Fools
What do the Biblical Proverbs teach us about fools. Who is he, what does he do? What does he look like in today's world?
The initial occurrence of the term "fool" in the Book of Proverbs is highlighted in this passage:
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)
This verse emphasizes the disdain fools exhibit toward wisdom. Proverbs conveys that wisdom is rooted in the fear of the Lord. The fool, however, holds contempt for both wisdom and instruction, where instruction encompasses the notions of discipline, reproof, or correction.
Whether the source of instruction is divine or parental, the fool harbors a strong hatred to it.
"A fool despises his father’s instruction, but he who regards reproof is prudent."
Proverbs 15:5
Being the parent of a fool becomes a challenging experience, characterized by torment, worry, grief, and sadness. This specific type of fool appears resistant to proper upbringing, leaving parents devoid of the joy associated with parenthood.
"He who begets a fool does so to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy."
Proverbs 17:21
The reality is that fools prove unresponsive to guidance, and no amount of discipline seems to penetrate their understanding:
"A rebuke goes deeper into a wise man than a hundred blows into a fool."
Proverbs 17:10
There reaches a point where attempting to communicate becomes futile, especially when dealing with a fool. Such individuals will not heed advice; instead, they mock the truth:
"Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words."
Proverbs 23:9
Fools harbor a genuine aversion to wisdom and correction, persistently refusing to listen. It's a disheartening reality to confront. If you find yourself identified as the fool, consider this message seriously and contemplate the need for repentance.
For parents grappling with the challenges of raising a fool, there may be some solace in recognizing that the difficulty lies more in the fool's resistance to instruction than in any failure on the parent's part to teach or train. While this might offer limited comfort, it aligns with the observations presented in the Book of Proverbs.
No matter the punishment you will not get the fool to quit his foolishness. Bray here means to crush, to pound, like in the mortar with the pestle. There is simply no remedy. You can’t get the foolishness out of the fool.
Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, Yet will not his foolishness depart from him. Proverbs 27:22.