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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
February 19, 2012
Warnings on Folly & Foolishness
Selected Proverbs
Introduction
Last week we examined the personification of wisdom in the book of Proverbs and considered her efforts to get people to pay attention and learn knowledge and gain instruction so that they might be wise and prudent. (See: Wisdom’s Call) Wisdom continues to make that effort to this day.
We saw in Proverbs 1:20-33 that Wisdom shouts in the street, in the square and at the gates of the city. All are very public places so there is no excuse for people not to hear her message. She shouts out to the naive, the scoffer and the fool to turn to her reproof so she could make her words known to them. But they refused and neglected her counsel to their own detriment. They will have need of her in the future, but it will be too late, for she will no longer be available to them.
We saw in Proverbs 8:1-36 that Wisdom calls from the heights, along the paths, at the gate to the city and at the entrance of the doors. These are again very public places with the addition of seeking out to call people at their homes as well. Though she calls out publically, she now only seeks the attention of the naive and the fools. The scoffers, are those with insolent pride. They think they know more than they actually do. Proverbs 13:1 & 15:12 tell us the scoffer will not listen to rebuke and will not seek wisdom and so will be left alone. The naive and fools are still offered hope, though this time wisdom seeks to attract them with the blessings she brings. Her blessings include instruction, knowledge, understanding, prudence, discernment, truth, righteousness, power, riches and honor. God created wisdom at the beginning and used her as a master workman in the Creation. Those who listen to her will find life and favor with the Lord. Yet, most will not listen and so injure themselves.
We saw in Proverbs 9:1-12 that Wisdom also sends out invitations. The picture in this passage is of wisdom as a godly hostess preparing a banquet and inviting guests to come enjoy her feast. She sends her maids out to the tops of the heights of the city to call out her invitation to turn in and come immediately to enjoy her banquet. This invitation is only given to the naive. Scoffers continue to be excluded, but fools are also excluded from this invitation. She had previously called out to fools telling them how to receive her blessings, but they turned away from her. She does not invite them again. It would be logical for the naive to come to Wisdom’s feast of truth, righteousness, prudence, knowledge, discretion, counsel, power, justice, riches, honor, God’s favor and life for those are far superior in every way to what scoffers and fools offer – lies, wickedness, pride, arrogance, evil, perversion, exploitation, injustice, injury, folly and death. Yet, the reality is that it is not easy for the naive to forsake their folly for they believe the lies of the wicked and are hesitant to turn their back in their supposed friendship.
Wisdom, instruction, knowledge, understanding, prudence and discretion all go together in describing a person who has the ability to perceive facts, distinguish between them, organize them and act upon them with increasing effectiveness through their experiences in life. However, in Proverbs this refers to much more than just the intelligence and skills do to these things for many who can do them are still fools. In Proverbs, all of these have their foundation in the fear of the Lord which is what separates godly wisdom from the worldly wisdom of fools. Wisdom shouts, calls and invites people to come and learn of God and His ways so that they might be truly wise.
But there is another voice that calls out to those who pass by, and she will be our subject this morning. Those that listen to her will go the opposite direction of where wisdom leads. Her name is folly.
The Personification of Folly – Proverbs 9:13-18
Prov 9:13 (NASB) The woman of folly is boisterous, [She is] naive, and knows nothing. 14 And she sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by the high places of the city, 15 Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight: 16 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” And to him who lacks understanding she says, 17 “Stolen water is sweet; And bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.” 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, [That] her guests are in the depths of Sheol”.
Folly is quite the opposite of Wisdom and this passage contrasts the two. Folly is from kesiluth (kes-eel-ooth’) and comes from the same root word as fool and can also be translated as foolish or foolishness. This is the quality of being dull and obstinate with a proclivity to make wrong choices. Folly is boisterous, hamah (haw-maw’). It is a strong word emphasizing unrest and commotion. It also translated as loud, noisy and clamorous. Wisdom is a lady. Folly is rowdy. Wisdom has understanding and prudence. Folly is naive, ignorant and gullible. Wisdom chooses according to what is right. Folly chooses what is wrong.
