The Danger of Foolishness, v.1-3. v.1 — Though one be known for wisdom, just a little folly hurts the reputation. It is easier to make a stink than to create sweetness. All it takes is one rash word, one rude remark, one hasty decision, one foolish pleasure, or one angry outburst to spoil everything. People will remember an indiscretion and forget years of worthy achievements. v.2 — Only 10% of the world population is left-handed. Thus, the right hand is historically viewed as more capable. “In the ancient world, such observations led to the right hand as the place of power and honor, while the left hand represented weakness and rejection.” (Wiersbe) Solomon is saying, “A wise man knows the right way to do a thing; a fool is an awkward bungler.” (MacDonald) v.3 — A fool will show his lack of wisdom daily. After laying out the folly of the foolish, he gives three examples: Foolish Leaders, Foolish Laborers, Foolish Lips. We are at times Foolish, v.4-20. Foolish Leaders, v.4-7, 16-20. Foolish leaders act out in a rage at times. (4) Solomon offers advice. “If a ruler explodes in anger at you, it is best not to quit in a huff. It is better to be meek and submissive. This will be more apt to pacify him and atone for serious offenses.” (MacDonald) Foolish leaders commit errors which produce evil in society. (5-6) As an example Solomon says, “the rich sit in a low place”. To mean...people with financial resources do not have the power to use them for the public good. Foolish leaders lead in such ways that roles are reversed. (7) Horses were associated with power, wealth, and royal authority. Servants generally did not ride on horseback but walked in front of or behind their masters. When a fool sits on the throne, everything is backwards. Servants ride, while princes walk. Perhaps Mark Twain worded the best sarcasm toward foolish leaders, “Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” Martin Luther said, “just as dead flies ruin the best of ointments, so it happens to the best of counsel in the state, in the senate, or in war; along comes some wicked rascal and ruins everything.” vv.16-20 offer four gaps found in a nation with foolish leadership. The first gap is immaturity (vv. 16–17). The next gap is laziness in leadership. (18) This lazy leader also lacks prudence. (19) Thus, the foolish, immature, lazy, imprudent leader throws caution to the wind! (20) Foolish Laborers, v.8-10. There are a couple of ways to approach these verses, both seem to work fine. One could be that Solomon is offering the wisdom that there is risk in any occupation when we do not operate in wisdom. Pit diggers could fall in. Hedge trimmers could suffer snake bite. Stone movers can get crushed. Wood cutters can be hurt if their tools are left dull. Certainly, to avoid safe practices in any job would be foolish. The other approach is that a life of folly is self-destructive. Those who avoid wisdom in other areas should expect it to carryover into their labor. They know it is best to sharpen the tools, but foolishly put it off which leads to an injury or at least harder tasks. (10b) The foolish laborer works harder and is more prone to take risks which lead to injury… In the end this leads to inability to work. Thus, poverty. All avoidable … if wisdom was pursued instead. Foolish Lips, v.11-15. The tongue of the fool is like a deadly serpent, it must be charmed…else it will bite. (11) The fool cannot keep his foot out of his own mouth. (12) What starts as a little folly (a bit of fooling around), ends in madness. (13) He is full of words. (14) The fool just doesn’t know when to stop talking. No one knows what is to be, nor what shall be after him. Best to talk less. v.15 takes this talk even further. He’s so busy talking he misses his exit! “…the advice of foolish counselors is so bad that they cannot even give simple directions. Their long-winded explanations only wear out the confused traveler.” (Garrett) We are at times foolish: Lips, Laborers, Leaders… **God is Wise.** Quotes: “We must suffer God to be wiser than ourselves, and acknowledge that there is something sovereign in his ways not to be measured by the feeble reed of our weak understandings.” (Stephen Charnock) “The wisdom of God in [the work of redemption] is of vast extent….one may spend an eternity in discovering more of the excellent ends and designs accomplished by it;” (Jonathan Edwards) Scriptures: Isaiah 55:8-11, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Romans 11:33-34, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” See 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” We find God’s Wisdom in Creation. We also see God’s Wisdom in Providence. We also find God’s Wisdom in Salvation. Conclusion: We at times can be foolish, and just a little folly wrecks a lifetime of wisdom. But, thankfully, our God is Wise. The knowledge of His wisdom can be a comfort to us when facing the complexities of life. Even in times when we feel as if God has not chosen the best path for us, we can know that in His wisdom...His way...His providence...is right and good. He always pursues what is most for His glory and good for His people! So let us take God’s wisdom into account with every decision. What would God have us to do? How can the decision we are about to make bring glory to Him...or not?