The Foolish Woman

A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. - Proverbs 9:13

The Foolish Woman

A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. - Proverbs 9:13 ! In Proverbs there are 5 different kinds of fools. Each fool progresses into more and worse foolishness. If Biblical steps are taken to correct a fool then it will help, but ignoring or babying the person always makes it worse. The Simple Fool in Proverbs 1:1-4 is extremely vulnerable, often opening themselves up to anything. The Silly Fool in Proverbs 7:22 is one who has morally missed the mark. The Sensual Fool literally means to be fat; dull; thick; obstinate; to be sluggard. It denotes someone who is bent on making wrong decisions and in doing so fails to receive correction. Proverbs 10:23 gives us a little insight into the Sensual Fool. Next, we move on to the Scorning Fool. The Bibles gives a LOT on this fool! The Hebrew words for this fool literally means to make mouths at. This fool uses his facial expressions to communicate contempt that he has in his heart toward authority and Gods word. He shows abhorrence toward people and ideas which contradict his erroneous way of thinking. And last of all, the Steadfast Fool. This person is stupid or wicked. Their name comes from the root word, to wilt, fall away, or faint. This is someone who is morally wicked. The Steadfast Fool despises holiness. They are self-condent; closed-minded and committed to gratifying their own pleasure while also dedicated to drawing as many people as they can to their own ways. God usually has to deal with this person through circumstances. ! Proverbs 9:13 says, A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.. This can refer to either a believer or an unbeliever. The longer people are saved and growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the less they will be acting foolish. A Foolish Woman is known by the crowd with whom she runs (Proverb 13:20). She is the direct opposite of the Wise Woman. She is silly in word and deed. Jezebel is the rst woman that comes to mind. I would even venture a guess that she was probably the worst fool, a Steadfast Fool. As we study the life of Jezebel (Read I Kings 16-22 and II Kings 9) let us determine to root out any of her characteristics that may be in our own life and instead choose to be a wise woman. ! The rst thing to do to keep from being foolish is to be saved. Take a moment to write your salvation experience below.

! If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior, let us take a moment to show you how you can make that sure. !
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The Foolish Woman

A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. - Proverbs 9:13 ! We are going to examine the life of Jezebel. Her very name has a evil ring to it! Jezebel went down in history as doing more to make her husband do evil than any other woman alive. Jezebel killed the prophets of God. She brought the worship of Baal into the land of Israel. She caused the people to turn from the one true God and led them to worship of this false god, Baal, that led to babies being sacriced and temple prostitution and so many more foolish and evil acts. Jezebel was the daughter of a king from another country and she married Ahab to help unite the two countries. When her husband had problems she took care of them. She was rash, brazen, loud, and evil. She had a man killed when he refused to sell his vineyard to her husband. Jezebel was not a woman you went against. It could very well cost you your life if you did. Her name has been used in history to describe terrible women. We would hope that none of her qualities are found in our life, but as we study her life, may we be open to Gods working and if we nd anything lacking may we immediately confess and forsake it. ! Another way to keep from being foolish is to read and practice the Bible daily, particularly the book of Proverbs, which is known for its wisdom. Dene these words: Foolish:

Clamorous:

Simple:

I. The Works of a Foolish Woman. A. The foolish woman works mischief. Proverbs 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom. Read I Kings 21:25. This is the end of Jezebels life. The Bible gives us a glimpse into her works and we see that she single handedly stirred up her husband, Ahab to do more wickedness than any other king. Read I Kings 16:31. We see that it was light thing for Ahab to sin. I personally believe Ahab did not make any decisions without rst running them through Jezebel. Truly she wore the pants in the family! Take a moment to ask God to reveal Jezebel areas in your own life, marriage, and/or relationship with those in authority over you. Confess them and choose to forsake them! Write them out here and if need be, go to the authority in your life and make it right with them.

The Foolish Woman

A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. - Proverbs 9:13 B. The foolish woman refuses correction. Proverbs 1:7 says that The fear of the Lord is beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Read I Kings 21:27-28. We see that Ahab repents and God spares judgement from him personally. Fast forward and Read II Kings 9:30-37. Jezebel does not heed Elijahs correction and as a result God does not lift her punishment. What would have been a better response from Jezebel when Elijah told of Gods judgement?

C. The foolish woman utters all her mind. Proverbs 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. Read I Kings 19:1-2. Jezebel hastily speaks all that is in her mind. The backdrop for this passage is found in the previous chapter. Elijah the prophet has just defeated the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He specically asks Ahab to bring the prophets who sat at Jezebels table, Read I Kings 18:19. Now Elijah has killed them. In this passage we see Jezebels response to what Elijah had done. She is mad, so she makes threats to the man of God. Elijah was trying to give her a message, The prophets of Baal are nothing compared to God. Do you think Jezebels response was the right one? Why or why not?

