The People of Proverbs

Lesson 4

THE FOOL

Designed by David Turnerwww.BibleStudies-online.com

Overview

The fool is the person who, when he enters into any group there results contention. Everywhere this character appears in Proverbs, dissension takes place.

Consequently, youth are warned to avoid him. This is also the substance of Paul’s advise to Titus about one who causes such friction.

It doesn’t mean stupid.

He/she can be a lawyer, doctor, preacher, judge, scientist, secretary, etc.

Three Types of Fools

1. Kesil – Most common. Used 49 times in Proverbs. He is dull and closed minded, thick headed and stubborn. Because he is lazy and shortsighted he rejects information from others.

Proverbs 1:22 “How long will you simpletons love naiveté? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 18:2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.

Three Types of Fools

2. Nabal – used three times in Proverbs. He lacks spiritual perception, religious and moral sensibility.

1 Samuel 25:25 My lord should not pay attention to this wicked man Nabal. He simply lives up to his name! His name means ‘fool,’ and he is indeed foolish! But I, your servant, did not see the servants my lord sent.

Proverbs 17:21 Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.

Three Types of Fools

3. Ewil – Used 19 times in proverbs. He is arrogant, flippant and mentally dull. He despises wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:7 Fearing the Lord is the beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 20:3 It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.

Characteristics of a Fool

1. He is closed mindeda. To God (practical Atheist)

Psalm 14:1 For the music director; by David. Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.” They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.

Characteristics of a Fool

1. He is closed mindeda. To God (practical Atheist) b. To Reason

1 Samuel 25:17-25 17 Now be aware of this, and see what you can do. For disaster has been planned for our lord and his entire household. He is such a wicked person that no one tells him anything!” 18 So Abigail quickly took two hundred loaves of bread, two containers of wine, five prepared sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred lumps of pressed figs. She loaded them on donkeys 19 and said to her servants, “Go on ahead of me. I will come after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20 Riding on her donkey, she went down under cover of the mountain. David and his men were coming down to meet her, and she encountered them. 21 Now David had been thinking, “In vain I guarded everything that belonged to this man in the desert. I didn’t take anything from him. But he has repaid my good with evil. 22 God will severely punish David, if I leave alive until morning even one male from all those who belong to him!” 23 When Abigail saw David, she got down quickly from the donkey, threw herself down before David, and bowed to the ground. 24 Falling at his feet, she said, “My lord, I accept all the guilt! But please let your female servant speak with my lord! Please listen to the words of your servant! 25 My lord should not pay attention to this wicked man Nabal. He simply lives up to his name! His name means ‘fool,’ and he is indeed foolish! But I, your servant, did not see the servants my lord sent.

Characteristics of a Fool

1. He is closed mindeda. To God (practical Atheist) b. To Reasonc. He is opinionated

Proverbs 15:14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds (grazes) on folly.Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of the fool spouts out folly.

Characteristics of a Fool

1. He is closed minded2. He has a bad temper

a. It is violentProverbs 29:11 A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

Characteristics of a Fool

1. He is closed minded2. He has a bad temper

a. It is violentb. It’s quick

Proverbs 12:16 A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent overlooks an insult.

Characteristics of a Fool

1. He is closed minded2. He has a bad temper

a. It is violentb. It’s quickc. Quick to quarrel

Proverbs 20:3 It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.

Proverbs 17:14 Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!

Characteristics of a Fool

1. He is closed minded2. He has a bad temper3. His speech reveals his foolish

charactera. He spreads slander

Proverbs 10:18 The one who conceals hatred utters lies, and the one who spreads slander is certainly a fool.

Characteristics of a Fool

1. He is closed minded2. He has a bad temper3. His speech reveals his foolish

charactera. He spreads slander b. He invites rebuke

Proverbs 14:3 In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them.

Characteristics of a Fool

1. He is closed minded2. He has a bad temper3. His speech reveals his foolish

charactera. He spreads slander b. He invites rebukec. His speech brings about his ruin.

Proverbs 10:8 The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

Proverbs 10:14 Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction.

Characteristics of a Fool

1. He is closed minded2. He has a bad temper3. His speech reveals his foolish

charactera. He spreads slander b. He invites rebukec. His speech brings about his ruin.d. He is usually boring.

• Usually foul mouthed.• Should not talk much because he doesn’t

know what he is talking about.

Proverbs 17:7 Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!

Characteristics of a Fool

1. He is closed minded2. He has a bad temper3. His speech reveals his foolish

charactera. He spreads slander b. He invites rebukec. His speech brings about his ruin.d. He is usually boring.e. He finds pleasure in evil.

Proverbs 10:23 (NET)Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.

Characteristics of a Fool

1. He is closed minded2. He has a bad temper3. His speech reveals his foolish

charactera. He spreads slander b. He invites rebukec. His speech brings about his ruin.d. He is usually boring.e. He finds pleasure in evil.f. His eyes are upon everything.

Proverbs 17:24 Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

How should we deal with a fool ?

1. Recognize the difficultya. He will make a scene when publicly

confronted.Proverbs 29:9 If a wise person goes to court with a foolish person, there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.Proverbs 29:11 A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

How should we deal with a fool ?

1. Recognize the difficultya. He will make a scene when publicly

confronted.b. He will not make amends for wrongs.

Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock at reparation, but among the upright there is favor.

How should we deal with a fool ?

1. Recognize the difficultya. He will make a scene when publicly

confronted.b. He will not make amends for wrongs.c. He spurns discipline. It has little effect

on him.Proverbs 15:5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds reproof shows good sense.Proverbs 17:10 A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool.

How should we deal with a fool ?

1. Recognize the difficultya. He will make a scene when publicly

confronted.b. He will not make amends for wrongs.c. He spurns discipline. It has little effect

on him.d. Attempting to reason with the

unreasonable fool is foolish.e. But if he is not answered he will leave

you thinking himself wise.

Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.

Proverbs 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own estimation.

How should we deal with a fool ?

1. Recognize the difficulty2. Though tough, it’s not without hope.

a. The earlier he is dealt with the better.Proverbs 22:15 Folly is bound up in

the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

How should we deal with a fool ?

1. Recognize the difficulty2. Though tough, it’s not without hope.

a. The earlier he is dealt with the better.b. Share the Gospel and pray for him.

Titus 3:3-8 (NET)3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.” 8 This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people.

How should we deal with a fool ?

1. Recognize the difficulty2. Though tough, it’s not without hope.

a. The earlier he is dealt with the better.b. Share the Gospel and pray for him.c. Rebuke him.

Titus 1:10-13 10 For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections, 11 who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught. 12 A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith

How should we deal with a fool ?

1. Recognize the difficulty2. Though tough, it’s not without hope.

a. The earlier he is dealt with the better.b. Share the Gospel and pray for him.c. Rebuke him.d. Disassociate with him if he does not respond to rebuke.

Titus 3:9-11 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty. 10 Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings. 11 You know that such a person is twisted by sin and is conscious of it himself.