Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today

Proverbs 26:11 with II Peter 2:22

Proverbs 26:11

¹¹ As a dog returns to his own vomit,

So a fool repeats his folly.

II Peter 2:22

²² But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.

As the nature of a dog is to act in a particular fashion in every instance, so it is the nature of a fool to continue in his foolishness whatever it is. Neither counsel, discipline nor example will deter him from his folly.

In verses 4 and 5, he can be neither condoned nor ignored – he will not change.

Biblical theology and psychology understands man as he is by nature and as his conduct displays his character. Proverbs describes a man as either wise - knows and obeys God , or foolish - caring only for himself and his appetites.

Present day evangelical theology and psychology has accepted the secular understanding of man as personality and emotion. So man does not need a “new birth” – he needs redirecting. The result is a new, different, ineffectual gospel.