Thoughts From Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26:7

⁷ Like the legs which are useless to the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

 One who is incapacitated because of lame legs can do nothing healthy legs are required to do. It is senseless to expect him to do anything. It also is futile for him to attempt to do that which would require healthy legs. Any effort will fail and disappoint one who thought he would be able to help.

The fool who has a proverb he intends to teach has like liabilities. He is attempting to do what he is incapable of doing.  He does not recognize his inability to do what he claims and he disappoints anyone who depends on him.  He can neither use or teach others the proverb in his mouth.  It is like the injured legs—useless. 

Proverbs 26:8

Like one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

A fool is to be avoided.  He is to be corrected and maybe even pitied, but never honored.That is “he is not to be applauded for his folly”. He is not to be given an office and expected to fulfill its responsibilities.  And he is not to be commended for foolish misdeeds.  He is to be recognized and answered by rebuke appropriate to his folly.