–Cliff Hudgins  (The Weathervane Ranch)

       “For the foolish person will speak foolishness, and his heart will work iniquity:  to practice ungodliness, to utter error against the LORD, to keep the hungry unsatisfied, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.”

                   –Isaiah 32:6 (NKJV)
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I find myself going often to the Book of Proverbs for one reason or another.  A wonderful study in Proverbs is to find out what the book says about the four main types of individuals:  the mocker/scorner, the simple, the wise, and the fool.  This is a tremendous study.  Another way to look at Proverbs is to read a chapter every day.  You’ll have read through the book twelve times in a year, and will have gained insight into the Word of God.  It will also help you gain understanding of why this world is in such sad shape.  This morning I am going to borrow heavily from Bob Beasley’s book, “The Wisdom of Proverbs.”

               “The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!’  As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.  The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.  The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.”
                         –Proverbs 26:13-16 (NIV)

       “Sluggard”, I like that term.  It is a word that the very sound of it suggests its meaning.  Your mind can immediately conjure up the idea of a sluggard.  Most likely in your life you have met a few.
               
               “Derek Kidner says the sluggard of Proverbs is faithless (13), feckless (14), foodless (15), and foolish (16).  He neglects his responsibilities to his family, work, and friends, and you can be certain he will neglect his larger spiritual duty to God.  Let’s see how these verses describes the spiritual sluggard.
               First, in verse 13, he is spiritually faithless.  He won’t step out in faith to do anything.  He always has an excuse.  There may not really be a “lion in the road” but something is always standing between the sluggard and his duty.
               Second, in verse 14, he is spiritually feckless, or irresponsible.  A door never leaves its door jamb.  In the same way, the sluggard’s life is going nowhere.  He is without goals or the strategies for attaining those goals.  He likes his soft bed, but can doze just as easily in a pew on Sunday morning.
               Third, in verse 15, the sluggard is spiritually foodless.  While he may know some Christian jargon, the deep things of Christ are avoided.  He’s a spiritual baby, feeding on baby food and milk, not able to chew on the real meat of the Word. (Heb 5:13-14).  Why?  Because a deeper knowledge of God may convict him of his sloth and awaken him from his slumber.
               Finally, in verse 16, the spiritual sluggard is foolish.  He is puffed up with pride.  He bluffs his way through life, not understanding that his superficiality is as plain to others as the nose on his face.  Don’t join the spiritual sloth.  Rather, flee from the sloth and join with those who, in humility and diligence, work out their salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12).”

       The sluggard is a person who will avoid responsibilities.  If they have a job, they will not have it long, and they will jump from one job to another.  Or if they have the energy they will jump from one church to another to avoid hearing the truth from the Word of God.  They are satisfied with their condition.  Is there any wonder why we have so many “snowflakes” and “twinkies” among us?  No, there may not be a lion in the road, but that is a good excuse to roll over in bed, or sit in the easy-chair.  A sluggard’s mind also may entertain a world of imaginations.  Why, if they were to go out and face the real world surely a lion would be there to tear them apart.  
       These people talk a good talk.  But let me tell you, it’s all braggadocio.  It goes back to the song of a fool.  This people may try to hide their true character, but it only takes a few minutes or a few times of meeting with them to break through their façade.  Stay away from the sluggard, don’t listen to the song of the fool.

                    –J.V. James  (Old As Old Boots)

       “Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!”

                    –Psalm 27: 14 (NKJV)
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I want to take a little more time with Ecclesiastes 7.  I mentioned yesterday that I noticed several things in these verses and went over a couple of them.  Now, let’s look at a little more.  I want to remind you of a couple of things regarding Ecclesiastes.  First, read the whole book before beginning to look at specific verses or you might get lost and forget the overall context.  Second, see Ecclesiastes as a whole.  Upon reading selected verses be sure and look at how it fits within the whole spectrum of the book.
       
