26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
HONOUR IS NOT FITTING FOR A FOOL (In the Bible a Fool is someone who is Morally deficient, speaks of personal Character). Proverbs 26:1
Earlier this week we began to look at the choosing of David (again his name means Beloved). We saw that Samuel was sent undercover by God to anoint one of Jesse of Bethlehem’s sons as the next King of Israel. Seven brothers were presented in descending order of age and seniority, but God rejected each in turn.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART.’ 1 Samuel 16
Samuel then asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’ Jesse revealed that there was still the youngest, David, who was, ‘Tending the sheep’. David, God’s chosen and beloved, was anointed by Samuel. A major turning point as he was soon launched upon a radically different course of life in the palace of King Saul. Character was the key reason why God chose David and he was chosen while still young and apart, tending sheep. He hadn’t been tainted by the ways of the world, while each of his elder brothers were rejected in turn.
Proverbs 26, identifies four distinct classes of people with different character flaws, all of whom are criticised and rejected as lacking wisdom, the key attribute of the Book of Proverbs.
There are 28 verses in the chapter and the first twelve speak about the ‘Fool’, the morally deficient person. The opening verse says that the ‘Fool’ is unworthy of honour and goes on from there to highlight his other deficiencies.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly. (Fools don’t learn from their mistakes) Proverbs 26
The second category of those criticised in Proverbs 26 is the, ‘Sluggard’ or the lazy person.
13 A sluggard says, ‘There’s a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!’
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed. (The sign above the Sluggard reads, Do not Disturb, don’t bother me)
The third category is the, ‘Gossip’, those with a poisonous tongue.
20 Without wood a fire goes out;
without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts. Proverbs 26
The final defective character is someone who, ‘Flatters’ others.
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
ARE FERVENT LIPS WITH AN EVIL HEART. (False Faces)
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbour deceit.
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin. Proverbs 16
The Flatterer misleads those they speak to with malicious intention.
Scripture clearly identifies these four flawed characters, they are all known before God. We need SINCERITY in the walking out of our callings before the Lord, then we will be worthy of honour and promotion to greater things in the Kingdom. Hallelujah
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.