#931 Proverbs 26 Molded Harvest

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.

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.

11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit

is a fool who repeats his folly.

12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

There is a lion in the streets!”

14 As a door turns on its hinges,

so does a sluggard on his bed.

15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven men who can answer sensibly.

17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own

is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death

19 is the man who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I am only joking!”

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,

and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

23 Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips

and harbors deceit in his heart;

25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not,

for there are seven abominations in his heart;

26 though his hatred be covered with deception,

his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,

and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

28 A lying tongue hates its victims,

and a flattering mouth works ruin. Proverbs 26 ESV

Proverbs 26 

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest - Honor is out of place for a fool. Snow is an unexpected blanket in summer. Rain during the harvest is unwelcome, it is a spoiler, making the work weary and more difficult. Those that bestow honor on fools do so against what is natural.

A curse that is causeless does not alight - Don't fear the curse that is without merit. When we are falsely accused remember Christ was more so.

27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.… Luke 6: 27-29

Verses 4 and 5 - This is wisdom, the statements are the same but the direction is different. Sometimes the fool should not be answered. Do not answer according to his game or narrative, answer exposing the problem with his question, lest the simple be misled and think him wise.

…13“Ah, Lord GOD!” I replied, “Look, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’” 14“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” the LORD replied. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds. 15 Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who prophesy in My name: I did not send them, yet they say, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ By sword and famine these very prophets will meet their end!… Jeremiah 14: 13-15

…14 For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I have even given him control of the beasts of the field.’” 15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The LORD did not send you, but you have persuaded this people to trust in a lie. 16 Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’”… Jeremiah 28: 14-16

Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool - It is likely to be destroyed, given out of context, added to so that the fool can exalt himself. It is too much responsibility for him, and one must wonder about who sends him.

Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless - The fool does not own what he cannot or will not walk in. It loses power.

Like one who binds the stone in the sling - The stone cannot fly as intended, and will never make the mark. I have heard and seen some men reward others for what they would like them to live up to rather than the merit of what they have earned. The giver does so with flowery speech and is prepared with a defense of his actions, but he is really just a people pleaser, unwilling to bear the weight of his job. It goes no where.

Like an archer who wounds everyone - It is without aim, and with much collateral damage.

Then seven men who can answer sensibly - The lazy man cannot be helped even with a multitude of counselors. He turns on his bed, he laughs at the wise, hates logic and reason, for it works against his vision of self.

I am only joking - Lob your insults, and then say, "just kidding". The damage is done and it is more than the band-aid will cover. I have said that to my wife before; it is a poor apology, not one at all, and I am still only thinking of her displeasure towards me. How is this going to affect me?

So is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife - He must make a battle where there is not necessity for one. If you love him, correct him, or he will destroy everything around him. The whisperer before loves to tell him secrets and sew discord, because he knows it will erupt in into flame.

Like glaze covering an earthen vessel - It's dirty to the core, or quite ordinary and distasteful within, but you have made it shine without. Like lipstick on the mouth of a gossip, or fine clothes on a fool. They dress for success because it is all they know to do. 

…23 If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.” 25 Then some of the people of Jerusalem began to say, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?… John 7: 23-25

Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips - He will accuse others of hate, call everyone racist, but it is all in him. He is like the whisperer, throwing wood upon a fire that is not intended for warmth, but to burn down. Where are the peace makers?

And a flattering mouth works ruin - My mom taught us always to steer clear of such, do not accept and do not give. It feeds pride, which already believes too many things about the self that are not true.