Call To Worship Col 3:12-17

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Bible says that wisdom is greater than monetary power. Wisdom is greater than military power. Wisdom is greater than mental power. Look in Proverbs 4:7 "Wisdom is the principal thing…"

"The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here." Matthew 12:42

I want to tell you some ways that Jesus is greater than Solomon.

He Is Greater in the Wisdom He Proclaims

Now, you talk about a wise man - Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs. He knew 3,000 proverbs and had memorized 1,500 songs. What a mind he had! Solomon knew all about the created universe. But Jesus had greater wisdom. You see, Jesus made all of the things that Solomon knew about. We read in the Bible where Solomon studied ichthyology. He knew all about fish, but Jesus knew more. Jesus put enough fish in two empty nets to sink two boats. Solomon knew all about the cycles of the wind, but Jesus knew how to rebuke the wind and cause the Sea of Galilee to be still at His command. Solomon knew all about navigation. He sent ships out all over the earth to bring back riches. But Jesus could walk on water.

Greater in the Works He Performs

Not only did Solomon have great wisdom, but he also did mighty things. Solomon built a palace for himself. It took thirteen years to complete, and it defied description. But Jesus is building a greater house. He said in John 14:2, "In My Father's house are many mansions … I go to prepare a place for you." Solomon invited people in for great feasts. But Jesus could take five loaves of bread and two fishes and feed 5,000. He could turn plain water into sparkling wine. Solomon built a temple beyond compare. It was the most glorious, magnificent building that has ever been built. But Jesus has built a greater temple. You and I are His temple. First Corinthians 6:19 says, "…know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you?"

Greater in the Workers He Pleases

Solomon built many things and employed many workers. And he was a great man to work for. Can you imagine serving in his court in all the lavish wealth? Solomon's workers were happy, but Jesus gives me joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Greater in the Wealth He Possesses

King Solomon was incredibly wealthy. King Tut, Bill Gates, and Donald Trump will have to stand aside when it comes to wealth. Tons of gold, along with ivory and spices, were poured into Solomon's coffers. But Jesus' wealth is greater. The cattle on a thousand hills belong to Jesus, and all of the diamonds and the rubies in those hills. Every star in the sky belongs to Him.

Greater in the Worship He Provides

Finally, Jesus is greater in worship. Solomon was there to lead the people in worship. That's why he built the temple, and God gave him a throne. But there's another throne, and Jesus sits upon it. Friend, Solomon no longer sits upon his throne, but Jesus sits on His! And He will never, ever be dispossessed.  Like other great kings, Solomon has come and gone. All that he had is gone. But Jesus is here. He will supply you with His wisdom. He will give you water so you will never thirst again. He's preparing a place for you in heaven. And Jesus will give you joy day by day. And that's why we worship the One, the Lord Jesus, Who is greater than Solomon. He's the everlasting King and our great Saviour.

Ecclesiastes 12

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";² before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,³ in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,⁴ and the doors on the street are shut---when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low---⁵ they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets---⁶ before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.⁸ Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

⁹ Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care.¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.¹² My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

¹³ The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

What's it all about, Alfie?
Is it just for the moment we live?
What's it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?
And if only fools are kind, Alfie
Then I guess it is wise to be cruel
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie
What will you lend on an old golden rule?

1. The Problem of Aging.

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them." (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

It is clear that this is an appeal to young people to think carefully about their Creator, not merely to remember that He is there. The thought is: recall God's presence daily; live in a relationship with him; seek to discover the greatness and glories of God while you are still young, before it is too late.  And here is the bad news do it before the "evil days come."

Those evil days are described in Verses 2-8. This is what we all have before us should we live long enough.

² before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,³ in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,⁴ and the doors on the street are shut---when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low---⁵ they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets---⁶ before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern (Ecclesiastes 12:2-7)

"before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain," refer to the fading of the mental powers of an individual as he grows older. How true this is! When you are young, life seems to stretch endlessly before you; it seems that you will never approach old age. But as you live day by day, life seems to speed by rapidly; it is very brief. You suddenly find yourself exhibiting the appearances and experiences of age. As someone has well said, "Just about the time your face clears up, your mind begins to go!"

I  think pastors should retire at an appropriate time, as we tend to make mistakes (as does everyone) as our mental faculties diminish. The dad jokes become old granddad jokes: do you know the difference? The punch line is… umm .. I forgot.

"light". The mind, reasoning,  memory,  imagination begins to fade, like the fading of the light of the sun. The reasoning power of the brain, and memory fades.  There are three things that indicate the onset of old age: the first is losing the memory, and I can't remember the other two!  "The clouds returning after the rain," is a reference to how our emotions govern our thinking. These are common feelings and emotions of the elderly:

- uselessness – I am in the way, I am over the hill - guilt – I have totally fouled up my life ….If only . . . - bitterness and resentment - fear of the unknown and the future – What's going to happen to me?

As a child, one's life revolves around three simple things: eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom. When one gets old that same cycle returns again.