D. The foolish woman causes strife. Proverbs 20:3 says that It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. Read I Kings 18:18, 41-46. We see the brave prophet Elijah standing up and ghting evil. Read I Kings 19:1-4. Jezebel writes one little letter and what does it cause the man of God to do?

If you read further into I Kings 19 you nd that God does not punish Elijah for being weary and wanting to give up. Only when Elijah becomes proud of himself in I Kings 19:10 then God deals with him. Many a pastor have quit because of ill written notes causing strife. Determine to never be that kind of woman. If you have written your pastor this kind of note, go and apologize to him. E. The foolish woman despises wisdom. Proverbs 23:9 tells us to Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. Read I Kings 18:4, 13. We see that Jezebel, not her husband, despised wisdom so much that it caused her to do what to the prophets of God?
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The Foolish Woman

A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. - Proverbs 9:13 F. The foolish woman hates knowledge. Proverbs 1:22 asks us How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Read I Kings 18:17-18. We see that Ahab was not able to knowingly see that he and his household, had troubled Israel and that God caused it not to rain because of them. Even after 3 years of no rain, Jezebel and Ahab still refused to see they were at fault! Can you think of a time when you saw this similar trait in another womans life? What was the result of her behavior?

G. The foolish woman uses loud and silly speech. Proverbs 15:2 reminds us that The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. Jezebel was the queen, and not just any queen, she had the king in her hip pocket. She inuenced him more than anyone else did. She had the opportunity to use her power aright but instead, time and time again, we see her using her mouth to pour out foolishness. What are some ways you see modern women acting the part of Jezebel?

H. The foolish woman destroys her own house. Proverbs 14:1 tells us that Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. Because of Jezebels foolishness, she, her husband, and her children all died tragic deaths. Her death was to the point that they couldnt even bury her, a kings daughter. Read II Kings 9:30-37. What are some ways you have seen a modern woman BUILD her house?

What are some ways a modern woman can destroy her house?

The Foolish Woman

A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. - Proverbs 9:13 I. The foolish woman hid her hatred. Proverbs 10:18 says that He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. Read I Kings 21. Here we nd the story of Ahab, put to poetry by Ron Hamilton is sounds like this: King Ahab went a walking, in royal garments grand. He saw a lovely vineyard, while gazing ore the land. He said, Ive got to have it. I always get my way. But when he could not have it, he pouted all the day. The king went to his bedroom. He looked so sad and blue. He slammed the door behind him, and loudly cried, Boo Hoo! He said, Nobody loves me! And fell down on his bed. If I cant have the vineyard, I wont eat any bread! The poochie lip will get you if you dont watch out. The poochie lip will get you if you start to pout. So take this little tip, please control that lower lip. And chase away the poochie lip disease. Read I Kings 21:5. Entering this tragic scene we see, Jezebel! Her very name carries a bad sound as it rolls off your tongue. In verse 6, Ahab tells her just how wronged he is! In verse 7 of chapter 21 Jezebel asks him if he is king or not and tells him she will take care of the situation. Jezebel is not an Israelite. I personally think most of what she did was out of hatred for the Jews. Here she sees another chance to destroy them! The hatred hiding in her heart has another chance to show itself! Have you ever seen a woman have hatred in her heart and it come out through her lips and/or actions? What does it look like?

J. The foolish woman utters slander. Proverbs 10:18 says that He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander is a fool. Read I Kings 21:8-13. Jezebel took her hatred and turned it into slander. She deceitfully wrote a letter in her husbands name using his seal. And the deceit does not stop there! She instructs the men of the city to lie about Naboth! Jezebels hatred turned slander caused the senseless death of Naboth in verse 13 all for a vineyard! What are some dangers of slander?

The Foolish Woman

A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. - Proverbs 9:13 K. The foolish woman laughs at sin. Proverbs 14:9 tells us that Fools make a mock at sin: After the deed is done and Naboth has been stoned, Read I Kings 21:14-16. This reveals how Jezebel tells Ahab. If you were a y on the wall in the palace that day, how might you have described what happened?

L. The foolish woman trusts in her own heart. Proverbs 28:26 reveals that He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. This is very evident in the life of Jezebel. How many times do you see Jezebel going to God for direction and guidance? In I Kings 21, the entire chapter was about Jezebels plot to get rid of Naboth. Write out Proverb 3:5, 6.

What does this verse mean?

