Self-pleasing is folly.
"But let them not again turn to folly," or presumption. Sometimes the infatuation of sin is meant by the term "folly." Sometimes it is a synonym for "idolatry." Here the thing which is regarded as foolish is "following the devices and desires of their own heart," rather than watching for and doing the will of their God. A book was written some years ago to show that "all sin is folly." Wrong doing, in the long run, serves nobody's real interests. And it has often been shown that the skill devoted to evil schemes would have accomplished valuable results, if only it had been devoted to right and good things. The special point in the text is, that the saints are those who have been set right, delivered from self-pleasing, and it is folly indeed for them to turn back upon the old spirit and the old ways.
I. THAT SELF-PLEASING IS FOLLY IS SHOWN BY THE NATURE OF THINGS. Mall is not an independent, self-ordered being. "It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." He is God's child, and is no more safe, going alone, than is any other child.
II. THAT SELF-PLEASING IS FOLLY IS SHOWN BY THE EXPERIENCE OF LIFE. It is but the fact that we have fallen into needless perplexities, difficulties, and sorrows, when we have tried to take our own independent course. We never have been strong and safe except when we leaned on God, and fully opened our heart and life to Divine guidance. Find the things in life which have turned out to be foolish; and searchingly inquire into the moods of mind and heart that were related to them.
III. THAT SELF-PLEASING IS FOLLY IS DECLARED IN THE DIVINE WORD. (See Psalms 49:13, "This their way is their folly.") The self-pleasing of the Israelites is represented by the expression, "a stiff-necked and uncircumcised generation;" and in their history there are plentiful scenes of calamity into which their foolish self-willedness led them. The psalmist earnestly deprecates a return upon such self-pleasing which brings such needless difficulties. "He that sinneth," in his self-will, "sinneth against his own soul." It is true that he is wicked before God; but it is also true that he is foolish, in view of his highest interests.—R.T.