               “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.  For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is that laughter of the fool.  This also is vanity.”    –Ecclesiastes 7:5-6 (NKJV)

       Here we see the mention of the song of the fools.   What could that song be?  Most likely it is not one particular song, but the general attitude of the fool.  A song with no merit, a song of mirth, a song that may mock the wise, or a song that has no value to it.  Ever wonder why there is such a glut of bad music?  Because it comes from the lips of a fool.  Listen–whenever the wise are rebuked, we hear the melody of the fool.  Rehobam comes to mind.  He was given wise counsel, but chose rather to heed the song of the fools.  He could have continued Solomon’s legacy, but chose to listen to the wrong voices.
       
               “Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, and a bribe debases the heart.
               The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
               Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
               Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’  For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.”
                         –Ecclesiastes 7:7-10 (NKJV)

       “I sure wish I could do that over again.”  Have those words ever come from your mouth?  Why?  Is it because you did a haphazard job?  Maybe you didn’t take the work seriously.  This is important, that is why Paul admonishes us to work as unto the Lord.  Whatever we do, it should be done for the Lord.  There is much talk in Christian circles about second chances, but that must be kept in perspective.   There are some things that are concluded one time.  For instance, a project on a job with a due date.  It must come in, yet somehow and for some reason, it did not come in on time.  The company lost thousands of dollars, and guess what, the individual most likely lost their job.  “Oh, give me a second chance,” they cry, but they were singing the song of the fool–procrastinating, doing sloppy work…
       Look at those words, “The end of a thing is better than its beginning.”  It is one thing to start a project, another to finish.  When life comes to an end, hopefully you can say like Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7, NKJV)  Eternity is waiting for those who have kept the faith.  A fool’s perdition is for those who throughout their life sang the song of fools.  Look at what you accomplished.  A job well done.  Someone has said “At the end there is no idealism, no unrealistic expectations, no lack of awareness–all has happened, all has developed.”
       “Have patience, have patience, don’t be in such a hurry…”  Think of all the time you spent at red lights–futile.  Think of the minutes lost at checkout lanes–futile.  There is no reason to be angry over your situation, learn to be patient.  Luke writes, “By your patience possess your souls.” (21:19, NKJV)  Hold on!  Stand firm!  Be patient, endure the situation.  Take advantage of seemingly futile situations and make use of them.  Don’t gripe or become angry.  Don’t start singing the song of fools.  “Our haughty spirit pushes wisdom aside, and when it does we play the fool.” (Charles Swindoll)
       Why would you say the former days were better?  What has happened to make you think that?  Yes, there may have been some things better, but remember this–today, in this present life and society, is where God has placed you.

                    –Zane Grey  (Wanderer of the Wasteland)

       “And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.”

                    –Romans 5:4 (Living Bible)
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Turn your attention and Bibles to the seventh chapter of Ecclesiastes.  I want to point out a few things that I’ve noticed in the first ten verses.  First, when someone brings your name up among a group of people what do they think of you?  Jokester?  Serious?  Clown?  Scholar?  Athlete?  Nerd?  And we can add to the list.  Who are you?  Look at the verse phrase of verse one, “A good name is better than precious ointment.”  What kind of influence do you have?  It seems that so much attention is drawn in today’s society to the infamous (i.e., Billy the Kid, Doc Holiday, the rebels of any era).  Why?  Are they the kind of people that should be emulated?  
       Dale A. O’Shields says this about a good name, “A truly good name comes from qualities that go beneath surface interactions and impressions of life.  It is the result of integrity, depth of character and sincerity.”  Do people say, “there goes good ol’ _______, I remember them because of ________”? now you fill in the blanks with thoughts of your life.  One of the greatest compliments given to me was from a former student.  He was a sharp kid, a tough kid and a kind of rascal.  He came back to school one day several years after graduating and asked some questions of how I was doing, how my classes were going.  I smiled at him and replied, “What do you think?”  He slapped me on the shoulders and said that was what he liked about me–keeping a standard and being stable.  Your character then–does it count?  What does it smell like?
       Next I want you to contemplate deeply the next few verses:

               “And the day of death [is better] than the day of one’s birth; better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart.  Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better.  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”
                              –Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 (NKJV)

