Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: The Consequences of being a fool Pt.1, Proverbs 17:7-12

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Proverbs 17:7–12

[7] Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;

still less is false speech to a prince.

[8] A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;

wherever he turns he prospers.

[9] Whoever covers an offense seeks love,

but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

[10] A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding

than a hundred blows into a fool.

[11] An evil man seeks only rebellion,

and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

[12] Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs

rather than a fool in his folly. (ESV)

The Consequences of Being a Fool Pt.1

v.7 In this proverb, the corrupt ruler is contrasted with the fool who talks too much. The fool hurts mostly himself, but the corrupt ruler is far worse because his words carry the weight of the law of the land, hurting everyone.

v.8 This proverb is sarcastic. Giving or receiving a bribe is not a good thing! Taking a bribe was prohibited under the Law (Exodus 23:8); therefore, giving a bribe is also sinful. The bribe giver is deluding himself that it will solve his problems. "In his own eyes" is a phrase that means someone who thinks he has something he does not, in this case, the comic image of a "magic stone." He deceives himself because God's wrath is the only thing he is acquiring.

v.9 There are two ways to deal with sin. The first, best, and Wise way is the cycle of repentance, confession, forgiveness, and confidentiality. If the sinner is repentant and seeks God's mercy, he will be forgiven (Proverbs 16:6; Psalm 32; 51; 85). The person to whom the sin was committed and anyone to whom the sin was confessed (especially a pastor!) should forgive the penitent sinner and say nothing more about the sin to anyone else. In this way, the person who absolves the sin and maintains confidentiality (the "seal of the confessional") "covers an offense" and "seeks love." One does not show true love if he simply ignores sin and fails to call the sinner to repentance (Ezekiel 3:17-21; Galatians 6:1). See also James 5:19-20. The other way is to gossip about another's sin, which is the way of hatred and seeks only to destroy relationships.

v.10 A rebuke impresses a Wise person who accepts it and learns from his mistakes, leading him to confess his sins. There is no impressing a fool, who does not repent, even when the fruit of his transgression is punishment. This is also a way to discern and recognize a Wise person from a fool—by how they react to a just rebuke.

v.11 One should not rebel against those with proper authority. Notice I said proper. If our leaders rebel against God, we are obligated to rebel against them (Acts 5:29; Revelation 6:9). Regarding rebellion against proper authority, the rebel can expect punishment. Even if he escapes punishment in the temporal realm, he will not escape God’s everlasting punishment on the last day.

v.12 Wise men of all ages know not to get between a mother bear and her cubs, and you certainly do not try to take them from her. Yet this proverb tells us it is is better for you to do that than engage a fool in his foolishness because of the destruction and chaos which follows him.