Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. 2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. 6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. 7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. 9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 10 Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. 11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. 12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” 14 As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. 15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. 17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. 18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death 19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” 20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. 21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. 23 Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. 24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; 25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; 26 though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. 28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Devotional

Introduction

I would say that Proverbs sometimes seems all over the place. What I mean by that is that it moves from topic to topic, in every subsequent verse. First you are talking about the weather, then the next verse about the adulteress in the streets, to the fool who picks berries from a bush marked 'poisonous' (not sure if that is a proverbs, but it certainly is foolish). Nevertheless, the aim of the book of Proverbs is to see the value of wisdom and the disappointment and destructiveness of folly. So, if it jumps a little bit, it is all for good reason, to help us see the good, the bad and the ugly.

However, whilst Proverbs 26 has the same aim, it is structurally quite different to what we have grown used to. Helpfully, for a three-point blogger, it actually focuses on three main people groups: fools (in general), sluggards, and foolish speakers.

I would like to give the lessons it teaches us about each issue, so get ready to learn a lot!!

Study

1) Fools (vs.1-12)

1. They are not worthy or even fitted for honour or authority (vs.1&8): don't give them the honour of kings or any leadership. They will not use it well. And they are not designed to lead a people well, especially if they don't live in line with God's word.

2. They require discipline (vs.3): in fact, they were almost designed for discipline. In order to train the horse, you need a whip. In order the train the donkey, you need the bridle. The fool needs discipline in order to be properly trained and corrected

3. Do not stoop to their level (vs.4): because their 'level' is all kinds of sin and acts against God.

4. Allow their folly to be exposed (vs. 5): so that they will see the error of their ways

5. Don't use them for important messages (vs.6): they will actually deceive - their message will easily be tangled and twisted

6. Proverbs are useless for them (vs.7) and will do damage (vs.9): they are, to their very core, evil foolish people. Listening to a proverb will not change them. In fact, it will be destructive for them. I think that such destruction is not bad, it is actually enlightening and purifying. It actually judges evil. They will not listen and in return, will be judged.

7. They will end up wounding people when they are to help (vs.10): it is actually unwise to hire a foolish man to do something, because they will end up doing something that is destructive. The NIV study bible offers the situation with Abimelech who hired some reckless men to murder his half brothers and create his rule. They did something that was anti-God.

8. They will repeat folly, returning to their sickening behaviour (vs.11): even though what they do now appears unappealing after they have done it (like vomit), they continue to do it.

9. They may be wise in their own eyes (vs.12): Note that those who are wise in their own eyes are not always the "fools", as this verse tells us. For example, the Pharisees were fools who were wise in their own eyes, whereas, there were fools who did bad things and yet turned to Christ.

Fools are not good people. They do not fear the Lord. They believe they are right, and yet they deceive. They are threatened by their own actions, repulsed by their folly, and yet they turn back to it. Fools must not be given authority, they should instead face discipline. They must face reproof for their actions.

2 Timothy 3:16 says that God's word is useful for "reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness". We must turn the fools back to the Bible. If the spirit has changed their heart, they will be corrected. Don't be discouraged that Proverbs or even God's words don't seem to be having an effect on them. Pray that the Lord might work in their life to change them.

2) Sluggard (vs.13-16)

1. Creates excuses to avoid work (vs.13): we've actually all done this in our lives to get out of our duties. Sometimes, its not just mundane tasks - it is what God requires of us.

2. They love sleep and are practically attached to their beds (vs.14): I think this one is literal. Yes, there are people who just want to sleep all day and not do anything else. They will lounge around and not be willing to do any work.

3. They are tired even in the simplest of actions (vs.15): The verse says they can't even bring their hand back to their mouth to eat the food. Maybe it's a hyperbole, but maybe not. People can become so lazy that they are not willing to do something that is actually beneficial for them (eg. eating)

4. Wise in their own eyes (vs.16): They think what they are doing is good, is beneficial, is wise. But everything we learn from God's word says that sluggishness is not good. In fact, the Godly man is sensible, it says in verse 16.

Idleness is awful, because not only is it not productive, it is not God-honouring. God calls for us to glorify him, to praise his name, to share his name. He also created us for work. To deny the way he created us is an act of defiance against him.

He gives us periods of rest, he calls for us to rest on the Sabbath. But with too much rest we are thankless for the bodies he has blessed us with. We are stubbornly rejecting God's purpose for our lives. And for that we will face judgement.

3) Foolish Speakers (vs.17-28)

1. They interfere in quarrels and only create a disturbance (vs.17): If there is a quarrel going on, we should be peacemakers, not create more of a disturbance. I think it is talking about those people who shout louder over a very loud argument. It's talking about loud riots, about violent reactions to injustice. It only makes arguments harder to settle, and it is a foolish use of speech.

2. They are unkind and think they can justify it, as it is only a joke (vs.18-19): You might recognise it from my #31daysofproverbs promo video. And I was correct, it is something that people around me do. I think it is quite common with the younger generation. We do something or say something and then say "I was only joking". But when something is hurtful, it hurts more when you justify it, than if you were to just say "I'm sorry".

3. When rumours are not spread, the quarrel can be quelled, but can be ignited by a quarrelsome man (vs.20-21) - these rumours can be very enticing (vs.22): Rumours have always been a dangerous way to go. They are created in whispers and end up as full arguments. And a quarrelsome man can make it even worse. But we must not spread rumours. Before it gets worse, we should seek out the truth. We should settle it peacefully.

4. They seem good on the outside, but on the inside they are bad and hate-filled (vs.23-25) - and they will be exposed (vs.26): Those who are foolish speakers always look better on the outside, they look to be pleasant or kind or enticing, but they are filled with hate. From our hearts pours out hate-filled speech - unless we have be change by the blood of Christ. But eventually, his wickedness will be revealed to the people. You will not get away with your deception.

5. When they lie or deceive, they reap destruction (vs.28), even on themselves (vs.27): people can actually destroy another with their words. It can be emotional destruction through abuse or sexual harassment. It can even reap physical destruction, through plotting murderous deeds. In the end, they will always fall into their own pit, because they brought destruction on themselves.

Speech is really a dangerous issue in our world. There is diminishing free speech in democratic nations, but ever-increasing hate speech on the internet. People free to hate on what the world hates, and very few people willing to verbally encourage those who are victims, who are poor, who are lonely.

Speech must be controlled, our hearts must be changed. Otherwise, we will create ruinous lives for others and for ourselves.

Conclusion

The fool, the idle, the foolish speaker all have a common factor: the lack of the fear of the Lord. I suppose the key to all of this is control...and transformation...and purifying...and enlightening...and perfection. And all of this can be found in the blood of Christ. But perfection is something we won't see until we stand before the living God. We are righteous in his eyes through the blood of the lamb, but our hearts on earth are still messed up. We fall into laziness, to slander, to deception and foolish deeds.

This is our last week in studying Proverbs. But I hope you will continue to search out the issues of your heart. I hope you will continue to ask the Lord to guide you as you seek out his path. I pray the spirit transforms you as you fight against the sinful desires of your hearts, so that you may, more and more, have the desire of the Lord as priority.

5 days to go!! Get excited!!