8/2/20 Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

The “profile of foolishness” in this morning’s sermon text paints a devastating picture of our fallen world, where the vile and ugly are celebrated while the beautiful and noble are torn down (Ecclesiastes 10:6-7). Worse yet, the foolishness of the world is not limited to the society around us but penetrates our very hearts as well. As we sing today, we’ll confess that we have a “feeble frame,” as “frail as summer’s flower” (Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven). We are “weak and wounded,” “sick and sore,” and “lost and ruined by the fall” (Come Ye Sinners, Poor And Needy). We have “foolish ways” (Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind) and “foolish hearts” (There’s A Wideness In God’s Mercy). But thankfully, we can place our hope in Jesus, who came not for the righteous but for sinners (Luke 5:32), who says “child of weakness … find in Me thine all in all” (Jesus Paid It All). As we come to the table singing, “hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall” (Precious Lord, Take My Hand), He is faithful to meet us. Here there is truly “welcome for the sinner,” “mercy with the Savior,” and “healing in His blood.” —Henry C. Haffner

Key Words: Folly, Fool, Madness, Woe, Sloth, Indolence
Keystone Verse: Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. (Ecclesiastes 10:3)

Bulletin

Ecclesiastes 10:1-20
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. ⁴ If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. 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. ⁸ He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. ⁹ He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. ¹⁰ If 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. ¹² The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. 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? ¹⁵ The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city. 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! ¹⁸ Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. ¹⁹ Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. 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.