The Fool

Proverbs 15 Continuing on with the theme of the wise vs the fool and zeroing in on the prodigal son from Luke; Proverbs repeatedly shows that the foolish don’t usually know they are behaving foolishly. (Bryan Mc. Woodcreek sermon). It seems that the fool is one that determines he is wiser than God and he knows better, but in the end, he is left bereft of any points of wisdom.  In Proverbs 15  “A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds reproof shows good sense.”  In the parable of the prodigal we see that truth in living color!  

In this parable, the son wants nothing to do with his father and rejects all the blessings that have been bestowed upon him and in essence he says, he wishes the father dead so he can have his inheritance and do as he wishes. The father yields to the son and he leaves with all of the wealth, but because he is a fool, he finds that the world is harsh and unforgiving. He thinks he is wise but soon finds out that the wisdom that he thought he had was nothing in comparison to what his father has. Sooner than later, he finds that once his wealth is gone, so too are his so-called friends and he finds that the only place left is with the pigs. 

Solomon in crafting this chapter is hoping to teach his son this truth just as the sermon pointed out: the fool does not realize he is a fool. Is there hope? There is! One must yield to God for as the chapter tells us: welcoming correction is a mark of good sense. [MSG]