Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. Proverbs 17:24

In order to have wisdom we must be one who has discernment. What is interesting is what the Scriptures have to say about how we get this "discernment." We are told by James that if we lack wisdom we should, "ask of God" (James 1:5). We are also told that God offers this wisdom as One who gives freely to all without rebuke when they ask. In Proverbs 2:6 we are told ". . . the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." This is a promise of the same thing mentioned here in Proverbs 17:24. It is only when we turn to God and listen to what He has to say that we have what is necessary to grasp wisdom. The discernment needed for this is the ability to determine what differs between two things. The vast majority of decisions we will have to make in life will involve one of two choices placed before us. If we cannot discern the difference between these two things - we will not "understand" which is the will of God and which is not. The wise man knows only because he fills his mind with the Word of God - and learns to discern and distinguish between things because of the counsel he receives from God as a result of meditating upon the Word. He sees clearly and can distinguish between things that are worldly, fleshly, and spiritual.

The fool knows of no such wisdom. His eyes are not fixed on God, but on the "ends of the earth." The fool looks everywhere for answers - everywhere except God's Word. He looks to the wisdom of man, the wisdom of godless scholars, the thoughts and meditation of gurus, or to his own understanding. Others turn to a darker side, looking to false religion, the occult, spiritism, and even to drugs for enlightenment. Our culture turned from God in the 1960's to eastern religious thought and practice. The rock and roll world introduced us anew to the so-called enlightenment of eastern religious sages, Hinduism, Buddhisim, and various other eastern ways. The culture grabbed onto reincarnation and the thought that they could discard their individualism and become part of the one - with no real self-consciousness at all. Others turned to philosophy that started at Deism, but eventually turned to Naturalism and its eventual end Nihlism and complete hopelessness. These movements have given to us all the same problems that the culture of Canaan gave to its inhabitants. There was not wisdom in all this - but multiplied foolishness that has ceded to us a disregard for life or any kind of moral code. Our current post-modern philosophy has reached its conclusion with the view that there is no right or wrong - no truth - no absolutes (except the absolute that there are no absolutes - which by the way is an absolute) - and no basis for societal cohesion except the rare times when we agree on something.

Seeking some other answer to life than that of "absolutist" Christianity - the world has gone hunting for anything other than truth. The result of their search mission is more like a search and destroy mission for anything and anyone who would dare to say there is absolute truth. But what has the wisdom of this current dominant culture given us? Since their deconstruction of Christian morals and absolutes has ensued, we've watched 2 world wars and a host of other smaller ones - numerous ethnic cleansings - political theories that allow dictators and rulers to decimate their people (as in Russia, China, Cambodia, and most of tribal Africa). The wisdom of the ages is nothing more than the same old lie that thrust our world into darkness in the first place. Either there is no God - or we ourselves can be god. That does not end well. Maybe the answer is not found in looking to the "ends of the earth" in search for some secret wisdom of the gurus. Maybe the truth all along has been right under our noses in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. It is my hope that by turning again to God and to His Word we will recapture the wisdom that has been abandoned by recent generations - and that God will revive His people with understanding so that they will not be fools. That, though, would require mankind humbling themselves and turning to God with ALL their heart, soul, mind, and strength. It is my hope that our current "great minds" would humble themselves and understand that unless we surrender ourselves to God . . . there will be very little wisdom available to us. 

Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of fools is folly. Proverbs 16:22

There is an artery that carries the blood from our hearts to the rest of our bodies. We know it as the aorta. The passage for today from proverbs uses a phrase, "fountain of life" which is "mekor chaiyim" in the Hebrew. This was the phrase used often as an allusion to this artery which carries the blood from the heart to distribute it to all the extremities of our bodies. It is used here though in reference to the one who has "understanding." As the aorta is the life-giving channel to the whole body phsyically - so understanding is the life-giving vehicle to our moral and spiritual well-being. Therefore it is pretty important that we know what it means to have understanding in our lives.

