Faithful on Fridays Blog

Let’s discuss the most prevalent contrast you’ll find in the book of Proverbs: the fool and the wise. The first mention of fools (1:7) kicks off a bleak description of walking in darkness. Fools despise wisdom and instruction, consequently, they have no fear or awe of God and certainly don’t need what He has to offer. “I’m good ” is often the response to “How’s life treating you?” Yet they’re filled with negative confidence, easily enticed into sin, and often have a twisted sense of values. That’s walking in the kingdom of darkness.

It’s not surprising to find Satan referred to as the ruler of darkness (Eph. 6:12) since he was cast out of heaven (Ez. 28:16-17) to this earth and given limited authority:

… to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God … Acts 26:18a

When Satan was created he was full of wisdom, Ezekiel tells us, however, he corrupted his wisdom with pride: self-centeredness. That’s the point of Proverbs: to compare walking in the Kingdom of Light (a wise person) to the Kingdom of Darkness (a fool). 

It’s easy to recognize someone the Bible calls a fool: they have no regard for the Lord. They hate it when someone says they personally know God or understand His ways and, being blinded by Satan (2 Cor. 4:4), they completely miss it. That’s where Proverbs comes in.

Solomon effectively used personification again but this time of Satan:

So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. Proverbs 2:16

Who is the forbidden or strange woman? Satan, he’s our opposition. God views our trust in anything outside of Him to be an adulterous relationship and He wants you out of that foolishness! 

… to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.” Proverbs 6:24

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.” Proverbs 7:4-5 

Believers in Jesus Christ progressively learn to recognize the difference between Lady Wisdom:

She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, 

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” Proverbs 9:3-6 

and Lady Folly:

“The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” Proverbs 9:13, 16a

Chapters 10-30 of Proverbs will show you the opposition you’re up against and how to maintain your walk of victory keeping in step with the Holy Spirit as He leads you down the right path of life. Fool or Wise? Follow His directions.