International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Scoff; Scoffer:

skof, skof’-er: The verb indicates the manifestation of contempt by insulting words or actions; it combines bitterness with ridicule. It is much more frequent in the Revised Version (British and American) than in the King James Version, replacing “scorn” of the latter in Ps 1:1; Pr 1:22, etc. “Scorn” refers rather to an inner emotion based on a sense of superiority; “scoff,” to the outward expression of this emotion

There are many psalms. Is it strange that we discover the issue of the scoffer in the first verse of the first psalm.

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

Imagine if you would, that you are trying to present the gospel to a stranger and when you say “God loves you!” their reply is “Do you say that to everyone?” Your reply would be “Yes” and then they retort, “Well that doesn’t make me feel special at all.”

Emotional superiority does not recognize the authority of anyone to bring them down to a level of needing anyone except an object of scorn.

Proverbs 1:24-26 English Standard Version

24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you,

When terror strikes emotional superiority we fail to protect them, and terror will strike.

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Terrible, Terror:

ter’-i-b’l, ter’-er (yare’,” to be feared,” “reverenced,” arits, “powerful,” “tyrannical,” ‘ayom, “aweinspiring,” chittith “terror,” ballahah, “a worn-out or wasted thing,” ‘emah, “fright”; phoberos, “dreadful,” phobos, “fear”): The above terms, and many others which employed, denote whatever, by horrible aspect, or by greatness, power, or cruelty, affrights men (De 1:19; 26:8; Da 2:31). God is terrible by reason of His awful greatness, His infinite power, His inscrutable dealings, His perfect holiness, His covenant faithfulness, His strict justice and fearful judgments

The scoffer does not recognize God’s authority and believes only in himself. Terror comes when he discovers he has been wrong his whole life. When judgment comes, intellect has no defense.

1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Isaiah 61:1 English Standard Version

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;[a] he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;[b]
Footnotes

1. Isaiah 61:1 Or afflicted
2. Isaiah 61:1 Or the opening [of the eyes] to those who are blind; Septuagint and recovery of sight to the blind

This is what the “Good News” looks like. There are two footnotes for this one verse and perhaps there should have been more.

When we hear poor we think of money and the absence of it. The footnote tries to clarify the use of the word poor by giving an alternative meaning, afflicted. That may expand the meaning but does not answer the reality of His message about poverty. Good news isn’t good news if it does not change the listener’s situation. The good news is that Jesus is offering us what we did not have that God wants us to have to change our situation. This sentence is inadequate on its own to demonstrate what God is offering to the afflicted.

The second offering is to bind the broken hearted. To bind is an external operation of an outside agent to take over the condition of a life threatening condition. To bind is to take over control and be responsible for the object of that condition, our hearts. More scriptures are required to come to a complete understanding of that operation.

Proclaiming liberty to captives is like opening the door to the prison cell. It does not speak to what captivated the prisoner, what the charges were, what sentence was imposed or who imposed it. It also does not speak to the condition of the prisoner’s emotional state. Do they even want to be set free? This is why the second footnote speaks to the issue of blindness. When we are bound in darkness and we see the light of freedom, that first glimpse of light can be painful.

The “Good News” is a proclamation. It does not declare what the Lord’s Favor is, and what we can expect if we decide that we want our circumstances to change. Even the world’s most memorable quote doesn’t explain everything.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Many know what it says but haven’t the faintest clue as to what to believe and how.