He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
Enemies Of The Lord: The Fool 2: Proverbs 26:8-12
8) As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honour to a fool.
9) [As] a thorn goeth up into
the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a
parable in the mouth of fools.
10) The great [God] that
formed all [things] both rewardeth
the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11) As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.
12) Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.
In
this chapter, Solomon describes for us three of the greatest enemies of the
Lord:
1. The Fool (vs 1-12), One who does not apply
the Word of God to their life.
2. The Lazy (vs 13-16), One who is not diligent
and industrious in their responsibilities
3. The Cruel (vs 17-28), One who is angry,
malicious and out of control
EXPOSITION:
In this devotion, Solomon
finishes his look at the fool. This study of the fool began in verse 1 of this
chapter.
8) As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honour to a fool.
1. As he that fastens a small stone in a slingshot
2. so is he that distributes respect and praise
to a person who refuses to apply the Word to his life
It
is an absolute waste of effort to fasten a small stone to a slingshot. How can the stone be thrown when it is tied
to the slingshot? When we fasten the
stone to the sling it is defeating the whole purpose of the slingshot…. to
throw the stone.
Likewise,
it is just as much a waste of effort when we bestow upon the foolish the
respect and honor of men. It is undoing
the whole purpose that we are trying to accomplish… we are trying to show the fool their
foolishness and their need of the Lord.
By giving them respect and praise we are saying they are doing good by
refusing to apply the Word of God to their lives.
“There is an evil [which] I
have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler: Folly is set in great
dignity, and the rich sit in low place. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon
the earth.” (Ecclesiastes 10:5-7)
9) [As] a thorn goeth up into
the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a
parable in the mouth of fools.
1. As a thistle enters the hand of one who is
drunken and unfeeling
2. so, too, is a genuinely wise saying being
told by a fool.
When
we come into contact with the truth of God, and do not apply it to our lives,
it only adds to our responsibility when we stand before the Lord at the Day of
Judgment. This principle is shown in
this Proverb…. When a fool learns, and then proclaims, a wise saying from the
Lord, he is unknowingly hurting himself by increasing his responsibility before
the Lord.
This
is much like a drunkard who places his hand on a thistle and yet, does not
realize he is hurting himself in the process.
“Having the understanding
darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in
them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness,
to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the
truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning
the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the
deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the
spirit of your mind;” (Ephesians 4:18-23)
10) The great [God] that
formed all [things] both rewardeth
the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
1. The abounding Supreme One that twists and
molds all creation will give what is deserved to both:
2. those who do not apply His Word to their lives,
and those who have steps over the limits that He has set for us.
Because
God created us, He holds all authority over us.
One way He exercised His authority over us is by judging us on the last
day. It will be at that judgment that He
will give to both the fool and the transgressor the punishment that they
deserve. Evil doers can escape the justice
meted out by man in this world, but, apart from obtaining forgiveness from the
Lord through faith, they will not be able to escape the judgment of God in the
latter days.
“And thinkest thou this, O
man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou
shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the
riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the
goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself
wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every
man according to his deeds: To them who by patient
continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal
life: But unto them that are
contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation
and wrath, Tribulation and anguish,
upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;” (Romans 2:3-9)
11) As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.
1. As the dog turns back to what he has thrown
up
2. so the foolish man will turn back to his silliness.
Just
as the nature of a dog is to desire his vomit, so, too, it is in the nature of
a fool to desire words of foolishness. The only way for a fool’s ways to change is
if the Lord changes his nature through the act of regeneration (a major part of
the salvation experience).
“While they promise them
liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is
overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the
knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for
them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it],
to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto
them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again;
and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:19-22)
12) Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.
1. Do you recognize a man wise because he has
deluded himself?
2. There are greater expectations for a fool
than for him.
When
a foolish person thinks himself wise, he sees no need for spiritual counsel,
and will not listen to those who minister to him. When a foolish person recognizes his
condition, he will be open to listen to the counsel of others.
This
is a very important principle for us all to understand. The worst possible thing we can do to someone
is to give them assurance of their salvation when their hearts are not right
with God. In doing so, we are making
them two fold more the child of hell by making them think they have no need of salvation. They will have minds closed to the truth of
the sinful condition before God.
“Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and
when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15)
SUMMARY:
In our study of the fool,
we have seen that the fool can be characterized by:
1. Not deserving respect or admiration
2. A desire for harm to come upon the people of
the Lord
3. Purposely choosing to not apply the teachings
of the Lord and, therefore the Lord must discipline them for a change to take
place.
4.
The fool’s attitude of His Word can be described as looking upon it as trivial
and unimportant, rejecting its application to their life and, in many cases,
actually making mockery of it.
5.
A fool is hardened in his ways and no response will change the course of his
life.
6.
Thru the Lord’s intervention, if the fool has a teachable spirit it will be demonstrated
by a willingness to listen.
7.
The fool, based upon his attitude of God’s Word, will not be dependable,
honest, or submissive to your authority.
8. A great mark of the fool is pride that is manifested
by the inability to recognize the true nature of their teachings and actions.
9. It is a waste of effort when we bestow upon
the foolish the respect and honor of men. It opposes our efforts to show the
fool their foolishness and their need of the Lord.
10.
When the fool comes into contact with the truth of God, and does not apply it,
it only adds to their responsibility before God.
11.
It is at the final judgment that God
will give to the fool the punishment that they deserve.
12. Just as the nature of a dog is to desire his
vomit, so, too, it is in the nature of a fool to desire words of foolishness.
13.
When a foolish person thinks himself wise, he sees no need for spiritual counsel,
and will not listen to those who minister to him.
May
we all possess Godly wisdom and live our lives for Him.
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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