"in the day when the keepers of the house tremble." That refers to the arms and the hands, by which we defend ourselves if we are attacked; "the keepers of the house," which are so useful in maintaining the body, which begin to shake and tremble when old age comes on.

"The strong men are bent," is a reference to the legs, the strongest parts of the body, which start to shake and tremble in old age. Old people take very short steps; they can hardly walk. It has been well said that a sign of the onset of old age is when your knees buckle but your belt won't!

Then he speaks of "the grinders ceasing because they are few." That needs no interpreting for those who have lost many of their grinders through tooth decay. Have you seen medieval false teeth? Stumps of wood sewn into the gums. I am so glad of modern dentists, even when we can't afford them.

"Those that look through the windows are dimmed"  Cataracts form;  eye problems develop.  Some of us have to hold things further away to read them.. Someone asked me last week which Bible version I like most: the ne with the biggest print!

"The doors on the street are shut," is a vivid picture of what happens when the teeth fall. The doors of the face, the lips, fall in, one begins to mouth everything. When that happens "the doors to the street" are obviously shut.

"When the sound of the grinding is low"

Then, "one rises up at the voice of a bird." I have noticed that in the mornings any sound will waken me.

Yet, at the same time, "all the daughters of song are brought low." There is a reference to the increasing deafness of old age. "The daughters of song, " those parts of our body by which we hear the song, are brought low; they lose their powers.  Everybody seems to talk in a much lower tone of voice than they used to; people mumble all the time, as "the daughters of song are brought low." And the TV gets turned up louder!

Then there is a word on the increasing fears brought on by old age: "They are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way."

I've got to admit getting up and down the steps has become a more traumatic task as the years wind on.

"The almond tree blossoms" is clearly a reference to the hair, which turns white as old age approaches.  Although our ladies have found a way to avoid this.

"the grasshopper drags itself along." When I wake up in the morning I find myself stiff, and having difficulty walking at times. This increases as one grows old.  "The grasshopper drags itself along."

And finally "desire fails." That is a reference to sexual desire. It may be a great comfort to many of you to see that that is last on the list; it is the last thing to go, according to this. And even Viagra can't help it.

Wigs can be bought when the hair falls out, or dentures when the teeth fall out. Glasses, contact lenses, help with eye problems. Artificial legs, arms and hands, etc., can be fitted, and these are great devices. With all the help that modern technology avails, what a sight it must be when some people get ready for bed! It must be like watching the demolition of a house!

This description of aging in the Bible reminds me of the couple who wanted to get married. Jacob was ninety-two and Rebecca was eighty-nine. As they discussed their wedding, they passed a Chemist, and Jacob suggested they go in. Addressing the man behind the counter, Jacob said, "We're getting married. Do you sell heart medication?" "Yes, of course we do," said the pharmacist.

"How about medicine for circulation?"           "All kinds."

"Medicine for rheumatism, scoliosis?"           "Definitely."

"Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, jaundice?"  "Yes, a large variety," said the pharmacist. "Whatever the doctor orders."

"What about vitamins, sleeping pills ?"     "Absolutely."

"And wheelchairs and walkers?"                "All speeds and sizes."

"Great!" said Jacob, "We'd like to use this store as our bridal registry!"

And if you think this is bad so far, now he begins describing the ways death can occur. The end of life is death. In frankness and openness the Scripture faces the fact that "Man goes to his eternal home." Despite the many passages in this book in which the writer seems to be preoccupied with the grave -- he sees it as the end of all the good things made available to us "under the sun," i.e., in this life -- nevertheless there are several references in the book to the fact that life does not end with death; that human existence goes on beyond death. Here is one of them: "Man goes to his eternal home." The grave is not the end; there is life, there is existence, beyond; this verse recognizes that.

So, "the mourners go about the streets." This, Solomon says, is a result of various forms which death can take. First, "the silver cord is snapped." That seems clearly to be a reference to the spinal cord, that great nerve that runs up and down our backs, protected by our spines. If it is damaged, broken, or diseased, life can suddenly end.

Then, "the golden bowl is broken." That is a reference to the cranium, the skull. A blow to the head, damage to the brain, a fall, and we are gone.

"The pitcher is broken at the fountain" is a reference to the heart. Heart disease, cardiac arrest, is the most frequent cause of death today. The heart can suddenly stop; the fountain which continually pours blood through our bodies is broken and ceases its function.

"The wheel broken at the cistern" is a reference to the circulation of the blood.  A blood clot can arrest it and suddenly death occurs. I have had two friends die at a relatively young age through Deep Vein Thrombosis. One a sky diving accident and the other water skiing I think.

The body crumbles: "Dust returns to the earth as it was, but the spirit" - "the spirit returns to God who gave it."

 Life "under the sun," life lived without having discovered the reason for living, is vanity, emptiness, futility. The greatest futility of all is a life that has not found the reason for living. What a waste to live your life and never discover why you are here! What a waste, to die without learning the secret of true existence! That is Solomon's conclusion. He began the book with it, in Verse 2, and ends here with the same words, in Verse 8 of Chapter 12. He has searched through all of life and reached the same conclusion.