Wisdom has been busy preparing her house and banquet for her guests. She has sent her maidens out to invite her guests and she also “calls from the tops of the heights of the city.” Folly is not so busy. She is sitting in a location very near where Wisdom calls. Folly “sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by the high places of the city.” From there she also gives her invitation.
Wisdom’s call is presented as a general invitation to all who are naive. Folly is a little more direct. While the location of her call makes it public, she does have a more specific target in mind for she is “calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight.” These are those who are naive, but they want to walk the right way. There are plenty of people who want to do what is right, they just do not yet know what that is or how to go about it. Proverbs 3:5-6 describes straight paths as a reward for those who trust in the Lord with all their heart, do not lean on their own understanding, and in all their ways acknowledge Him. Notice that these people are busy making their own paths straight in contrast to the Lord making the paths straight for them. The religious, the moralist, the ethicist that tries to figure out their own way apart from the revelation of the true God that created them makes himself vulnerable to folly’s call. They may be nice people who are trying to walk a straight path in doing what is right, but because they determine what is right by their own standards, they will end up walking a crooked path and not even recognize it.
Wisdom and Folly give the same invitation, but it is to two different places. “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” And to him who lacks understanding she says . . . ” (Proverbs 9:3 & 16). Those who listen to and heed Wisdom’s invitation will feast at the banquet table she has prepared for them and gain knowledge and understanding and enjoy the rewards of multiplied days (Proverbs 9:5,9-11). Folly’s invitation is to the naive because the scoffers and fools are already feeding at her table
. Those who listen to and heed her invitation will find that Folly has set her table with what does not actually belong to her. “Stolen water is sweet; And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” The invitation itself is a warning because it is predicated on something that is wrong, yet it is attractive to the naive. They are deceived and think they will get something good at someone else’s expense, but what they gain is not good. Proverbs 20:17 states, “Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.”
The long term consequences are worse as pointed out in verse 18. “But he does not know that the dead are there, [That] her guests are in the depths of Sheol.” The naive were enticed by Folly’s call for it seemed right, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 16:25). This is the opposite of Wisdom, but to sit at Wisdom’s table and enjoy her benefits, Proverbs 9:6 points out that you must “forsake your folly (actually – naivete: petî / peth-ee’) and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.”
Wisdom and Folly both call out, but which will be heard and heeded? My hope is that each one here will hear and follow wisdom, yet I know that Folly’s invitation will still seem attractive to some, so let me continue on to give further warning about Folly by exploring more of what Proverbs says about folly and foolishness.
Three Levels of Foolishness
There are three different Hebrew root words that are variously translated as fool, foolish, foolishness and folly. Each has its own nuance of emphasis on the kind of foolishness that is being expressed. Because English Bibles tend to translate these words as the same or nearly the same, we do not usually notice the distinctions without some detailed study.
The first word, kesîl (kes-eel’) is the most general and refers to those who are dull and at least somewhat obstinate in their bent to make wrong choices. They are naive in some respects in that they may not know or understand, but they are that way in part because they do not want to know or understand. This is the source of the obstinacy which can be range from minimal to severe. This kind of foolishness may or may not include a moral element. Proverbs gives warning about every combination that occurs within this category.
The following are examples in which the obstinacy is mild and does not necessarily carry a moral component.
Their dullness is seen in Proverbs 15:7, “The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so.” These fools cannot speak of knowledge because they do not have it. This lack makes even their attempt to say something wise useless as explained in Proverbs 26:7, “[Like] the legs [which] hang down from the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.” The reference is not to the lame animal, but to the lame legs which are not just useless, but hinder the animal. The wisdom of fools is not just useless, it becomes a handicap because they cannot make a proper application. In addition, their dullness will keep them from gaining wisdom even when the opportunity is available to them as stated in Proverbs 17:16, “Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?” It shows up in basic economics as well. Proverbs 21:20, “There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up.” I heard a radio news story on Friday that was talking about a man who makes $19,600 per month, but spends over $22,000 per month. Such a man is this kind of fool.
The need to give a warning about this kind of foolishness is seen in these Proverbs, but the danger is much greater than just inability and economic loss. Proverbs 13:20 warns, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 1:32 gives an even stronger warning, “For the waywardness of the naive shall kill them, And the complacency of fools shall destroy them.” This warning is given for fools that are complacent, but it gets worse when they are obstinate for then they reject any wisdom they might have gained as these next Proverbs explain.
