Fools - 3

(Prov 13:1)  A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

 

        The Hebrew word for scorner here is luwts (loots) and means “to make mouths at; arrogant”.  This type fool makes facial expressions to communicate his disdain for his parents, authorities and God’s ways. The scoring fool has not only rejected truth but has embraced that which is an abomination to God.

      The scorning fool shows his abhorrence toward people and ideas that contradict his wrong ways and ideas. He expresses his scorn through his attitudes, behavior and speech -- “scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge”

        That Hebrew word can also mean an “interpreter”; thus the scorning fool mimics Godly people so he can dishonor, mock and ridicule them for their righteous standards and life. He seems to have no capacity for wisdom although he may say he does – “a scorner seeketh wisdom and findeth it not.” This may be because he rejects the instruction of his parents – “A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.”

      The Bible says this fool needs proper discipline but also be removed from others so as not to infect them -- (Prov 19:25)  Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: . . .” “When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise:. . .” “Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.”

 

Steadfast fool -- (Prov 17:21)  He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

      The word for fool here is nabal (naw-bawl) and means “foolish, senseless”. The root word means “to wilt; fall away, fail, faint” and relates to one who is morally wicked who despises holiness and is a disgrace to his family and any who try to help him.

      This is the fifth stage in the downward regression of fools. The steadfast fool is self-confident and closed minded. He is not only committed to being his own god and gratifying his lower nature, he also wants to drag as many others he can into his evil ways – “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

      This type fool will creep into homes, churches and families and Godly institutions and lead captive the simple and the weak. Jude accurately defined them – “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ . . . These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;”

      If we try to deal with a steadfast fool, we will become discouraged and maybe even angry at their response. David tried to reason with a man properly named and became angry (2 Samuel 25:1-13). God must be the one to deal with these fools not us.

      Let us learn from this study on fools so we can be among the righteous and wise.