Meditations at the Mercy Seat Proverbs 26:6-10 All About Fools, Part 2

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Proverbs 26:6–10

[6] Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool

cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

[7] Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless,

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

[8] Like one who binds the stone in the sling

is one who gives honor to a fool.

[9] Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

[10] Like an archer who wounds everyone

is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. (ESV)

All About Fools, Part 2

v.6 This proverb illustrates that sending a fool to be your messenger or spokesman had two levels of folly. The first is that the fool will not even deliver your message, "cutting off his own feet." The second is that even if the message is delivered, it may be done in such a way that the message is misconstrued or recounted in a way that stirs up unnecessary trouble, thus "drinking violence" against himself (see Proverbs 4:17).

v.7 A fool may be able to parrot the words of a proverb, but if it is not backed by Divine Wisdom, the words will not have the ring of truth and dangle uselessly from his lips like a lame man's legs. This is because the fool does not have the knowledge to make use of the meaning of the words he has memorized and repeated.

v.8 This is another proverb regarding the misuse of bestowing honor (see Proverbs 26:1, which began this section on fools). If you tie the stone into a sling, it will not work—the stone must be able to fly freely when released. Only someone who does not understand how the sling works would attempt to operate it so foolishly. Likewise, only one who does not understand honor would grant it to a fool. For more on honor, see Proverbs 3:16; 11:16; 21:21; & 22:2.

v.9 A drunk will not feel the bite of a thorn due to the numbing effect of the alcohol until it wears off. Like the fool parroting proverbs in verse seven, a fool does not feel the sting of God's Law, even when his own words proclaim it. Unless they later repent, they risk remaining under God’s judgment.

v.10 This proverb warns against hiring those not qualified for the position or relying on someone nonspiritual for spiritual matters (or false teachers who may appear to be Wise but are fools promoting untrue doctrine). Doing so is like an archer who fires his arrows indiscriminately—false teachers and fools can leave a path of destruction when given free rein to practice their folly.