It is clear from this suggestion (to return to Verse 1 of this chapter) that it is hard to find the answer to life when you're old. Not many people do. There are stories (thank God for every one of them) of people turning to God in their last moments of life. Many of us, perhaps, know someone who did that in a real and genuine way. But what a waste of a life.

2. The Power of Scripture

God has revealed Himself to us through His Word.

⁹ Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care.¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.¹² My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Solomon, the author, speaks of himself in the third person. He was wise. In Israel that description simply meant that he knew the will of God. Verse 9 says that he taught people knowledge and arranged proverbs. A proverb is a truism that applies to life.  1Kings 4:32 tells us that Solomon wrote thousands of proverbs to help his people navigate life. He didn't just rule them; he led them. He gave them pithy little statements that they could memorise that were hard hitting guides for life.   Solomon wisely conveyed his knowledge of God to the people. Later, in verse 11, he says that these truths "are given by one Shepherd." Solomon recognized that these words did not originate with him; that the ultimate Shepherd of Israel was God. Solomon was accountable to Him. Here he claims to be something more than just a wise man; he claims that his words are given by God.

We have a term for God-given knowledge in theology; inspiration. God takes a human being and channels inerrant truth through him. Peter put it like this: "No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Pet. 1:21).  God took human authors and led them to do what they never could do on their own.

God still used Solomon's human expertise. Solomon pondered, searched out, and arranged his thoughts. God took his effort and unique combination of skills to give us an inerrant record in this book. Solomon goes on to describe the book that he wrote.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.  (10-11)

The book Solomon wrote is delightful and pleasing. Psalm 19 calls the words of the Lord sweeter than honey. First Peter calls them milk. I personally have no greater joy than for God to show me something wonderful in His Word. Almost every day God blesses my heart with new insight. He blesses me, I say, Wow.  Solomon also says in verse 10 that these words are true and correct. When you read something in the Bible, you never have to worry about being misled by it. God will never lead you astray. You can bank on it. That's what the Bible does for our lives. It is God's instruction manual for man, and if you'll follow it, He won't mislead you. It is perfectly in keeping with the mind of its Author.

The Bible is true, straight direction. It was given by one Shepherd.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings;

Do you know what a goad is? If you are a shepherd, a rod and a staff are critical to your work. A staff is about six feet long and protects the sheep from a wolf. A rod is about three feet long and is used as a goad. When a little sheep gets off the path, a shepherd takes his goad and gives him a tap. It doesn't feel great to the sheep, but the shepherd does it because he loves the sheep. You also use a goad on an ox. An ox goad is about six feet long with a nail in it, and it is used to poke the ox so he will stay on the right path.

When Paul's name was still Saul, Jesus met him on the road to Damascus and asked him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads" (Acts 26:14).

The Bible is a goad. It will keep you from doing dumb stuff. It also can be unpleasant. It can hurt sometimes.  Knowing you're on the right path is a great comfort, and God's Word will definitely keep you on the right path.

Solomon also says people who master the words of wise men are like well-driven nails. When you entered Jewish homes in Solomon's day, there wouldn't be a coat rack; there would simply be a nail or a peg driven into the wall where a Jewish family would hang their most important articles. One of the names of the Messiah in the Old Testament is the peg that comes from Judah (Zech. 10:3-4). The Messiah is a peg. You can rest in Him. You can hang your life on Him, and He'll never give way. The Bible's a goad, and it's also a well-driven nail.

Have you ever come across a verse of the Bible and it has hit home with such force, you know God wants you to know that verse, so you memorise it, and you find you come back to it and back to it and back to it and hang your life on it.

Master the collection .. master the scriptures. Only those who have mastered the Bible are strong. They know it, they've struggled with it, and they've worked it into their lives.

It's not how many times you've been through the Bible; it's how many times the Bible's been through you. Do you have a time every single day when you withdraw and spend time with just you and God? Not you and a tape. Not you and a commentary. It's you with a confessed heart and the Holy Spirit working in His Word. It will bring you face to face with God. When is your time slot everyday that you're seeking to master the Bible?

In verse 12, Solomon shows us why many people never master the Bible.

My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Solomon says that there is no end to the number of different ideas men will invent. You can read heaps of books…but there is only One book that you need to really know. Even though it can be enjoyable to investigate all the ideas of men, it is wearying to the soul.

We have now come to the end of the Book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon gives us his conclusions that summarize what we need to think and do. The climax of the book is found in verse 13.

¹³ The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

3. The Presence of Christ.

Another way to translate the last part of that verse is "this is the whole of man." When all is said and done, fear God and keep His Word. That is the whole of man.

Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the wholeness of man.

That is the secret of wholeness. To "Fear God, and keep his commandments" is to learn to be and to discover the secret of being a whole person. Who does not want that? We all want to be whole persons. Not broken, fragmented, easily upset, erratic, going off in all directions at once, but stable, controlled, balanced. Whole people. Here is the secret of it. This is what we are to learn when we are young: "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth," before all the pressures come upon you. This is the secret of wholeness: "Fear God, and keep his commandments."

