Yahweh's Perspective: Like snow in summer ... (Proverbs 26:1)

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  Proverbs 26:1כַּשֶּׁ֤לֶג׀ בַּקַּ֗יִץ וְכַמָּטָ֥ר בַּקָּצִ֑יר כֵּ֤ן לֹא־נָאוֶ֖ה לִכְסִ֣יל כָּבֽוֹד׃

APB Proverbs 26:1 Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.

Yahweh, your perspective is that snow isn’t fitting for summer, rain isn’t fitting in harvest, and honor is not fitting for a fool. Rain at harvest time is not only unexpected, but it damages. Wet facilitates rot, hinders flour protection, endangers hay storage due to fermentation heat, etc.

Yahweh, if I share your perspective, I will identify fools and avoid honoring them. Not only because honor is incongruous with their character, but also because it is damaging. Honor tends to confirm past behavior. Honor commends present patterns. It certainly doesn’t prompt self-examination and correction. And confirming a fool in his folly is damning.

I rejoice that even a directive to withhold honor shines with your love, Yahweh. Though there is little hope for a fool (Prov. 26:12; 29:20), the little that does remain should not be cut off. By warning me not to honor a fool, you prompt me to act for his ultimate good. Being bypassed for honor may raise the question why and lead to wisdom.

Help me to recognize fools when I see them. Grant me grace to be a messenger for Lady Wisdom (Prov. 1:20ff, 9:1-6) who calls out to the simpleton and the fool, but doesn’t not run after them, associate with them, honor them, or allow them to determine the content or shape of her message.


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