Proverbs 26:5 Commentary and Bible Study

Solomon has put these two proverbs together because he wants us to think of both of these aspects of dealing with the foolish whenever we encounter them. We must be careful not to become like them, not to descend to their level, not to think as they do and not to use their argumentation. All right, then is it best that we simply leave them alone, have nothing to do with them? No. God has left us in the world following our conversion in order to have a purifying effect upon the world. We cannot do this if we isolate ourselves from them, or retreat into our own like-minded communities. For the Lord’s sake and for the truth’s sake we cannot let their foolishness go unchallenged. Not that it is our task to eliminate foolishness from the world – that is something only God can do – but where we encounter it in our everyday lives we become responsible for responding to it. How will we deal with the foolish statement or the foolish action? By bringing to bear on it the appropriate truth of God, the apt saying, the necessary rebuke. Every act of foolishness is an affront to God, and we are placed on earth among the wicked to defend his honour. Folly must not be allowed to think that it is wise, that it has the best answer, that God can find not fault with it. Its weakness, its deception, its ignorance must be uncovered so that folly is forced to confess that it is folly. If it receives no answer, it will certainly conclude that that is because there is no answer. We must instead be ‘casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5). We can do this by showing the foolish what the consequence of their words and actions are, and where they lead. We must show their inconsistencies and their self-contradictions. We must offer outright rebuke of their sinful and wrong assertions, and warn them of the judgment that awaits sin. Perhaps we cannot do this continually if they will not respond, but from time to time we cannot repeat our warnings.