26:1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. 

 

Snow in summer and rain in harvest season is highly unusual and dangerous to crops in Israel. It is dangerous to place a fool in a place of honor. A fool is one who is devoid of Bible doctrine. 

 

Whenever the electorate votes in a man who is devoid of Bible doctrine, they weaken the nation. Politicians without strong Bible doctrine may pass laws which support unbiblical values, such as same-sex marriage, abortion, transgenderism, anti-Israel policy, global warming, globalism, secular education, or other liberal and godless agenda.

 

Whenever a business hires an administrator without Bible doctrine, then they place the business in jeopardy. The business will begin to fill administration positions with ungodly men, such as Masons, homosexuals, lesbians, alcoholics, and feminists.

 

Whenever the school board places a man without Bible doctrine in an administration position, then they place the education of their children at risk. These godless educators will establish curriculums which support evolution, same-sex marriage, transgenderism, anti-christian bias, and multiculturalism. 

 

Whenever the entertainment industry places a man void of Bible doctrine into a leadership position, then he will hire producers, writers, and actors who value the godless lifestyle. Hollywood will educate the public with their media. Their media will teach homosexuality, lesbianism, transgenderism, fornication, adultery, drug usage, alcohol usages, and other godless agenda. This type of media endangers the culture and brings upon God’s judgment.

 

Those who lack Bible doctrine are fools. They should never be elected or promoted to positions of leadership. They will promote leaders like themselves and bring upon godless liberal agenda to the community. This type of leadership endangers the people and brings God’s judgment upon the community.

 

26:2 Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause does not come to rest.

 

When a person attempts to curse a righteous person, then their attempts will fail like a fluttering bird. Balaam attempted to curse Israel, but the curse backfired upon himself.

 

26:3 A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 

 

Fools are those who are devoid of Bible doctrine. They live as though there is no God. Since the Word of God will not change their evil attitudes, then they must be treated like animals. Just as the whip controls the horse and the bridle controls the donkey, those without Bible doctrine must be controlled by the rod. Fools in congress have eliminated the rod from punishment in order to protect their own foolish (godless) behavior.

 

26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him. 

 

A fool is one who is devoid of Bible doctrine. He foolishly lives as if there is no God. One can answer a fool with Bible doctrine, but the fool will not accept it. When one answers a fool, then one becomes like the fool. One should never be drawn down to the fool’s level by entering a fool’s argument and using the fool’s language. If one believes that nothing created all things, then it is foolish to argue with this impossible premise. The fool has been deceived by the satanic world system. Only divine revelation from the Holy Spirit can save the fool from this deception. Instead of answering a fool, pray for him. Maybe God will answer your prayer and save the soul of the fool.

 

26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own estimation.

 

If a fool attacks Bible doctrine, then he should be backed into a corner and shown his ignorance. Otherwise, he will think that he is wiser than the Word of God.

 

Notice that verse four and verse five seem to contradict each other. Wisdom is needed to determine when to apply verse 4 or verse 5. The Jewish Talmud suggests that verse 4 pertains to foolish comments that can be ignored, while verse 5 refers to erroneous ideas that must be corrected. 

 

26:6 Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending a message by the hand of a fool.

 

A fool is one who is devoid of Bible doctrine. Sending a message by a fool is like cutting off one’s foot or drinking violence. No one wants violence in their stomach!

 

26:7 Like legs that hang limp from the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

 

A fool is one who is devoid of Bible doctrine. When a fool hears a proverb, then it is like a limp leg of the lame. He cannot understand it or use it.

 

26:8 Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.

 

It is foolish to tie a stone into a sling, because it cannot be used as an effective weapon of self defense. It is also senseless to give honor to a fool. Whenever a person without Bible doctrine is promoted in a place of leadership in politics, business, education, or entertainment, then that community has placed itself in a dangerous situation. They are forced to defend themselves with a stone which is tied to a sling.

 

26:9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

 

A fool is one who is devoid of Bible doctrine. When he hears a wise proverb, then it is like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard. The proverb hurts him, but the fool is too drunk to feel its effects. The fool desires to stay in his drunken state. 

 

26:10 Like an archer who wounds at random, so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passer-by.

 

It is foolish for an employer to hire a man without strong Bible doctrine. It is like being wounded by the arrow of a fool.

 

26:11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

 

Fools are those who are devoid of Bible doctrine. When they speak their philosophies, they are spitting out dog vomit. They continually return, eat their own vomit, and spit it out again to others. He returns to his own habits, even though they are disgusting.

 

26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

 

A fool is one who is devoid of Bible doctrine. One who is wise in his own eyes is one who elevates his own human opinion above the Word of God. The fool may be a carnal Christian. He still has a chance to learn Bible doctrine. The one who believes that he is wiser than God has little or no hope, unless the Holy Spirit intervenes and reveals the Lord Jesus Christ to him.

 

26:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!”

 

A lazy person will make extreme excuses in order to avoid work.

 

26:14 Like a door that turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. 

 

Just as a door is anchored to its hinges, a lazy person is anchored to his bed. A door turns on its hinges. A lazy man turns in his bed.

 

26:15 The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. 

 

The lazy person starves, because he is too lazy to feed himself.

 

26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation than seven people who respond with good sense. 

 

The lazy person thinks that he is smarter than everyone else.

 

26:17 Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears, so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own. 

 

When a person grabs a wild dogs by the ears, then he will get bit. When a person observes and enters an argument which is not his own, then he will get bit as well.

 

26:18 Like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows, 26:19 so is a person who deceives his neighbor, and says, “Was I not only joking?” 

 

When a madman shoots fire arrows, then he causes lots of damage. When a person is caught deceiving his neighbor and then claims that he was only joking, then it is too late. The damage has already been done. He has shot fire arrows into his neighbor’s yard and caused great damage.

 

26:20 Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases. 26:21 Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife.

 

Just as a fire dies down without wood, so does a quarrel die down without gossip. Just as charcoal keeps the fire going, so does gossip keep the quarrel going.

 

26:22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into a person’s innermost being.

 

Gossip tastes good, but it poisons the soul.

 

26:23 Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.

 

A coating of glaze was a decorative and attractive coating over a piece of pottery. The beautiful coating disguises what is inside of the pottery. Fervent lips are those who speak smooth and flattering words. Just as pottery is covered with an attractive coating, so is an evil heart covered with nice and pleasant words.

 

26:24 The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him.

 

An evil person who plans deceit will cover his scheme with smooth and pleasant words.

 

26:25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him.

 

Evil men speak nice and pleasant words, but Solomon warned his readers not to believe them. 

 

26:26 Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit, his evil will be uncovered in the assembly.

 

An evil schemer can often hide his deceit in words, but eventually his evil character will be revealed. The assembly may be the judges who sit at the city gate.

 

26:27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it; the one who rolls a stone—it will come back on him. 

 

When one attempts evil on others, then troubles will often boomerang back upon them.

 

26:28 A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

 

Evil people attempt to crush others with their tongue. They also flatter others in order to achieve their own selfish goals.