The word "understanding" here is the Hebrew word "sekel." This word means, "having intelligence and good sense." But the intelligence mentioned here is more than just book learning about various subjects. It means to have understanding and insight into things that comes from more than just mere educational learning. The Bible says in 1 Chronicles 22:12 that only the Lord can give us insight and understanding. This is given so that we can obey God and please Him - which is the greatest understanding of things in light of eternity. Job 17:14 reminds us that God can give this understanding and insight - or - take it away whenever He so chooses. The result of having this kind of godly, God-given insight and understanding is that it helps us to be patient and forgiving (Proverbs 19:11). Those who have such insight will be praised - and will turn from perversity in their lives (Proverbs 12:8). You come away from the definition of this word seeing that God grants this insight as we get into His Word - understand it - and gain insight into both His character and the character of mankind. The knowledge of both of these things is what grants us patience to deal with the failings of others patiently. We grasp the power of forgiveness as we experience it from God at levels that will infinitely dwarf any forgiveness that we will ever have to give others for their trangressions against us. We will also find that such biblical insight gained from our heavenly Father will turn us to godly, holy lives - and turn us from lies, deceit, and anything which perverts and twists our path from God's ways and plans. In this end - this is a conduit for life - God's life in its fullness.

The discipline of fools is folly. The general agreement on the scholars is that "musar" which is the word here for "discipline" has the idea of instruction. It is how we use the word discipline when refering to a field of study. We are in the discipline of Mathmatics. That means that we are studying this field - and intentionally harnessing ourselves to a disciplined practice of doing math every day - so that we learn the field of study - or in this cast the discipline of Mathmatics. The passage says that the learning or instruction of the fool is folly. This is why a fool is such a pathetic figure in Proverbs. He remains a fool because that is all he disciplines himself to be - a fool. He so delights in his folly that is it all that he ever learns and pursues. In the end - he only becomes a bigger and bigger fool. Since folly is his life-blood, the flow of his choices, attitudes, and actions only solidify the result that he will be a bigger fool tomorrow than he is today. His only real hope is that the grace of God rescues him from his foolishness - and brings him to the place where he values wisdom and understanding. There must be a heart change for him to begin to experience an "aortic-change" in what flows through him as his life-blood. Honestly - this is the gospel - God reaching into the hearts of fools - changing them by His grace. Taking out their heart of stone (the heart of a fool). Granting them by His mercy and infinte kindness a new heart of flesh. This heart values wisdom and understading . . . and then, seeing the change as this new heart values understanding - which then becomes the new life-blood that flows throughout him. Only that kind of change - changes the hearts of fools. Otherwise, their discipline of study remains folly - which confirms them as lifelong fools. Their end is the ultimate place of all fools - next to the ultimate fool of all eternity - in a lake of fire that is wholly popluated by all the fools who said in their hearts, "There is no God."

Better to have life - and to have a heart that because of grace and the gospel pumps out understanding - insight - biblical knowledge - and discretion. Thanks be to God for the "aortic-change" that brings life to us - and causes life to flow into every apsect of our entire moral and spiritual being!

The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. Proverbs 16:21

How can we increase our influence and persuasiveness with people? That is the question that Solomon answers today in our proverb. It has to do with being wise in our hearts before we decide to open our mouths. It also involves us learning to discern what do say in different situations in life - then saying it competently.

The wise in heart will be called understanding. Wisdom enters our hearts when we turn to the Lord as our primary source for learning and understanding our world around us. Proverbs chapter 2 reminds us that as we seek God for His wisdom and open our hearts to what He desires to teach us, "Wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you." (Proverbs 2:10-11) When we have wisdom enter our hearts - we will be able to distinguish between things that honor and please God, and things that are worldly and please our flesh. When we have this ability the Spirit of God will teach and train us in the way of wisdom. The passage here says that we will gain a reputation over time - of being a discerning person. That is what the word "understanding" means here. It means to be someone who due to wisdom - can now understand situations and circumstances that cannot ordinarily be understood from human wisdom alone.

As this discernment increases and begins to catch the attention of others, There will also be multiple opportunities to speak that wisdom to benefit those around us. But Solomon offers us a little instruction. If we will use pleasant and sweet speech when speaking that wisdom to others - we will have our persuasive abilities increased. A harsh word or a mean-spirited one will stop communication before we can ever communicate wisdom. That is why we are warned to increase our persuasiveness by speaking with kindness. We are to speak the truth - but speak it in love. If we do not - often we will be tuned out and our opportunity to influence people for the Lord will be stopped.

We need to be men and women both of wisdom and of gracious communication of it. That will allow us to have the maximum amount of persuasiveness as we share the truth. Too often people want to share truth - but with too harsh an edge. Love people and speak the truth to them. As you do you will gain a repuatation for speaking sound and good things in your counsel. You also will have that counsel regarded - and appreciated by many who will call you a person of great discernment.

