PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool” (Proverbs 26:1 KJV).

A fool can neither receive honor, nor give honor, because he has no honor, and he lives in a world of his own making as out of balance “as snow in summer, and as rain in harvest.”

TODAY’S VERSE:

“As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool” (Proverbs 26:1 KJV).

Vss. 1-12 deal with the fool. Only in verse two does the fool not show up, but he is clearly seen in the rest. Verses 13-16 it is the sluggard, the slothful man. Verses 17-28 showcase troublemakers and talebearers (or gossips). The sluggard and the fool are dealt with a lot in Proverbs.

“As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,” now, those two things just don’t fit the season, “so honour is not seemly for a fool.”

Why do men mistreat their wives? Is it not because they fail to honor them? This is because much is lacking in their makeup. From a child they have not been taught to maintain good manners. They have been allowed such freedom in their lives as to practically raise themselves out in the streets. They have learned how to relate to others, especially women, out in the back alleys and bars. They have learned only to respect those that are stronger than them, so quite naturally, they will look down with contempt upon a weaker vessel. The combination of a poor set of values and a poor upbringing have produced one which is unable to render honor to whom honor is due. Ladies, such a one is a bad choice for marriage.

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (I Peter 3:7 KJV).

“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her” (Proverbs 31:28 KJV).

The richest blessings lose their value when unsuitably bestowed. Snow covers the earth in winter; protecting the seed from the killing cold. But in summer, it is out of season. Rain in its season is a fruitful blessing for it makes the crops to grow. But in harvest it is an interruption to the farmer's work, and often a public calamity. God showed His displeasure with Israel by punishing them with a rainy harvest.

“Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel” (1 Samuel 12:17-18 KJV).

“The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools” (Proverbs 3:35 KJV).

Daily Bible study is necessary if we are going to begin our day with the right attitude and the right spiritual diet. Proverbs has 31 chapters, and most months have 31 days, so let's read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let's keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread! Ideally, a chapter or two of Proverbs will fit in nicely with a good plan of reading our Bibles through each year.

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