Meditations at the Mercy Seat Proverbs 25:28-26:5 All About Fools, Part 1

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Proverbs 25:28-26:5

[25:28] A man without self-control

is like a city broken into and left without walls.

[26:1] Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

so honor 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] Answer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.

[5] Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own eyes. (ESV)

All About Fools, Part 1

v.28 The last verse of Chapter 25 introduces a new section, all about fools, which continues through Chapter 27, verse 4. In this proverb, the defining characteristic of a fool is a lack of self-control, which will permeate the following proverbs. One who rejects God does not have the Holy Spirit, who operates on us through the Gospel to subdue sin and its power over us. Our lack of self-control results from our inherited original sin (Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 49). Our sinful nature holds us in bondage (2 Timothy 3:2-5). One without self-control leaves himself vulnerable to attack from sin and the devil, eventually leading to eternal death. God grants self-control to all who believe (Romans 8:13-14; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 5:16-25; 2 Timothy 1:7). Note: God gifts us this self-control. It is up to us to exercise it. When we do not, which is most of the time, we must turn in repentance and ask for forgiveness.

26v.1 It neither snows in Palestine during the hot summer months nor do the rains fall during the harvest. Either event would disrupt the harvest, which requires dry and brittle grain stalks. Just as inappropriate as these weather conditions would be for a harvest, so also is honor inappropriate for a fool who rejects Divine Wisdom. This is a warning to leaders not to hand out honor to those undeserving of it.

v.2 Like birds in flight darting here and there, a careless curse pronounced with no good reason does not land or stick. Only God can allow a curse to be effective (Compare Numbers chapters 22-24 with Deuteronomy 27:9-26; 28:15-68). A curse foolishly uttered without condemning sin according to God’s Law will have no effect. Neither will a curse spoken against a person of faith (Genesis 12:3).

v.3 This verse compares a fool with a stubborn animal—they may respond only to physical punishment, for they do not possess sufficient Wisdom to discern their errors.

v.4-5 It is foolish to engage in debate or dialog with a fool because you must come down to his level of understanding and risk becoming a fool yourself. However, sometimes a fool must be answered and rebuked or refuted because his foolishness is dangerous or contagious, thinking he is speaking the truth. While these proverbs seem to contradict one another, the Wise learns that there is a time and a place for every strategy. Sometimes, the fool must be answered in kind, and sometimes, he must be corrected or reproved. The Wise learns to use the right rods and tone for every situation. This is learned through time spent in the Word and through experience.