Proverbs 26:18
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As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
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What a wild and dangerous man! Lock him up! Put him away! Sedate him! We have a simile here, indicated by "as." What kind of person resembles this crazy mad man? A man wildly throwing firebrands, arrows, and death? Anyone who deceives his neighbor and uses a jesting cover up of ambitions and intentions is just like this mad man (26:19)!
Imagine an insane man, like the devil-possessed Gadarene (Mark 5:1-13). He is naked, powerful, savagely wild, masochistically violent, untamed, and living among the dead! Now imagine him on your property! Imagine him in your house! In your business! Solomon created this picture of a neighbor who deceives you and lightly excuses it.
Wicked men think their actions are not very harmful. So our Preacher described them in terms to get our attention and rightly classify their actions. Neighbors, due to close proximity to one another, must trust one another. They should be able to trust each other at all times. But a deceitful and ambitious neighbor is comparable to this wild enemy.
What can we learn? Deceiving those who trust you is a horrible sin and crime. Neighbors, employers, and others trust your integrity. You live close enough to take advantage of them, so they must trust your integrity not to use that nearness against them. It is our duty as Christians to live honestly with all men, but especially those nearest to us.
What else can we learn? Covering and excusing sin by lightly claiming it was just a joke reveals an extremely profane character. Such persons have no conscience; they laugh at sin; they do not comprehend the pain their deception causes others. We oppose this folly by keeping a sober and serious approach to all relationships, especially neighbors.
What else can we learn? Only fools make a mock at sin (10:23; 14:9; 15:21). See the comments on 14:9. Sin is a horrible thing - it defies your Creator God, hurts your fellow man, is inconvenient for profitable relationships, and leads to eternal punishment. Only hopeless scorners laugh and jest about sin. Sin is to be avoided, hated, and repented of!
What else can we learn? God hates foolish talking and jesting! He will destroy the world for these heinous sins. He lists foolish talking and jesting with fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness, three other abominable sins (Eph 5:3-7). And he describes foolish talking and jesting as He does sodomy - both are not convenient (Eph 5:4 cp Rom 1:28).
These wicked men, like an insane man hurling fire, arrows, and death, can show up even in Jesus Christ's churches (II Pet 2:13). Lord, save us from such sins and sinners!
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