| The FISHERS Magazine (Issue 195)
In Old Testament wisdom literature, the Fool is not one short on intellectual ability but one without moral acumen. The Fool does not merely lack sense; he attracts the wrath of God. The book of Proverbs portrays four different kinds of fools. 1. The Naïve The naïve believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps. (14:15) This is the simpleton – he lacks street experience, and is ignorant of worldly wiles and ways. Impressionable and eager to please, he is most susceptible to manipulation by others. He is gullible, allowing himself to be easily tempted and readily persuaded. Proverbs paints quite a portrait of the naïve. He lacks sound judgment (7:7), is weak-willed (22:3) and easily seduced (7:21-22). He is neither shrewd (14:15), insightful (19:25), nor wise (21:11). We see this characteristic of naiveté most clearly in youngsters (7:7), but it is a danger no one outgrows merely with the passing of years. The most obvious expression of naiveté is aimless drifting and wandering through the moral issues of life – the simple now takes one “moral stand”, and in a while jettisons it for another “ethical position”. The naïve is uncommitted to either wisdom or folly. The good thing is that he is not yet given to wickedness; he thus stands in acute need of instruction in wisdom (1:4). The bad thing is that the potential for evil is there – his drifting quickly leads to waywardness, which leads ultimately to destruction and death (1:32). God does not allow for non-commitment, He demands that we all be committed to righteousness. Proverbs 7 shows how such bravado and openness catches the attention of the seductress, through whose door the simple plunge headlong into a deadly trap. The young man winds his way through the streets, oblivious to the moral dangers to which he is exposed. Tell-tale signs of peril are posted everywhere; but he ignores them, preferring to hang on to the smooth, honeyed speech of the strange woman. He ends up “descending to the chambers of death” (7:27). He is the mildest type of fool, but a fool nevertheless. While he is malleable, he is open to correction and the instruction of wisdom. Thus both Woman Wisdom and Dame Folly compete for his attention. But until he dedicates himself to godly wisdom, he remains wayward, and is classed with fools and mockers (1:22). No one remains a simpleton for long; one either learns wisdom, or degenerates to one of other types of fools below. Fools – One Insensitive, One Hostile Contrary to the gullible, the fool is fixed in his opinion, cocksure he is right, even though his views run counter to God’s established moral order. Ptah-hotep, an ancient Egyptian sage, made an insightful remark, “A fool sees knowledge in ignorance, usefulness in harmfulness … He lives on that by which one dies”. Proverbs has two categories of fools. The first is dull and obtuse, insensitive to wisdom; so preoccupied with the world that the things of God are of no concern to him. The second hates and despises wisdom; he is so antagonistic toward wisdom, he cannot even bear to hear it. These two fools share some common traits. Both spurn correction (15:20; 15:5 – references are given first for the insensitive then the hostile fool), are incorrigible (15:14; 12:15), inextricably bound to their folly (14:24; 27:22), and so await inevitable punishment (26:3; 14:3), both being without honour (3:35; 29:9). They are poor in wisdom (14:33; 10:21), in speech (19:1; 10:8), in self-control (29:11; 20:3), and in managing house and wealth (21:20; 11:29). 2. The Insensitive Fool A fool’s lips bring strife, and his mouth calls for blows. (18:6) This is a major character in Proverbs, appearing 67 times (only thrice elsewhere in Scripture). His dullness to wisdom has made or will make him into a fool. Overconfidence is the cause of his moral stupidity (1:32). He makes boisterous expression of his folly (15:2) and is reckless (14:16), bringing trouble on himself (18:7) and others (17:7). Given to unthinking entertainment (19:10), wealth in his hands is quickly squandered (17:16). His folly is obvious to others (13:16), since he keeps returning to his putrid folly (26:11). 3. The Hostile Fool Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will also be like him. (26:4) The Hostile Fool provokes painfully and persistently (27:3), vexing others (12:16), yet he has neither moral interest nor courage to put right his wrongs (14:9). His contempt for wisdom (1:7), the Psalmist tells us, is rooted in pride (Ps 123:4). This brand of obnoxious folly is hopelessly bound to the Hostile Fool (27:22), yet it could have once been driven from him in his youth had his parents consistently exercised corporal discipline (27:22). Such folly is thus both the sin and the punishment – the deeds of this Fool over time morph into his destiny. 4. The Scoffer The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men. (24:9) The worst kind of fool is the hardened apostate. His heart pulsates with arrogance and pride (21:24). The scoffer disdains wisdom, and despises those who submit themselves to the rule of God (15:12). His food is to put others down, his drink is to make fun of religious faith and reject moral values. One distinctive feature of the Scoffer is that he is particularly adept at stirring up strife (29:8). The God-fearing are to shun him, not engage him, for even when he comes under judgment, it is the naïve who learns from his mistakes, not he himself (21:11). Wisdom prescribes only one solution for dealing with the Scoffer – to forcefully expel him from the community (22:10). The most frightening thing about the Scoffer is that he is non-teachable (9:7); it is impossible to reform him, it is folly to argue with him. Even if he were to seek wisdom, he will never find wisdom (14:6). He has gone beyond the point of no return, though he is unaware of the fearful judgment that awaits him. Harsh treatment is reserved for this fool (19:29). Wisdom will laugh last and loudest at him (1:26), God Himself will scoff at the Scoffer (3:34). There is no place in the kingdom of God for such mockers (Is 29:20) because, in the final analysis, the one they are treating with contempt is God Himself. God’s Word – A Mirror to Our Souls As you read the above word-portraits of these four families of fools, do you notice any resemblance to yourself? If you see aspects of yourself reflected in this article, you are like the man who has looked at himself intently in the mirror of God’s Word, and has detected spiritual deformity and disease. If you were to go away and not do anything about it, then you have simply confirmed yourself to be a Fool (Jas 1:22-25). In our Christian lives, we progressively grow out of these characteristics of Fools, and mature into Christlikeness. But while we remain on earth, there will be folly in our lives to confront and eradicate. Hence, it may be a most uncomfortable question to confront ourselves with, but the question is still necessary. With all the love and gentleness I can muster, may I humbly yet pointedly ask you, “What kind of fool are you?” Only the Scoffer would respond with unremitting anger at this question.
Tan Soon Yong |
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