Everybody Plays The Fool Sometime

TITLE: EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL, SOMETIME

SCRIPTURE: PSALM 14:1

In the year 1972 a song reached the Top 40 in the United States by the R&B group the main ingredient. The group consisted of a trio with Cuba Gooding sr. -- Tony Silvester -- Luther Simmons, Jr. Their version of the hit song "EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL" rose to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the fall of 1972, and would go on to reach Certified Gold.

You remember that song, don’t you? This song describes how everyone has their heart broken at some point, and the chorus goes like this:

Everybody plays the fool, sometime

There’s no exception to the rule

It may be factual, it may be cruel

Everybody plays the fool

I think that’s fairly true in the realm of romance, don’t you?

• At some point, most people have feelings for someone else that aren’t returned

• Or we try to initiate a relationship with someone and get turned down

• Or we have a relationship that falls apart

• In those moments we can sure feel pretty foolish

Well, I think that same idea is definitely true for all of us in the realm of life.

• At some point, everybody plays the fool

• Everyone has moments where they do something foolish or say something foolish

• Once it is out there you wish you could take it back, but it is too late

• Apart from Jesus Christ there really is no exception to that rule!

• Every mere mortal who has ever lived has made foolish decisions at some time

PSALM 14 is one of two Psalms which begin with the words -- “THE FOOL HAS SAID IN HIS HEART: ‘THERE IS NO GOD.” The other is PSALM 53:1 - The two very similar psalms each describe the characteristics of a fool.

• The Bible says the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom

• The contrast here is the root of all foolishness is the rejection of God

The term here is the generic word for God “Elohim” rather than the covenant name “YAHWEH.” This makes the application more broad than denying the existence of Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, even though to deny the Lordship of Yahweh is to deny the one and only God. So, one should see the opposite fruit develop from one who has this atheistic or agnostic view of the existence of God than the blessings the LORD bestows on those who fear Him. And this is just the case. one’s view about God has implications.

Bible readers will recall with me when King David had an encounter with a man named NABAL who refused Him hospitality. Ironically, the Hebrew word translated "fool" is NA^BA^L, which is an adjective having the meaning of "stupid, wicked" or "vile person." It comes from the root verb NA^BE^L, which means to fall away.

Nabal did not recognize the LORD had anointed David to be the leader of His people and therefore treated David rather roughly. The result of this behavior is Yahweh struck him down dead. Likewise, the fool who refuses to acknowledge God and show Him the proper respect is marked for death. And this death is an eternal one. Jesus describes this place of the wicked as a place of eternal torment. What could be more foolish than going to hell not for a visit but for all of eternity?

I have noted over the years, Christians usually only quote the first half of PSALM 14:1 - I am sure most of us have and can quote that portion of the text. The second half of the verse deals with the fool’s characteristics. The second half of VS. 14:1 says "THEY ARE CORRUPT, THEIR DEEDS ARE VILE." At first, you might think the "They" are those who disbelieve in the existence of God. However, the end of verse says "THERE IS NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD."

• One might still think that the verse is referring to atheists

• However, the following two versus make it clear that as God looks down on all people

• He can find none who are not corrupt

• Emphasizing it with "NOT EVEN ONE"

REVELATION 5:1-5 -- And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.