A THORN GOETH UP INTO THE HAND OF A DRUNKARD

With the exception of verse 2, all of the first twelve verses of this chapter make reference to the ‘fool’, which in its biblical use denotes not so much a person lacking in intellect but rather one who is morally and spiritually perverse. For such to take up ‘a parable’ described as ‘the words’ and ‘dark sayings of the wise’, Prov. 1. 6, is both unseemly and dangerous and illustrated in our reading by two pictures.

The first has in view the legs of a lame man, unequal in length. Whilst sitting, his disability might not be evident, but as soon as he walks it will become obvious, his handicap producing an unsteady and stumbling gait. That same incongruity is evi­dent with a parable in the mouth of fools. While silent, his folly will not necessarily be manifest, but as soon as he seeks to take up that which contains and illustrates moral and spiritual truth his inability to rightly interpret and apply it, and perhaps inconsistency in his own conduct to it, will quickly become evi­dent. How very different with a parable in the mouth of the Saviour. His teaching always carried authority and made an impact, Matt. 7. 28, 29!

The second illustration is a thorn in the hand of a drunkard. As it stands in the King James Version, the thorn pierces his hand, the verse inferring that because of his drunkenness he is insensitive to the damage it does to him. Many commentators suggest, however, that it has in view a large eastern thorn held in the hand of a drunkard with the potential for him to injure, both himself, and others with it. So, a parable in the mouth of a fool and his application of it will not only expose his own folly but can also turn others from the truth. The scriptures warn us to beware of men like that who ‘understand neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm’ and men who ‘wrest … the scriptures, unto their own destruction’, 1 Tim. 1. 7; 2 Pet. 3. 16.

To honour such men is like binding a stone ‘in a sling’. The latter cannot be released, serves no useful purpose, and is poten­tially dangerous to the one who has it. Instead of honour, the fool is to be ignored or firmly rebuked, cf. Prov. 14. 7; 26. 4, -5.