The Fool
This is the third part of the Bible study, The Fool. It is a look at what God teaches concerning the fool in the Book of Proverbs. Over 80 times the word fool or a derivative is used in the Book of Proverbs. By definition a fool is anyone living life as if there is no God.
The next unique occurrence of the word fool appears in Proverb 1:32. However, unlike most proverbs it requires an understanding of preceding verses to gain an accurate read on verse 32.
Proverbs 1:20-33 (KJV)
20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Wisdom here is personified as a woman. This woman is crying in the streets begging all to listen to her. God has placed in all of us a conscious that knows right from wrong. Sure, this conscious can be seared by our actions, it can be influenced by the world around us, but it is still there. There are certain things that all of us know is wrong. Doesn’t everyone know it is wrong to murder? But God goes beyond just our conscious to inform us of what is right to do. Wisdom, as stated here, is heard in the streets. It is available to all who desire her. Wisdom is not only a voice seeking to be heard, but wisdom is chastening us when we do wrong. Wisdom is trying to teach us from our mistakes.
What is man’s response to the voice of wisdom? Well, if we are fools, we hate knowledge, we refused, we have not listened, and we have not learned from her correction. In other words, the fool is living live contrary to what wisdom teaches. The fool is living life not listening, obeying, or seeking what God would have them to do.
What happens to the person who does not heed the voice of wisdom? What happens to the person who does not change their ways? This passage is teaching that eventually our choices catches up to us. Sin always starts slowly in one’s life and like a snowball gathers speed and size as it continues down its path.
The teaching of our text verse (32) is this. The fool’s actions have caught up with him. If it is because of their naivety or because of their prosperity (interestingly enough the close definition in our language is stupidity), their actions will catch up to them. There lifestyle ignoring the attempts of God to live life wisely has consequences. Scripture teaches us in Galatians 6:7 (KJV) 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. The fool will suffer for their actions. The turning away (their sinful actions) will slay (destroy) them.
The blessings of life are found within the boundaries of God’s Word. Too many people do not like the boundaries of God and exchange them for their own personal freedom. However, when one removes the boundaries they gain bondage. In other words, one exchanges the boundaries of God’s Word for the bondage of sin. God’s boundaries are not meant to limit our pleasure and enjoyment of live, but to protect us from the bondage of sin.
The greatness of Proverbs lies in its conciseness. Verse 32 and 33 are a summary of chapter 1. Simply, live like a fool and it will catch up to you. It will wreck havoc in your life. Live wisely and avoid the fear of sin’s consequences. The wise will be protected from the maladies of sin. He will be at ease and at peace.
3. The Fool will Face the Consequences of His Actions.
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