“I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.” (Ps 85:8 AV)
This is what we do. How pitiful are we? We do not learn the easy way, do we? We often get into trouble only to have God rescue us and we go right back to it. This was Israel’s pattern and no matter how spiritual someone may pass themselves off as, it is their nature, too. We are all like this. We return to our folly. Over time, however, we do learn. But not after several hard lessons. I look at that last phrase as both a challenge and a rebuke. Perhaps more like the former than the latter. Time and experience eventually cease the folly. Yet, there is more folly to take its place. This is Solomon’s point in his books of wisdom. One cannot help but read these two books and walk away realizing just how foolish we can be. If it wasn’t so sad, it would be humorous. The ironic thing about this verse is the writer states he will hear when God speaks because when God speaks He does so in a comforting manner. Because He does, we are encouraged not to take that for granted and return to our folly. This is the key to success. If we do not take God’s words for granted and truly appreciate His compassion and mercy, then folly becomes more difficult.
When I think of folly, I cannot help but think of my attempts to master the Southern culture. It is not easy. Especially for someone who was born and raised in the Northeast. These two cultures are not just different. They are diametrically opposed. They are polar opposites. What one culture is, the other is not. In one sense, the reader might think it would be an easy transition. Simply do the opposite. But it is like trying to learn to drive on the opposite side of the road with the steering wheel on the other side of the car. Just do the mirror opposite of what you have learned. Not as easy as one might think. Learning to speak the language and understand the nuances of the culture was a challenge. And that is putting it mildly. Folly was a regular practice. I would constantly say the wrong thing or fail to say the right thing. The hardest thing was trying to pick up on what was said but was never spoken. There is a hidden language one must be very aware of. Often what was never said is more important than what was said. I felt like I was walking on eggshells the whole time I lived there. Embarrassment was a regular thing with me. But these people were very gracious. They tried to help their Yankee pastor as much as they could. Some things were simply beyond help. I would learn. But then I would unlearn. I found myself time and again kicking myself for some miscommunication. Folly was a daily occurrence.
We fail God every day. Every day we are into sin either deliberately or by ignorance. To say we are not is to fail to be honest with God and Self. We can read and memorize the book of Proverbs all we want. We can pray and seek the power of the Holy Spirit. But until our heavenly glorification, we will be a bit foolish from time to time. We can do one of two things. We can either succumb to our foolishness as a hopeless condition that will never be cured here on earth. We can give in to our foolishness and cease to battle. Or, we can see it as a challenge. We can look at our choices, chuckle, and then weep, and get back on the horse again. We can seek God’s forgiveness even though we shake our heads at how foolish we have been. God forgives. Time and again and without number. Then, we can look at our hearts and lives and determine the foolishness will not return. That is our choice. We either give in to foolishness, or we battle it. Which will it be?
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