Everything hangs upon that word, "Fear God." I know that this is a difficult word for us to comprehend. Most of us think of it in terms of abject terror, of running from God, of seeing him as a threat, but that is never the biblical meaning of the word. I have tried to put it in the form of an acrostic to make it easier for us to remember what the elements of fearing God include.

First, "F" stands for faith in His existence. You cannot come to God unless you know he is there. Hebrews 11:6 says, "He that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him." There is where fear begins: faith that God exists. The whole of the created universe is shouting that at us. All the inner responses of our heart are confirming it. The Word of God declares it. History confirms it. There is a world of evidence that God is there.

Then "E": experience of his grace. You never can properly fear God until you have learned what kind of a God he is. He is a God of mercy, of grace, of forgiveness. Until you have stood before him and felt your guilt, acknowledged it, known you were wrong and corrupt, and heard him say in your inner heart, "There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus", you will never be able to properly fear God. One element of fear is the experience of the wonder of forgiveness.  We Ecclesiastes is about Wisdom, but the scriptures are designed by God to lead us to the Lord Jesus and the forgiveness that is found in Him.

2 Timothy 3: 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

That leads to the third element. "A": awe at the majesty, the wisdom and the wonder of God. What a God He is! What a marvelous mind that can comprehend all the billions of pieces of information in this universe and hold them continually before him, that can hear every voice and relate to every person who has ever lived! What a marvelous God! Awe at the sense of his majesty, his comprehensiveness, his unfailing wisdom and power, is part of fearing God.

The last letter, "R," stands for resolve. Resolve to do what he says, to obey his word, to "keep his commandments," as Solomon says. There are only two commandments; Jesus himself said that. All the law and the writings can be reduced to two simple things: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind," (Matthew 22:37 RSV). That is in response to his love already shown to you; love him because he first loved you. And two, "Love your neighbor as yourself." That's it. As Micah put it, "What does God require of man, but to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly before his God," (Micah 6:8). There it is: to obey him, to follow him, to keep the commandments. So this is what it means to fear God: Faith, Experience, Awe, Resolve.

You don't have to assume the lotus position and be a mystic to know God. You don't have to eat some odd mushroom and have a vision. You don't have to find a cave and live in it. You don't have to go anywhere.

God has made Himself known. He makes Himself known to you as you read His Bible. To know God is a matter of diligence and discipline in the things of the soul. He has rigged it that way. That's the way you'll come to Him and that's what He honors. It takes diligence, discipline, and effort. What is your relationship to the Bible?

God made you. He made you to know Him as the foundation for everything else in your life. On the basis of your intimate relationship with Him, get a job, get married, have kids, and build a life. But every aspect of your life should be bound together by the common theme of your faith and dependence on God.

All of life falls apart when we don't know God. How do we know God? We know God through His Word. He reveals Himself to us in it. He transforms us from the inside out with it.

How are you doing? Are you immersing yourself in His Word? If you don't spend time with God, you will have to find some kind of substitute. Spend time in the Bible. Make it a higher priority than eating. Your body will die one day, but your soul will live forever.

For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

The purpose of the Old Testament was to show the need for the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God who came to die upon the cross. God punished Him for sins He didn't commit, so that people who placed their faith in Him could be forgiven of their sins.

The purpose of the Bible is to bring you to the person prophesied in the Old Testament, embodied in the Gospels, explained in the Epistles, and anticipated in Revelation Jesus Christ.

Solomon's conclusion gets to the heart of the matter. In a crazy, uncertain life, there has to be a source of wisdom that does not change and is never wrong. God has given us that wisdom in His holy Word. It's our task to love it, learn it, and live it. If we do, we'll find the joy that our souls have always longed for. The Christian gospel has better news to offer than the somber analysis of the old Preacher.  One great purpose of the Christian gospel is to help us grow as persons into a maturity patterned after Christ's. Doing the will of God is central to this growth. It is the heart of our relationship with God, a relationship that refines and mellows us, that strengthens and perfectsâ€"in spite of the limitations of aging. Is this not what Jesus meant when he pointed to his disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother" ( Matt. 12:49,50)?  Doing God's will means living in His love and centering on His purposes.

Ecclesiastes 8:1-9 Everybody Wants To Rule The World  Solomon on Leadership

              "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

People rise to the level of their own incompetence. Sometimes government can do amazing things. But mostly…

Ecclesiastes 8 teaches us how to exercise wisdom. These verses give us practical guidance for dealing with earthly government, whether good or evil, even in matters of life and death. And this passage is very appropriate for us as government make decisions for us about life and death matters like Covid, China and the Russia Ukraine crises. And as we discuss these things with family friends and work companions.

This is about things that are outside of our control.  Solomon asks a rhetorical question:  "Who is like the wise? And who knows the inter­pretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed" (Ecclesiastes 8:1).

What is the answer to these questions? "No one?"  There is no one wise; no, not one, he says in Eccl 7: I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.26  .. 27 Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things---28 which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found.29 See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.

