Saturday, February 2, 2013

Our First Look at the Fool (Studies in Proverbs)



SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/2/2013 8:19 AM
My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Looking at the Fool PT-1
Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Various verses in Pr.
            Message of the verses:  The third subject that is found in Dr. Wiersbe’s sixth chapter on his commentary on the book of Proverbs is the subject of the fool and that will take a lot longer to discuss for the word “fool” is found forty times in the book of Proverbs in the NASB.  The word “fools” is found twenty-one times and then the word “folly” is found seventeen times in the book of Proverbs (NASB).
            The following are the definitions for the words fools and folly:  0191 ליוא ‘eviyl ev-eel’

from an unused root (meaning to be perverse); ;{ See TWOT on 44 @@ "44a" } adj m

AV-fool( s) 20, foolish (man) 6; 26

1) be foolish, foolish
1a) (subst)
1a1) of one who despises wisdom
1a2) of one who mocks when guilty
1a3) of one who is quarrelsome
1a4) of one who is licentious
0200 תלוא ‘ivveleth iv-veh’ leth

from the same as 0191; n f; {See TWOT on 44 @@ "44c" }

AV-folly 13, foolishness 10, foolish 1, foolishly 1; 25

1)     foolishness, folly”

These two words are very similar in their meaning so we can conclude that the subject of fools and foolishness is a pretty large subject that is found in the book of Proverbs.
“The English words ‘fool’ and ‘folly’ come from the Latin follies, which mean ‘bellows.’  It also described a person’s puffed-up cheeks.  Follis indicates that a fool is a windbag, somebody full of air but lacking in substance.  Fools may look like giants, but when the wind is taken out of them, they shrink dramatically and reveal what they really are—pygmies.”  (Warren Wiersbe)
“In Proverbs, three different Hebrew words are translated ‘fool’: kesyl, the dull, stupid fool who is stubborn; ewiyl, the corrupt fool who is morally perverted and unreasonable; and nabal, the fool who is like a stubborn animal, the brutish fool. (See 1Sam. 25.)  In this summary of the characteristics of the fool, we’ll combine the verses and not distinguish the three different types.  After all, fools are fools, not matter what name we give them!”  (From the introduction of Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on the fool from his commentary on Proverbs.)
Fools won’t learn from God’s Word.  “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction (Pr. 1:7).”  The word “beginning” means “controlling principle).  When we think of a fool the first thing we might consider is that they are not very smart, they have a low IQ, but that is not the case at all.  The problem is not within the brain power of the person, but the problem is in the heart:  They will not acknowledge the Lord and they will not submit to Him.  Romans 3:18 says, ““There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (This verse is a quotation from Psalm 36:1)
I will quote some of the verses that are found in Proverbs that show some of the troubles that are involved in being a fool:  A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible (Proverbs 15:5).”  “When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest (Pr. 29:9).”  Why is this verse true of the fool?  The answer is that the fool actually enjoys their folly and they think that this kind of thing is real living.  “Folly is joy to him who lacks sense, But a man of understanding walks straight Pr. 15:21).”  "How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? (Pr. 1:22)”  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel (Pr. 12:15).”  “A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind (Pr. 18:2).”
      We will now look at why a fool does not learn wisdom and that reason is because they cannot keep their eyes focused on the things that are really important.  “Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth (Pr. 17:24).”  Dr. Wiersbe says “God’s Word helps people keep their feet on the ground and make wise decisions in this difficult world in which we live.”
      Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I truly can say that this type of study that I am now doing comes with great difficult for me, however I can also say that I am learning things from the book of Proverbs that I have never learned before in my times that I have read through it.  I like a verse by verse study of God’s Word, but that seems like it would be too difficult to do when studying the book of Proverbs so this topical study seems like it is the best way. 
My Steps of Faith for Today:  There are many things that describe a fool, and I am only at the beginning study of it, and so the things I am learning about the fool I do not want to do at any time.
Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 121:1-8
            1 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come?  2 My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.  3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not stumble.  4 Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.  6 The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.  7 The LORD will protect you from evil; He will keep your soul.  8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.
Turning Points Wisdom for Today:  “I thou thinkest twice, before thou speakest once, thou wilt speak twice the better for it.”  (William Penn)  “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is a folly and a shame to him.”  (Proverbs 18:13)
2/2/2013 9:25 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment