Pacific Prudence and Big Blurter
12:23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly
An interesting double contrast proverb. A prudent man has knowledge but willingly keeps it to himself. The heart of fools, however, blurts out what it thinks is knowledge but is really folly. Cf 13:6, 15:2 where a fool exposes his folly and his mouth gushes folly. Wise and foolish differ in style not just content. One is a child emptying the toy box across the floor, the other a craftsman carefully selecting the right tool from his toolbox. Fools are eager to speak first and display their cleverness. They cannot wait to get their facts right or their understanding clear. ‘Empty vessels make the most noise’. Certainly fools are often loudest in proclaiming their folly. Wisdom recognises this and is careful to ignore the hullabaloo surrounding the big noises in this world’s clamour and seeks knowledge from the less publicity conscious.
The prudent willingly take time investigating, weighing things, considering the various angles, even though it means staying silent. Pearls are not for pigs or what is sacred for dogs. Some displays of knowledge are mere self-promotion and revealing certain things too early does more harm than good. Modern sex education is an obvious area where prudence and folly clash. Too many blurt it all out. ‘Nothing can justify speaking contrary to the truth. But we are not always obliged to tell the whole truth.’ (Bridges). Abraham’s dealings with Isaac, Joseph’s with his brothers in Egypt, Esther’s with her king are examples. Perhaps Joseph learned by experience not to blurt out knowledge as he had when younger. Think too how fools rush into print to say Christianity is finished, the Bible is wrong. The prudent willingly wait and have been proved right many times. So it will be to the end. Jesus himself showed such wisdom in his early attempts to secure silence regarding his Messiahship and in how he gradually revealed truth to his disciples. Cf Jn 16:12.
An interesting double contrast proverb. A prudent man has knowledge but willingly keeps it to himself. The heart of fools, however, blurts out what it thinks is knowledge but is really folly. Cf 13:6, 15:2 where a fool exposes his folly and his mouth gushes folly. Wise and foolish differ in style not just content. One is a child emptying the toy box across the floor, the other a craftsman carefully selecting the right tool from his toolbox. Fools are eager to speak first and display their cleverness. They cannot wait to get their facts right or their understanding clear. ‘Empty vessels make the most noise’. Certainly fools are often loudest in proclaiming their folly. Wisdom recognises this and is careful to ignore the hullabaloo surrounding the big noises in this world’s clamour and seeks knowledge from the less publicity conscious.
The prudent willingly take time investigating, weighing things, considering the various angles, even though it means staying silent. Pearls are not for pigs or what is sacred for dogs. Some displays of knowledge are mere self-promotion and revealing certain things too early does more harm than good. Modern sex education is an obvious area where prudence and folly clash. Too many blurt it all out. ‘Nothing can justify speaking contrary to the truth. But we are not always obliged to tell the whole truth.’ (Bridges). Abraham’s dealings with Isaac, Joseph’s with his brothers in Egypt, Esther’s with her king are examples. Perhaps Joseph learned by experience not to blurt out knowledge as he had when younger. Think too how fools rush into print to say Christianity is finished, the Bible is wrong. The prudent willingly wait and have been proved right many times. So it will be to the end. Jesus himself showed such wisdom in his early attempts to secure silence regarding his Messiahship and in how he gradually revealed truth to his disciples. Cf Jn 16:12.
2 comments:
Does this mean that the prudent man doesn't blog?
No, it just means he keeps it down to 300 words where he can. ;-) CU.
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