Wise of heart vs prating, babbling fools!

Proverbs 10:8 ESV
[8]  The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.10.8.ESV

Proverbs 10:8 NKJV
[8] The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall.

https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.10.8.NKJV

Matthew 7:24-25 NKJV
[24] “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: [25] and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.7.24-25.NKJV

Matthew 7:26-27 NKJV
[26] “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: [27] and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.7.26-27.NKJV


A “prating fool” is a person who talks excessively and foolishly, a babbler, lacking wisdom and substance in their speech, often leading to their own downfall.  The term comes from Proverbs 10:8, which contrasts the receptive, wise person with the “prating fool” who comes to ruin.

Jesus contrasts those who hear and take heed to his teachings, with those who hear and do not take heed. Take heed means to listen intently and put it into practice.

He compares both to a house; one built on a solid foundation, meaning the word and wisdom of God, which stands even in the most severe storms and winds. The other is built on sand, and has no depth, and when the storms and winds come, that house falls, because it was not built on a solid foundation.

Taking heed to the word of God means listening intently, meditating, praying and humbly submitting to God’s authority, so that his will and plan may guide your life.

The prating, babbling fool may hear God’s word, but they don’t take it seriously. Nor do they pray and meditate on scripture, and submitting to God’s will and authority is far from their thoughts and intentions. Instead, they busy themselves with foolish talk, guided by prideful hearts that are too full of themselves and the world.

They can’t take heed to God’s word, because they’re not listening to His word. They might be going to church, reading their Bibles, but God’s word doesn’t take root and grow. They can’t hear his still small voice on the inside, because they’re too busy feeding on the wisdom and teachings of the world; false teachings, philosophy of the ages, self-help ideologies and other competing voices. Their minds are too cluttered to hear anything God is saying to them. They’re confused and in utter chaos. God is not the author of confusion, Satan is, with his lies, deception, manipulation and trickery. This leads to chaos and turmoil.

God’s word; his commandments, principles, statutes, teachings, etc, bring truth, freedom and peace.

The wise of heart will receive His commandments.
To receive means to surrender my will for what He is saying; to take heed, put into practice. That’s true wisdom, acting upon what we know to be true and right. This is being a doer of the word and not just a hearer. (James 1:22-24)

Babbling, prating fools will come to ruin. They have no depth. No roots. No solid foundation to stand on. When they fall, they fall hard, with nowhere to go. No hope, no peace, only ruin and destruction.

But all is not lost, when the lost do fall. God is always there, ready to listen, heal and restore those who are broken and contrite in their heart.

When the walls of pride and ego come down, and rebellion gives way to repentance and believing on the Lord Jesus.  Great sorrow causes one to turn from their rebellious, wicked ways, that’s when Jesus comes in and turns the prating, babbling fool into a wise man, truly seeking after His wisdom and understanding, to guide their lives.

Then His word and His commandments will become like hidden treasures, stored in their heart, pushing away the foolish babble.

This is where true wisdom, peace and happiness and understanding comes from. We need to be quiet for a bit and listen to what God is saying.

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