A Rod for the Fool's Back - Proverbs 26:3

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse three of Proverbs Solomon shared about, “a rod for the fool's back” where we read,

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,

and a rod for the fool's back.

The verse begins, “A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, ...” Solomon began with the words, “a whip for the horse” or “a shote or scourge for the horseback or chariot horses”, “a bridle for the ass” which means “a controlling and authoritative bit for the backside of a donkey”. Solomon referred to the scourge and bit as the authoritative means for controlling a horse or donkey. 

The verse goes on to say, “... and a rod for the fool's back.” Solomon continued with the words, “and a rod” or “and a staff, branch, club or scepter” “for the fool's back” which means “for the backside of a person who is a dullard, simpleton, stupid and arrogant one”. Solomon said a staff or scepter was to be used to control a person who is arrogant and stupid. 

When we consider Solomon's words in this verse, we discover how he employed controlling and disciplinary means to manage the “horse” and the “donkey” as he likened them to the staff or scepter that is used to control the behavior of a person who acts in an arrogant and foolish manner. The idea is to keep the “horse, donkey and foolish person” manageable. God wants to be the “LORD” of our lives, and when we believe and trust in His Son Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and never have need to use a “rod” because we willingly submit to Him. As King David wrote in Psalms, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go: I will guide you with my eye”. (See Psalms 32:8) 

Next time Solomon says, “Answer not a fool according to his folly”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".