Four Kinds of Troublemakers
26: 17-28
A proverb is a short and memorable saying designed to be our blueprint for living in the world that ADONAI has created. It is important to note that proverbs are not promises; they are generally true principles, all other things being equal.
1. The busybody (26:17): Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears (26:17 NLT). The least dangerous of the antisocial troublemakers is the busybody, for she only hurts herself. This first proverb ridicules those who get involved in a dispute or fight in which they have no business. In the south they would say that such a person “has no dog in the hunt.” It is obviously stupid to yank a dog’s ears. Because of the Jews belief that dogs were unclean, most dogs in Isra’el were considered wild, something like a jackal. Yanking a jackal by its ears implies the inevitability of getting bit by getting involved in somebody else’s dispute. Not even Sampson yanked the foxes by their ears (Judges 15:4). Thus, the busybody should leave the wild dog alone, and the son, who is the object of Solomon’s teaching, should walk away from a dispute in which he has no business.501
2. The deceiver (26:18-19): Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking” (26:18-19 NLT). The second proverb considers yet another situation: when people deceive those who are close to them and then claim that it was a joke. From the context it is unclear whether the claim that it was a joke. From the context it is unclear whether the claim that they were kidding comes before or after the deception is discovered. Certainly, if the admission comes afterward, the claim to be joking would be even weaker. In this case, their words start a war. One may as well shoot at neighbors with deadly flaming arrows. Undoubtedly, it will result in the death of any kind of relationship they may have had with their friends or neighbors.502 The comparison of the treacherous clown with the armed berserk warrior is a double. Both cannot distinguish between right and wrong and both inflict horrible tragedy on the community. However, the difference is that the madman is out of his mind and cannot plot evil, while the deceiver is cunning, showing that he is intellectually capable of carrying out a crime. His problem is not intellectual but spiritual.
3. The slanderer (26:20-22): Hezekiah’s collectors (to see link click Df – Proverbs of Solomon Copied by Hezekiah’s Men) now ratchet up the section on antisocial types to the slanderer, who destroys the community by inflaming strife (16:28 and 18:8). Slander involves speaking to third parties about a person with the intention of harm, not help. Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. But then, a quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood. Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart (26:20-22 NLT). Verses 20-21 present two sides of the same coin. The inflammatory speech of the slanderer burns the community down (verse 21), but his absence gives it an opportunity to restore its peace (verse 20). His words are so destructive to the community’s well-being because people swallow his inflammatory slanders like dainty morsels (verses 22a). But the community that tolerates his slander is also guilty for the conflicts that tear it apart.503
A deceiver stirs up strife, and a slanderer can separate even close friends (16:28 CJB). Slander always causes hurt and divisions, and it destroys fellowship, and ADONAI is very clear that we are to confront those who cause division among the congregations of God. They may get mad and leave your small group or place of worship if you confront them about their divisive actions, but the fellowship of the Body of Messiah is more important than any one person.504 The Word of God is very clear about this: There are six things that ADONAI hates, yes, seven that are detestable to Him (6:16 Hebrew). This verse is known as a numerical saying; a typical wisdom form found prominently in Proverbs (see Proverbs 30:15, 18, 21, 24, and 29; Job 5:19; Ecclesiastes 11:2; Amos 1:6, 9, 13 and 2:1, 4, and 6; Micah 5:5). The clue to reading numerical sayings is that the focus of the message is often on the last item mentioned. The seventh example here: the person who stirs up descension in the congregation, draws together the remainder of the other descriptions.505
4. The hater (26:23-28): Finally, the compilers narrow the troublemakers down to the son’s hateful enemy. The imperative “do not trust him” shows that the son is the hater’s target and states the aim of the partial subunit. The first of its triplet sayings depicts the enemy’s deception. Like a clay vessel overlaid with silver dross, are the burning lips of a wicked heart. This first proverb begins by describing how silver can cover clay in order to produce a beautiful vase. However, the silver is only paper thin, and once penetrated, you can see that the silver gives way to ordinary clay. The surface gives the illusion of a completely silver vessel, but that isn’t the reality. The same is true of smooth speech of someone with a wicked heart. They hide their intentions. They say nice things, but inside their hatred burns. He may cover his hatred with smooth speech, but he’s deceiving you. The third proverb moves from observation to advice. Always be looking for signs that others are not honestly reflecting their true feelings. He pretends to be kind, but don’t trust him, for there are seven abominations in his heart (26:23-25 Hebrew). Seven is a symbolic number representing completion (see the commentary on Genesis Ae – The Number Seven). Hence, they are totally abominable. The term an abomination has been used frequently so far in the expression an abomination to ADOANI (3:32, 11:20, 12:22, 15:8-9, and 26, 16:5, 17:15, 20:10 and 23). This indicates the utmost divine censure against something or someone, the cherem judgment of Ha’Shem (see Leviticus Ff – The Cherem).
The second triplet depicts the hater’s destruction. While their hatred may be concealed deceit, their wickedness will be exposed in public. Although people can hide their true thoughts and intentions for a while, they will eventually come out. They just wait until they have enough harmful ammunition to attack their intended victim. But unwittingly, he who digs a pit will fall into it. The idea that the wicked will be hurt by their own actions aimed at others appears frequently in the book (Proverbs 1:18-19; also see Psalm 7:4-5; Ecclesiastes 10:8). And he who rolls a stone down onto others, it will crush you instead. The first colon is clear enough, falling into a pit dug as a trap for another person. But the second colon only makes sense if provided with a bit of narrative. We might imagine the wicked pushing a stone to the top of a hill, planning to drop it on the head of a passerby. Instead, as he rolls it up the height, its weight proves to be too much, and it rolls back, crushing the wicked. Lastly, a lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin (26:26-28 Hebrew). The first colon simply states that the wicked who lie about others hate those people that they are trying to harm. The second colon makes the point that flattering words also cause destruction. Flattery can be a certain way of lying. Without conviction or reality, it exaggerates the positive points of another person. Flattery may be used to set a person up to be taken advantage of. Flattery may also cause those who are flattered to think too highly of themselves, and thus, to act in a way that is detrimental.506
Dear heavenly Father, praise You that Your love and power is greater than any problems that troublemakers can make. To be connected to You and to please You brings great joy, no matter what the circumstances. Your heart is a heart of love – for God is love (First John 4:8). You never slander, nor are You ever deceitful. Your words are always pure and wise. Even in discipline Your words and actions are couched in love so that the fruit of righteousness is produced from the discipline (Hebrews 12:11). When slandered or put down by a busybody, I can take comfort in Your abiding love. Thank You that You are not a father who is far off, but rather a Father who is always near me, watching over me to care and to protect me when others gossip about me. O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You. My flesh longs for You in a dry and weary land, where there is no water (Hebrews 13:5c). Thank you that when others gossip or slander me, I can always run into Your loving arms, knowing that in You I am accepted, blessed and connected to You. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen
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