No longer will the fool be called noble,
Or the rogue be spoken of as generous. Isaiah 32:5
As previously noted, only in Christ’s future kingdom on earth will the tables be turned. Until then, we will be tricked by fools and tormented by rogues. It’s much like it was in junior high school when a few bullies roamed and reigned in the polished tile halls, terrorizing the weak, unaware, and unsuspecting.
For a fool speaks nonsense,
And his heart inclines toward wickedness:
To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the Lord,
To keep the hungry person unsatisfied
And to withhold drink from the thirsty. Isaiah 32:6
The Hebrew word for “nonsense” in this passage is nebalah, which means to disregard God’s will, to promote and practice senseless willful sin. Manufactured in the fool’s heart (“inclines” is from asah, generally in Hebrew to “create”) is wickedness (in Hebrew awah), which means “to bend or deviate from the way.”
So, if all that God created out of nothing was good, the fool corrupts all that God has made for evil. As God is “bent” or “inclined” toward being good, and very good, for that matter, well, always good, the fool is inclined in his innermost being to practice evil.
A fool unremittingly lies (“speak error”), while endlessly practicing ungodliness in all its manifestations to perfection. Fools do have purpose in life, to deprive the hungry of food and the thirsty of water. They only take and never give, unless to give to the satisfied and satiated for personal or political gain. I’m reminded of the lyrics of Genesis’ early song, “I Know What I Like,” which says, “I’m just a lawnmower, you can tell me by the way I walk.” As the song says, a fool’s not too difficult to spot from the perspective of those who walk in God’s truth!
As for a rogue, his weapons are evil;
He devises wicked schemes
To destroy the afflicted with slander,
Even though the needy one speaks what is right. Isaiah 32:7
As mentioned previously, a rogue (a knave, scoundrel) is deceitful and dishonest. He’s a schemer and a slanderer. You get the sense that the rogue will use all the implements of evil (i.e., war) to destroy the afflicted and needy. He seems to be more diabolical and maniacal in his machinations than the bumbling fool. Micah describes him aptly, “Concerning evil, both hands do it well.” (Micah 7:3)
So, our foes (our ever present “bullies”) are formidable, requiring constant vigilance to withstand, as Jeremiah so richly warns (Jeremiah 5:26-28).
26 ‘For wicked men are found among My people,
They watch like fowlers lying in wait;
They set a trap,
They catch men.
27 ‘Like a cage full of birds,
So their houses are full of deceit;
Therefore they have become great and rich.
28 ‘They are fat, they are sleek,
They also excel in deeds of wickedness;
They do not plead the cause,
The cause of the orphan, that they may prosper;
And they do not defend the rights of the poor.
As such, Jesus exhorted us as follows, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16
But the noble man devises noble plans;
And by noble plans he stands. Isaiah 32:8
In one hand we may possess a sword, but let us not lose sight of the power we possess in and by the word and spirit of God to devise (or “create” because we are of God) and implement noble plans (nedibah, i.e., something magnificent, dignified, honorable), and in these to stand firm.
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
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