So my daughter and I were waiting to see the surgeon and just idly chatting, and somehow the topic of “fools” came up. She asked, “Doesn’t the bible say that God hates fools?” I couldn’t remember such a verse, but I do have e-Sword on my cell phone, so I quickly did a search for “fool” in the old testament. One verse we particularly enjoyed was Proverbs 18:6, which she will now use as a comeback on her friend when they are pretending to argue. As in, “Oh yeah? Well, Proverbs 18:6!” After we got control of ourselves and stopped giggling like idiots, we continued down the list and found this gem:
A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.
(Ecclesiastes 10:2)
That’s right, liberals! Even the bible says you’re idiots! You’re “progressing” right into the fiery pit! Bwahahahaha!!! [High fives all around at the Pachyderm Club!]
So that’s the [read this in an Alastair Cook voice] Out of Context Verse Of The Day. I may make it a series. (For a serious unpacking of Ecclesiastes 10:2 by John Gill, click to read the rest of the post.) And if God does hate fools, I didn’t find an OT verse to indicate it.
From John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible, via e-Sword.
Ecc 10:2 – A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,…. This is not designed to express the direct position and situation of the heart of man, wise or foolish, which is the same in both; and which, according to anatomists, is in the middle of the body, inclining to the left side; but the understanding and wisdom of men, as Aben Ezra observes; which, with a wise man, is ready a hand to direct and assist him in any affair; and which under the influence of it, he goes about with great readiness and dexterity, and performs it with great ease and facility, without sinister ends and selfish views; it inclines him to pursue the true way to honour, heaven, and happiness, which lies to the right; to seek things that are above, at the right hand of God; and, in all, his honour and glory;
but a fool’s heart is at his left; he is at a loss for wisdom and understanding to direct him, when he has an affair of any moment upon his hand; which he goes about in an awkward manner, as left handed persons do, and has sinister ends in what he does; and he is to every good work reprobate and unfit, and seeks earth and earthly things, which lie to the left, and in all himself. The Targum is,
“the heart of a wise man is to get the law, which was given by the right hand of the Lord; and the heart of a fool to get the goods of gold and silver:”
so Jarchi,
“his wisdom is ready to incline him (the wise man) to the right hand way for his good; but the heart of a fool to pervert him from it.”
The ancients (o) used to call things wise and prudent the right hand and things foolish the left hand.
(o) Suidas in voce δεξια.
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