Proverbs 1:22, “How long, O naive ones, will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?” Proverbs 23:9, “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.” The reason they hate knowledge and despise wisdom is because they are proud. Proverbs 28:26, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.” Because they trust themselves instead of God they are easy prey for Folly. Their pride not only blinds them to truth, it makes them trust illusions that spring out of their own desires.
There can also be a moral component in kesîl (kes-eel’) type foolishness. These next Proverbs add that element which then becomes a factor in their stubbornness and bent to making wrong decisions. Proverbs 10:23 “Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool; And [so is] wisdom to a man of understanding.” Proverbs 13:19 “Desire realized is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.” Proverbs 14:16 explains why, “A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless.” The obstinacy that comes with such foolish pride is a careless regard for evil. They consider it like a game which they think they can get better at and win. Their pride twists their understanding so that they think the evil they do is something good. God pronounces a woe upon them for calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). Their character then becomes marked by evil. Proverbs 10:18, “He who conceals hatred [has] lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.” Proverbs 29:11, “A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back.” Slander and a short temper is only the start. How dangerous is this type of fool? Proverbs 17:12 “Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.” If you know anything about bears, the most dangerous ones are sows with cubs, and a sow that thinks her cubs are in danger are the worst of all.
When kesîl (kes-eel’) does include a moral element, it is a synonym for the next word for fool, ‘eviyl (ev-eel’) and its cognate, ‘ivveleth (iv-veh’-leth). The root meaning of this word group is “thick,” “thick-brained,” and hence “stupid,” but this word group also denotes a moral deficiency too. This kind of fool lacks sense and is generally corrupt. You could say that their moral deficiency results in their being stupid. It is one step below kesîl (kes-eel’) and one step above n b l, the next type of fool we will discuss in a few minutes.
The ‘eviyl (ev-eel’) type fool will range in their moral deficiency from what appears to be just stupidity to moral decadence. This foolishness comes as part of being human. Proverbs 22:15, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.” That is why it is so important that parents are diligent to train their children and for children to be diligent to learn from their parents. Proverbs 15:5, “A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who regards reproof is prudent.” If a child does not learn when they are young, they will become a teenage fool, and with each passing year they become more set in their foolishness.
It has become common in America for those in High School or in college to become argumentative and especially so with their parents. Some of that arises from the natural desire to become more independent, some of it from their manner of education, and some of it from thinking they know more than their parents. While they might actually gain a greater comprehension of particular facts in some particular subject, knowing about something and having wisdom are not the same t
hing. They should heed Proverbs 20:3, “Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel,” and Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is [counted] prudent.” Too many of our young people prove themselves to be the fools they are by opening their mouths and arguing about things they do not really understand. Instead of learning from the wisdom of those who are older, often wisdom gained the hard way by personal experience, they trust the young fools around them, foolish teachers who tickle their ears, and their own foolish heart.
Proverbs warns about the consequence of such foolishness, so pursue wisdom and gain its blessing. As Proverbs 1:8-9 expresses it, hear your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching for they will be a graceful wreath to your head and ornaments about your neck. Proverbs 13:1 states, “A wise son [accepts his] father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” Proverbs 15:32 adds, “He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.”
If the teenage fool does not learn, they will become an adult fool with its consequences. Proverbs 12:15 explains, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” The more stubborn a person becomes in their way, the worse it gets. Proverbs 14:1 warns, “The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” This truth can be applied to the man as well who destroys himself, his career and his family with his foolishness. The major cause of the turmoil in our society can be traced back to the foolishness of pride that either neglects or rejects godly counsel to pursue what is right in their own eyes.
