Solomon continues on with one of his favorite subject today: fools. And as always we keep in mind that in Biblical terms a fool is someone who has no regard for God's word and who lacks a moral and spiritual compass for his life.
The king has this to say, "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 thornbush 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." (Proverbs 26:6-11) Solomon, in his position as king, has dealt with many a reprobate person in his time. His observations in these verses are darkly humorous, and I especially like the one that says giving honor to a fool is like tying a stone in a slingshot. He considers both things equally pointless. The stone tied into the slingshot isn't going anywhere or accomplishing anything. In the same way, the one who lacks good moral and spiritual character won't possess good leadership skills and should not be lifted to a position of honor. He says, "This person isn't going anywhere and he won't be able to lead people anywhere."
Yet there is something worse than being a fool, in Solomon's opinion. "Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them." (Proverbs 26:12) The king muses, "A foolish person, one lacking in spiritual discernment, can sometimes be brought to the truth. A man like that may get tired of living a life of futility, a life without God, and may decide he wants to turn his life around. It might finally dawn on him that he needs the Lord. But the person who is wise in his own eyes is hardhearted. He thinks he knows it all. He thinks he needs nothing, certainly not forgiveness and redemption. He is stubborn and unwilling to listen to the truth. So I say there is more hope for the fool than for him."
Laziness is another quality Solomon deplores. "A sluggard says, 'There's a lion in the road, a fierce lion in the streets!' As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly." (Proverbs 26:13-16) He tells us, "The one who is able to work but doesn't want to work always has excuses for it. Sometimes his excuses are illogical. He'd rather roll over and over in bed all day, going nowhere like a door hanging on hinges, than to make something of himself. He also can't seem to finish anything he starts. He's like someone who shoves his hand into a dish of candy but then lacks the ambition to put the candy in his mouth. What's the point of that? It's no use trying to reason with him, either. I've tried that plenty of times, but he thinks he knows more than anybody else."
The king dislikes meddlers too. "Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own." (Proverbs 26:17) "Stay out of other people's business!" he advises. "Getting involved in someone else's dispute is as dumb as grabbing hold of the ears of a stray dog you don't know. That dog is going to turn around and bite you. You're going to wish you'd never bothered him. You're also going to wish you'd never gotten involved in someone else's quarrel."
He concludes today with a warning against playing cruel tricks and practical jokes. "Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor and says, 'I was only joking!'" (Proverbs 26:18-19) Solomon wants to know this, "Why do you want to hurt people? Why would you tell a lie to your neighbor who trusts you and get him all upset? He is not going to think it's at all funny when you say, 'Just kidding!' He's probably going to punch you in the eye!"
The king's instructions today are about living thoughtful and sober lives. He encourages us to display character fitting for the children of God. We are to be morally upright and responsible citizens who show love to our neighbors. This is Christlike and those around us will be able to see the Lord Jesus in us and be attracted to Him. They will say, "I want the joy and peace my neighbor Jane has in her life since she came to the Lord," or, "John is a changed man since he became a Christian. He's living a godly life now. I wonder if Jesus can do the same thing for me."
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