Proverbs 26: Fools, Slackers, Meddlers, Gossips, and Liars
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We often see the quote, “Hurt people hurt people,” but I’ve never fully agreed with that. From my own experiences, and what I’ve seen in others who experienced hurt, hurt people often become extremely empathetic to the pain of others. They would never cause it intentionally. But a fool doesn’t function that way.
In Psalm 14:1, we read…
Psalms 14:1a WEBUS
[1] The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
https://bible.com/bible/206/psa.14.1.WEBUS
Today’s reading in Proverbs Chapter 26 deals a lot with fools in addition to other types of people who tend to regularly hurt other people. The chapter begins with a sort of what’s wrong with this picture statement…
Proverbs 26:1 WEBUS
[1] Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.26.1.WEBUS
Though the little kids immediately run to play under the snowing tree in the summertime, the adults are likely confused by this oddity. Snow is a winter thing with maybe a few surprise downpours at the end of fall and beginning of spring. But by the time summer and lemonade show up, it’s definitely not right to have snow–even over only one tree. And it’s not right to give honor and preference to a foolish person, especially with what is likely in their hearts. Verse 8 even tells us what we are like if we’re the one who offers honor to a fool…
Proverbs 26:8 WEBUS
[8] As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.26.8.WEBUS
It makes sense. What good would a rock tied into a sling do when you need to throw it. Like those old, dangerous toys called “Klick-Klacks” or “Clackers,” (there’s an interesting article about that toy at A Woman’s World magazine online) it’s a recipe for disaster. And it would certainly not help you with hunting–or killing giant Philistines. We must not assign improper honor based on our feelings. Like saying, “God bless you” to a person who would only dig deeper into their sins if they only had blessings and no struggles to make them stop and look at their conditions. It’s not loving to honor and uplift someone who’s stuck in foolishness and needs a jolt of reality to repent and be set free.
Verses 3-12 have so much more to say about fools than I can put here. It’s almost a blog post already created for April 1st. 😁 Verse 11 is the saddest one as it says that a fool never learns…
Proverbs 26:11 WEBUS
[11] As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.26.11.WEBUS
Verses 13-16 switch subjects and talk about slackers, or sluggards in the World English Bible. And since verse 16 says the slacker is wise in his own eyes, I’m guessing the teacher is showing the slacker is just another type of fool. He then switches subjects again and begins talking about meddlers who (again foolishly) meddle in others’ business and how it’s like grabbing a dog by the ears. We know what happens there. I’m not sure if the joker in verses 18-19 is the same meddler from verse 17, but saying he was only joking doesn’t fix his offenses either way.
As the chapter finishes out with verses 20-28, the subject turns to gossip. It seems this gossip is a contentious liar who hates those he makes into his victims. He is somehow able to convince people to listen (silver-covered lips speaking dainty morsels in verses 22-23), but when things turn on the listener, that one will become even more of a victim because the hateful gossip will convince him it’s all his fault. I see this manipulation as the gossip being yet another type of fool: an arrogant one. But back in verse 20, we get the wisdom that if we just don’t allow the words of the gossip to spread, the quarrels will die like a fire with no fuel.
So this chapter didn’t have a lot of happy blessings to hand out unless you consider warnings that protect you from being victimized as its own type of blessing. I do. And I’m thankful for wisdom that works hand-in-hand with discernment to protect us. Sadly, we often let our feelings get in the way of both discernment and wisdom, but that’s where walking with God helps us get through the hard places in this life, even if we brought them on ourselves. But, there is one huge piece of good news in this chapter, so I’ll end with what it says in verse 2…
Proverbs 26:2 WEBUS
[2] Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.26.2.WEBUS
It seems out of place in this chapter, but it’s a statement of faith to undo the lies and harms of the subjects in all the other verses. Resist even the accusations of foolish ramblings and know their manipulative curses will not be able to stand against you and rest in your life.
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Proverbs 2: The Shadow on Your Path
Proverbs Chapter 1 is all about the purpose of wisdom, and how wisdom can set you up on a right path. Yesterday, I talked about how the right kind of fear of God would open doors to that wisdom. Today, in Proverbs Chapter 2, we’ll read about some of the obstacles found on that path. Visit https://www.bible.com/bible/1713/PRO.2.CSB to read the chapter in the Christian Standard Bible. You can change the version once you’re there if you like.