An adult fool will become a middle aged fool and then an old fool if they do not repent and seek wisdom. The longer it goes on, the more the character declines. It is sad, but not uncommon for people that were tolerable or even decent when younger to become crusty if not obnoxious when old. The truth of these Proverbs becomes evident as their character becomes more morally bankrupt. This decline is seen and explained by the several Proverbs in which kesîl (kes-eel’) and ‘eviyl (ev-eel’) are in the same verse. When that happens, ‘eviyl (ev-eel’) is usually translated as folly. Proverbs 14:24 “The crown of the wise is their riches, [But] the folly of fools is foolishness,” or in other words, in contrast to the wise who gain riches by their wisdom, the moral stupidity of the dull and obstinate only makes them more morally stupid. Proverbs 15:2 shows a similar contrast, “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly.” The wise can teach knowledge, but all the dull and obstinate can do is spout moral stupidity. Sadly, as Proverbs 15:14 points out, they will continue in this direction – “The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.” To feed on folly means to be a consumer of it; one who seeks nourishment from it. No wonder their moral stupidity gets worse over time.
This continuing moral decline of fools shows up in their character and increasing obstinacy so that they become obnoxious. Proverbs 14:17 “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is hated.” Proverbs 19:3 “The foolishness of man subverts his way, And his heart rages against the Lord.” Proverbs 29:9 “When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.”
Proverbs 10:21 points out another sad contrast between the wise and fools, “The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of understanding.” They die for the lack of understanding even though it was available to them. Wisdom shouted in the streets; she called from the public places of the city; she gave out invitations to her banquet, but these fools did not listen and heed. The danger facing an old fool is that if they die in that state, they will be a fool for eternity and will only have themselves to blame.
A fool that reaches this stage is actually better described by the third major word translated as fool in Proverbs and other Hebrew Scriptures. It is nabal (naw-bawl’) and it includes the concepts found in kesîl (kes-eel’) and in ‘eviyl (ev-eel’), but this word has a greater emphasis on being ignoble and disgraceful. Someone who is nabal (naw-bawl’) has an insensibility to God and morality. A fool in this sense has become closed minded.
This idea can be seen in the words use in Proverbs 17:17 “Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool; Much less are lying lips to a prince,” and Proverbs 30:22 “If you have been foolish in exalting yourself Or if you have plotted [evil, put your] hand on your mouth.” This type of fool is characterized by lying, not excellent speech, and by proud boasting, not humility. The best description of the nabal (naw-bawl’) type fool is Psalm 14:1 “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.”
A nabal (naw-bawl’) type fool has not payed attention to the warning of Proverbs 3:7, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” Lacking a proper fear of God, the foolish either deny Him outright or live for all practical purposes as if God does not exist. While it is easy to tag atheists as such fools since they are outward about their denial of God, there are actually very few people who are outward atheists though their numbers are growing. The 2007 Pew Forum Report on Religion and Public Life estimated the atheist population in the United States at 1.6% and the agnostic population at 2.4%. A 2008 Gallup Poll set the figure at 6% of the U.S. population that did not believe that a god or universal spirit existed, though the American Religious Identification Survey (AIRS) report taken that same year had a figure of 0.7% self described as atheists and 0.9% as agnostic with the total being nearly double the figure from 2001.
But the issue of this kind of foolishness in Psalm 14:1 is not whether the person describes themselves an atheist, but whether they “have said in their heart, there is no God.” People believe many things in their heart that they will not express with their lips. The truth is revealed in how they live, and by the way people behave, it seems obvious that a huge portion of the population, if not the majority of it, live as if there is no God. They are practical atheists. They claim to be religious, yet reject the teachings and practices of their religion. Many who claim to know and love Jesus still refuse to obey Him. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). It is one thing to be ignorant of or struggle to keep God’s commandments, it is another to purposely ignore them or refuse to obey them.
Foolishness is simply the quality of acting like a fool, and even people who are usually wise can act foolish at times. How often do you do something without a thought of God in mind? Or you deceive yourself and act as if God did not know and would not find out. Foolishness and folly then encompasses a lot more than just the atheist, agnostic or irreligious. Even the wise must be on guard against falling into foolishness and folly even if just briefly. We want to walk circumspectly and keep away from folly even as Proverbs 16:17 explains, “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who watches his way preserves his life.”
