For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Eccles 10:1-7

1 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.
2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
    but the heart of the fool to the left.
3 Even as fools walk along the road,
    they lack sense
    and show everyone how stupid they are.
4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
    do not leave your post;
    calmness can lay great offences to rest.

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
    the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
6 fools are put in many high positions,
    while the rich occupy the low ones.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback,
    while princes go on foot like slaves.

A. Find out :

1. How are dead flies and folly similar? v.1
2. Rephrase verse 2 in your own words.
3. How does verse 3 go on from that?
4. How may a ruler’s anger be countered? v.4
5. What foolishness of rulers’ has Solomon seen? v.6,7

B. Think:

1. What impact can a little folly have?
2. What point is Solomon making about the fool?
3. How is foolishness seen to be no respecter of persons?

C. Comment:

Near the end of chapter 9 Solomon started thinking about wisdom again and chapter 10 is initially a simple continuation of that. The first point he makes is that folly or foolishness can have great effect and completely spoil or annul wisdom. It is true that foolish words or acts can undo all the good that wisdom has done previously.

The second point he makes is that the way of the fool is quite obvious. It is completely different from that of the wise and it is obvious to all. He then infers that foolishness is not limited to the poor, but even rulers can become hasty in anger and show foolishness. He then thinks of occasions when he has witnessed this and seen rulers acting foolishly promoting the foolish to high positions instead of those who deserve promotion.

The passage is almost in the form of proverbs which expound the foolishness of the fool. These verses challenge us to consider our own actions and ponder on whether what we think, say, or do is always wise. Wisdom doesn’t have high currency in our society and thus little thought is given to it, which perhaps explains much of the confusion and foolish thinking that is tolerated. May we ponder these things.

D. Application?

1. The fool is clearly observed by his words and deeds. Do we appear as fools or the wise?
2. True wisdom comes from the Lord alone. May we receive it from Him   for today.

Passage: Eccles 10:8-15

8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;
    whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
    whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

10 If the axe is dull
    and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
    but skill will bring success.

11 If a snake bites before it is charmed,
    the charmer receives no fee.

12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,
    but fools are consumed by their own lips.
13 At the beginning their words are folly;
    at the end they are wicked madness –
14     and fools multiply words.

No one knows what is coming –
    who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

15 The toil of fools wearies them;
    they do not know the way to town.

A. Find out :

1. What 4 dangers are noted? v.8,9
2. How is work increased? v.10
3. Of what did a charmer have to take care? v.11
4. What are the dangers of a fool? v.12,13
5. What has he a tendency to do? v.14
6. What is he left feeling? v.15

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise in your own words v.8 & 9?
2. How do verses 10 & 11 imply danger can be increased or decreased?
3. How are verses 12 to 15 a continuation of the ideas in the first part?

C. Comment:

Previously we considered Solomon’s warning that folly is not limited to the poor and this results in foolishness occurring in leaders. The present verses move on into the area of dangers in general in life and show how they are no more dangerous than the fool.

First of all he lists a number of activities that are naturally dangerous, but then he implies that we can take care and reduce the danger or the effort required. If the woodcutter keeps his axe sharpened then he requires less effort. If the snake charmer or the snake remover properly deals with the snake before trying to handle it, he will avoid being bitten.

Then he moves on again to consider the fool, which at first sight may appear a change in ideas, but when we think on we see that the fool is as equally dangerous as working at hazardous jobs. The words of the fool make him feel good, they can lead others astray and his words just seem to increase without achieving anything of lasting value. In fact he speaks of things he doesn’t know about and simply leaves a feeling of weariness. Yes, the fool is as equally dangerous as the most dangerous of jobs!

D. Application?

1. Beware the words of a fool for they lead astray and cause harm.
2. The fool is the one who says there is no God (Psalm 14:1). Beware, therefore, the words of the ungodly.

Passage: Eccles 10:16-20

16 Woe to the land whose king was a servant
    and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
    and whose princes eat at a proper time –
    for strength and not for drunkenness.

18 Through laziness, the rafters sag;
    because of idle hands, the house leaks.

19 A feast is made for laughter,
    wine makes life merry,
    and money is the answer for everything.

20 Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,
    or curse the rich in your bedroom,
because a bird in the sky may carry your words,
    and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

A. Find out :

1. What sort of rule does Solomon bemoan? v.16
2. What alternative does he look for? v.17
3. What is the fruit of laziness? v.18
4. What is he warning against in verse 19?
5. What does he warn against doing? v.20a
6. Why? v.20b

B. Think:

1. What signs of irresponsibility are spoken about in these verses?
2. How does lack of forethought bring problems?
3. Why is it wiser not to voice your negative feelings about leadership?

C. Comment:

Above we considered the danger of listening to a fool, but now Solomon goes on to consider other aspects of unwise behaviour and the consequences. First he warns against immature leadership that is unwise and foolish in its behaviour. He yearns for leadership that is born for the task, that is wise in carrying it out. In the kingdom of God the same applies: leaders should be those called (born of God for it) and equipped.

The person who is not alert to the needs of life and simply lets things fall down around them, who is concerned just about enjoying the present without thought for the means to sustain it, such a person is to be avoided. The lessons for us are clear.

But then the way we respond to unwise leadership is also important. Solomon warns against speaking against it, if for no other reason than there is a tendency for words to find their way back. David had been a classic example of one who handled wrong authority with a right attitude (see 1 Samuel 24:6 & 26:9-11). May we be the same, trusting the Lord to deal with it.

D. Application?

1. Immaturity and laziness lead to actions or lack of actions that are unwise.
2. The reality of a relationship with God is tested when leadership is not good.