King Solomon was not Politically Correct

Proverbs 26:1-12

“Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.  Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.  A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!  Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.  Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.  Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.  Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.  Like a thorn bush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.  Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.  As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.  Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.”

For 12 verses the King is addressing a fool, with the exception of verse two.  Solomon begins with nature, and it could be devastating to have snow in summer or rain in the middle of harvest.  It is the same when a fool is honored.  When we get to verse three it is not politically correct, but then neither is God, I have chosen God, and not the fools that are only interested in money and power.  Fools need to have help keeping them on the right course when it comes to Congress your vote is that whip.

Since I began with Congress and it is such an easy target of the many we could have chosen; we the voters have allowed the reprobates to vote themselves money and maybe it is the voter that has become foolish.  Yes, a fool like an animal needs a bridle or a whip to guide them so does the Congress of the USA.  Staying on the subject of Congress and fools, in verses 4-5 we the voter should not entertain the rhetoric or empty talk of many of our Congress but should make sure we reply with both truth and facts.  Many in Congress and those who only read a few papers or listen to just one source would find that a new phenomenon.

One would not trust a fool to take an important message it would be the same as taking poison and expecting someone else to die.  Verse seven compares a proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a person with lame legs who cannot use them.  Once more I must go back to our Congress, they are a lot like a sling with a stone tied in it, it has no power, no value as a weapon so it is an honor to such people. 

Verse nine compares a fool using a proverb to a drunkard swinging a thorny stick; it is only going to turn out bad.  Once more verse 10 makes me think of how foolish the voter is when picking people to run for Congress.  Why would we allow someone with a bad history to manage the affairs of our Nation?  Should we not ask more questions, like would I trust this person to drive my child to school, or to be alone with my husband or wife?  Staying the course verse 11 tells us a fool always repeats their foolishness, they never accept correction.  And we made it to verse 12, “Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.”  A fool might respond to punishment but a person who is never wrong will not listen to counsel, you are wasting your time talking to them.

Let me close with Proverbs 1:7; “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

 From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice