5 “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools”.
It is better to be corrected than to just have one go their merry way thinking all is well when in fact they may be on a path leading to destruction. This idea of the song of fools reminds me of the verse in the gospels Luke 7:32 “They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced…” Whilst there is great merit in being a person of tact, it can be takes to extremes and we must be faithful to declare the truth regardless of people’s feelings. In other words do not just “sing them a song” to make the feel better about themselves; when one is on the path of destruction a faithful rebuke from those who fear the Lord is far better than the song of the foolish triumphing their cause. This verse also highlights the differences between two different counselors, one who makes us feel bad but is being honest and one who is dishonest but can make us feel good. God wants us to be lovers of the truth; this means we are not just looking for what makes us feel good we are looking for wise honest counselors.
6 “For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity”.
Heb 6:8 “But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned”. Foolishness is the opposite of sobriety; God does not delight in the laughter of fools. The Lord commands a sober view of our path and situation but the laughter of the foolish makes light of everything. Here we refer to Ecclesiastes 3:1 - there is a time for everything… "A time to weep, and a time to laugh..." (3:4). But the fool laughs when he should be very sober, he takes lightly the things that matter most; his soul is in danger and peril and he is laughing and making jokes, the flames are licking up all around him and he is playing the fool. Seems unlikely and yet this scene is played out day after day and year after year in every circle of life as the sinner mocks and laughs at the standards of God.
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