He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof Will dwell among the wise. He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. Proverbs 15:31-32

If you want to be wise, you will have to learn the value of reproof and rebuke. That is a tough thing to do because very few of us take to these things at all. We are fallen creatures therefore a couple things are true of us. First of all, we usually think we are right. This creates a problem because we react with pride and defensiveness when we are rebuked and reproved. Second of all, we are rebellious. Therefore when someone offers correction our first response is to resist and resent it. But as we will see from today's proverb of the day, these things can really hurt us.

We dwell among the wise when our ear is open to "life-giving reproof." I am so glad that when God inspired this He made a distinction between life-giving reproof and other kinds of reproof. The difference between these two is that life-giving reproof is correction that is bent toward blessing us and offering us rebuke that will turn us away from sin and turn us to God who gives us life. To be reproved in this way turns us from our own way, the way of the world, and the way of destruction - which is how the devil will seek to offer us. Thus it turns us away from death and sin, and instead points us into the way of life - or said another way - into the ways of God. Regular reproof is correction based out of an idividual's preferences. Jesus was reproved . . . often. He faced Pharisees who rebuked Him for His teaching, His miracles, and the people He chose to hang around. People will reprove you for walking in the ways of God. This kind of reproof requires both understanding and discernment on our part. Just because someone reproves you, does not mean that they are correct in their reproof. That is why Solomon warns us only to open our ear to "life-giving" reproof.

We read in verse 32 of a person who neglects discipline. The word discipline means instruction that offers truth and a disciplinary rebuke or correction. Godly men and women offer discipline to us to bless us in the end. But the unwise man rejects it outright. When he does this Scripture tells us that he "despises himself." He hates himself when he does these things. The rejection of all discipline and moral limits will destroy our lives. You can easily see in a child who is a spoiled brat this danger. The child gets his own way - and is not corrected so as to learn wise and godly behavior. In the end this child will destroy himself with their selfishness and self-centered behavior.

The one who listens to godly reproof will aquire "understanding." The word here refers to the heart - or the inner moral life and compass that we need to have. When we listen to reproof and learn from it - our inner moral compass is set by God's standards. We learn right and wrong. We may simply respond to discipline by avoiding the pain of it at first. This is the response of a child who is spanked early on in life. The initially avoid the behaviors to avoid pain. But after a while the child, if trained properly, is also learning "why" they are not to do something. The process teaches understanding. The child learns from the wisdom of the parent that there are reasons to avoid the moral bahavior. This understanding will guide them and teach them that when discpline comes - it is from love that people offer it. When followed such wisdom will truly bless any man or woman who will take the time - and often the pain that rebuke often brings - to learn from it.

Folly is joy to him who lacks sense, But a man of understanding walks straight.   Proverbs 15:21

All it takes is watching a normal evening of television to know that folly and fools are exalted in our entertainment.  We see them every evening, ignoring the warnings of God's Word.  Yet night by night we also sit and watch them and laugh at their antics.  We laugh even though there are times when the direction of the program and its heros is absolutely contrary to Scripture.  What happens in a nation when this is the case?

Ours used to be a culture that confirmed our values in our entertainment.  Shows like, "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Andy Griffith Show" tended to confirm our values and beliefs about righteousness and godliness.  They did not proclaim Christ, but they at least held to a certain standard on what was right and wrong.  Then something started to happen in the 60's.  Those in the entertainment industry abandoned godly values and things like strong families and morals.  We exalted the anti-hero and began to plumb the depths of the depravity of man and call it entertainment.  Then shows like "All in the Family" arose which allowed only hypocrites to be those who spoke of what had been known as family values.  From there things continued to descend into the pit - as sexuality became a consistent theme.  Now just about any and every vice is portrayed for us in dramas and sitcoms - and often they are extolled as main characters hold to these sins.  All the while our culture sits and laughs and finds a false joy in all these parading fools and their folly. 

When we read this proverb it might be easy to think that it refers to others, but I fear that it comes much closer to home.  The devil has used this medium well to give us ample opportunity to sit and actually mock our own values.  This is why it is so dangerous to have unfiltered viewing habits as to television and movies. 

