Proverbs 24:7 Commentary and Bible Study

Here is one of these short miniature parables which really you need to look at carefully or you will pass right over it. The first part is easy – Wisdom is too high for a fool – he cannot be bothered to stretch for it, to reach out, to learn, to read, come to meetings sometimes, in order to add to his reservoir of knowledge in the things of God. It is too big an effort. Of course there may be a worse reason, he may be over-confident or even proud and think he already knows, but more usually it is not so much that as neglect and foolishness on our part.‘He openeth not his mouth in the gate.’ The gate was where the elders sat, and if the township was any size, there would be quite a number of them always on duty, so the experts tell us. These men were ready to give counsel on anything. Sometimes justice was being administered, or disputes were being settled, but you could go to a town elder and you could ask for any kind of advice. You go to him and say, I am building a house and I do not know how to do it. Could you direct me to somebody who will show me? And they would. The community in those days was a very helpful place. So people went to the gate to get advice and information. But the fool never asks any questions. He has never been among those who say I am going to the gate today to ask about this or to find out about that. Nor is he ever among those giving advice, for he has never troubled to learn wisdom for himself. Why not? Maybe he was more drawn to some other little gathering that went on in the township where people were just wasting time amusing themselves. Maybe he was easily distracted. Maybe he was too proud to ask. The context of course is, we have just been reading about building a house and warfare. Perhaps he said, I am not interested in building a house. I cannot imagine a war will ever come here so I will not bother.