The Mouth at the Gate

(Proverbs 24:7 KJV)  Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

Foolishness can be cured.  It usually isn’t, because one of the characteristics of a fool is refusing to admit the need to learn.  Here we see what might be the first lesson in the treatment:  Learning to keep his “mouth” (6310) shut.  It requires an awareness that there are some places where nothing you say could be of interest.

A possible extension of this that we could all learn is to say nothing when there is nothing to say.  When tragedy strikes people don’t need platitudes and cliches.  They don’t need to hear that “God has a plan”.  The pain usually drowns out the plan.  In time the believer will come to know it and you can listen but you don’t need to point it out.

So?  Be wise if you can and simply keep quiet if you are in doubt.  That covers a lot of ground.  I hope I can learn that lesson.