Warnings against Foolishness
“My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger, if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor. Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth, winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord. Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.”
“My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger, if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor. Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.” The more things change, the more they stay the same. Even in Bible times, men could get into trouble by standing surety for someone, only to find they were the ones footing the total bill. This verse graphically describes the fate of those foolish enough to enter into such agreements in the first place. The term “mashugana” means “crazy” in Yiddish, and anybody foolish enough to get stuck like this truly is mashugana!
“Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.” There’s a saying in the American South that “No rest for the wicked, and the righteous don’t need none.” We can’t expect to have things if we aren’t willing to work for them. Around the world, many families work together for the good of the family; however, there are some wealthy parents who have given their children everything. When these people grow up and must work for themselves, it can be a real shock!
“A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth, winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord. Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.” You can spot them coming a mile away-the manipulators, the perverters of justice, the sneaky Petes who will stop at nothing to gain their own ends. Discord is the big weapon of such people because they know there is good fishing in troubled waters.
“There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.”
People who boast about being bad have no idea that they are doing the very things God hates. Amazingly, after seriously offending God by such behavior, these same people then turn around and expect things to go well for them. When things fail to suit them, they then blame God, even though they are the ones who have angered Him by their unrepentant behavior. These people have definitely joined the ranks of those who are mashugana.
APPLICATION: It’s been said that insanity is making the same mistake repeatedly and expecting different results. As we read the list of warnings in Proverbs 6, it’s likely that we can think of acquaintances who have exhibited most of this ridiculous behavior.
As we progress further into 2024 and anticipate upcoming elections, we need to ask ourselves how the candidates stack in up in light of Proverbs 6. Forget the promises; how many of these people fit this description: “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.”
I am currently re-reading Merle Miller’s seminal book on Harry S Truman, Plain Speaking. Truman was a man without artifice, a politician so painfully honest that on his last day as President of the United States, he returned a pen to someone from whom he had borrowed it. (As the Clintons were leaving the White House, they looted the place!) Refusing to profit from having held the highest office in America, Truman always viewed himself as a servant of the people. After handing over to Dwight Eisenhower, Mr. Truman and his wife took the train back to Independence, Missouri, where they resumed living in a house belonging to his mother-in-law. The question is, would someone of Truman’s character be able to survive in today’s political climate? We can only pray!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to become people of character, men and women who will please You rather than anger You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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