Think how hard it can be to understand the difficult teachings of the Bible (particularly the book of Ecclesiastes). Or consider how hard it is to explain the mysterious providence of God, the way he makes things crooked or straight in the world.

After telling us how wisdom looks, Solomon deals with a more dangerous perplexity: he shows us what wisdom does in dealing with people in absolute authority: "I say: Keep the king's com­mand, because of God's oath to him. Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, 'What are you doing?'" (Ecclesiastes 8:2–4).

There are hints throughout the passage that the king in question may or may not exercise his governance in a godly way. In fact, verse 9 indicates that earthly authority is often abused: "All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt." This passage is not simply about the use of power but also about its abuse. From what the Preacher had seen, whenever one person has power over another person, there is always a strong possibility that it will be used in a destructive way.

My examiner for my PhD Dr. Malcolm Yarnell of Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth Texas constructed something very interesting around the abuse of power:

Seven Theses regarding Power and Abuse:

1. All power is a gift of God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, things visible and things invisible, to his creatures: angels, humanity, and lower forms of life. Powers were granted to creatures with limits on their purpose—All for God's glory and to bless others—and use.

2. God will hold accountable all of his creatures through judgment on the Day of the Lord as his Kingdom manifests itself in righteousness. The judgment from the divine throne either a) justifies the Righteous who obeyed God or b) condemns the Wicked who abused gifts of power.

3. Abuses of the gifts of power occur either a) when power is used for a purpose other than for which it was given (i.e. for God's glory or the blessing of others), or b) when power is used in a way God defines as evil, even if the abuser believes he or she has a good purpose.

4. Authority is a gift of power from God through a proper community for a certain office to be fulfilled so the Lord might be glorified and the community might be preserved and/or edified. Authority is lost when it is used for one's glory or gain rather than for God and others.

5. Abusers of authority exhibit characteristics in Scripture and today: a) They work for their own glory rather than God's and their own gain rather than for others. b) They speak with deception and make gross claims. c) If unrepentant, they abuse those who point out their abuse.

6. Abusers of authority may be spiritually redeemed, if they turn to God in repentance from abuse and trust in the Son who received and conquered abuse by his Cross and Resurrection. The 3 realms—family, state, and church—must remove or limit chronic and gross abusers of office.

7. The one who wishes not to abuse power today, either by acting for the wrong purpose or in the wrong way, a) must have her or his heart transformed by grace, b) must recognize his or her continuing propensity to sinful behavior, and c) must be held accountable by the community.\

Well, in the midst of all this perplexity there is something that gives stability: godly wisdom makes a difference.

"What is the wise and godly way for us to live under authority?"

ECCLESIASTES 8:1           Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing?

A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

1. GODLY WISDOM MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY PEOPLE LOOK

Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed. ^{ECCLESIASTES 8:1}

Do you show hardness of face or the smile of grace?

People who live without God in the world often show the proud demeanor or stern expression that comes from a heart hardened by sin — "hardness of . . . face." But the wisdom of the gos­pel turns the frown of sin into the smile of grace. Thus the Preacher contrasts the face of a hardened sinner with "the wise man who is visibly gracious in his demeanor, and whose gentleness is obvious in his facial expression." In saying this, he is not just telling us to "put on a happy face." Instead, he is saying what the psalmist said, that people who look to the Lord "are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed" (Psalm 34:5; cf. Exodus 34:29–35; Proverbs 15:13).

The opposite to a happy face is a whining face.

Chronic whiners and complainers are everywhere. I came across a list of actual complaints that were sent to a travel company.

(1) "On my holiday to Mumbai, India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food."

(2) "The beach was too sandy. We had to clean everything when we returned to our room."

(3) "No one told us there would be fish in the ocean. The children were scared."

(4) "We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they all spoke Spanish."

(5) "I was bitten by a mosquito. The brochure did not mention mosquitoes."

(6) "We bought 'Ray-ban' sunglasses for $3 from a vendor outside the hotel and discovered they were fake."

You've heard of a Diner's Club Card. Did you know that you can now get a Whiner's Club Card? It says, "Tired of putting on a happy face? Well, so are we! Luckily, you've joined the Whiner's Club. You now have the exclusive right to gripe, groan and moan about your job, money healthy, friends, and sex life. Possibilities are endless! So wipe that silly grin off your face and get ready to drive the world crazy with your constant sniveling. You owe it to yourself to let the REAL YOU be heard."

This is more than a metaphor. True wisdom brings a joy to life that changes everything, including people's appearance.

I read of this phenomenon in an article from a journal for Christian military chaplains a few years ago. It quoted from a 2008 essay by a prominent athe­ist about a strange phenomenon he had observed in Africa. The journalist Matthew Parris wrote a piece for The Times entitled "Why Africa Needs God." Although Parris made it clear that he does not believe in God at all, he admitted that Christianity made a tangible difference in the lives of peo­ple he knew in his boyhood home of Malawi and in other countries across Africa. Not only did he admire the good work that Christians were doing to care for the poor and sick, but he also liked the way they looked. "The Christians were different," he wrote. "Their faith appeared to have liberated and relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiosity, an engagement with the world. . . . Whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people we passed and spoke to: something in their eyes."

