Day 649: Hope for the foolish - Proverbs 26 vs 1 - 12

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honour 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. 4-5 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6-10 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honour to a fool. Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. 11-12 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:1-12 (English Standard Version)

While we sometimes teasingly call someone 'silly fool' if they do something stupid, it's often used nowadays by some as a personal insult for those they disagree with. In Bible times it was used to describe people who lacked sense, were unwilling to take advice, were unreliable, and were likely to fall into evil ways. So what does the writer say that such people are not worthy of? (vs 1)

Such people shouldn't be the celebrities of society. Sadly that's something our generation has forgotten. Today's celebrities are often immoral film and pop stars and corrupt politicians. They get the publicity and the interviews on TV. But what does the writer say about listening to the opinions of such people? (vs 6-10)

Their opinions are as useless as the legs of someone who was sadly paralysed from the waist down. And, just as a drunk person often does them self some harm, so the words that fools speak, which they think are so wise, inevitably cause a lot of damage. We've seen that when celebrities encourage the abortions that foolish politicians have legislated. We see it today in the incredibly foolish reasoning that men can be women and women can be men. But what is the caution we need in responding to the foolishness we see and hear in society today? (vs 4-5)

In one sense, we shouldn't get into discussions with those who can't see beyond their foolish thinking. Arguments with them can result in us saying something foolish ourselves! But we should take any opportunities that arise to bring God's wisdom into the conversation to point out where their reasoning makes no sense and contradicts real facts. Their arguments, which often come with the same abusiveness as people who curse others, have no solid ground. They argue in circles, like sparrows or swallows in the air. Is there any hope for these sort of fools?

In vs 3 the writer says that sometimes the only thing that can help them is to be very strongly disciplined. That's very true of a child who begins to show really bad behaviour, stubbornness, and an unwillingness to listen to mom and dad. But could vs 11-12 offer a ray of light?

I think the key is those words 'wise in his own eyes'. The writer says that fools have more hope than such people. When people are convinced that they are always right and nobody else's views matter, it's a dead end street. Like a dog that eats it's own vomit such people will continue to wallow in their shameful ways. But if someone who has been building their lifestyle on the opinions of foolish celebrities and politicians begins to question some of those opinions – perhaps as a result of someone showing them their shallowness – then there is hope. In contrast to the foolishness in the world the apostle Peter said to Christians: “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)