In our study of Ecclesiastes chapter ten, we will look at the biblical definition of foolish and its effects on life.
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Just as dead flies make perfumed oil stink, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
At the end of chapter 9, Solomon told us a parable of how the poor wise man is forgotten but the loud and proud sinner is listened to. He continues with that theme by comparing the words of a fool with a dead fly in the ointment. As with anything that dies, it creates a smell from its decay and so it is with a fly in perfume. After a while, the smell of death will overpower the good smell of the perfume. Wisdom is listening and following the plan of God while folly (foolishness) is ignoring or denying God's plan.
A wise man's heart leads him rightly, but a fool's heart leads him astray; and when a fool travels, he has no good sense, thus showing everyone that he is a fool.
Man was formed in the image of God and so we all have a desire to know Him but a fool ignores that calling to follow his own ways. As the fool lives his life, it becomes evident to everyone that he has rejected God and is following after his flesh.
If a ruler gets angry at you, stay at your post, because calmness soothes great offenses.
We have heard the phrase "if you can't fight them, join them" and that is what Solomon describes here. If you are walking in wisdom (following the Lord), then, you will face opposition and persecution just as Jesus warned. The fool will just go with the flow and follow blindly the leading of men.
Another evil I have seen under the sun, the kind of mistake rulers make, is that fools are promoted to high positions, while the rich occupy humble places. I have seen servants riding horses, while princes walk on foot like slaves.
The problem with the rulers of this world, is that they put fools in places of authority. These fools have big ideas of their own instead of the wisdom that is from God. The rich that he speaks of is those who have the things of God in their hearts and minds. Have you noticed how those that are serving the Lord (princes) have to walk along as the poor in this world? Just look at any ministry that is following the Word of God and you will see that they do not live the high life.
He who digs a pit may fall into it; he who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. He who quarries stones may get hurt by them, he who chops wood puts himself in danger. If the [hatchet's] iron [blade] is blunt, and [its user] doesn't sharpen it, he will have to exert more effort; but the expert has the advantage of his skill. If a snake bites before it is charmed, the snake-charmer has no advantage.
Now, Solomon compares the dangers of having fools in charge with some of the risks found in a person's normal work. He does this to illustrate the dangers of believing that politics have the answer to the problems of everyday life.
The words spoken by the wise bring them favor, but the lips of a fool swallow him up. What he says starts with foolishness and ends with wicked madness. A fool keeps talking and talking, yet no one knows what the future will bring -can anyone tell a person what will happen after he's gone? The efforts of a fool wear him out; he doesn't even know the way to town!
The pattern of fools in high places is that they may start with some ideas that seem a little odd but at the end they can be downright evil. An example of what Solomon is speaking of is the rise and fall of Adolph Hitler. He started out being looked at like a foolish child by the rest of the world until he progressed into "wicked madness" and would not accept counsel from anyone.
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your leaders start their parties in the morning! Happy are you, land, when your king is well-born, and your princes eat at the proper time, in order to stay strong, not to get drunk!
When fools are in high places, it is like having a child in charge and they do nothing but serve their own desires. Solomon contrasts the fate of these nations with those who have godly rulers that look after the people.
When the owner is lazy, the roof sags; when hands are idle, the house leaks.
When the leaders are lazy and self-serving, you can expect the nation to fall into disrepair just like a home that is not properly maintained. If we look around our world today, we see many countries where the leaders are living the good life while their country is in poverty.
Parties are made for having a good time, wine adds cheer to life, and money has an answer for everything.
Solomon now speaks of greed and the so-called "good life". The self-serving rulers see money as the answer for everything and do not see a need for faith in God.
Don't insult the king, not even in your thoughts; and don't insult the wealthy, not even in your bedroom; for a bird in the air might carry the news, a creature with wings might repeat what you said.
It seems that this verse is even more true than ever before. With modern technology, governments know more about each of us than they ever have before. We must respect positions of authority and understand that God is in control even when there are fools in the high places.
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