“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Proverbs 18:13 (KJB)
Folly
As A Dog…
“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.” Proverbs 26:11-12 (KJB)
The Bird, The Horse, The Fool and His Folly
“As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.” Proverbs 26:2-5 (KJB)
The Secret Life of the Hypocrite
“As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool.
As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
The Great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? More hope of a fool than of him.” Proverbs 26:1-12 (KJB)
The Secret Life of the Hypocrite – Proverbs 26:1-28
Verses 1 – 12 — Matters concerning the foolish individual.
Verse 1 – The honor of a fool, a foolish person, is about as likely as “Snow in summer”, and as unneeded or as unwanted as “Rain in harvest”. See 1 Samuel 12:17. Verse 2 – See Psalm 32:9.
vv. 4-5 – These seem to be a contradiction; however it is a matter of judging when to be silent and when to speak. Use discernment.
v. 12 – Romans 12:16; Proverbs 29:20
Verses 13 – 16 — A description of the slothful, lazy individual (22:13).
v. 13 – Excuses and difficulties, even dangers of the job are ever the slothful man’s heart and tongue. Note the location of the lion [on the streets]. Lions do not inhabit streets, but rather the plains, woods, and fields. (20:4)
v. 15 – Proverbs 19:24
Verses 17 – 23 — The character of the “talebearer”.
From the Believer’s Bible Commentary – “I am more deadly than the screaming shell of a howitzer. I win without killing. I tear down homes, break hearts, and wreck lives. I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no purity pure enough to daunt me. I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no mercy for the defenseless. My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and often as innocent. I never forget and seldom forgive. My name is Gossip!” Alanta Journal
“Prov. 26:17-22 These proverbs describe a person who uses his words carelessly. Examples include interfering in other people’s arguments (v. 17), deceiving people as a joke without concern for the consequences (vv. 18–19), and gossiping, especially where gossip provokes conflict (vv. 20–21). Verse 22 directly warns the reader that gossip is seductive, and the proverb serves as a bridge to the next section (vv. 23–28), on the liar.” ESV Study Bible note
“He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; when he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.” Proverbs 26:24-28
Verses 24 – 28 — The deceitful, lying hypocrite. Care will be taken by the wise individual when hearing the words of someone who might gain by the telling of lies. Whether the lie be flattery, or denial of a charge one must hear with judging ears, and mind.
The hypocrite’s life ends up not being so secret.
Woman Wise; Woman Folly
The Woman Wise, and the Woman Folly – Proverbs 9:1-18
In this chapter we have already spent one study on verse 10. We continue in this chapter by looking at the comparisons, again, of Wisdom and Folly or foolishness, and seeing both as personified in a feminine personality.
Verses 1 – 6 – Wisdom’s Divine Invitation.
The house wisdom builds is a complete, perfect, holy, unified, house of blessing; represented by the number seven [7].
Jesus Christ has prepared Himself the Church (Ephesians 5:23-27). She is wise, beautiful, and complete in Him. As individuals within that body called the church; we are to be wise; through reading and spiritual understanding of the word of God
The table of Wisdom and the table of the LORD are filled with delicious delacacies of food and drink. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life”.
Verses 7 – 12 – Warnings of Wisdom to the Wise. (Matthew 7:6).
John Gill writes of verse 7;
“He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame,….Intimating, that though the simple, and such as want understanding, and of whom there is hope of doing them good, are to be invited into Wisdom’s house; yet not the haughty scorner, the abandoned sinner, the scoffer at all religion, who walks after his own lusts, and is quite irreclaimable; it is but casting pearls before swine, and giving that which is holy to dogs, to reprove and exhort such persons; though the Gospel is to be preached to every creature, yet when men despise it, and make a mock at it, they are to be turned from, and no more is to be said to them; as the Jews of old, they were the first invited to the Gospel feast, the same that is described in the context; they made light of it, contradicted and blasphemed the word, and so judged themselves unworthy of it; wherefore Wisdom’s maidens, or Christ’s ministers, were bid to turn from them, and go to the Gentiles, and preach it to them; for it is to no purpose to address such persons; “shame” is the sure consequence of it, because a man is disappointed of the end he has in view, which is doing good;
and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot; this shows who is meant by a scorner, a very profligate man, bent on his wicked ways, and quite incorrigible; to rebuke such an one is not only labour lost, and in vain, but the rebuker getteth himself an ill name, and is sure to have the dirt of reproach and scandal cast upon him; though this a man might patiently bear, if there was any hope of doing good.”
Verses 13 – 18 – Folly’s Invitation to Death.
The woman known as folly may be beautiful in appearance, yet, vain, deceitful, malicious, hating God and all that is holy. Revelation 17:3-5.
Her destination is Hell, and she will lead others in that same direction, to that same eternal destination.
Words for Christian Living – Jealousy
“Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:1-4 (KJV)
We would not in a normal sense think of “Jealousy” as being a good thing. However, the apostle is dealing with a people who are not strong on the doctrine of Jesus Christ alone for salvation. We are servants of the Jealous God (Exodus 20:5; 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9; 6:15). Jealousy from God should be expected. He created all that is. It is proper of Him to desire the worship and adoration of His creation.
Christians should be jealous for Him. Christian pastors and preachers ought always “defend the faith” because there is not other to worship. We ought to be jealous for God.
Contrary to what Oprah may have said concerning the jealousy of God. He is still a jealous God. He alone is worthy of worship, adoration and praise. He alone is worthy of our jealousy for His worship. When others proclaim “Another Jesus” which is not the Jesus who died on the cross, was buried and bodily arose from the grave; and is eternally seated at God the Fathers right hand; we must speak out vehemently against that “Jesus”. That “Jesus” is not the Jesus of grace and mercy, but another of deception.
Christian, be “Jealous” for Christ Jesus.
The Fire and Hammer 