Contending With the Foolish Man - Proverbs 29:9

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath”, and in chapter twenty-nine and verse nine of Proverbs Solomon shared what happens, “if a wise man contends with a foolish man” where we read,

If a wise man contends with a foolish man,

whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

The verse begins, “If a wise man contends with a foolish man, ...” Solomon began with the words, “if a wise man” or “whether and in case a person whether male or female who is skilled, shrewd and prudent” “contends with a foolish man” which means “governs, punishes, goes to court or rules over the licentious, quarrelsome and unwise person whether male or female” the following occurs. Solomon referred to a person ruling over someone who is quarrelsome and unwise as he said the following would happen. 

The verse continues, “... whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.” Solomon added the words, “whether he rage” or “even if or in case the person whether male or female rants, ridicules, trembles, quakes, quivers or is disquieted and perturbed” “or laugh” which means “or plays, mocks and makes sport”, “there is no rest” or “there exists not any quietness, peace or satisfaction”. Solomon said even if the person who is “foolish” quakes and trembles, there will be no peace or satisfaction with them. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon that even if we take a person who is unwise and quarrelsome to court and bring a case against them, they will not bring satisfaction or peace regardless of whether anger or scoffing is employed. In other words, there is no changing them. Only God is able to give someone an altered heart, and when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead three days later, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us through His Holy Spirit how to “contend” with unwise people even when doing so has no effect upon them. 

Next time Solomon says, “the bloodthirsty hate the upright”, 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".