The article went on to state that Biblical wisdom brings personal transformation. It makes a difference in our witness, showing people the joy of knowing Christ. It also makes a difference in our relationships. Instead of going around grumpy all the time (which is tempting for all of us), wise people have an inner joy that radiates out to other people. Have you ever seen this joy in the face of an older, wiser believer? And here is another perplexity: godly wisdom shines out of the face! We can have joy that lasts out over our pain. Is God making your face shine? As we pray for our spiritual progress, we should ask God for greater wisdom to bring growing joy to life in our witness for Jesus Christ. As his face shines upon us (see Numbers 6:25), our own faces will shine with the wisdom of his radiant grace (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).

2. GODLY WISDOM MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY PEOPLE LIVE

8:2 I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him.³ Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.

"What is the wise and godly way for us to live under authority?" Whatever your place in the pecking order, we are all faced with this issue whether as employees, and any other person who is called to submit to any authority that God has put in place. How do we honour God by honouring the king?

Our First Duty Is Obedience

Our first duty is obedience.  "keep the king's command" (Ecclesiastes 8:2). A wise servant will do what the king or the government tells him to do. The general principle here is submission to the governing authorities — something the Bible also teaches in other places. Jesus told his disciples to "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's" (Luke 20:25). Paul told every person to "be subject to the governing authorities" — what William Tyndale famously called "the powers that be" (Romans 13:1). Martin Luther called this the duty of "political obedience." Every Christian is called to be a law-abiding citizen and to respond to any godly request the government makes for help. This includes everything: even paying our full taxes.

There are several good reasons to obey the king. The most important is theological: "Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him" (Ecclesiastes 8:2). "because of the oath of God."  He is reminding members of the royal court that they have promised to obey the king, because this is where rebellion is most likely to occur.

But this goes further. Jesus has appointed the leaders of our own government: "There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed" (Romans 13:1–2). Our submission to authority on earth is one important part of our submission to Christ in Heaven.

Romans 13: Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.² Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.³ For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,⁴ for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.⁵ Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.⁷ Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

However it is not entire obedience. Peter told the rulers of Jerusalem something after they told him to stop preaching the gospel: "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). When it comes to a conflict between God and man, we must obey the higher authority.

I heard an interview about a former Supreme Court Judge Breyer; he had written a book about how to obey the government and live under law even when we think it is wrong.

Our Second Duty Is Discretion.

Our Second Duty Is Discretion. Don't be hasty! What the Preacher gives us in Ecclesiastes 8 is practical wisdom for when we are under an earthly authority that is not entirely righteous and we might not be certain what to do. Verse 3 seems to assume a situation in which a public official disagrees with the command of his king. Here the Preacher gives a word of caution: "Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases" (Ecclesiastes 8:3). When he tells us not to be hasty, he is saying be careful with the decisions you make. Weigh them carefully. You may have the right to resist the local council's decisions; but it may not be wise.  If you find yourself at odds with government don't be hasty to walk away from any authority that God has put in place.  He also cautions us not to take our stand "in an evil cause" (Ecclesiastes 8:3). This would be good advice in any case, but given the context, the Preacher may have something specific in mind. When people are under the rule of ungodly authority, it is tempting to rebel in an unrighteous way. Instead the Preacher tells us to fight evil with godliness.

I have often admired the 16^th century Scottish Covenanters. They were Presbyterians and reformed when it was illegal to be that. They were us! When told they could not gather to hear the preached word, or gather for communion, one couple were accosted by troops while on their way to a conventicle meeting (like a house church, probably in a field under a tree). They were asked "where are you going?" they replied "my brother has died and I am going to hear His will read."  They disobeyed government when it came to the higher authority of God in a time when the gospel preaching churches were being directly persecuted.

Is that resistance a model in covid lockdowns? Probably not, because that was not about direct persecution of Christians. But maybe somebody may say, it was a subtle directed persecution of Christians ( a conspiracy)? You would have to decide that for yourself.

3. GODLY WISDOM MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY PEOPLE LEAVE

4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.

As messengers of death is the king's wrath, But a wise man will appease it. (Proverbs 16:14)

By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone. (Proverbs 25:15)

Leave it all: Getting out of our own inward depression and bitterness.  Our third duty is to guard our hearts from bitterness.  When suffering oppression at home or at work or in soci­ety, do not let the desire for revenge turn your heart to ungodliness. The most important reason to obey the king's command is theological. But the Preacher also gives us a good practical reason to do our royal duty, namely, that it will keep us from harm. Remember that the word of the king is law, that the earthly authority of government is absolute: "The word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, 'What are you doing?'" (Ecclesiastes 8:4). Therefore, if we are unwise in the way that we challenge the king's authority — or worse, if our resistance is evil — then we may fall under his judgment.

According to Derek Kidner, therefore, there are times when "wisdom has to fold its wings and take the form of discretion, content to keep its possessor out of trouble." Yet the Preacher offers us this encouragement: "Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way" (Ecclesiastes 8:5).

