Proverbs 26:6-11 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 26:6-11, which read,

v.6 - He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence who sends a message by the hand of a fool.

First let's talk about self-inflicted wounds.  A self-inflicted wound is obtained when the person does something to themselves and then suffers the consequences.  I think of the series called Downton Abbey when a soldier puts his hand up out of the foxhole on purpose and a finger or two gets shot off and it gets him a ticket back home.  He also had to live with the lie that he would tell about how he was injured rather than the truth.  He physically self-inflicted himself but he also mentally, spiritually, and emotionally self-inflicted himself by portraying something as truth that wasn't.

Here is someone who is going to suffer some consequences because they are giving an important message to someone who is a fool when probably the message should be taken by themselves.  Who knows if the message is ever going to get there?  Who knows if the message will be delivered properly?  If it is something very important then don't send it with someone who does not value it or have a stake in its content.  If you do, then you are cutting off your own feet, unable to stand upon what you say, because you entrusted what should have come out of your mouth to the mouth of another who displayed foolishness by not following after the words and ways of God.  

v.7 - Like the legs which are useless to the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

 Solomon now gives us five "like" statements in a row.  The first "like" is directly related to the verse above.  The lame don't have use of their legs.  Maybe their legs are there but they are not operational.  The wisdom words of God are not operational in the mouth of the fool.  The fool can say the words but they don't have the "legs" to back up those words with actions and transformation to follow the one and true God.  They can say the right things but they don't do the right things.  They preach but they don't practice.  Don't give the swine pearls is another great example of this proverb in the New Testament said by Jesus.  

v.8 - Like one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

You don't bind a stone in a sling.  If you do, when you go to use the sling it won't fly out.  You want that stone to be in a ready position so that when you need to use it to defend yourself or others it will be ready to go.  Probably the most famous stone and sling is that of David's when he took down the giant Goliath in the name of the Lord.  His stone was not bound in his sling but ready to be thrown to hit its mark.  When we have God's words and ways and we bind them up in the life of a fool by praising the fools by the way they are living away from God's words and ways then we will find ourselves in the situation of being unprepared to defend what God says because we are defending the fool.

v.9 - Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of the fools.

The thorn in the hand of a drunkard is not felt and therefore can do a lot of damage.  The drunkard in an automobile accident usually fares better than the sober person who is hit.  The fool doesn't realize or feel the amount of pain that he or she is inflicting.  What comes out of their mouths without a thought or care does inflict pain on others but also does damage to themselves.

v.10 - Like an archer who wounds everyone, so is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.

The arrow can inflict pain from long distances away.  It can go in any direction because the archer can pivot to launch another attack on those in the arrows path.  It is an arrow so many times it wounds instead of doing them in.  The job is half done.  So is the one who hires a fool or someone just passing by to get the job done.  He wounds the task but doesn't complete the task.  The wise look for those who are also wise unto God to complete tasks so that people are helped rather than hindered.

v.11 - Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

I have seen this.  Have you?  You ask the dog, "Why are you doing this?  That just came out of you."  Oh how we repeat what we have done.  We didn't learn from it the first time.  We follow the path of a fool to go with what is comfortable and disgusting rather than using discipline and self-control to alter the path to be God honoring.  Peter of the New Testament repeats this proverb in 2 Peter 2:22 which reads,

It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."

Don't sent the message with a fool.  Don't give honor to a fool and his or her way of life.  Don't give a fool a painful message to deliver.  Don't hire a fool to do an important task.  Don't be surprised to see a fool head back and do the same thing again.  The proverbs of Proverbs give us a good picture of how a fool lives and what we will get caught up in if we engage with them over important matters.  The "likes" of today is the steer clear.  Let us pray.

"Lord, how we who are wise in You can get caught up in the fool's schemes and words.  We so much need discernment to keep on Your path even when it might be easier to veer off a little bit.  Help us to not make excuses for going against what You say and thank You for making it clear how we are to respond.  Amen."

Pastor Adam