Proverbs 26, verses 1 and 2, honor is not seemly for a fool

 

Proverbs 26:1 ¶ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

It is as out of place to give honor to a fool as it is for it to snow in the summer and as inconvenient and troubling for a fool to receive honor as it is to have it rain when you’re trying to bring in the harvest. The first understanding of what a fool is can be found in the verse that underscores how far he or she is from God.

Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

This same sentiment is repeated in Psalm 53:1 only linking the abominable works here to abominable iniquity there.

But, in our culture, in our country in particular, it is common although out of place and troubling when fools and wicked men and women are celebrated as heroes.

Psalm 12:8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

We have a culture of death, a cult if you will, where people who are corrupt and without any moral standard other than “I want” are placed in positions of power in government and, as entertainment celebrities, admired by millions. Excess, waste, depravity, murder, and self-destruction are the objects of our fascination. We have placed fools in power over us and we have supported fools with our money and attention.

The fool doesn’t really believe in God or, if he or she has a nominal belief, does not believe God is relevant. To the fool, God can demand nothing from their life and, if He is there, He is there to justify their ambitions and lust for power or fame.

We’ve learned in Proverbs that fools despise wisdom and instruction (1:7), they hate knowledge (1:22), and that punishment and destruction are their end. It’s amazing how many fools there are who are professing Christians, who make up their god as they go along, ignoring the words the Creator has left them on the written page to change and sanctify them. It’s amazing how many Christians will follow a fool who talks about God’s will for their lives and feeds them with lies and half-truths, also ignoring the Bible that God has given us, twisting Scriptures in order to justify an agenda.

And, when all is said and done, it is as unseemly and strange and unhelpful for a fool to receive honor as it is for it to snow in the summer or rain during the harvest.

 

Proverbs 26:2 ¶ As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

The commentators I read on this refer to this Proverb as being about the emptiness and meaninglessness of anger and curses without a cause. Jesus said to His Jewish disciples still under the Law given by God through Moses;

Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Look also at how God has given warnings about those who would curse Abraham’s physical descendants, the Jews.

Genesis 12: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

On a more practical note for Christians, there has always been an epidemic of carnal, baby Christians who think that by vulgar language and cursing they enhance their masculinity. It is a very insecure and immature man or woman who feels that using foul language in their speech, particularly their arguments, makes them somehow more manly or more adult. Sadly, we have far too many professing so-called Christians who throw curses about like words mean nothing.

The commonly used phrases “God Damn” or “God Dammit” are ones I heard often in growing up. It is blasphemous and arrogant, calling on God to condemn someone at your command. However, it is without any value or meaning as it is usually said as an expression of anger or contempt and the foolish simpleton saying it is saying it as a verbal assault, an attempt to make themselves feel more powerful in a situation over which they are really impotent. Another popular word begins with “F” and it’s too vulgar and demeaning to repeat. Many powerless, weak people use it almost as a replacement for “the”. If that’s the way you talk you’re pretty weak, not only in power but in spirituality. It is the talk of silly, vain, and empty people. We, as Christians, will be called on to give account of every word when we stand before Christ.

 

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

For our benefit, it is simple to remember the commands we have received in the letters written by the hand of Paul or his designated secretary, such as Tertius, or, as tradition holds, Timothy, who wrote Hebrews from Italy at Paul’s dictation.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

When you utter pointless curses with the same mouth you use to pray to God in Christ’s name by the power of the Holy Spirit you show yourself to be a worthless hypocrite whose heart probably doesn’t really belong to Christ at all. Examine yourself.