Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: The Consequences of Being a Fool Pt.4 Proverbs 17:24-28

Friday, December 9, 2022

Proverbs 17:24–28

[24] The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,

but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

[25] A foolish son is a grief to his father

and bitterness to her who bore him.

[26] To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,

nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

[27] Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,

and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

[28] Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;

when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. (ESV)

The Consequences of Being a Fool Pt.4

v.24 Compare this verse with Proverbs 4:25-27. Both urge the Wise to keep discerning eyes of faith pointed straight ahead, along the Way of Life, and not be distracted and turn to the right or left in search of a "better" false Gospel. See also Psalm 16:8; 26:3; 54:14, as well as Galatians 1:6-9.

v.25 Contrast this proverb with Proverbs 10:1 & 15:20. The foolish son brings his Wise father grief and makes his Wise mother bitter. Implied is the Wise son who is a joy to his faithful parents.

v.26 A society that persecutes those with Divine Wisdom for their faith is an evil one. God will vindicate them in His own time and way, especially on the last day when the Wise faithful are fully glorified in Christ.

v.27 & 28 go together: A Wise individual is even-tempered and has control of his tongue. Even a fool who keeps his foolishness to himself demonstrates a little wisdom by keeping his folly to himself. Those who lack self-control often babble meaningless and thoughtless words, exposing their stupidity. A fool that remains silent demonstrates intelligence and discernment to a limited degree.