The Objective of the book of Proverbs is stated in the opening verses: 1 That men may know wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight, receive instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity; that prudence may be given to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth – the wise man also may hear and increase in learning, and the man of understanding acquire skill, to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles (1:2-6 RSV).
Any who desire godly instruction are invited to heed the words of this book and become wise. Those unwilling to do so will remain fools, since they hate God’s instruction.
The wise and the fools
It is fitting that the terms “fool” and “wise” pepper the text, one or the other occurs in almost one quarter of Proverb’s 915 verses Just so there can be no confusion as to the difference, many verses contain descriptions of both wise and foolish actions Of 62 such verses m scripture, over half (32) are found in Proverbs, that is more than one per chapter Consider.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction (1:7)
A wise man feareth, and depart eth from evil but the fool rageth, and is confident (14:16)
By this series of contrasts, Proverbs profiles the consequences of wise and foolish behavior The wise are promised glory (3:35), glad fathers (10:1), servants (11:29), wise companions (13:20), riches (14:24) and treasure (21:20) Fools are assured shame (3:35), sad mothers (10:1), failure (10:8), servitude, an inheritance of wind (11:29) and destruction (13:20) Lest one dismisses this pattern as merely an Old Testament theme, Jesus proclaims the same message m his parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matt 25:2).
The essential difference
What then is the essential difference between the foolish and the wise? Why would anyone choose to be a fool? Proverbs explains that one’s attitude plays an important part in what may be an unconscious decision While the wise are willing, even anxious, to receive God’s instruction, the fool refuses to listen Thus the distinction between wise and foolish is not made at birth but rather it develops as men hearken or fail to hearken to God’s instructions For those who despise God, the consequences are very serious.
The Proverbs advise not to speak “m the ears of a fool for he will despise the wisdom of thy words” (23 9) Yet by hearing instruction the wise will increase in learning, and understanding of wisdom The fool, who despises wisdom and instruction, refuses to hear (1 7,23:9) Even our response to reproof brands us “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee” (9:8).
Wise and foolish in Esther
One way to appreciate the insight that Proverbs gives on wise or foolish behavior is to study a few Bible characters With Proverbs in mind, consider some from both categories What verses from Proverbs might the wise have heeded or the foolish ignored? Four characters found in Esther provide interesting examples.
Recall that Esther was orphaned early in her childhood, and her cousin, Mordecai, adopted her for his own daughter (Est 2:7) Some children faced with this prospect rebel, but Esther heeded her new “father’s” instruction As a young child she obeyed and she continued to do so even after she was on her own m the King’s palace ” Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him” (Est 2:20) This follows the proverb “My son [child], hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” (1:8).
Esther puts Proverbs in practice
After Haman bargained with King Ahasuerus to destroy the Jews, and Mordecai had informed her, Esther may have recalled the proverb “Riches profit not in the day of wrath but righteousness delivereth from death” (Prov 11 4) Her life was m real danger even though her husband was the king Mordecai reminded her of her responsibility m words that parallel advice from the Proverbs “If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain ” (Prov 24 11) His actual words to her were “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this” (Est 4:14)?
Esther’s response to Mordecai’s warning shows a deep faith in the Lord “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Prov 16:3) To back up her resolve with actions, Esther and her maidens began a three-day fast (Est 4:16).
Once aware of Haman’s evil scheme, Esther might have chosen to accuse Haman privately to the king but she did not take this action Her conduct exemplifies the proverb “Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself, and discover not a secret to another” (25:9) She made sure that Haman was present when she accused him before the king.
Mordecai proves to be wise
Mordecai displays his familiarity with scripture m several ways His refusal to bow to Haman likely was based on scripture Haman was an Agagite, descended from Amalek (Est 3 1) while Mordecai was a Benjamite (2 5) Mordecai was unlikely to bow to this representative of an ancient enemy Even more important, Agag was a wicked man and Proverbs instructs “A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring” (Prov 25:26).
Mordecai’s refusal to bow was dangerous His confidence in a higher principle made it worth the risk Proverbs exhorts “Trust m the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Prov 3 5) The evidence presented suggests that Esther and Mordecai were familiar with the Proverbs.
Wise and foolish conduct by the Gentiles
Was it coincidence that the king’s promise to reward Mordecai came immediately after he learned of his good deed? If so he was unconsciously following the proverb “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it” (Prov 3 27) His removal of Haman helped fulfil another proverb “Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness” (25:5).
The seven things that God says He hates in Proverbs remind us of Haman “A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Prov 6:17-19)
Perhaps all seven were a part of Haman’s life He was certainly proud (Est 5 11-13, 6 6), anxious to shed innocent blood (Est 3 9-13) and swift m running to mischief (Est 6 4) His accusations to the king against the Jews reflected a heart that devised wicked imaginations, and showed he had the lying tongue of a false witness So Haman did at least six of the things God hates
Haman the fool
The descriptions of a fool accurately depict Haman “When pride cometh, then cometh shame but with the lowly is wisdom The integrity of the upright shall guide them but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them” (Prov 11:2,3)
“Whoso diggeth a pit [or builds gallows] shall fall therein and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him” (Prov 26 27) The gallows built for Mordecai became a death trap for Haman.
Personal application
Hopefully, looking at these four examples in Esther has helped us to identify wise or foolish attitudes m others, but we must not stop there It is even more beneficial to relate the proverbs to our own lives With constant attention to their wisdom, we are told one who starts as a fool – don’t we all – can become wise.
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