrupted loudly, “your words belong to
another age. The world rewards confidence, not correction. Why should anyone
listen to rebuke when they already know better?”
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Maaseiah looked at Joram—not with anger, but with
sorrow.
“Son,” he said gently, “when a scoffer is corrected, he
does not gain wisdom—only resentment.”
Joram’s face hardened.
“So now you insult me?” he snapped. “You call me a fool
in front of everyone?”
Maaseiah shook his head. “I only offer truth. What you
do with it reveals your heart.”
Joram turned away in anger, muttering insults. From
that day on, whenever Maaseiah spoke, Joram mocked him louder than before. His
pride grew, but so did his isolation. Friends stopped advising him. Mistakes
multiplied. Yet he blamed everyone but himself.
Correction had come to him—but instead of learning, he
gained an enemy.
The Wise Listener: Eliab
The second young man was Eliab, a quiet apprentice
stonecutter. His hands were rough, his clothes simple, but his eyes were
attentive. He had made mistakes before—costly ones—and he had learned how
painful pride could be.
After the crowd thinned, Eliab approached Maaseiah.
“Teacher,” he said, bowing his head, “your words
trouble me. I see myself in them. I often resist correction, even when I know
it is right.”
Maaseiah smiled.
“Then wisdom has already begun its work in you,” he
replied. “A wise man is not one who never errs, but one who listens when
corrected.”
Eliab hesitated. “Will rebuke always hurt?”
“Yes,” Maaseiah said. “But like a surgeon’s knife, it
wounds only to heal.”
From that day on, Eliab sought counsel. When his master
corrected his work, he listened instead of arguing. When elders advised
patience, he practiced restraint. Each correction sharpened him like iron on
stone.
Years passed.
Eliab became known not only for skill, but for
judgment. People came to him for advice. He listened carefully, spoke humbly,
and continued to learn. Correction no longer frightened him—it strengthened
him.
As the proverb proved true:
Instruction did not shame the wise—it made him wiser
still.
The Lesson of the Gate
One evening, long after Maaseiah had passed away, Eliab
stood at the same city gate teaching young apprentices.
He told them, “When correction comes, you will choose
one of two paths. You may become bitter like Joram—or better like I was taught
to be.”
“The difference,” he said, “is not the correction
itself, but the heart that receives it.”
And so, at the city gate, the wisdom of Proverbs 9:7–9
continued to live—not just in words, but in lives transformed by humility.
Proverbs 9:7–9 draws a clear line between two kinds of
hearts: one that resists correction and one that welcomes it. The passage
reminds us that wisdom is not measured by how much we already know, but by how
we respond when we are corrected.
Correction often feels uncomfortable. It challenges our
pride and exposes our weaknesses. Yet, Scripture teaches that a wise person
does not see correction as an attack, but as a gift. Instruction offered in
love has the power to refine character, deepen understanding, and lead us
closer to righteousness.
In contrast, the scoffer rejects correction and
responds with hostility. Not because the correction is false, but because pride
refuses to admit the need for growth. The tragedy of the scoffer is not
ignorance—it is unwillingness. By rejecting rebuke, the scoffer shuts the door
to wisdom and isolates himself from truth.
God’s wisdom invites humility. When we accept rebuke,
we demonstrate reverence for the Lord, for true wisdom begins with the fear of
God. Each correction we receive—whether from Scripture, godly counsel, or
life’s circumstances—is an opportunity to grow.
This passage calls us to examine our hearts:
Do we become defensive when corrected?
Do we listen before reacting?
Do we seek wisdom, even when it exposes our flaws?
A teachable heart is fertile soil for God’s work. The
wise are not offended by correction—they are strengthened by it. When we choose
humility over pride, instruction does not diminish us; it enlarges us.
Lord, give me a humble and teachable heart. Help me to
receive correction with grace and to grow in wisdom and righteousness. Amen.
Living Out Proverbs 9:7–9
Examine Your Response to Correction
Notice how you react when someone corrects you. Do you
become defensive, angry, or dismissive? Or do you pause and consider the truth
being offered? Your reaction reveals the condition of your heart.
Choose Humility Over Pride
Wisdom grows where humility lives. Even well-intended
correction can be ignored if pride takes control. Choosing humility opens the
door to learning and spiritual maturity.
Seek Instruction from Godly Sources
Surround yourself with people who value truth and
righteousness. God often uses Scripture, mentors, and life experiences to
correct and guide us.
Do Not Waste Energy on Mockery
Proverbs warns against correcting a scoffer because it
leads to hostility. Discern when to speak and when to remain silent, trusting
God to work in hearts in His time.
Let Correction Produce Growth
Instruction is not meant to shame but to strengthen.
When accepted, it adds understanding, sharpens judgment, and draws us closer to
God.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your wisdom that guides and corrects me.
Help me to receive instruction with a humble heart
and not resist the truth You place before me.
Remove pride from my spirit and replace it with
teachability.
Give me discernment to know when to speak
and grace to grow when I am corrected.
May Your wisdom shape my character
and lead me in the path of righteousness.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
