Today’s Blog: Which Message?
TODAY’S PROVERB: Like cutting off one’s feet or drinking violence is sending a message by a fool’s hand. Proverbs 26:6, TLV
Yikes! The first eleven verses of chapter 26 contain some of the most graphic — and yucky — analogies in the book of Proverbs. Like today’s excerpt. “Cutting off one’s foot” and “drinking violence?” All to drive home a point about sending a message with a fool.
If you read on to verse 12, all these verses about the foolishness of fools were a set-up for the punchline.
“Do you see one wise in his own eyes?
PROVERBS 26:6, TLV
There is more hope for a fool than him. “
As a writer, I love the technique used here. Pulling the reader into agreeing with the writer about those fools. Then, stirring up images of the fools in their life. Shaking their heads while remembering their own experiences with those fools. When in reality, there was a deeper message.
The climax: a vivid reminder of the importance of humility. With a bit of humor.
Its own merits . . .
Even with that brilliance, today’s proverb does have merits on its own. Who would send a message with a fool? Ironically, another fool. Or at least a person not using discernment.
The possible why? I might have an answer to that. In my early years before beginning the Wisdom Journey, I was an extreme people-pleaser. You needed something done or wanted something of mine, I did it.
Irresponsible people were drawn to me because I tended to cover for them. I was always giving them another chance to do the right thing, be on-time, complete the task. And as you can imagine, I was not only disappointed, but I had a lot of collateral damage that — guess who — had to clean up.
So who was the bigger fool? I’d say it was yours truly.
Thank the LORD He guided me to living Proverbs. It has saved me a boatload of unnecessary drama. Didn’t we talk about that a few days ago?
So, which of the two themes resonate most with you? The punchline or people-pleaser? I’d love to know.
May we receive the message God has for us, my friends.
Proverbs 26:6 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs
PINTEREST GRAPHIC–THANKS FOR PINNING
