Date: Sunday June 24, 2012
Today's Chapters: Psalms 73-77
Message Title: Played By The Fool

Hello My Friend,

A fool is defined as someone who is destitute of reason, or the common powers of understanding, one who follows their own reasoning, who prefers vain and temporary pleasures of the flesh over eternal pleasures with God. Now, we have all done some foolish things sometimes, but a fool cares less about the value of others. If they do not respect you why would they care that Jesus died to save them from things they see as pleasurable? Let me tell you, it is easy to follow a fool, they know the right things to say and do, and they keep doing them until you let your guard down and trust them, then they expose themselves for the fools that they are. Those who follow Christ may be played by the fool once in a while and suffer for a time, but the fool will always fall.

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” - 1 Corinthians 1:18,19,27-30.

I imagine we have all been played by the fool at least once in our lifetime, perhaps much of it is the cause of our wanting to satisfy our desires. A person who desires to be loved looks for those who appeal to them for love, a person who desires a career looks for those who appeal to them for success, a person who desires riches looks for those who appeal to them for wealth. The fool plays on our desires, they study us, find out our weaknesses, our strengths, and do whatever it takes, however long it takes, to get what they want, never taking one thought on what it would do to us. Once we get hooked we can feel ashamed, brokenhearted, vengeful, and wonder why they seem to prosper and we keep falling. This Psalm is for those who have gotten played by a fool simply by wanting the satisfy our desires.

“For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” - Psalm 73:3,12-14,22-24,27,28.

Those who follow Christ may get caught up in foolish things from time to time and get chastened, but will eventually find the glory through their suffering. The fool, on the other hand, prospers for a time, will be chastened, but will never find the glory through their suffering. We need not to get even with them, not to wish bad upon them, nor lose sleep over them because Jesus will judge every fool. “I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.” - Psalm 75:4-10.

Those who follow Christ will be exalted in due time, we just need to look to God for His grace to be forgiving to those who played us and let Him take care of it. While we may get played by a fool God is still with us and will help us get through it without being the fool ourselves. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:27,28,35-39.

The fool says in their heart that there is no God, that they have no sin, or that they can do whatever they want with their lives. Sooner or later they will find out that there truly is a God, and an Almighty God at that, and they were the fool. No one has to die a fool nor live their lives as a fool, all have a choice to follow Christ or their own foolishness, but those who get over themselves and follow Christ, will escape the judgment they face from Christ Himself. “Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands. At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep. Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.” - Psalm 76:4-9.

God's people are the meek of the earth, the ones who are not caught up in the busy world, the ones who suffer as the fool, but have not played the fool. They can rejoice through their infirmities reminding themselves of what God has done for them. “And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.” - Psalm 77:10-15.

Although it seems as though there is no pleasure for those who follow Christ they will find peace, joy, and even the desires of their heart as they fear God and live in His will. We do not have to live in the will of the fool, trust God, look to Him, and He will give us more that what we ever would have gotten by trusting the fool. “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” -Psalm 37:3-5.

Today's Prayer: (from Psalm 25) God, Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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