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Old Testament Overview - Wise Man Or Fool?
Wise man- Description
The wise man's attitude toward…
God: Fear – 1:7, 9:10, 15:33 (awe & concern about what will happen if one does
not honor Him and live according to His ways)
God's wisdom:
1. Seeks after it - 2:1-10*, 10:14, 15:14, 18:15
2. Prizes it - 4:8, 7:1-5, 8:10,11*, 10:23, 13:14, 14:6,33, 16:16*, 20:15, 22:17
3. Lives by it –
- Acts wisely - 13:16*, 14:15, 16, 15:21*, 17:2, 21:20
- Speaks wisely - 13:14, 15:2, 20:5, 26:4,5, 27:9
- Speaks graciously – Ecclesiastes 10:12
- Controls tongue - 17:27,28
- Controls self - 4:23*, 12:16, 19:2, 20:2, 29:8,9,11
His own wisdom:
- Does not trust it - 3:5-7*, 9:4-6, 28:26
The wise:
- Seeks their counsel - 9:9*, 11:14, 12:15*, 13:10*, 15:2, 19:20*, 20:18,
21:11 - Listens to the wisdom of their parents – 6:20-24, 23:22,23
- Accepts their reproof - 9:8, 12:1, 13:1, 15:31, 17:10, 19:20, 29:15
The world:
- Knows the consequences of worldliness and avoids it - 5:1-14, 23:4,5, 24:1,2, 27:12
Fools:
- Limits relationships with them - 13:20*, 14:7*, 26:6, 29:9
Labor:
- Chooses diligence rather than sloth - 6:6-11*, 10:4,5, 12:11, 24:30-34
Fool – Description
The Fool's Attitude toward…
God? Irreverent - Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
God's wisdom:
1. Prefers simplicity (status quo) – 1:20-25, 8:36, 10:21, 13:10, 14:15, 17:24,
24:7*
2. Despises wisdom – 1:7, 15:21, 18:2*, 23:9, 26:9
3. Lives by foolishness –
- Acts foolishly - 1:8-19, 10:23, 26:11, 27:12*
- Speaks foolishly - 18:2*, 13
- Not self-controlled - 10:18, 12:16*, 29:11*
- Uncontrolled tongue – 10:19, 12:16*,23*, 15:2,14
His own wisdom:
- Has a very high opinion of his own wisdom – 12:15*, 18:2*, 28:26*, 30:32
The wise:
- Despises their counsel – 5:11,12*
- Despises their reproof – 5:11,12*, 10:17, 12:1*
- Despises his parents' wise counsel – 13:1, 15:20
The world:
- Enjoys worldliness – 6:23-35*, 9:13-18, 12:11, 20:1
Labor
- Prefers laziness – 6:9-11, 26:13-16; Ecclesiastes 4:5
Wise man – Results
His Life:
Secure – 2:7,8, 11-16, 3:23
Peaceful – 3:17*
Fulfilling – 3:13,18*, 4:13,22*, 9:6, 16:22*
Successful – 3:2, 14-16, 4:8,9, 8:18-21, 9:12, 11:14, 15:24*, 16:20,21, 24:3-6,
28:26
Long life – 3:2,16*
Persuasive – 12:18, 13:14*, 15:7, 16:22*,23*
Avoids the destructive – 6:24-26, 7:5
Growth in knowledge – 4:18*, 14:8,18
Growth in humility – 11:2, 15:33, 22:4
Makes father glad – 10:1*, 15:20
Receives honor – 15:33
His Relationship with God:
It grows – 2:5, 22:19
Fool - Results
His Life:
Poverty – 6:11, 11:29, 24:30-34*
Disgrace – 6:33, 26:1
Failure – 11:14*, 15:22, 16:18
Strife – 13:10*, 18:6*, 22:10*, 28:25
Pride – 18:12, 21:24, 30:12,13
Calamity and ruin – 1:26-33*, 5:12-14,22,23, 9:12, 10:14, 18:7, 19:29, 26:3,
29:1*
Grief to father and mother – 10:1, 15:20, 17:25*, 19:13
His relationship with God:
Chooses to not believe in God - Psalm 14:1, 53:1
Blasphemes God - Psalm 74:18
*Verses that most clearly and powerfully make this point
