Proverbs 26

“As snow in summer and rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool’s back. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Like the legs of the lame that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like one who binds a stone in a sling is he who gives honor to a fool. Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. The great God who formed everything gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 26:1-12 (NKJV)

Today’s proverb deals primarily with fools; the extent to which we can trust them, and how we should deal with foolish behavior.  So, it is important that we Biblically address exactly what a fool is.  A fool is not necessarily a person who lacks superior intellect.  Many of the world’s most educated people are foolish.  A fool is not a person who makes mistakes.  Even the most righteous among us make mistakes from time to time.  People who are funny or silly are not necessarily foolish.  No, a fool is someone who is not wise.  In fact, foolishness is the opposite of wisdom.  So, let’s see how the Bible defines wisdom and work backwards.  

Wise people fear the Lord and obey His Word: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.” Psalm 111:10 (NKJV)

Fearing the Lord means hating evil. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.” Proverbs 8:13-15 (NKJV)

A wise person learns to hate evil by searching the Bible (Godly counsel) and fears the Lord by believing His Word to the extent that they live faithfully according to it.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV)

So, a fool denies (or ignores) God’s Word. Therefore, they do not fear the Lord.  Ergo, fools love evil; maybe not to the extent of mass-murdering evil, but any counsel other than God’s Word is evil. Fools are dangerous, must be avoided and weeded out because unchecked evil always leads to some manner of death.