Defense Against Foolishness & Folly
Proverbs 26:4 & 5 explains how to deal with a fool. “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly [deserves], Lest he be wise in his own eyes.” You need to be cautious ab
out following their example and becoming like a fool yourself, and you must also not answer in anyway that will let them continue to think of themselves as wise. In other words, you don’t need to waste your time trying to debate them. That only treats them as if they have something worth saying and gives them a forum. They need a rebuke. That may be done by ignoring them or by openly rebuking them depending on the particular situation.
However, don’t hold your breath waiting for them to heed the rebuke and become wise. Proverbs 27:22, “Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, [Yet] his folly will not depart from him.” That is just one more warning about foolishness. When you start down the path of being obstinate and consistently making bad moral choices, your character will become such that you will not change from it and only become more foolish. As Proverbs 26:11 explains, “Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly.” It may be disgusting to everyone else, but the dog thinks it is just fine, so it is with fools and their folly.
If there is little hope in rebuking a fool, then is there hope? The answer is yes, but it will not be through what we would consider the normal means of education for fools refuse instruction and so reject knowledge and understanding. How then can a fool be rescued from their plight? How can the wise keep from going the way of the fool? The fear of the Lord, which brings us back to the theme verse for the book. Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (See: Introduction to Proverbs)
Obviously it is best to learn the fear of the Lord while young as already pointed out in Proverbs 22:15. We want to train and discipline our children to remove that foolishness while they are young. But what if that did not happen? Is there still hope for the fool?
Yes, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, it is also the beginning of wisdom (9:10), and the instruction for wisdom (15:33). The fear of the Lord is also to hate evil (8:13), and it will keep you away from evil (16:6). When these things are combined together, then the path to life and hope is clearly seen. We bring people back to the basics of life. They were created by a holy and just God who will hold them accountable for what they do in life according to His own standard. That is why we proclaim God’s creation and commands. The terror of the Lord forces people to go one way or another in the desperate quest to find some way to escape God’s promise of future judgment. The wise will find it in God Himself in His provision of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Fools will seek some way in which they can either ignore or deny that future judgment, or they come up with some plan of their own by which they think they can satisfy God. No plan of man can do so, but that is part of the deception of foolishness. The only hope of the fool is to repent and turn to Christ, which is why we proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and pray for God to bring them to conviction of their sin.
If you are wise, then continue to grow in that wisdom walking in the proper fear of the Lord and doing all that you can to avoid Folly.
If you have been foolish, then it is time to forsake folly and heed wisdom’s call and turn into her banquet hall. Only there will you find life and peace for only there will you find salvation for your soul and a purpose in life in Christ.
KIDS CORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Write down the scripture references and look them up later 2) Count how many times “fool,” “foolish,” or “folly”is said. 3) Discuss with your parents the key to avoiding folly and finding wisdom.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. Who is Wisdom shouting to in Proverbs 1:20-33 and what is her message? Who is Wisdom calling to in Proverbs 8:1-36 and what are her benefits? Who is Wisdom inviting in Provers 9:1-12 and will be found at her table? What words characterize Folly in Proverbs 9:13-18? How is her invitation similar to Wisdom’s? How is it different? Why does Folly target those who “making their paths straight”? What happens to those who listen to Folly? What is the root meaning of fool – kesîl (kes-eel’)? Why is this type of foolishness dangerous even if it is not overtly obstinate or in a moral area? How does the danger increase as the foolishness becomes more obstinate and is expressed in moral areas? Be specific if possible. What is the root meaning of fool – ‘eviyl (ev-eel’). How is this type of foolishness removed from young children? From older children? What is the root cause of quarreling and why is that foolish? What are the dangers of being an adult fool? What is the relationship between age and the level of folly in a fool? What causes that relationship? What causes the death of a fool? What danger does an old fool face? What is the root meaning of fool – nabal (naw-bawl’). What is the relationship between being a nabal (naw-bawl’) and atheism? What is “practical atheism?” What danger does foolishness pose to the wise? How can the wise avoid it? What are the characteristics and benefits of the fear of the Lord? What hope is there for a fool? What would have to change? What must happen for that change to take place? What is God’s part? What is man’s part? Are you wise or foolish?
