Walk With Fools and Become One - Proverbs 26-27

Proverbs 26:1-12 (ESV)

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

so honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

a curse (implied from a fool) that is causeless does not alight.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

and a rod for the back of fools.

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool

cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless,

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling

is one who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 Like an archer who wounds everyone

is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit

is a fool who repeats his folly.

12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Do you work with fools?   Are your friends fools?   Did you marry a fool?   Do you work along side a fool?   Is our country run by fools?  You can see the struggle here, correct?  Solomon is warning us about what the fool looks like and how difficult it is when you are around them.    In the above compilation of proverbs we read the dangers and outcomes of putting your trust in foolish people.   He is not telling us why the person is a fool, he is simply telling us how a fool might act.   His father David helped us understand what makes a fool:

Psalms 53:1 (ESV)

TO THE CHOIRMASTER: ACCORDING TO MAHALATH. A MASKIL OF DAVID.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;

there is none who does good.

Anyone who denies God is a fool.   Anyone who denies God will eventually get to the behaviors, as described in Solomon’s list.  The entire book of Proverbs is written to help us understand folly vs wisdom.  Wisdom, in this book, is defined several times, but here is the main definition:

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

When we fear God we avoid fools.  We have to avoid fools if we fear God because the fear of the Lord is the direct opposite of the walk of the fool.  If you want to walk with fools less, than fear the Lord more.