So what is wisdom worth? Is it all about being smarter? Knowing all the rules? Awareness? Having all the answers? Maybe a little of those, but I believe the best aspect of wisdom is discernment. The definition of that word from Merriam-Webster is “the quality of being able to grasp what is obscure.” A couple synonyms there are insight and perception. Most people either want those things or want to know someone with them, so they can find the answers to obscure questions that escape their grasp. But here in this chapter, the father is assuring his son that if he seeks wisdom like he would seek gold and silver, he will have that grasp when he needs it.
Verses 7 and 8 describe how God stores up success for those on the path of The Lord. They go on to say how God is a shield of protection who will guard that path of justice and protect that way for His followers. Verse 10 says you’ll have discretion for protection and understanding for a guard over you. Or, as the EasyEnglish Bible says, “you will know the right thing to do, and that will keep you safe.” And the reasons for needing all this protection are highlighted in verses 12 through 19 with the warnings to avoid evil people who abandon right paths and especially the forbidden woman who flatters young men to drag them into her house of death.
Now that we are about 3000 years beyond the writing of these words of wisdom, we can take a simple walk through history to see how correct these instructions were and still are. Those who follow the path of the cross of Jesus Christ know how valuable His wisdom is, was, and always will be. He is the shadow on the old paths before Calvary since Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:4b that, “they all drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.” And His cross is the shadow on our paths now as we follow Him and seek to walk in His ways. Don’t try to be good all on your own. Walk in the shadow of the cross and let it be the shadow on your path of life.
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No Skipping Stones
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Even if I find the perfect flat rock for stone-skipping, chances are, there will be more splat than skip. I guess it’s all in the wrist, and I don’t have enough of whatever it is. One time, as a teenager, I recall getting one to skip a bunch of times, but that was a rare and wonderful thing.
In today’s reading from Deuteronomy 27:1 through Deuteronomy 27:10, we will read of God’s laws regarding skipping stones. I’ll bet you didn’t know it was in the Bible, but God told Israel not to do it. Really. He told them not to skip setting up standing stones on which He wanted them to record the words of His Torah. (I’ll bet you were wondering just where I was going with that, huh?)
So, Moses and all the leaders of Israel stand before the crowd and tell them to observe every law they were being given that day. To help with the observation, they tell them that, after they cross the Jordan into the land that God is giving them, they are to set up standing stones, put plaster on them, and write the words of Torah on them.
After they set up stones, God wants them to build an altar out of stones and without the use of any tools. His command is that they build the altar of uncut stones and offer burnt offerings on it. They should also offer peace offerings there, and they should eat and be joyful in the presence of The Lord. The next verse restates that they are to write the words of Torah on the stones very clearly.
Next, it is Moses and the high priests that speak to Israel. The first thing they say to them is, “Be quiet and listen, Israel!” They continue with a reminder that today is the day Israel becomes the people of The Lord. Because of that, they should listen to God and obey all the laws and commands Moses gives them on that day.
I wonder how people would react if Scripture actually said we could not skip stones. I mean, it’s not like God would be asking something that difficult, but could we just obey even though it doesn’t seem to make any sense? For me, the hardest thing to do is follow commands that don’t seem to have logic or reasoning behind them. For the sake of obedience, I have done so before, and sometimes it has turned out to be just a man’s interpretation or idea. But, I still believe God rewards an obedient heart and spirit.
God is merciful and He knows our form, so our task is to do our best to honor Him in everything we do and think. He sees when that includes obeying some man-made law because we are told it is required of us. For example, there is at least one church I know of that teaches it is a sin to wear the color red. (I know some Louisville Cardinals fans that would be very upset with that one. 🙂 ) Those who attend there likely follow the rule with their whole hearts because they want to please God, so God will recognize their lawfulness.
Have you given in to things you later found out through spiritual maturity were not necessary? If so, did it make you decide you would never listen again to commands of men? I hope not. I hope you see that God blesses your obedient heart and spirit. I hope, instead, that you use your experiences to gain perspective, and that you seek God’s wisdom to gain discernment. If we do our best, I believe God will lead us in His path as we learn here a little, there a little by seeking Him and studying His word. And if some blogger comes along telling you not to skip stones, pray about it–and then read the rest of the post.
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September 2, 2014 Posted by Crystal A Murray (aka CrystalWriter) | Bible Study, Nonfiction, Torah Commentary | Bible Commentary, Bible study, Complete Jewish Bible, Deuteronomy, discernment, God's law, honoring God, Israel, Moses, obedience, Scripture, skipping stones, Torah commentary, Torah Portions, wisdom | Leave a comment