Proverbs 26:11 commentary; dogs and fools

11 ¶ As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

In this unpleasant remark we have a great truth about fools. They keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Again and again, the fool makes the same mistake, the same error, commits the same sin over and over. Each time he or she faces catastrophe, hurts people that love them, disillusions friends and associates, and each time they are bound to do the same thing.

This is one reason why you should never assume that a fool has learned his lesson and that he’ll never make the same mistake twice. That’s what a fool does.

Peter alludes to this verse at the end of his chapter on false teachers.

2 Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

You can ask a person in the world how many times have they filed bankruptcy, how many abortions they’ve had, how many arrests for DUI, how many times they’ve been married, how often they’ve been fired from a job, how many times a doctor has told them they just have to give something up and they’ve ignored him as their health got worse, or how many times they’ve felt empty and without a purpose or a point to their lives and, on occasion, you’ll be shocked and surprised at the answers. The fool just doesn’t get it, and won’t. It’s not in his or her nature.

But, the Holy Spirit can reach anyone. All the fool needs is to submit himself to Christ and to the word of God. The fool won’t change his human nature. But, God can change him. The Holy Spirit will make him a new creature, give him hope, and lead him, just as long as he stops trying to do it himself. All the fool can do is to trust in Christ, read His word, unite with His people regularly for worship, and wait on the Lord. Don’t jump ahead. You’ll just repeat the same mistakes. Let the Lord lead you even if people start complaining about your indecisiveness. The Lord’s timing is perfect even if His ways seem tedious to you. Don’t trust yourself ever again. Trust the Lord. No self help course or guru will change what you are.

This is an important point. We often tell people to repent of their sins. But, what we need to repent of is the fact that we are sinners; we are all fools. Come to Christ. Admit you’re a sinner and be sorry for it. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and trust in His righteousness, not your own, to get to heaven, and then confess that faith before men.