Can you please explain Proverbs 26:2?
Proverbs 26:1-2 says, “As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, honour is not seemly for a fool. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.” This chapter deals mainly with the fool (verses 1-12) and the sluggard, or the slothful (verses 13-16). Many of the verses in this chapter of Proverbs are comparative; often using what is common in nature to illustrate a point. It is not natural for us to have a snowstorm in summer. It is not natural, and is harmful, to have a hard rain during harvest season. In Palestine, these things were impossible. Even so, to give honor to a fool is not proper. It goes against nature. There are several Hebrew words translated as ‘fool’ in the scriptures. In this chapter, the word for fool is ‘kciyl’ and refers to one who is silly, stupid, or dense. In Proverbs 29:11, we see that, “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” It is one who is unlearned and is led by his ignorance, rather than try to rid himself of his foolishness.
A fool may utter a curse against someone, or wish harm to someone else. The curse is without cause and will not be answered. The Lord will not have respect to the fool’s wishes. Even as the sparrow (properly translated) and the swallow dart to and fro, they do not land on anyone. Neither will the curse of the fool land on the innocent party. Balak, the king of Moab, had offered money to Balaam to curse His people. THE LORD DID NOT ALLOW THIS CAUSELESS CURSE TO BE MADE. We read in Deuteronomy 23:5, “Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.”
For the believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, we are assured two things in the verse:
- The Lord loves you.
- What the world uses to try and curse you with, the Lord will turn it into a blessing.
How are we to react to those who would curse us without a cause? The scripture is clear. We read in Matthew 5:44, “But I say into you, Love your enemies, BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (250.6)