We read of another kind of person in this passage though.  He is a man of understanding.  This word speaks of someone who sees as he ought to see.  He grasps the Word of God - understands it and grasps what it teaches.  As a result he does not get off the path that God has for him - and indeed for all who desire to know and love Him.  He walks straight - and does not turn his eyes or gaze to the right or to the left.  He fixes his eyes on the goal - which is conformity to the character and the way of Jesus Christ.  Even though the world may seek to get his attention and turn it from the Lord Jesus Christ - he does not listen.  He deafens his ears to the siren call of the world which will only land a man on the rocks of destruction in the end.  He has tuned his ears to hearing the voice of God.  He has learned to be a sheep who hears the Great Shepherd - and follow Him.  Wise indeed is the man who sets his heart and mind in this way.  

He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. Proverbs 14:29

We see throughout the book of Proverbs that a quick temper is a negative thing in a person's life. It can get us into a world of trouble. Here we read that the man who is quick-tempered exalts folly. Giving in to anger, resentment, and bitterness in our lives only exalts folly. The idea here expressed is that it is the "unthinking" and "unreasoning" way to live our lives. Anyone can become frustrated or angry and then give in to having a blowout that involves a temper flaring up and expressing itself in hurtful words or actions. That exalts stupidity and living foolishly. What then, can keep us from exalting folly by being quick-tempered?

The Bible says that someone who is slow to anger has great understanding. The word for understanding here is "tebunah" and it means to have both understanding and insight. It is taking both knowledge and wisdom and applying it in a way that helps us look into our anger and examine it before reacting. That indeed is wisdom. We need to ask ourselves the question, "Why am I so angry about this?" Looking into our reaction often will make us ask deeper questions and deal on a deeper level than just saying, "I'm so angry about this!"

When we probe our anger we need to be ready to run into personal issues that exist on the inside of our lives. I will never forget the shock it was to me when an older, wiser man told me the reason I got so angry with my children was because of my pride. On the inside I wanted to snap back that it was their disobedience that was making me mad - not something wrong with me. In no way was this man saying I should not have disciplined them for being disobedient and rebellious - he was only saying that I needed to see why at times I felt out of control while doing it. His wise counsel was that my pride and anger came from a desire to control my children - so they would never disobey. My reason behind this thought was that my kids made me look bad as a parent when they disobeyed - and that made me angry. A wise parent would know that children are GOING to be disobedient because they are sons of Adam.

The fall of man will ensure that every child will be disobedient and rebellious in some way. Therefore having a disobedient child does not mean you are a bad parent. A parent who is failing in their role is one who does not discipline his or her child for their disobedience. I was failing not because I was disciplining my child - but becasue at times I was doing so in anger. My anger was foolish because I was expecting my child never to disobey - so I would look good in other people's eyes. Therefore my anger - when disected with understanding - was due to a couple of foolish things. First, I was not grasping the true nature of a child. Second, I was wanting my child to be good so I would not be bothered with having to interrupt MY DAY with things I did not want to do. Third, the reason I wanted a "good child" was so that my glory could be advanced. When looking at my quick-tempered responses suddenly I was a little horrified (understatement of the year) at their root. It was pride! Therefore wisdom applied - understanding deepened - and a willingness to have the Holy Spirit probe deeper into my motivations yielded repentance . . . and it yielded an ability over time to be much slower to anger.

Let me encourage any of you who are struggling with being quick-tempered. Take the time to submit yourself to the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to take you deeper into your angry responses in order to look at them and see them at the level of your heart motivations. He will walk you through this process and will help you to understand why you have a quick-temper at times. I will not say that this is pleasant - but God will do it with a view to repentance and restoration. He will do so with great grace and comfort - as well as a little heart surgery that will help you to become someone who is far more slow to anger. You will find that His grace and His gospel will be enough to turn from quick-tempered foolishness to patient love and understanding.

Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, and so is wisdom to a man of understanding.   Proverbs 10:23

One of the things I find funny is that Christians try to convince people who are lost that they can still have fun and be a Christian.  It is as if they think that people will come to Christ if we can convince them they still will have a blast once they come to repentance and faith.  It reduces the problem of the human condition to what can provide the most fun while on earth.  If that were the case, the biggest denomination in the world would be Six-Flagsists, Disneyists, and Xboxians.  The truth is that for a man who is ungodly - doing wickedness is joy and laughter - and the same is true for the discerning man and his view of wisdom.

