Ecclesiastes 10:12 – The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

 

Thought:  What we say and how we say things mean everything in conversation.  The use of our words proves that we are either a wise man or a fool.  Wise men speak with grace, tact, tenderness, and kindness.  There is logic to their reasoning.  Fools can be wicked, obnoxious, mean, blunt, and sharp with their words.  Within a couple of sentences, others know they are dealing with a fool.

 

Luke 4:22

 

Commentary:

 

A.     The speech of two individuals is described by Solomon in this verse.

1.       One is the speech of a wise man.

2.       The other is the speech of a foolish man.

 

B.      The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious.

1.       Gracious

a.  Strong (2580):  graciousness, involving kindness and favor, they have a “beauty” about

      them, they are pleasant and precious

b.  BDB:  favor, grace, charm, elegance

2.       Example:  Jesus (Luke 4:22)

 

And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.  And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?

 

C.     But the lips of a fool will swallow him up

1.       The words of a fool are self-destructive.

a.  He attempts to solve problems, but only creates more.

b.  He attempts to prove he is knowledgeable but proves his ignorance.

c.  He tries to increase his favor in the sight of others but is only despised the more.

2.       Psalm 64:8

 

So shall they make their own tongue fall upon themselves…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 10:13 – The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness:  and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

 

Thought:  Here Solomon sets forth the two poles of the words of fools.  They range from foolishness to mischievous madness.  Note that none of his words are profitable.  None of them benefit the hearers.  All he says is vanity.  Many of these fools are adults.  They are not just silly children.  Sadly, their education and experience have not benefited them.  They have no wisdom to offer.  All they can speak stands between foolishness and mischievous madness.

 

I Samuel 25:10-11

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon elaborates even more about the words of a fool.

 

B.      He sets forth the two poles of the word of fools.

1.       They begin with foolishness.

a.  An atheist affirms there is no God.

b.  An abortionist asserts that the baby in the womb is just a lump of flesh.

c.  The transexual tells us that he is a woman trapped in a man’s body.

2.       They end with mischievous madness.

a.  They practice the concept of the survival of the fittest.

b.  They are willing to take the life of a child even after he has been born.

c.  They seek to warp the minds of our children in kindergarten to 3^rd Grade.

 

C.     LESSON:  None of the words of a fool are profitable.  None of them benefit the hearers.  All he says is vanity.

 

D.     NOTE:  Some fools are young and inexperienced, but some fools are old and onery. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 10:14 – A fool also is full of words:  a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

 

Thought:  A fool knows a little about everything.  He is “full of words.”  There is not a subject upon which he cannot pontificate.  The problem is that the hearers cannot trust what the fool says.  The fool appears to be bold and confident, but something seems amiss.  He assures you that he knows whereof he speaks, but the listener is wary.  A wise man would be wise to pay no attention to a fool.

 

Proverbs 15:2

 

Commentary:

 

A.     A fool is full of words.

1.       He believes he knows a little bit about almost everything.

2.       He has a “word of wisdom” on this and a “word of wisdom” on that.

3.       There is not a subject upon which he cannot pontificate.

 

B.      The problem with the words of a fool is that they are often not dependable.

1.       A man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him.

2.       If the words of the fool are applied to life, what will happen? 

3.       Solomon asks:  “Who can tell him?”

 

C.     One of the things that can be done to test the words of a fool involves an investigation of the fool’s life.

1.       His life is in shambles.

2.       He does not live by the principles he advocates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 10:15 – The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

 

Thought:  The fool would have you to believe that he knows everything.  He convinces others to follow him, and they weary themselves with the labors he prescribes.  The problem is that he does not have the knowledge of which he boasts.  He does not even know how to go out into the street to make the trip to the city.  He is a cloud without water.  His followers work until they are tired, but never succeed.

 

Genesis 31:41-42

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Remember, a fool believes that he knows everything.

1.       He criticizes others.

2.       He boasts of his knowledge, wisdom, and know-how.

 

B.      There are times that the fool is so persuasive that he convinces others to follow them.

1.       He has planned a trip to a great city.

2.       He tells his followers he knows the way, the shortcuts, and the dangerous places along the way.

3.       The followers walk behind him.  However, soon they find themselves extremely weary on their journey. 

a.  They face many hardships.

b.  They come up short on supplies.

c.  What should have taken a few days has turned into weeks.

4.       The followers learn that “he knoweth not how to go to the city.”

 

C.     Why would a man boast of knowledge he does not have?

Why would a man boast of a skill he does not possess?

Why would a man boast of traits that he lacks?

 

D.     Answer:  Pride. 

1.       A foolish man is usually a man filled with pride and arrogancy.

2.       He enjoys the limelight.

3.       He loves the praise of men.

4.       It fills his heart with joy to be set upon a pedestal, even if he soon falls therefrom.