Sermon Tone Analysis

Wise People stay away from folly

There are things in this life that are inevitable, death, governments of men, and well, folly too.

Tonight we are looking at why a little folly is dangerous and we need to watch out, protect ourselves from it.

Where a good name is a fragrant perfume (Ecc7:1); dead flies (folly) can ruin it (Ecc10:1)

and then look now at

God is discerner of heart (Heb4:12) and folly/wisdom is a heart issue (Ecc10:2)

and in our passage tonight

Koheleth considers the heart the center, mission control center of our being (Pro4:23)

So, wise people stay away from folly.

Interesting fact in the time of Solomon, and in the days of Jesus it was believed that the place of power, place of honor was on the right, while on the left it represented weakness and rejection (Mt25:33; Mt25:41; Ecc2:14; Ecc10:3) .

Also check out

The fool does not have wisdom in his heart, in the center of his being so he gravitates toward the left, the place of weakness and rejection that leads him into trouble

People try to lead people who are fools out of foolishness, try to correct them, guide them, oftentimes they refuse to listen, further proving they are fools.

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Solomon having drawn the conclusion that wise people say away from folly, having given us this principle he then spends this chapter giving us a look at four different kinds of fools.

Foolish Ruler (Ecc10:4-7)

Foolish workers (Ecc10:8-11)

Foolish talkers (Ecc10:12-15)

Foolish officers (Ecc10:16-20)

Foolish rulers

I think we can agree that rulers of a nation, or kingdom, need wisdom.

Solomon knew it and asked for it as he was to lead Israel (1Kng3:3-28).

I think we can also agree that there are many a fool in leadership.

Solomon gives some great insight regarding folly of rulers, or in other words foolish rulers.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Don’t give up your ground because of angry, foolish ruler (Ecc10:4; Pro16:32; Pro25:28)

If the ruler is proud there is a greater chance he will say and do things that are foolish.

He may loose the respect of his people and become angry.

To the wise may we know a man who cannot control himself, has no place in having control over people.

May our rulers be slow to anger, patient in decisions

May our rulers know and have control over themselves so as to lead by example.

Don’t rebel against the ruler (Ecc8:3) for he maybe persuaded (Pro25:15)

Even if the rulers get angry, we don’t need to act like fools, in fact it will just make it worse, here is something we can do

Be patient, and be gentle, or soft as the passage says and it can break the anger, and can persuade the ruler.

Now, having said that, there is such thing as righteous anger that sometimes needs to be displayed (see Eph4:26), but we need to be careful even in that that it is truly righteoess and not jealousy and malice disguising it as zeal for God.

I better give you the passage though

Foolish rulers oftentimes lack character and courage and make poor choices; So beware and watch out (Ecc10:5-7; 1Kn12:1-24)

In the story of Solomon’s son Rehoboam he was a fool, he proved himself a fool, and suffered the consequences of being a fool.

He was proud and unyielding and it lead to the divided kingdom.

You can read the entire passage on this in 1Kn12:1-24, but here is just a taste of it.

Foolish instructions from foolish people.

The wise elders were consulted but they were made to walk and the foolish young people were exalted and riding.

1King12:13-14

This foolish ruler turned out to be nothing more than a figurehead, but to the wise, may we know the best rulers of men are the ones who are tough minded but tender hearted, who promote and exalt the best of the best and don’t waiver.

Foolish Workers

Foolish workers are not workers who do not work, but workers who do not take proper precautions for their work.

There are occupational hazards in all jobs and we need to be ready for them so not caught by them and be a fool.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Here are some general observations we can get from the passage.

Don’t dig a pit and fall in

Don’t break down a wall and not watch for serpent

Be careful when cutting stones or splitting logs

Be sure, as a wise person, that your tools of your trade are sharpened.

Don’t work harder, work smarter!

Finally on this one

Don’t be in a hurry and presume everything is safe and secure (the charmer thought the snake was charmed and it cost him).

The common denominator of the foolish worker is they presumed they were overconfident and it ended up hurting them or costing them, or even making their job harder.

Foolish Talkers

The words of the wise and the words of the fool, Solomon has much to say through Proverbs.

In our passage now, he has some of the foolish talkers characteristics.

Ecc10:14-15

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

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Foolish talkers words - destructive (Ecc10:12)

Destructive words are compared to weapons of war (Pro25:18) fire (Jm3:5-6); even a poisonous beast (Jm3:7-8)

Foolish talkers words - unreasonable (Ecc10:13; Ecc5:3; Tit1:10)

Foolish talkers words -uncontrolled (Ecc10:14a; Pro10:19)

Foolish talkers words - boastful (Ecc10:14b-15; Pro27:1; Jm4:13-17)

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Foolish talkers words - destructive (Ecc10:12)

Destructive words are compared to weapons of war (Pro25:18) fire (Jm3:5-6); even a poisonous beast (Jm3:7-8)

Hurt others with lies, slander, angry words, but in reality we are hurting ourselves.

Foolish talkers words - unreasonable (Ecc10:13; Ecc5:3; Tit1:10)

Fools speak with many words but really say nothing and accomplish nothing.

Better to closer your mouth and have people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt

There were many then, and are many today that not only avail nothing for the kingdom, but lead people, deceive people to giving up the kingdom

Foolish talkers words -uncontrolled (Ecc10:14a; Pro10:19)

With many words the fool does not have the wisdom to know they are saying nothing.

Foolish talkers words - boastful (Ecc10:14b-15; Pro27:1; Jm4:13-17)

With many words sin is unavoidable

Foolish talkers words -uncontrolled (Ecc10:14a; Pro10:19)

Foolish talkers words - boastful (Ecc10:14b-15; Pro27:1; Jm4:13-17)

Foolish talkers boast about tomorrow as if it were, without even considering today and that tomorrow is not promised.

and then the N.T. admonishment and encouragement

The right thing to do, is to focus on today and pray for tomorrow that the Lord’s will be done

The fool wearies people with their talk, so many words, so little action, to the point they cannot even find way to the city (Ecc10:15) - which this is a hyperbole

This now leading to our next section for tonight.

Foolish Officers

We have seen, have discussed the foolish rulers, now we turn to those under the ruler, his offices that are fools due to being under a fool.

Solomon points out the foolishness of the officers and some of their characteristics

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

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Their indulgence (Ecc10:16-17; Isa3:1-5)

Their incompetence (Ecc10:18; Pro18:9)

Their indifference (Ecc10:19; Amo2:7; Amo4:1)

Their indiscretion (Ecc10:20)