Proverbs 26.6-9
“Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. ”
This passage tells us something we inherently know: It isn’t wise to trust foolish people. If you make the mistake of entrusting a fool with an important message, it’s like cutting off your own feet and consuming violence. It’s asking for trouble. A fool will not deliver the message accurately and faithfully.
In particular, a fool will not embrace wise, insightful proverbs. Verse 7 says that just as a lame man’s legs are useless, so is wisdom with a fool. Verse 9 communicates the same message with a metaphor that is different, but just as vivid: Giving a wise proverb to a fool is like sticking your hand with a thorn. All you do is hurt yourself.
Proverbs 26.10
“Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.”
Here’s another metaphor that illustrates the unreliableness of a fool. If you hire a foolish, undisciplined person, it is like shooting arrows (or bullets) recklessly, with the result that lots of people get wounded.
Summarizing the message in these verses:
– Don’t trust foolish people with work.
– Don’t trust foolish people with wisdom.
– Don’t trust foolish people with words and messages.
– Don’t enable foolish people by giving them honor.
Proverbs 26.11
“Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.”
One of the dark characteristics of fools is the unwillingness to listen to correction. They make mistakes, but since they don’t listen to criticism, they are doomed to repeat their mistakes. Therefore, this verse compares a fool to a dog that throws up and then eats its vomit. The implication is that the dog throws up because the food is bad, but in spite of that, the dog eats it again!
Fools become tethered to their foolishness. They make destructive behavior a habit, and return to it again and again.
The NT book of 2 Peter speaks to this, and it references this verse from Proverbs 26. Here is how Peter describes false teachers: “They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray.” (2 Peter 2.13-15)
The passage goes on: “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” (2 Peter 2.20-22)
Again, the bottom line is this: Don’t trust foolish people.
