Proverbs 26:7 & 9
Like the legs which are useless to the lame
and like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard,
so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Ok, so I took a little liberty with the verses by combining them, but it sure did help me understand it better. It is interesting how those to illustrations build on each other. First, what are legs to a lame person. The legs are just added weight, baggage, something that constantly gets in the lame persons way. The lame have no use for their legs. How about a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard? It lodges there, but does not bring about the appropriate response of pain and a corrective action. It is even possible the the drunkard would look at it and laugh about how they have something stuck in their hand and leave it.
What do these have in common, neither the legs or the thorn are bringing about their intended purpose – walking and pain. The same goes with a proverb in the mouth of a fool. He says the words, but there is no action taken from the pain brought about through the conviction of the proverb.
Most of us would concede to some extent we are prideful, but that there is nothing wrong with it. It is something we make excuses for by comparing ourselves to others and saying that we are justified in it. Prov. 26:12 really brings home how dangerous that attitude is about pride.
Prov. 26:12
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Wow, worse than a fool. We really should humble ourselves and respond to the conviction (pain) brought about by GodÂ’s Word in our life and repent (turn and walk away from it).