Over the course of this past year or so, I have been reading a verse a day from the book of Proverbs, along with my other morning time in the Word. While I’ve read Proverbs many times over, this daily bite has given me a whole new perspective on the treasures of wisdom contained in its thirty-one chapters. I’m not through yet for this first go round, but I thought I’d use this Wednesday Wisdom to share some insights from the book. Today’s are found in the twenty-sixth chapter.
I found as I plugged along in this chapter for an entire month I saw a pattern of insights for the discerning reader. There are lessons we can learn from bad examples. As I share these, I will warn you: You might find yourself on the wrong side. I did more than once. I’m sure that’s the point. It’s easy for one who says they follow Christ to act or speak in such a way that we have no discernable difference from the ways of the world. While I’d like to say I am none of what will follow, I won’t pretend to be on the moral high ground. What I will say is that meditating on each of these bad examples has helped me to be more cautious and aware of my own model of behavior.
Lessons from Fools
The chapter begins with a clear statement about how we should view the fool. I’m going to use the English Standard Version, as that is what I read for this study.
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. (Proverbs 26:1)
Basically, the writer begins by letting us know that we do not want to be considered a fool. Why? He gives us some examples of such a person.
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. (Proverbs 26:4-5)
To answer a fool in the same way he speaks brings two results:
- You become a fool like him.
- He thinks himself wise.
Dealing or interacting with foolish people takes special wisdom to avoid getting trapped in their foolish ways. What are those ways?
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 honor 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. Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. (Proverbs 26:7-11)
Each of these analogies is crazy to think about. If you tie a stone to the sling, it will not let loose but will come back and hit you in the head. When you honor a fool, your words come back to bite you.
What is the final lesson we can learn from the fool? Avoid being wise in our own eyes.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (Proverbs 26:12)
But the fool is only the first bad example from which we can learn.
Lessons from the Sluggard
As with the fool, the sluggard’s sins come down to pride and being wise in his own eyes.
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26:13-16)
We’ve already heard about the sluggard in this book, learning that the son who sleeps is a disgrace to his father (Proverbs 10:5), and while diligent hands rule, the lazy person ends in forced labor (Proverbs 12:24), and ultimately, the sluggard’s appetite is never filled. Why? Because he’s lazy!
Lessons from the Meddler
The meddler gets only one verse in this chapter, but the lesson is clearly understood.
Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. (Proverbs 26:17)
I don’t know about you, but I’m not grabbing a strange dog by the ears. That’s just asking for trouble, as is meddling in a quarrel that’s not your own.
Lessons from the Deceiver
It’s clear from these few short verses, that deception can wound and harm as much as physical acts of violence.
Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” (Proverbs 26:18-19)
Lessons from the Quarreler
Much like the meddler, two verses suffice to help us understand that those who quarrel are only adding fire to the flames and increasing strife among others.
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. (Proverbs 26:20-21)
Oh, that I could remember not to whisper after a quarrel has died down. It’s like poking a sleeping bear.
Lessons from the Whisperer
The whisperer and quarreler go hand in hand, but one more verse helps us better understand the destruction whisperers cause and is important. Why? Because I think many of us consider the act of whispering as a lesser evil. I’m quiet. No one really hears what I’m saying. What harm could it do?
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. (Proverbs 26:22)
Sometimes it’s the words spoken with the softest voice and in the darkest places that destroy from within.
Lessons from the Hater
I saw this distinction as I was working on this post; having originally lumped these verses in with the whisperer. There is a distinction, though, and hatred is at its core.
Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. (Proverbs 26:23-27)
This could be applied to any of the bad examples listed in this chapter, as a lack of love for others is at the heart of all the destructive words and actions. Thankfully, the writer gives us a glimpse of victory. A day is coming when deception is exposed in the assembly. Hatred will not have the final say but will lead all who live by it to fall into the pit of their own making.
Lessons from the Liar and Flatterer
Our chapter ends with this final bad example. It’s a two-for-one.
A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. (Proverbs 26:28)
Pointing back to the root cause of all bad behavior, hate is at the source of all lies. And who is the father of lies? Satan himself. He who comes as an angel of light is flattering those who listen into self-destruction and ruin. May we learn our lessons from these bad examples, knowing they all point to the root cause of sin and Satan, who preys on the hearts of men.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
(Proverbs 1:7)
Lord, help us to learn.
Grace and Peace
If you missed the last Wednesday Wisdom, click HERE, or check out these other posts on Proverbs and wisdom: Rules for Living, Learning from the Past: Thirty-One, Killing Education, and For Further Medication.