Using Wisdom to Avoid Foolishness and Wickedness – (Proverbs 27:12-14)

Daily Bible Study
Here in these passages God is giving us practical wisdom for everyday life. Wisdom to avoid trouble and wickedness and to help us lead a life fruitful and pleasing to Him. In the first verse, God is helping us distinguish the difference between courage in confronting wrongs, and foolishly walking deliberately into trouble or danger unprepared. When dealing with wicked people we are to be wise. We are to take into account the wicked behavior of those committing evil, and their propensity for breaking rules and regulations. And more importantly, their ability and desire to lie, which they do in order to cover their deeds. In the second verse the writer uses the example of a garment to teach us wisdom.

A garment was often given as a symbolic gesture in a pledge. It wasn't really meant as collateral, but more of a symbolic way of saying, "I will honor this promise." Therefore, often the person receiving the garment would immediately return it. Here the Bible is telling us not to return the garment when it is from a stranger, someone we do not know. In addition, we are not to return it if taken to allow the person to do something foolish. But remember this is guidance for when we do stupid things, the overall message is not to involve ourselves with people who want to act foolishly or behave wickedly. And the last verses can be translated think before you act. In other words, do not commit stupid, foolish or wicked behavior, then try to mask it as a good deed. Here the person is pretending to bless his friend, when in fact his desire is to disturb him and wake him up.