"I HAVE PLAYED
THE FOOL"
More than 60 times the term "fool" is found in
the Bible. A classic is when Saul said, "...I have sinned: return, my son
David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and
have erred exceedingly." (1 Samuel 26:21) All of us could join with Saul
at certain times in our lives and say, "I have played the fool." Following are some that played the fool:
Abner
played the fool by dying just outside of a city of refuge. "And
the king sang a lament over Abner and said: Should Abner die as a fool dies?" (2 Samuel 3:33) With his
hands free and his feet unfettered this great warrior died at the hand of
wicked Joab. Abner was
deceived by Joab just as multitudes are deceived by
the Devil today. Abner died as a fool because he did
not use his advantages; his hands, feet and mind. What about your advantages? Is
your Bible used? What about your opportunities? Do you use your mind in God's
service? Abner died standing outside a city of
refuge. The cities of refuge
were towns in the
Kingdom of Israel and in the
Kingdom of
Judah in which the perpetrators of
manslaughter
could claim the
right of asylum; outside of these cities,
blood vengeance against
such perpetrators was allowed by law. The Old Testament cities of refuge were
identified in these words from Joshua 20:7-9. “And they appointed Kedesh in
A person that says in his heart
there is no God plays the fool. "The fool has said in his heart,
"There is no God. They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good." (Psalm 53:1) There is no
greater fool than the unbeliever. Those people that are guilty of the folly of
unbelief become corrupt in their living. To a person determined to live a
sinful and corrupt life the doctrine of "no God" provides much comfort.
However, there is a God! He knows our
heart. "God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God."
(Psalm 53:2) A person today that says "there is no God" will one day
say, "I have played the fool."
A person plays the fool when he will
not accept advice. "The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall." (Proverbs 10:8) A wise
person accepts advice, a fool only gives advice. Wisdom is seen not so much in
what it gives but what it receives. The honest and good heart will hunger and
thirst for God's way. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6) The fool is always
busy giving out and never taking in. He does not have that humility of heart
necessary to receive correction. Insubordination to authority is seen in this
person. The fool becomes a law to himself. God’s people must be wise. "If
any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and
without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with
no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the
sea driven and tossed by the wind." (James 1:5-6) A person that will not
accept advice will one day say, "I have played the fool."
A person that makes no preparation
to meet God plays the fool. In Luke 12:16-21 Jesus gave the parable of
the rich fool. "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be
required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?"
(Luke 12:20) This man thought that what he had was his own absolute property
and he made no preparation for eternity. What this man lacked led to his greatest
loss. He was not rich toward God. Those that are not rich toward God will one
day have to say, "I have played the fool."
Where do you stand with God? To become a
Christian hear the gospel (Romans
By Charles Box,