What Kind of Fool?
Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel. Proverbs 20:3 NASB
Fool – Proverbs employs several different words for the English “fool.” Knowing which one makes a big difference. “Fool” can be the translation of ‘ewil (as it is here), or kesil or nabal. Sometimes it is even the translation of lets (usually “scoffer”). There are differences not captured in English. ‘ewil is someone who not only lacks sense but is morally deficient or corrupt. In Hebrew, the word “fool” doesn’t usually describe a person without commonsense or street savvy. It is not about someone who is stupid. It is about someone who either ignores the moral government of God or acts in opposition to God’s sovereign reign or both. Kesil is someone who is simply ignorant of the moral demands of God. While this person acts against God’s instructions at the time, it is still possible for an awakening since his disobedience is not deliberate. For this person, Leviticus provides restoration and renewed access to the Kingdom. But ‘ewil is in far more trouble. He acts with intentional disregard for what he knows to be true, claiming that as long as no immediate consequences befall him, no real harm is done. He operates on the moral principle of what he can get away with. He is a walking, waiting disaster. He is a man who has all the answers and proudly announces such.
Then there is the nabal. This word is used to describe a false prophet among others. This is a person who shames his parents, disregards civility, runs at the mouth and will eventually die a disrespectful death. He has no fear of God or Man and his life displays the consequences of this attitude. Proverbs strongly suggests avoiding such a person since this attitude about life will also lead others astray.
Finally, there is lets. This is a person of contempt; one who mocks and ridicules. Amazingly, our culture often idolizes such Cretans as if scoffing or taunting others is a mark of supremacy. We might want to reconsider the real impact of making jokes at another’s expense. This man satirizes his opponents, derides their morality and generally jeers at any ethics he does not wish to endorse. As far as the biblical text is concerned, such a person is without hope in the olam ha’ba. It is far better to simply walk away than to engage this kind of fool. In at least one sense, even God has written him off.
If you run across a kesil, there is still time for recovery. The only obstacle to a morally upright life is education (by the way, this is not “information”). Ignorance is not bliss. In this case, it is considerable danger. But if you encounter an ‘ewil, you will know as soon as his mouth opens that there is no end to his protests and he is a bottomless pit in his demands. Let him go. No honor is found in arguing with one who does not wish to learn. As for the other two “fools,” take the first “Exit” you can find.
Topical Index: fool, ‘ewil, kasil, nabal, lets, Proverbs 20:3
Second greatest question ever: ~ Who is the LORD that I should obey Him? ~
(Exodus 5.2)
A great place to start (and finish!) is here:
~ the fear of the LORD is the beginning (and end?) of wisdom ~ (Proverbs 9.10)
For Love begins with honor and respect.
In contradistinction to foolishness, here is wisdom (in greater context):
.. give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you ~
Here are the instructions of a Father to His son:
~ My son, do not forget my teaching, (torah!) but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Do not let lovingkindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.… (Proverbs 3.1,2)
~ But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love Me and obey My commands (Exodus 20.6)
(Christian) “If you love me, keep My commands.” (John 14.15)
Who was (and remains) the most obedient Man ever to have lived?
~ Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the LORD has promised to those who love Him ~ (James 1:12)
In contradistinction from foolishness (anyone can be a fool!) – where or what is wisdom? Where (actually “Who”) is the Source of all wisdom?
~ But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption ~ (1 Corinthians 1.30)
There is much packed into this one! Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification (a good ten-cent word!) and redemption! Where? *in Christ Jesus* -*in Christ *- in *The Messiah* in the Anointed*
Warning: (trick question!) Who was the wisest man ever to have lived? No,- Solomon was (in his day), but he comes in at a far distant “second.” For One greater than Solomon IS here! What is tHis Name?
Who is King of all kings and LORD of all lords? – Listen. Listen to Him! His Name? The Word of God. (Revelation 19.13)
The Word of God has had (and still has!) no small part in our formation and development. ~ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things! ~
~ I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” And no one in Heaven or on the Earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.…~ (Revelation 5.2,3)
~ Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; ~
The Lamb is Worthy
~ and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” and I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.… ~ (Revelation 5.5,6)
~ A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from His roots a Branch will bear fruit ~ (Isaiah 11:1)
~ In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and His resting place will be glorious ~ (Isaiah 11:10)
~ For it is clear that our LORD descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests ~ (Hebrews 7:14)
~ And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.…~ (Revelation 5.6)
~ When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.. ~ (Revelation 5.8)
Would it be well for us and wise for us to do the same?
~ Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him ~ (Psalm 2.12)
The Lamb Exalted (Revelation 5.11-13)
~ Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in Heaven and on the Earth and under the Earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”… ~
~ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. in all wisdom and insight…~ (Ephesians 1.6-8)
~ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood–to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished ~ (Romans 3:25)
~Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption ~
(Psalm 130:7)
I didn’t know what to say.