We are not that accustom to the word, "sport" as it is used here.  The word comes from the Hebrew word "sehoq" which means laughter.  But this is a laughter of derision and ridicule.  It is a laughter used to make fun of someone or something.  What we are speaking of here is how the wicked do their evil - and laugh and deride God and His law.  They laugh at righteousness and joke about it.  They make fun of those who have standards and whose desire is to do what is godly and righteous.  Let me give a few examples of this.

When the abstinence movement came out, the wicked mocked it mercilessly.  They mocked virgins - and decided that anyone who was still a virgin at 18 to 20 years of age must have something wrong with them.  They mocked the idea of waiting for sex until marriage.  They argued that a person should be able to test drive a car before buying it - referring to the consummation of marriage in crassest of terms, as if you were buying a car, not choosing a life-mate.  They defended an immoral president in the 1990's by saying that everyone does what he did – and - they also lie about it when caught.  They mocked the idea of a child needing a father and a mother when a TV character in the 1990's decided to get pregnant and have a baby without a father.  They mock everything that is holy - and deride anyone who stands in the way of their immoral agenda for our nation and especially its children. 

We need to remind ourselves that the people who do these things are fools.  They have no understanding.  They are ignorant and oblivious to a holy God and His judgments.  They may mock the morals that we have - but when society continues to fall apart - and when the statistics come in as to why it is falling apart - their actions will be seen those of fools with no understandings against the backdrop of failure and disfunction that they engender.

The man of understanding takes an equal delight and joy in wisdom.  As the fool celebrates wickedness and mocks holiness - so the man who has discernment delights in God's wisdom.  The man of understanding is the man who has discernment.  The idea here is of a man who looks at something and determines its end and consequences.  Seeing this, he turns away from wickedness and makes his decisions on the basis of God's wisdom.  His discernment comes from the Scriptures.  This guides him into wise decisions.  It also tells him to shun and even mock those decisions that embrace what God has judged on the cross - and will judge at the end of the age.  This man allows discernment to turn him to the right and true way.  He sees the reward - and delights in it. 

As I close the thoughts on today's proverb, let me re-visit my first comments of today.  Too many do try to make the gospel more palatable by saying that we can have as much fun as the wicked.  This is based on a faulty understanding of the nature of man.  The wicked delight in their wickedness - because they are still wicked.  Christians delight in holiness because they have been born again.  Having had their hearts changed by the gospel - they now delight in things that delight the heart of God.  It is impossible for an unsaved man to truly delight in these things.  His heart is captive to his sin.  Until He is saved, he will not truly value righteousness. 

This proverb ultimately is about salvation – not the lifestyle that is the most fun on earth.  Paul said it best when he said that if we only have this life to hope in Christ - we are to be pitied most of all men.  If Jesus is not Who He says He is - then we should eat, drink, and party because tomorrow we die.  The reason we embrace Christ is not for a superior life here on earth - but because there IS a judgment coming.  Without Christ that judgment WILL BE HORRIFIC!  We embrace Christ because we have sinned and, without the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ to pay for our sin, we will be judged and sent to hell.  All the rest happens WHEN we are saved.  We enjoy different things because our heart is different.  We enjoy righteousness because we are fundamentally different because of God's grace.  The wicked will always delight in their sin - and the discerning will delight in godliness.  The difference comes not in which is more fun - but rather in whether a man's heart has been redeemed and changed by God's grace.  May we be among those discerning.  May we be among those with understanding.  May we be among those transformed by grace - and given a whole different outlook on what is fun - what is enjoyable - and mostly, on what is better in eternity.

The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of understanding.   Proverbs 10:21

What kind of mouth would you prefer to have?  Do you want a mouth that is a blessing to others - one that affords spiritual nourishment and strengthening?  Do you want a mouth that others will wait to hear - because of the life and the food that it brings to their soul?  There is a blessing that comes to those who seek the Lord - that makes their mouth a wonderful blessing to all who hear them.  But there are also those who lack understanding - and who not only do not offer life to others through what they say - they die for their lack of wisdom - and unfortunately lead others to the same fate.

