A Place for Satire

(Pro 1:6 KJV)  To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

Have you ever met someone who has no sense of humor?  Of course you have.  If you are not aware of anyone like that it might be because you are one of them.  Maybe they have a sense of humor but it is a bit limited.  I know people who think that “I Love Lucy” was the acme of humor.  The same people would often roll on the floor over the antics of the Three Stooges.  I find them boring.  I understand their humor, I just don’t think it is worth paying attention to.  I am a George Burns and Bill Cosby (before the fall) humorist.  I love political humor.

What does that have to do with this verse?  The word “interpretation” (figure NASB) (4426) means a form of satire.  Put that together with “proverb” ( 4912) which deals in wisdom and you have the spectrum of comments that people could make.  The person that the book of Proverbs is trying to develop is to be able to deal with both extremes and the middle.

So?  The word of God is designed to make us mature and well rounded.  Keep reading.  Keep thinking.  Keep growing.