Thorn

Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Proverbs 26:9 ESV

 This is another proverb that I hope isn't true of me as I seek to write about every single proverb in this Bible book! If it is the case I may as well "pack up and go home". It wouldn't be worth the pain! 

This proverb makes me think of my attitude to Shakespeare's plays. Because they're written in rather old fashioned English and are therefore hard to understand, I never enjoyed them. Maybe I also disliked them because I had to learn them at school. 

Similarly, the wisdom of the book of Proverbs is lost on a fool. Furthermore, they do violence to it and find reading it a painful experience, maybe because it hits a bit close to home. A wise man appreciates a rose; A foolish drunk gets scratched by its thorns.

 No one likes being exposed as a fool. That's why Proverbs is a painful experience for a foolish person, because they find it too convicting. Even for believers, we need our natural folly to be weeded out, and that's uncomfortable for us. 

"Loving God, our Father, please deal with the folly in us that makes proverbs so uncomfortable for us. May we blossom for You, and be a blessing to others, for Jesus' sake, amen"