M. The foolish woman lifts herself up. Proverbs 14:3 instructs us that In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. It would be a safe assumption that Jezebel lived a life of pride. What are some decisions that you have seen in her life, as you read in I Kings chapters 16-22 and II Kings 9, that were marked by pride?

II. The Worth of a Foolish Woman. A. The foolish womans way is right in her own eyes. Proverbs 12:15 says that The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. What resulted from this? Did Jezebel seek counsel in I Kings 21?

The Foolish Woman

A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. - Proverbs 9:13 B. The foolish woman makes her anger known Proverbs 27:3 says that A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fools wrath is heavier than them both. Read I Kings 19:1-2. How did Jezebel make her anger know? C. The foolish woman makes her foolishness known. Proverbs 14:33 tells us that Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. Read I Kings 21:17-25. By whom was Jezebels foolishness made known? D. The foolish woman makes no effort to depart from evil. Proverbs 13:19 tells us that The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. Read I Kings 21:25. Jezebel stirred up Ahab to sin and no one had ever been as evil as him. Do we ever nd Jezebel trying to depart from her evil? Why do you think Jezebel made these choices?

E. The foolish woman has no desire for wisdom. Proverbs 18:2 reveals to us that A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. In our disney inuenced world, we hear all the time to, Just follow your heart, it will never lead you wrong, Trust your heart, etc. We see that Jezebel followed her heart and as a result she continually rejected the truth, even embracing lies. Why should we not follow our heart?

What is a better way to live than following our heart?

F. The foolish woman is repeatedly silly. Proverbs 26:11 gives us a vivid word picture: As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. Jezebels life was marked by this verse. It is like that saying, The denition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, yet expecting a different result. Have you ever seen a woman who continually made wrong choices? What marked her life?

The Foolish Woman

A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. - Proverbs 9:13 III. The Way of a Foolish Woman A. Servanthood Proverbs 11:29 tells us that He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. You can choose your sin, but you cannot choose your consequences, i.e. if you choose to eat chocolate all the time and never exercise you will be big boned. If you smoke, you risk the chance of dying of cancer. You cannot choose to smoke and choose to NOT get cancer. The sinful choices we make today will enslave us in the future. Sin will always take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. These three things ALWAYS happen later than you sinned. Do not choose a life of servanthood to the consequences of sin. Choose a life of servanthood to Christ and all the freedom he has to offer! What are some sins you have observed in your life and the life of others that have had bad results?

How has this affected you?

B. Destruction Proverbs 13:20 says that He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Explain this verse:

How did this verse relate to Jezebel?

Proverbs 18:7 says that A fools mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. We see in the life of Jezebel that her lips were her destruction. When did God say, Enough! and tell Elijah the judgement he had for Ahab and Jezebel? (The answer is found in I Kings 21, towards the end of the chapter.)

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A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. - Proverbs 9:13 C. A Fall Proverbs 10:10 tells us that He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. Literally, for Jezebel, we nd in II Kings 9:30-37 that she fell. Jehu tells her eunuchs, to Throw her down! In application, how should this scenario affect you?

D. Shame Proverbs 3:35 tells us that one day, The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. Read II Kings 9:34-37. Jezebel, the daughter of the king, did not even receive a proper burial. Her fate was one of shame and disgrace. Do you desire to be promoted? Human nature always desires promotion, either in the job, social circles, etc. We desire promotion and even preeminence. That is why the apostles warned against it! Promotion is not an evil thing to desire, preeminence, however, is. No one would desire to be promoted to shame. What are some things you have observed that people want to be promoted to?

How do we get promoted to good things, to glory?

E. Death Proverbs 10:21 says that The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. Ultimately Jezebel died, a tragic death, In II Kings 9:30-37. How do we see this verse fullled in her life?

F. No Honor Proverbs 26:8 says that As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. Again in II Kings 9:34-37, we see that Jezebel died with no honor. How do you think God deals with a Jezebel Woman in our modern day?

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The Foolish Woman

A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. - Proverbs 9:13 IV. The Warning to the Foolish Woman. A. Forsake Her Proverbs 9:6 says to Forsake the foolish, and life; and go in the way of understanding. How do we go in the way of understanding?

B. Dont be her friend! Earlier we looked at Proverbs 13:20, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. A companion in this verse is just someone who happens to be in the same vicinity as another person, they dont even have to be friends or even know each other. Can you think of a time when you or someone you know got in trouble because they were in a situation they did not mean to be in? If so, what was the result?

In conclusion what can we learn from the foolish woman? How has God spoken to you?

What decisions are you going to make?

Name one thing that is going to change in your life as a result of this study?

When are you going to start?

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