Day 183, Year 1
Breaking Free from Foolishness
“Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly.” (Proverbs 26:11 NASB)
“He will die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.” (Proverbs 5:23 NASB)
In the first verse of today, the term “a fool” refers to “the simpleton, or arrogant.” The Hebrew word for “folly,” ‘ivveleth, also means “stupidity, or foolishness.” The verse indicates that a fool, trapped in a downward cycle of folly, repeatedly engages in actions that only reinforce their foolishness, much like a dog returning to its vomit. While this interpretation differs slightly from 2 Peter chapter 2 verse 22 in the New Testament, it offers an alternative perspective on the problems that sinners may have.
Undoubtedly, those who have believed in Jesus but then turned away from Him are foolish. Perhaps their minds are simple, unwilling to delve deeper into how the Lord wants to renew people’s minds. Or maybe, they refuse to change their arrogance, unwilling to humble themselves even after believing in Jesus. Furthermore, they might be reluctant to give up the foolish things they used to do. In other words, even though these people claim to believe in Jesus, they have no determination to be set free from the vicious cycle described in the verse. They are most likely not accustomed to change positively or willing to do what Jesus commands. In addition, they might even be prone to certain addictions or indulging in bad habits, which hinder them from continuing to believe in the Lord. (If you find yourself in such a situation in which you are unable to resolve it on your own, you are encouraged to seek help from others.) Eventually, neither believing in Jesus nor the words of God changes them,
because the foolish and evil things of the past push them away from the way of the Lord. This also aligns with the situation mentioned in the second verse of today.
“Greatness” in the second verse, rob in Hebrew, also refers to “multitude, or abundance.” It is natural for those who are full of folly or even consider certain folly to be “great” to go astray, because they perceive their folly to be greater than Jesus Himself. Similarly, when people refuse to accept God’s teachings but embrace ideas that oppose Him, the result is eternal death. In conclusion, today’s verses call us to break free from the filthy cycle and uproot our habit of engaging in foolish behaviours. Instead, we have the privilege to embrace God’s teachings to transform ourselves and enter the cycle of God’s life, which is the law of the Spirit (Romans 8:1-2).
Reflection questions:
1) What do you think is the starting point for people to change the habit of repeating foolish actions?
2) What should be done to change those who refuse God’s instructions so that they are willing to accept His teachings?