How does Isaiah 32:6 describe the behavior of the fool and the scoundrel? Zooming In on Isaiah 32:6 “For a fool speaks foolishness and his heart inclines toward wickedness: to practice ungodliness, to speak error concerning the LORD, to leave the hungry empty and deprive the thirsty of drink.” The Fool’s Inner Drift • Speaks foolishness – empty words that carry no wisdom (Proverbs 15:2) • Heart “inclines toward wickedness” – his very desires bend away from God’s ways (Jeremiah 17:9) His Outward Behavior 1. Practices ungodliness – Lives in open disregard for God’s standards (Romans 1:28-32) 2. Speaks error about the LORD – Twists truth, misrepresents God (Deuteronomy 13:1-3) 3. Neglects the needy – Leaves the hungry empty – Withholds water from the thirsty – A direct violation of God’s call to care for the poor (Proverbs 14:31; Matthew 25:42-43) The Scoundrel’s Addition (v.7) Though the next verse names him explicitly, the passage pairs the fool and scoundrel: • “His weapons are destructive” – schemes rather than slip-ups • “Plots to destroy the poor with lies” – calculated oppression (Amos 4:1) • Ignores “the plea of the needy” – hard-heartedness, not ignorance Takeaway Isaiah pictures a downward spiral: empty talk → ungodly living → active harm. Rejecting God’s truth doesn’t stay private; it spills into social injustice. By contrast, wisdom begins with fearing the LORD (Proverbs 9:10) and overflows in practical mercy (James 1:27). |
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