Leave it to the Lord to work this stuff out.  If you think you can control it all,  you don't need God. And the Lord will take you into deeper troubles until you learn that you need to leave it to the Lord to sort it out.

"My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise" (Proverbs 24:21)

After telling us that a wise person "will know the proper time and the just way," the Preacher assures us that "there is a time and a way for everything" (Ecclesiastes 8:5–6). In other words, the wise person knows the right thing to do and the right time to do it. Yet the Preacher goes on to say that "man's trouble lies heavy on him. For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?" (Ecclesiastes 8:6–7). 

There is "a time for every matter under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). If the Preacher is still thinking about kings and govern­ments, he is saying that there is a time to obey the king and a time to leave his presence, or even to start a righteous rebellion, but you better know you are doing what God wants at the time. Because the ramifications will cost people's lives! Just like in Iran this week. We can apply the same principle to other situations that involve authority. There is a time to submit and a time to stand against oppression. The problem is that it is hard to know what time it is, which often makes it hard to know the wise thing to do. The troubles and frustrations of life are many, as the Preacher never fails to remind us. We do not know what the future will bring. Nor can anyone tell us exactly what will happen in days to come.  Which nations will rise and fall? Will the economy be good or bad? Will the church thrive or only survive?

But there is something we can do! We can do what we are responsible to do.  And our first responsibility is to live godly in this present life. Leave the bitterness causing stuff. Let it go!  The Lord knows what He is doing. If you think you are bigger than the Lord, then go ahead! Prove it! I promise you it will not end well!

And often that is what the Lord is teaching us!

Ecclesiastes 8:⁵ Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.⁶ For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.⁷ For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?⁸ No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.⁹ All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.

Ecclesiastes 10  Foolishness

How can I soar like an eagle when I am surrounded by turkeys?   Or when I am a turkey!

Ray Stedman wrote "Wisdom, however, will not help you avoid all the hurt and pain of life. Many people make the mistake of thinking that wisdom will deliver them from all pressure and struggle, but it will not. We learn in this book that struggle, pain, pressure and sorrow all are part of the learning process. But by discovering and obeying the wisdom of God your life will not be rendered bitter, angry and resentful by such pain. You will not find yourself plunged into a morass of self-pity and depression; you will not find your life ravaged and torn apart, all your dreams collapsed at your feet. The wisdom of God will lead you into fullness and liberty and inward peace in the midst of the pressures and dangers of life. That is the message of the book of Ecclesiastes, as it is the message of the whole Bible." The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Eccl 9:17

If wisdom is your highest reference point, then you see foolishness as the bane of existence. Solomon saw it everywhere, and it galled him. In his three books he uses the words fool, fools, foolish, and folly a staggering total of 128 times. In Ecclesiastes 10, he uses these words nine times. The word fool occurs in verses 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, and 15.

Prov 17:12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.

Solomon warns of foolishness in little things, in leadership, in labor, and in language.

FOOLISHNESS IN LITTLE THINGS

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.

3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

Solomon uses a rather unusual illustration about perfume. The wealthy king had access to the rarest and costliest perfumes of his day. In Proverbs 7:17 he speaks of the seductive power of perfume in the arsenal of the prostitute. In Proverbs 27:9, he notes the legitimate power of perfume and ointment to delight the heart. Twice in Song of Solomon, he mentions perfume's power to enhance a married couple's relationship. But without question, his strangest reference to perfume is this one: "Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor" (Ecclesiastes 10:1).

Suppose you purchased a small vial of expensive perfume, took it home, and put it in a safe spot. Sometime later, you opened the vial and discovered a dead horsefly floating on top. The insect, now partially decayed, had putrefied the precious perfume. This is the source of the well-known phrase, a fly in the ointment. It's Solomon's vivid way of illustrating how a tiny bit of foolishness can destroy the powerful fragrance of a person's dignity and reputation.

A tiny bit of foolishness can spread fast and destroy a reputation.

Look at how a tiny bit of foolishness spread so fast in Agriculture: I asked  my brother-in-law about some beautiful flowers he was growing on his farm. He laughed and told me that what I took to be flowers were weeds.  Really destructive weeds.

The Scotch thistle   Once a sleeping party of Scots warriors were saved from ambush by an invading Norse army when one of the enemies trod on the spiky plant. His anguished cry roused the slumbering warriors who duly vanquished the invader and adopted the thistle as their national symbol. Scotch thistle were probably introduced from Europe in the early 1800s as ornamental plants.  It was a Presbyterian thing.  And now it has invaded much of NSW farm land.

Patterson's Curse is an annual plant native to the Mediterranean region. It is a classic 'garden thug' having been introduced via mail order gardening catalogues in the 1840s, then rapidly invading agricultural land. It is poisonous to grazing animals. It is supposedly named after the Paterson family of Cumberoona, New South Wales, who planted it in their garden in the 1880s. Paterson's curse now covers millions of hectares of land in southern Australia (from WA to northern New South Wales) and is estimated to cost Australian sheep and cattle producers $250 million annually through lost productivity in pastures, control costs, and wool contamination. It is highly competitive in pastures, replacing desirable plants without contributing to forage value.

