SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
2/4/2013 10:56 AM
My Worship Time Focus: More on “The
Fool”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Various
Verses in Pr.
Messages of the
verses: We will continue to look at
what the book of Proverbs has to say about fools, and we must remember that as
we go through what the Proverbs has to say about fools it may not be what we
have thought in the past about fools.
Fools can’t control their speech: We will now look at some of the verses in
Proverbs that show that the fool cannot control his speech. “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge
acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly (Pr. 15:2).” “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his
back, But the lips of the wise will protect them (Pr. 14:3).” “He who gives an answer before he hears, It
is folly and shame to him (Pr. 18:13).”
“Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a
fool than for him (Pr. 29:30).” “The way
of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel
(Pr. 12:15).” “The wise of heart will
receive commands, But a babbling fool will be ruined (Pr. 10:8).” “He who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he
who spreads slander is a fool (Pr. 10:18).” “Leave the presence of a fool, Or
you will not discern words of knowledge.
The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, But the foolishness
of fools is deceit (Pr.14:7-8).” “The
lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so (Pr.
15:7).” “Excellent speech is not fitting
for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince (Pr. 17:7).” “A fool’s lips bring strife, And his mouth
calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his
ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul (Pr.18:6-7)”
Fools cannot control their temper: “A fool’s anger is known at once, But a
prudent man conceals dishonor (Pr.12:16).”
“He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is
quick-tempered exalts folly (Pr. 14:29).”
“Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes
his lips, he is considered prudent (Pr.17:28).”
“A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back Pr.
29:11).” In Ruth chapter four we see how
business was conducted at the gate during that time, and we will see that a
fool shall keep quiet at the gate in Proverbs 24:7 “Wisdom is too exalted for a
fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate.”
“A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, But the
provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them Pr.27:3).” When a fool is angry we must exercise
discernment when we disagree with a fool:
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like
him. Answer a fool as his folly
deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes (Pr. 26:4-5).”
Fools are proud and self-confident: “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered (Pr. 28:26).” As believers we are not to depend upon our
own wisdom, but we are to seek wisdom from the Word of God and from the advice
of those who have been through what we are about to go through to get wise
counsel. “Do you see a man wise in his
own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him (Pr.26:12).” We cannot trust even our own hearts for we
read the following in Jeremiah 17:9 “"The heart is more deceitful than all
else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?’” Fools like to stick their nose in others
business, “Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will
quarrel Pr. 20:3).”
Fools create problems and bring sorrow, especially to
their parents: “The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish son is a grief to his mother (Pr.
10:1).” A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother (Pr. 15:20).” “He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy (Pr. 17:21).” “A foolish son is a grief to his father And
bitterness to her who bore him Pr.17:25).”
The pages of Scripture are fill with the stories of sons
who caused much grief to their parents starting with Cain who kill his brother
Able. We also see Esau who married
heathen women and broke the heart of his parents. Noah’s son caused much grief to him after
they had gotten off the boat. Jacob’s
sons lied to their father about what they did to Joseph. Samson brought much grief to his parents
after all the Lord had promised to his parents about their son. We see the sorrow that Absalom did to his
father David.
Wise parents should discipline their foolish children
before it is too late in order to give them hope. The foolish children can only be helped by
the grace of God.
Fools don’t know how to use wealth: “There is precious treasure and oil in the
dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up (Pr. 21:20).” Dr. Wiersbe states “Fools may know the price
of everything, but they know the value of nothing; they waste their wealth on
things stupid and sinful.” “A man who
loves wisdom makes his father glad, But he who keeps company with harlots
wastes his wealth (Pr. 29:3).” Doesn’t
that verse remind you of the parable that Jesus spoke about the prodigal son in
Luke 15:11-24? “The wise accumulate
wisdom; fools get stupider by the day (Pr. 14:24 Message).” Luxury is not fitting for a fool; Much less for
a slave to rule over princes (Pr. 19:10).”
Fools cannot be trusted with responsibility: “Like snow in summer and like rain in
harvest, So honor
is not fitting for a fool Pr. 26:1).”
Dr. Wiersbe writes “The word honor
in Hebrew (kabod) means ‘heavy,
weighty,’ and can refer to the glory of God and the special respect given to
people. A fool doesn’t have what it
takes to handle responsibility successfully and win the respect of others. Giving honor to a fool is about as fitting as
snow in summer or as helpful as rain during harvest! Both mean disaster.”
We will now look at Proverbs 26:3-12 in which Solomon
will elaborate on this theme by presenting a number of vivid pictures of the
fool and what happens when you give him a job to do: “3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the
donkey, And a rod for the back of fools. 4 Do not answer a fool according to
his folly, Or you will also be like him. 5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes. 6 He cuts off his own feet and drinks
violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool. 7 Like the legs which are
useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 8 Like one who
binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool. 9 Like a thorn
which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by. 11 Like a dog that
returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly. 12 Do you see a man wise
in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Dr. Wiersbe explains what will happen to a fool” “A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his
heart rages against the LORD (Pr. 19:3 NIV).”
Think back to the book of Exodus and what happened to Pharaoh and you
can see how this verse explains it.
More on fools: “The
mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on folly
(Pr. 15:14).” Understanding is a
fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of fools is folly (Pr.
16:22).” Dr. Wiersbe writes “Follow sitcom
and you live on a fruitful oasis; follow Folly and your home is an arid
desert.”
“The fool will ‘die without instruction’ (5:23). ‘The wise shall inherit glory: but shame
shall be the promotion of fools’ (3:35).
They will hear God’s voice say ‘Fool! This night your soul will be
required of you’ (Luke 12:20), NIV), but then it will be too late.”
As believers we are to be a fool for the Lord Jesus Christ: “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are
prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but
we are without honor (1 Cor. 4:10).”
Dr. Wiersbe concludes chapter six in his commentary on
Proverbs by stating: “I read about a man
who bore witness to his faith in a busy shopping area by wearing a sandwich
board which read: I’M A FOOL FOR JESUS CHRIST.
WHOSE FOOL ARE YOU?
“A wise question!
Be sure you can give a wise answer.”
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: One cannot help
but be convicted of some of the things that are described that fools do and
are, but as a believer I must realize two things: First I have God’s wisdom and second I can
learn from the foolish things that I have done and not repeat them by the grace
and power of God.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Don’t act foolishly.
Memory verses for the week:
Psalm 31:1
1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven. Whose sin is covered!
Turning Points Wisdom for
Today: “The wise man is he who has given
himself to Jesus Christ, and who, by the help of the Holy Spirit, Keeps his
intellect in submission to the will of God.”
(Spiros Zodiates) “Given
instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man and he
will increase in learning.” (Proverbs
9:9) (2/4/2013 12:59 PM)
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