Sermon Notes – 2/19/2012
Warnings on Folly & Foolishness – Selected Proverbs
Introduction
Wisdom ___________ in the street . . . to the naive, scoffers & fools – Proverbs 1:20-33
Wisdom ___________in public places . . . to the naive and fools – Proverb s 8:1-36
Wisdom ___________publically and privately . . . to the naive – Proverbs 9:1-12
In Proverbs, wisdom as intelligence, skill and ability are founded in the fear of the __________
The Personification of Folly – Proverbs 9:13-18
Folly is from the same root as fool – dull, obstinate, prone to make ________________
____________ is boisterous, rowdy, naive, ignorant, gullible and chooses wrong
Wisdom works while Folly _________ to call from her doorway
Folly targets those trying to make their ______________ straight – the religious, moralist & ethicist
Wisdom & Folly both call out to the ____________ , but it is to two different locations
Folly’s table is set with what is _____________ – already a warning not heeded by the naive
Feeding at Folly’s table seems good to those at it, but it will lead to __________ (Proverbs 16:25)
Three Levels of Foolishness
Fool – kesîl (kes-eel’) – dull, at least somewhat obstinate, bent toward choosing ___________
Proverbs of minimal obstinacy with little or no moral content. Proverbs 15:7 – don’t have ___________
26:7 – are useless / a _______________; 17:16 – has no sense ; 21:20 – economically ____________
The dangers of such foolishness – Proverbs 13:20 – will suffer ___________; 1:32 – destroys;
1:22 – hates knowledge; 23:9 – despises ___________; 28:26 – proud
Proverbs with moral content & increasing ____________- Proverbs 10:23 – wickedness is a sport;
13:19 – won’t depart from evil ; 14:16 – ______________& careless; 10:18 – spreads slander ;
29:11 – loses temper ; 17:12 – worse than a ___________ robbed of her cubs
Fool – ‘eviyl (ev-eel’) and ‘ivveleth (iv-veh’-leth) – Thick, ___________, lacking sense, generally corrupt
Foolishness in the young – Proverbs 22:15 – needs ________________; 15:5 – needs to regard reproof
High Schools & Collegiates should heed Proverbs 20:3 – any fool will ________; 17:28 – silence is wise;
1:8-9 – listen & heed mom & dad ; 13:1 – accept discipline; 15:32 – listen to ______________
Consequences to adult fools – Proverbs 12:15 – right in ______eyes; 14:1- tears down _________ house
The _____________ a person is a fool, the more their character becomes morally bankrupt
Fool – kesîl (kes-eel’) and Folly – ‘eviyl (ev-eel’) combined: Proverbs 14:24 – _____________in foolishness;
15:2 – spouts folly; 15:14- ___________ on folly
The character of a fool – Proverbs 14:17 – quick _____________ ; 19:3 – rages against the Lord
29:9 – rages or laughs – yields no rest
The sad end of a fool – Proverbs 10:21 – ___________ for lack of understanding
Fool – nabal (naw-bawl’) – declined to be ignoble, disgraceful, insensible to ___________ and morality
Proverbs 17:17; 30:22 – characterized by lying and __________
Psalm 14:1 – says in heart, There is ______; Warning of Proverbs 3:7 – fear the Lord and turn from evil
A practical atheist may claim to believe in God – even Jesus – but lives as if He did ______________
Foolishness is _______like a fool – which encompasses more than atheists, agnostics and the irreligious
Even the wise must be on _____________ against foolishness and folly – Proverbs 16:17
Defense Against Foolishness & Folly
Proverbs 26:4 & 5 – do not speak like a fool, don’t debate; _________by ignoring or with pointed words
The intransigence of fools – Proverbs 27:22 – folly will not depart; 26:11- _________ his folly
Hope for fools? The ____of the Lord brings: Proverbs 1:7- knowledge; 9:10- wisdom; 15:33-instruction
Characteristics of the fear of the Lord: 8:13 – hates ________; 16:6 – keeps you away from evil
The terror of the Lord forces a desperate _______to find a way to escape His judgment & condemnation
The wise find it in God Himself in His provision of salvation through ________in the Lord Jesus Christ
Fools try to ignore or ___________future judgment, or they develop their own plan
The wise will grow in ____________ by walking in the proper fear of the Lord
The foolish need to forsake __________ and heed wisdom’s call.
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