(Proverbs 19:10) Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
There are some things that just don’t go together. They just don’t match. They don’t travel together. Delight is just not something a fool will experience.
This word תַּעֲנוּג translated to the English word delight is pronounced (tah-an-oog’) and is defined as daintiness, luxury, exquisite delight. It’s derivations are found four other times in the Bible.
(Song of Songs 7:6) How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!
Here it is also translated delights. In this chapter, the husbandman admires and describes the wondrous beauty of the bride. This word describes the satisfying rapturous joy just to look upon his love. If you’ve ever been in love, it’s that nervous bursting in your chest the moment your sweetheart walks in the room.
(Ecclesiastes 2:8) I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
Here is is also translated delights. Of course we know the Preacher in Ecclesiastes is trying to get across that all is vanity. But in his discourse, he lists the best of the best. These delights are the best, the most sought after, the most regarded, and most valued. These delights are most effective at moving and exciting the senses.
(Micah 1:16) Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.
Here is used as an adjective to describe children – delicate. Now in this case delicate does not mean fragile. It carries with it the meaning of being very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship or quality. So again we see that it is a word to denote an item of high value, a treasured and cherished item – their children.
(Micah 2:9) The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
I’m not really sure as to what the prophet is trying to convey, but I will say this: For some women, their pleasant house is their glory. They put much of time and care and TLC into their houses. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m just saying in that respect, we see a place of beauty, a place that is decorated and cared for.
So delights can bee seen in these four things, the delight of love, great song, the love for children and home. And it’s this delight that is not seemly for the fool. These are the pleasures and delicacies that a fool will be hard-pressed to find. This brings to mind the words of Saul:
(1 Samuel 26:21) Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
Wife, children, and home. Many who have lost these have played the fool and erred exceedingly. God have mercy on the fool. And we’ve all played the fool at one time or another and lost or jeopardized something or someone we hold dear. But there is hope hidden in the last half of the verse: Much less for a servant to have rule over princes. The lowly will never rule over the lordly. Or will he?
(Hebrews 2:9) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Oh yes! The grace of God can turn Proverb 19:10 upside down. Hear the praises of Hannah’s prayer! (1 Samuel 2:8) He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.