(Which doesn’t happen often.)
A woman I knew, who knew my love for God,
once looked me right in the eyes and said:
“I know that I don’t know God.
And I know I’ll never read the Bible!”
Our conversation about Him and His kingdom
came to a screeching halt. She wouldn’t let me say
another word.
I realized there wasn’t anything else I could say.
She had amply identified herself to me in that moment.
Still, I pray for her.
Rich, I am so thankful for the wisdom you are exercising in still praying for her. I have a wonderful current example of have those prayers can truly be stored up and come forth even after you have forgotten them and moved on to many necessary things. This is it in its brevity: The same month 13 years ago that my husband and I moved here to this rural town in the middle of lots of larger cities in our area, in a 1909 two story house across the St. from us, there moved a couple about ten years younger than us. We both had approximate minimum income, and had also worked very hard. He had been a pastor in small Presbyterian churches; in her later years she had earned a degree in Interior Design from a school in New Orleans. He loved golfing and my husband and him played often with the older group. His wife and I loved the yard work, landscaping, and interior design. The four of us seldom discussed the Bible, denominations. She told me upfront soon after we became neighbors that she really did not believe in God, and had only gone to church as her husband insisted she had too. So with that information , I was very burdened for her, but kept my MOUTH closed, but helped her in ever way, and she reciprocated. She was a true Southern person born with a black nanny who taught her to cook (even though she was not suppose to go into the kitchen; sent to boarding school. Then her elder father died early and she and the mother were put into a great decline of wealth). I knew the Lord had spoken to my Spirit that I was to intercede and pray for her often, which I did for a number of years. Finally the hopelessness of seeing any results I just slackened off, but they decided two years ago to prepare to move to the South, and did one year ago. I became her lifeline to sanity, and with phones that permitted unlimited long distance she called me once or twice a week. When Ed became ill she sent me four different lovely magazine subscriptions ( the design people can get them cheap, to try and entice someone then to take a regularly subscription. She detested the tons of rain they get & other things she had made glorious about the South, and was in depression. So with my very ill husband and mammoth situation I was caught up in, she began to seek the Lord from his Word, and listening to TV programs ( which I do not do, and began to get peace and some joy in her life.) She called me this past week, and told me that I should be reading a certain book on God’s Grace that it was simply wonderful. I hung up saying aloud to myself that I must NOT have heard her correctly. Then as I stopped and evaluated our 12 years here, and all the sincere and earnest prayers I had prayed for her/them; the Lord let me know again that prayers do work, and she had not a clue that I had sent them up. What a blessing to be used by the Lord, and no one even know.
So keep the prayers going;
AND EQUAL THANKS TO SKIPS TEACHING ABOUT NOT ARUGING ON SCRIPTURES! IT WILL EVEN CAUSE A PERSON TO HAVE BAD HEALTH! LAVAYE BILLINGS
LaVaye,
I am so glad to see your post. I think of you often, and wonder how you are doing these days. It looks as if you are “keeping on, keeping on.”
I agree with you about the value of intercessory prayer. We just never know how He will use it, but nothing is ever wasted in the Kingdom.
Working in education, and of course in my own life, I can appreciate the danger of not taking into consideration long term consequences. I see this in students all the time who have depended on their friends for answers (cheating) for some many years – that now when they try to “do better” – everything seems more difficult for them. So they start saying things like, “I’ve always been bad at math!”, ect. They have doomed themselves into a downward spiral unless there enough people to nurture them through some tough growth. They were blind to the delayed consequences of the shortcuts they took.
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On another note, I’ve reading up on Genesis 4:7 where God warns Cain that “sin is laying outside the door”. My study started with trying to understand the significance of the blood on the doorpost during Passover, and the first mention of door that I found was ‘sin at the door’. Is there a possible connection to God closing the door on the ark (sin outside the door), and the angels closing the door behind Lot (keeping sin outside the door)?
Any thoughts?
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool (one who despises wisdom) will burst out-Jerusalem Bible.
Pro 10:8
The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
One that does not hold his tongue would be considered a prating fool.
“No honor is found in arguing with one who does not wish to learn. As for the other two “fools,” take the first “Exit” you can find.”
Unless there is seeking, wise words of truth will surely fall on deaf ears.
Only persistent prayers of the faithful in YHWH will work
“Then there is the nabal. This word is used to describe a false prophet among others. This is a person who shames his parents, disregards civility, runs at the mouth and will eventually die a disrespectful death. He has no fear of God or Man and his life displays the consequences of this attitude.”
Reminds us of 1 Sam 25