Pro 17:12 | KingComments | STEP | It is more dangerous to meet a fool engaged in folly than “a bear robbed of her cubs” ( ). Man, who is supposed to be intelligent and rational, is more dangerous in his folly than the bear acting according to its instinct ( ; ). The fool is totally blind to his folly and acts in stupid blindness. The lesson is: do not come near that bear and certainly not near a fool. We often underestimate the enormous danger of foolishness. Folly is shutting out God. It involves taking God’s warnings as a joke, as Lot’s sons-in-law did ( ). This puts a person in far greater danger than any other earthly danger. From a bear you know what to expect, from a fool you often do not. Adam is the first to whom fully applies. He has returned evil for all the goodness of God. Therefore evil came upon his house, that is, upon his entire posterity, which has not departed until today. Evil only departs when it is confessed. Then the reverse happens: God returns good for evil for everyone who believes. The verse applies generally to every person who returns evil for good, including the believer, without saying whether God immediately returns evil on him or does so only later. David experienced that Saul returned evil for the good he did for him. Nabal has done the same toward David. But David himself also returned evil for good when he had Uriah killed while Uriah served him with full commitment. Therefore, evil did not depart from his house ( ). Above all, the Jews returned evil for good to the Lord Jesus. We hear this when He says: “Thus they have repaid me evil for good and hatred for my love” ( ). As a result, evil did not depart from the house of Judah. The Lord told His disciples – and thus He also tells us – that, just as He did, they should act the other way around: “Love your enemies, and do good” ( ). The following exhortation applies to us in this context: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” ( ).

‏ Proverbs 17:12

Warnings Against Foolishness

It is more dangerous to meet a fool engaged in folly than “a bear robbed of her cubs” (Pro 17:12). Man, who is supposed to be intelligent and rational, is more dangerous in his folly than the bear acting according to its instinct (2Sam 17:8; Hos 13:8a). The fool is totally blind to his folly and acts in stupid blindness. The lesson is: do not come near that bear and certainly not near a fool.

We often underestimate the enormous danger of foolishness. Folly is shutting out God. It involves taking God’s warnings as a joke, as Lot’s sons-in-law did (Gen 19:14). This puts a person in far greater danger than any other earthly danger. From a bear you know what to expect, from a fool you often do not.

Adam is the first to whom Pro 17:13 fully applies. He has returned evil for all the goodness of God. Therefore evil came upon his house, that is, upon his entire posterity, which has not departed until today. Evil only departs when it is confessed. Then the reverse happens: God returns good for evil for everyone who believes.

The verse applies generally to every person who returns evil for good, including the believer, without saying whether God immediately returns evil on him or does so only later. David experienced that Saul returned evil for the good he did for him. Nabal has done the same toward David. But David himself also returned evil for good when he had Uriah killed while Uriah served him with full commitment. Therefore, evil did not depart from his house (2Sam 12:9-12).

Above all, the Jews returned evil for good to the Lord Jesus. We hear this when He says: “Thus they have repaid me evil for good and hatred for my love” (Psa 109:5 ; Psa 35:12). As a result, evil did not depart from the house of Judah. The Lord told His disciples – and thus He also tells us – that, just as He did, they should act the other way around: “Love your enemies, and do good” (Lk 6:35). The following exhortation applies to us in this context: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21).