The lips of the righteous feed many.  The idea here is that of a shepherd who tends a flock.  The Hebrew word used to speak of "feeding" others means to feed like a shepherd.  This is a man whose lips allow sheep to graze - he feeds the flock and the herd.  What is even more beautiful about this word is that it was used of others beside shepherds.  It was used of the way kings were to shepeherd God's people as in 2 Samuel 5:2 and 7:7.  It was used to speak of how God seeks to shepherd and feed His own people.  It was used of how a wise man feeds on wisdom, while a food feeds on folly.  This is the heart of a shepherd of men and women.  He wants to speak in such a way that it feeds the spiritual needs of his people.  This is the heart of a pastor - of a Bible teacher who desires for his lips to be a vehicle whereby God cares for and tends His church.  He speaks what is right in God's eyes.  His lips are the lips of the righteous - for he speaks righteousness - and seeks to teach men the only place where true righteousness can be found.  That is in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The second half of this proverb speaks of those who, for want of wisdom, die.  The word used for "understanding," is leb in the Hebrew.  It means that this one lacks heart.  He has no heart for God, and therefore has no wisdom.  He has no desire for fellowship with God - therefore he has no grasp of what is right and good.  He has no desire for God's salvation - so he will only know the disappointment of seeing that his own salvation fall infinitely short of what is required to stand before God.  These men who lack heart will often lead others down their same path of destruction and damnation.  It is sad to watch them lead others to revel in what is only death. 

What a blessing it is to have a man of God whose lips are the lips of the righteous.  What a wonderful thing to have a godly man who teaches and who sets out a table for God's people to eat well.  It is not something to take for granted.  Scripture warns of a day when God's people will long for the Word, but will be unable to find it.  If you have one of these men whose lips are filled with God's righteousness - thank God for the gift He has given you.  Truly you will be fed - and ultimately the gospel such a man preaches will bring you life!

On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.  Wise men store up knowledge, But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.   Proverbs 10:13-14

A godly mouth can be a great blessing to anyone who has one granted to him by the grace of God.  Such a mouth, though given by God, must be disciplined to follow Him only - and not the foolishness of the natural man. 

The wisdom of God is found on a certain kind of man.  He is called a discerning man.  The Hebrew word used here is "bin" and it speaks of someone who through the use of the Scriptures is able to determine the difference between what is of God and what is not.  This discerning heart and mind instructs the lips of the wise man.  We learn later in verse 14 that this man stores up knowledge.  This knowledge is a practical knowing of God and of the world that is around him.  Thus this wise man instructs his mouth with this knowledge.  He learns to know much, but not always speak what he knows.  He has learned that he can NOT say things and be a blessing.  Thus he seeks to quell within himself words and statements that will unnecessaily disburb the peace in relationships.  Many an argument and fight could be prevented if one or the other of the two combatants would have practiced this wisdom.  They would keep their words to themselves - knowing that sharing their "knowledge" would be done more from pride than from love.  We know from the New Testament that knowledge puffs up - but love edifies.  We can share all our knowledge - and by doing so cause a disturbance as others react to our pride.  The wise man stores up knowledge within - and only brings that knowledge out at the direction of the Holy Spirit - Who will direct him to use that knowledge to build up and encourage others. 

We are also told of the fool - and his mouth.  These two verses go together because they speak of the speech of one - and then the consequences of the other.  The next verse reverses this order - trading the wise man for the fool in his speech - and the fool for the wise man in the reward or retribution that results.  The consequences of the fool is a rod for his back.  His words are the source of his punishment - for they evidence his foolishness and lack of regard for what is right.  A proverb from the Talmud expresses this wonderfully when we read there, "that which a wise man gains by a hint, a fool only obtains by a club."  The wise man learns - instructs his mouth and heart with that wisdom - and therefore avoids problems and public discipline.  The fool chooses to let his mouth run - and with that overactive mouth - ruin comes to him. 

Biblically we can remember the difference between Solomon and his son, Rehoboam.  Solomon began his reign seeking God and requesting wisdom from Him.  His son Rehoboam had an opportunity to win over the people - but chose the foolish counsel of his friends.  That led him to speak harsh, unkind, oppressive words to the people.  In the end he lost all but one tribe - which God granted to him because of His promise to David.  But how the foolish mouth granted him much destruction and difficulty.  The wise mouth, though, was blessed in many wonderful ways.  So take the time to listen - and allow God's wisdom to sink deep enough into your heart so that it instructs your mouth on what to say.  Doing this promotes blessing.