January 15, 2020

Four Features of a Fool #

Intro.

Fool is a prominent word in Chapter 17. We do understand that the Proverbs are not a continuous flow of thoughts, but rather a collection of wise sayings. By selecting a prominent word, by no means am I covering the entirety of the chapter. I have only selected a few proverbs that appear in the same chapter, and teaching on them. There are many themes, and lessons that can be learned from chapter 17 that will not be touched tonight… so by all means, do take the time to read Proverbs 17, and see other things written in there.

Identifying a fool. We all have foolish tendencies, because we have a sin nature. We can learn from the life of fools, and take the reproof from this chapter, and let it mold our life, into the image of God! He that hath and ear to hear, let him hear.

I. Fool’s Words - (7, 28) #

A. Words of the fool #

Prov. 17:7 ¶ Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

Excellent speech

Excellent - 1. being of great value or use, applied to things 2. Distinguished for superior attainments

Excellent would be considered speech that is favorable, or helpful to people.

It is not helpful to tear down or destroy others.

Words are a product of the heart… the heart of a fool doesn’t contain excellency… so don’t expect excellency out.

Lying lips - slander, talebearer

B. Wise fool #

Prov. 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Keep quiet - 1 Thess 4:11

Fools usually don’t keep quiet, they usually tell all, and more than they know.

C. Word to the Wise - #

If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

Excellent speech is what you would expect from a prince, and lying lips is what you would expect from a fool.

II. Fool’s Waste (10, 16, 24) #

A. Wasted correction - heart #

Prov. 17:10 ¶ A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

A wise man will hear reproof, this is simple verbal correction….

The wise will listen, and correct their way. - Preaching is often reproof

a) 2Tim. 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

A fool will be punished and punished, but he will not learn.

Why? - Wayward heart

Prov. 18:2 ¶ A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Prov. 28:26 ¶ He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

B. Wasted price - Pointless - like a jewel in a swines snout #

Prov. 17:16 ¶ Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

Price in the hand… to pay for a fools schooling is foolish waste

Prov. 11:22 ¶ As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

C. Wasted Life #

Prov. 17:24 ¶ Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

Eyes on worldly things, getting all he can from the world.

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

III. Fool’s Wages (12) #

A. Destruction to self #

Prov. 17:12 ¶ Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Folly - An absurd act which is highly sinful; any conduct contrary to the laws of God or man; sin; scandalous crimes; that which violates moral precepts and dishonours the offender.

1. Josh. 7:15 And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.

   Achan wrought folly in Israel, as a result he was destroyed, as well as his family, and possessions. (Joshua 7:24-25)

   All because of SELFISHNESS!

B. Destruction to others (Joshua 7:15) #

Achan wrote folly in Israel (Joshua 7)

The height of selfishness and selfish gain! (Joshua 7:4-5)

36 warriors died in vain! - They died for a lost cause! They didn’t even win.

Israel was discouraged, embarrased

The enemy was emboldened!

IV. Fool’s Woes (21) #

Every person does something foolish, and every parent can feel the burden of a child’s foolish decision… however the sorrowful weight of a fool’s constant folly, is even more grievous a burden to bear, and can snuff the joy and life out of parents.

A. Rehoboam, Solomon’s son… #

Prov. 17:21 ¶ He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

Prov. 17:25 ¶ A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

Solomon himself strayed from God!

1Kings 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah, an Ammonitess

Solomon brought other nations into Israel, and their gods

Rehoboam ultimately chose the foolish counsel of his friends over the wiser counsel his father’s advisors.

Rehoboam, ultimately split Israel, and sadly only ended up with 2 of the 12 tribes. - This is what we know about him… we can imagine his earlier decisions in life were equally foolish, and a sorrow to his parents.