Sending a Message by a Fool - Proverbs 26:6

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse six of Proverbs Solomon said, “he that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet” where we read,

He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet,

and drinks damage.

The verse begins, “He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, ...” Solomon began with the words, “he that sends a message” or “the person whether male or female who stretches out, extends and directs a word, speech, utterance, business or affair” “by the hand of a fool” which means “through the means of the physical hand belonging to a person who is an arrogant dullard, simpleton and stupid fellow” “cuts off the feet” or “scrapes, removes and severs the physical feet of the person sending the message”. Solomon said whoever dispatches a word, speech or utterance through the physical hand of a person who is arrogant and stupid actually severs their own physical feet. 

The verse continues, “... and drinks damage.” Solomon added the words, “and drinks” or “and imbibes and takes in” “damage” which means “violence, wrong, cruelty and injustice”. Solomon said the person who “sends a message by the hand of a fool” also imbibes violence and injustice. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how we are not to trust an arrogant stupid person when we have need to “send a message” to someone. The result will be that we shall pay a price for having done so. God wants us to relate to Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth (See John 16:33) and give us the wisdom to never dispatch a word or speech to a person who is foolish and unwise. 

Next time Solomon says, “the legs of the lame are not equal”, 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".