Proverbs 26:6-9 — Sending a message by the hand of a fool is like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence. Like lame legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like binding a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool. Like a thorn that sticks into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
These pictures show just how dangerous and useless folly is, and they should stir us to pursue true wisdom. A fool is completely unfit for any important task. When we send a fool with a message, his errors—whether careless or deliberate—are so harmful it’s as if we’ve sent someone without feet. The result is injury and loss.
This was seen when the unbelieving spies spread doubt and rebellion among the people, causing great harm. It reminds us to place important responsibilities only in the hands of faithful, reliable people.
Fools either lack the ability to do their task or are driven by self-interest, even at the expense of those they serve. Solomon suffered harm by trusting an ambitious servant—who rebelled and took most of the kingdom from Solomon’s son. Ben-hadad was destroyed after sending a message through Hazael, who betrayed and murdered him to fulfill his own ambition.
See again how the fool exposes his shame. A lame man doesn’t show his weakness more than when he tries to display strength or agility. In the same way, a fool never looks more ridiculous than when he tries to appear wise. It’s off-putting.
A wise saying does not fit a fool—just like dancing doesn’t fit a cripple. A proverb—a serious, weighty saying—becomes a joke in his mouth. “Is Saul also among the prophets?” “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but ignore the beam in your own?” “Physician, heal yourself.” “You who teach others, do you not teach yourself?” These examples show how out of place wisdom sounds when spoken by the foolish.
Giving honor to a fool is just as dangerous. A stone tied into a sling becomes a deadly weapon. So does a fool given a place of honor—he becomes a danger to those around him.
One such fool, close to a powerful king, would have destroyed God’s chosen people—if God had not stepped in and stopped him. How dangerous it is to place unqualified people in power! It’s like handing a sword or a loaded gun to a madman.
The fool also harms himself—often without realizing it. Just as it is unfitting for a drunk man to grab a thorn bush, so it is for a fool to handle wise words. When a thorn pierces his hand, his numbness only makes the injury worse. In the same way, when a fool speaks a parable—a sharp, wise saying he barely understands—it pierces his own conscience. Yet he feels nothing.
What a sobering sight—the ungodly prophet speaking the very words of God with cold indifference, though those words are enough to make one tremble.
This is the fool: a danger to others, deeply accountable to God. And how much greater the danger and guilt when he takes on a sacred role! When the great message of God is delivered through ungodly messengers, the Church suffers serious harm.
The parable—the holy teaching of our Lord—when spoken by a fool, is twisted and contradicted by his life. “To the wicked God says: What right do you have to declare My statutes or take My covenant on your lips—since you hate instruction and cast My words behind you?”
O Almighty God, who alone does great wonders, send down upon all Bishops and ministers the life-giving power of Your grace. Raise up faithful stewards—workers unashamed—true ambassadors of Christ in Your Church. And may foolish, unfaithful ministers be corrected and restrained.
From Charles Bridges' expository commentary on Proverbs.
