ECCLESIASTES 7
5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,
so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.
– Ecclesiastes 7:5-9
ECCLESIASTES 7 ANGER LIVES IN THE FOOL’S HEART
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
The wise are quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to irritation
But the fool does not listen and reacts quickly to slight provocations
If you bring an opinion to the wise, they’ll have open ears to listen
But if you tell the fool anything, they will minimize your viewpoint
If you are easily angered, people see you as foolish and insolent
If you are humble and listen, you will be viewed as wise and prudent.
In these wise sayings from Solomon, we get a comparison of how fools and wise people navigate in this corrupt world we live in. They have two opposite reactions to certain situations. The difference comes from the wise who acknowledge God and the fool who does not believe that there is a God. The bible tells us that God is wisdom and if you fear the Lord, you have wisdom. You are aware that he is the Maker of all things and he made all humans in his image. Knowing that you are an image-bearer of God gives you assurance and confidence so you have no fears. On the opposite spectrum, the fool denies God’s existence and so he doesn’t know the truth about his creation. He focuses on making himself the creator of all that he desires and that he does what he wants. Now that we see the two opposing beliefs of the wise and the fool, let’s dive into the following verses mentioned here to clearly see what these manifestations are.
In verse 5, we see the importance of listening to the correction of the wise rather than listening to the shallow and empty chatter of the fool. There is nothing that you can gain from the fool’s mouth because they are empty. While the wise will give you solutions or a way out of certain situations that truly works.
Verse 9 clearly differentiates the fool from the wise in how they react to situations and people. The fool quickly reacts and easily gets impatient, frustrated or mad especially when attention is drawn away from them or that they aren’t the hero or main focal point of the conversation. The wise listens and is patient to fully hear and see the bigger picture of the situation. They are teachable and responsive but not reactive. They know how to control their tongues and reactions because they are not focused on their insecurities but have a confidence and assurance that they have nothing to prove.
REFLECTION
· Why do you think anger lives in the wicked and fool’s heart? What makes them angry?