Solomon adds an interesting thought to his reasoning: "A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left" (Ecclesiastes 10:2). Now, this has nothing to do with being right-handed or left-handed. In biblical times, a person's right hand was perceived to be the place of power. The adviser who stood or sat to the king's right was his most trusted official.

Obedience in little things implies that we're standing in a place of wisdom and power. When we keep slipping up in little things, it indicates we're standing in a place of foolishness, and our power and influence are diluted.

FOOLISHNESS IN LEADERSHIP

EGO-DRIVEN LEADERS

4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.

As messengers of death is the king's wrath,  But a wise man will appease it. (Proverbs 16:14)

By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone. (Proverbs 25:15)

A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

 The apostle Paul says much the same thing in Romans 12:18: "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men."

Bad ego driven leaders vanish all over the world.. some in blood.. Pol Pot, Hitler, (listen Putin and Xi Jingping and the ayatollah). Sadly it is often the ego driven ones that get in!

LAZY LEADERS

5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler:6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

It happens all the time in our society that seasoned veterans—those who have served for years with loyalty—are passed over. Has it happened to you? Have you been in an environment where the most qualified people were replaced or sidelined, while unqualified people assumed the reigns? You could see disaster in the making, yet there was little you could do about it.

INCOMPETENT LEADERS    ECCLESIASTES 10:16–17

16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!

17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

Solomon speaks of inexperienced leaders who acquire office by the help of family and friends. Their leadership is orchestrated, arranged, or negotiated. They often haven't a clue as to what they're doing; consequently, they do little at all. In the morning, when they should be caring for the matters of work, home, state, or government, they're feasting and drinking, enjoying the perks of their roles without investing the passion or perseverance needed for success. Woe to you when your king is childish, wrote Solomon, and when your leader is immature.

How do these folks get into leadership?

18 Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.

Next week we are going to take a closer look at how to sit under a difficult ruler, and how to be a better leader.

FOOLISHNESS IN LABOR ECCLESIASTES 10:8–10

8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.

9He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them.

10If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength,

but wisdom helps one to succeed.

11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.

I remember years ago there was a very proud and somewhat abusive pastor at a local church. One day the funeral director called me aside.  Did you hear what happened to Rev..?

I said "no", He said, "the Rev  was doing a funeral last week and there was only one person in attendance, and so and so slipped in the snow and fell into the grave. He had all his robes on and came out of it covered in mud!"   I promised not to tell anyone. He said, "No, tell everyone. That's why I am telling you!"

While Solomon is in outdoor-project mode, he moves to a second example: knocking out a section of wall. The worker forgets that snakes love to live in the cold caverns of walls, and when he reaches into the wall he just breached, he is bitten by a snake. Serpents of one sort or another are always lurking nearby, and the wise laborer keeps an eye out for them.

A third man labors in a stone quarry. He becomes careless and brings a great stone down on himself.

Our fourth witless worker is splitting wood. He, too, becomes careless, and someone is hurt.

FOOLISHNESS IN LANGUAGE

Tongue Lips words mentioned over 150 times by Solomon.

Prov 18:2  A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Luke 6:43 "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."

What's down in the well comes up in the bucket.

The Untamed Tongue

11If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.

NKJV  A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different.

The Unkind Tongue

12 The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

Proverbs 10:32, which says, "The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse."

Prov 6: ¹² A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, ¹³ winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, ¹⁴ with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; ¹⁵ therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

The Uncontrolled Tongue

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness.

14 A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?

Proverbs 10:19 tells us, "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise."

Beneath this stone, a lump of clay, Lies Arrabella Young,
Who on the 24th of May Began to hold her tongue.

An Unreasonable Tongue

15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.

An Unfaithful Tongue

20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich,

for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.

This is the origin of the little expression: "A little bird told me." Birds don't talk, of course, but Solomon is reminding us with this illustration that a wise person doesn't say something in private that he wouldn't want someone to hear in public.  Anarchy is worse than bad government. Insurrection kills.

Well, what do you do with a fool?

Prov 26: 1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

⁶ Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

⁷ Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

⁸ Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.

⁹ Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

¹¹ Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

¹² Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 14:7  Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

Prov 29: ⁹ If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet. ¹⁰ Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright.

¹¹ A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:33, "Bad company corrupts good morals."  Isolation 

Prov 23:9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Titus 3: ⁹ But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.¹⁰ As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,¹¹ knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. 

2 Tim 2: 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.²⁴ And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,²⁵ correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

The removal of important people from a fool's life may be the shocking experience needed for him or her to listen to God's voice and finally realize the consequences of reckless attitudes and actions. If God hasn't used your presence in a fool's life to get through to him or her, perhaps He wants to use your absence instead

Teach me Thy way, O Lord, teach me Thy way!
Thy guiding grace afford, teach me Thy way!
Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heav'nly light, teach me Thy way!