Fools, Atheists and Wisdom
Psa 14:1 (KJV)
The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God.
Psa 111:10-112:1 (KJV)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
a good understanding have all they that do his commandments:
his praise endureth for ever.
{112:1} Praise ye the LORD.
Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD,
that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
What is a fool?
Fool [Heb=stupid, wicked impious, vile person.}
The words, FOOL, FOOLISHNESS, AND FOLLY, are translations of several uncomplimentary words which appear approximately 360 times throughout the Old and New Testaments to describe unwise and ungodly people. The words are especially predominant in the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament.
Persons who do not possess wisdom are called "fools"; their behavior is described as "folly." The picture which emerges from the Biblical material is quite simple: folly is the opposite of wisdom, and a fool is the opposite of a wise person. Both wisdom and folly are depicted as philosophies or perspectives on life. The religious person chooses wisdom, whereas the non-religious person opts for folly. Wisdom leads to victory; folly to defeat. Wisdom belongs to those who fear God, and the "fear" of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom is the essence of life. The foolish person is the one who is thoughtless, self-centered, and obviously indifferent to God.
(Prov 1:7 KJV)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
In Old Testament Usage Seven different Hebrew words are usually translated by the single English word, "folly." Some of the shades of meaning suggested by these various words include:
a) deliberate sinfulness;
b) simple-mindedness;
c) malicious simple-mindedness; and
d) brutal or subhuman activity.
In examining the literature of the Old Testament, one gains a deeper appreciation for these various shades of meaning. The fool may also be one who is intentionally perverse.
The fool may be the one who is aloof, and prefers not to work. He "foldeth his hands"...
(Eccl 4:5 KJV)
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
This aloofness is also described in terms of the farmers who "follow worthless pursuits" instead of tending to the farm
(Prov 12:11 KJV)
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread:
but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
In other passages the fool is described as the one who denies that God exists: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" (Ps. 14:1). Foolish behavior is also characterized by an inability to recognize the true character of God.
(Psa 14:1b KJV)
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works,
there is none that doeth good.
Prov 1:7 (KJV)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Psa 10:4 (KJV)
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance,
will not seek after God:
God is not in all his thoughts.
Psa 92:5-6 (KJV)
O LORD, how great are thy works!
and thy thoughts are very deep.
{6} A brutish man knoweth not;
neither doth a fool understand this.
Psa 107:17-18 (KJV)
Fools because of their transgression,
and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
{18} Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat;
and they draw near unto the gates of death.
The simple-minded fool is encouraged to change:
(Proverbs 9:4-6 KJV)
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:
as for him that wanteth understanding, she [Wisdom] saith to him,
Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
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Wisdom, and Wise Behavior and Attitudes
Psa 111:10-112:1 (KJV)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
a good understanding have all they that do his commandments:
his praise endureth for ever.
{112:1} Praise ye the LORD.
Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD,
that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Biblically speaking, Wisdom Is the Fear (reverent respect) of God.
First, wisdom is considered by many to be simply the art of learning how to succeed in life. Apparently, ancient persons learned very early that there was an orderliness to the world in which they lived. They also learned that success and happiness came from living in accordance with that orderliness (Prov. 22:17-24:22).
Second, wisdom is considered by some to be a philosophical study of the essence of life. Certainly, much of the Books of Job and Ecclesiastes seem to deal with just such existential issues of life
Third, though the other definitions might include this, it seems that the real essence of wisdom is spiritual, for life is more than just living by a set of rules and being rewarded in some physical manner. Undoubtedly, in this sense wisdom comes from God :
(Prov 2:6-18 KJV)
For the LORD giveth wisdom:
out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
{7} He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous:
he is a buckler(H=a versatile defensive shield) to them that walk uprightly.
{8} He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
{9} Then shalt thou understand righteousness,
and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
{10} When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
{11} Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
{12} To deliver thee from the way of the evil man,
from the man that speaketh froward things;
{13} Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
{14} Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
{15} Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
{16} To deliver thee from the strange woman,
even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
{17} Which forsaketh the guide of her youth,
and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
{18} For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
Thus, though it will involve observation and instruction, it really begins with God and one's faith in Him as Lord and Savior:
(Job 28:28 KJV)
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
and to depart from evil is understanding.
No one comes into this life with "wisdom". Wisdom is something to be sought after, and the source of that wisdom is God. God encourages us to seek wisdom and knowledge, and promises not to make fun of us for asking for it:
(James 1:5-8 KJV)
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him.
{6} But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
{7} For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
{8} A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
(Prov 4:5-19 KJV)
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
{6} Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
{7} Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
and with all thy getting get understanding.
{8} Exalt her, and she shall promote thee:
she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
{9} She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace:
a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
{10} Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
{11} I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
{12} When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened;
and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
{13} Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
{14} Enter not into the path of the wicked,
and go not in the way of evil men.
{15} Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
{16} For they sleep not, except they have done mischief;
and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
{17} For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
{18} But the path of the just is as the shining light,
that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
{19} The way of the wicked is as darkness:
they know not at what they stumble.
Luke 12:16-21 (KJV)
And Jesus spake a parable unto them, saying,
The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
{17} And he thought within himself, saying,
What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
{18} And he said, This will I do:
I will pull down my barns, and build greater;
and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
{19} And I will say to my soul,
Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years;
take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
{20} But God said unto him,
Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:
then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
{21} So is he that layeth up treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God.
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