When you go to a funeral it causes you to think.  Most of us can remember the last funeral we went to and what took place.  We can remember the person who died, but few recall the last party, and how much of an impression it made upon the soul.  We quickly find that entertainment becomes shallow.  What is its meaning?  Why do we seek it so much?  Perhaps it is because we do not want to take the time to think of the serious things of life.  It is more fun to party-hardy than to think of where one’s eternal soul will end up.
       Paul writes to the Philippians, “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.  Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.” (1:23-24, NKJV)  Do you remember the last joke you heard?  Can you recall if you laughed?  Perhaps it would do us good to stroll through a graveyard one in a while, look at the stones and think of the people who shaped lives.  Go to Arlington some day and just walk through the rows of crosses, and visit the Tomb of the Unknown.  Are you laughing?  See, death transforms values.  It puts life into the proper perspective.
        I remember a trying time in the life of my family.  We were attending a church where all of a sudden the popular thing to do was to laugh.  Laughter became the norm of any service instead of the Word of God.  I asked the pastor, “Where was the godly sorrow?  Where was the repentant heart?   Where was the weeping over souls?”  People were laughing at sin rather than falling on their knees repenting of sin.
       There is nothing wrong in feasting, nothing wrong in going to a party, but we must guard against that becoming what we are known for–the party animal.  Fun, fun, fun, but life is serious.  There was a time when the disciples went to Jesus and asked why He didn’t instruct them to fast.  He said that at the moment He was with them, but when He was gone they would need to fast.  Work while it is light, for the night is coming when no man can work.  Part of that work involves the development of a good character.  “As our character is, so is our hope and prospect.  We gain or lose both worlds.” (Charles Bridges)

                    –1 Timothy 6:12 (Phillips)
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I’m going to finish Psalm 89 this morning.  There are several verses, but read them slowly, contemplating on what is being said and how it relates to you.  Remember, God is on our side no matter what the circumstances look like, no matter what seems to be the dictation of the situation.  “God is faithful; his will must ultimately triumph; but whether or not we triumph depends upon how we relate ourselves to that will.” (W. Graham Scroggie)

          38 — But You have cast off and abhorred, You have been furious with Your anointed.
          39 — You have renounced the covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
          40 — You have broken down all his hedges; You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
          41 — All who pass by the way plunder him; he is a reproach to his neighbors.
          42 — You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries; You have made all his enemies rejoice.
          43 — You have also turned back the edge of his sword, and have not sustained him in the battle.
          44 — You have made his glory cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.
          45 — The days of his youth You have shortened; You have covered him with shame.   Selah
          46 — How long, LORD?  Will You hide Yourself forever?  Will Your wrath burn like fire?
          47 — Remember how short my time is; for what futility have You created all the children of men?
          48 — What man can live and not see death?  Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?   Selah
          49 — Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses, which You swore to David in Your truth?
          50 — Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants–how I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples,
          51 — With which Your enemies have reproached, O LORD, with which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed.
          52 — Blessed be the LORD forevermore!  Amen and Amen.

This is directed to the nation of Israel.  Think of it, David, Solomon, then there is turmoil and the nation is split in two.  It is said that desperate circumstances demand desperate measures and that is true of Israel, and could be of each of our lives.  Idolatry, the loss of identity, false worship–Jeroboam had constructed golden calves and encouraged the people to worship them.  Oh woe to the nation who forgets God.  Within two centuries Israel ceased to exist as a nation.
       John I. Durham points out, “It is no accident that unchanging love is used five times in this psalm and faithfulness seven times.”  Even with the questions brought forward toward the end of the Psalm there is a final note of praise and triumph shown.  It seems that God is hiding Himself from Israel (and He has), and the psalmist is asking how long.
How long will Israel be forgotten?  We may say the same thing when we are facing circumstances that seem overwhelming.  How long? we may cry.  Read the last verse, then go back and read verse one.  “The unchanging faithfulness of God, forever reliable and firm, is a glorious treasure to believers.”  (Steven J. Lawson)
       God is faithful even when it seems He has forgotten and hidden Himself from you.  He will bring you through–hang on.  In tough times we need to be like the old cowboy in the midst of the storm and “just hunker down.”  He will lift us up; He will see us through.  “How blessed to lift our eyes above this scene of ruin, and behold One who is faithful in all things, at all times.”  (Arthur W. Pink)

               “If all were easy, if all were bright,
               Where would be the cross, where would be the fight?
               But in the hardness, God gives to you
               Chances for proving what He can do.”
                        –unknown