The Stink of a Fool

Ecclesiastes 10:1 ¶ Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

Reading through this chapter makes one think he is in the book of Proverbs; the manner of expression seems very similar to me.

As I read through this verse, I thought about Galatians 5:9, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” The presence of a dead fly in the perfume will turn its sweet smell into a stinky odor. In the same way, one foolish deed can ruin a person’s good reputation. This is an important truth to teach our children. It takes years to establish a good reputation, but that reputation can be destroyed in a moment—and rebuilding that good reputation will be a bit harder the second time around.

I think every Christian should soberly consider this observation from the commentary by Jamieson, Faucett & Brown: “The more delicate the perfume, the more easily spoiled is the ointment. Common oil is not so liable to injury. So the higher a man’s religious character is, the more hurt is caused by a sinful folly in him.”

Ecclesiastes 10:2-3 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

The reference to the “right hand” is a reference to strength, authority, blessing and honor in scripture.

Mark 14:62 “And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

Exodus 15:6 “Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.”

Isaiah 62:8 “The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength….”

Psalms 18:35 “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.”

Though the reference in scripture to the left hand is not always negative, there is one section of scripture that comes to mind.

Matthew 25:34 & 41 “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world….“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

I think the context is clear that the right and left are being used as a positive/negative contrast. The wise man’s heart is associated with his right hand, while the fool’s heart is associated with his left. Verse 3 goes on to declare that you can discern the wise man from the fool by observing how he lives and the choices he makes.

I did think it was interesting that the Hebrew for “left hand” made reference to being enveloped by the dark. Scripture often equates darkness with sin and wickedness and light with good and righteousness. The Apostle John recorded one of the clearest statements of this truth.

1 John 1:5-7 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

The wise man is obviously one who walks according to the revealed will of God, while the foolish man chooses to ignore the truth of God’s word.