Proverbs 26:27

Turnabout is fair play! What goes around, comes around! You reap what you sow! These three mini-proverbs are especially true of God. He clearly sees how men treat others, and He promises to bring similar pain and trouble down on them for doing it.

Wicked men devise traps and trouble for the innocent and righteous, but these victims are told to love their enemies in return. Who will defend them? The great God of heaven will avenge His children. And His vengeance is often to turn their devices on their own heads.

“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Rom 12:19). Evil men will not get away with conspiracies or plans against good men. God is just and takes the wise in their own craftiness (Job 5:13), and He takes the wicked in their own cruelty (Pr 11:6; Ps 10:2). Do not avenge yourself, for the Lord is against it and will do much better Himself.

The context of the lesson is how the wicked use their mouths to hurt the righteous by lying and talebearing (Pr 26:18-28). Though they cover their hatred and evil designs very cleverly, the omniscient Jehovah God will expose their deceit and judge them openly.

Hunters once caught wild animals by digging a pit and covering it with a thin layer of dirt. The animal, not seeing the pit beneath the leaves and grass, would fall into it. The wicked dig similar pits for good men, but the Lord leads them to fall into their own traps.

In war, men would roll great stones – too heavy to lift – from walls or cliffs to crush their enemies. But God promises such figurative stones will roll back on the wicked. His revenge is best; you must deny your own vengeance and wait for His; it will surely come.

Christian, if you have enemies, fear not. The Lord of glory does not slumber or sleep. When the wicked conspire against you, He will turn their devices on their own heads (Pr 28:10; Ps 7:15-16; Eccl 10:8-9). God even wants to be known by this trait of divine judgment (Ps 9:15-16; 57:5-7). Consider it well. Higgaion! Selah! Give God the glory!

Abimelech died by a stone, after slaying 70 men on a stone (Jdgs 9:18,53); Moab was cursed by the man they hired to curse Israel (Num 24:17); Haman died on the gallows he had built for Mordecai (Esth 7:10); Ahab’s blood was licked by dogs in the place they licked Naboth’s (I Kgs 21:19); Israel burned their children at Tophet, so God filled the place with their bodies (Jer 7:31-32); the conspirators against Daniel were destroyed horribly by the lions they had planned for him (Dan 6:24); and the Jews crucified Jesus to save their nation, but the Romans later crucified them by the thousands (John 11:50).

Consider this proverb in light of recent American history. Why the shock at murder of children at Columbine High School (1999) and Sandy Hook Elementary School (2012)? The U.S. government endorses the violent murder of 3,000 unborn children a day! The children killed in Colorado (12) and Connecticut (20) are nothing in comparison.

America loves and protects the violent content of video games, movies, and rap music. It condemns the Ten Commandments in schools, one of which is, “Thou shalt not kill.” It promotes self-love and prohibits corporal punishment and creates monsters like these killers. Murderers get incredible publicity rather than being publicly killed (Pr 28:17).

Learn the lessons of wisdom in Solomon’s proverbs. Learn to think critically. Learn to look around and see the fulfillment of God’s truth and wisdom. The single example above of recent events in American history could be multiplied further in America and in other nations. The proverb is true. Can you see its fulfillment? Do you believe it?

Do you know a hypocrite? Do you have an enemy? Is someone causing you pain? His wickedness will be exposed, and God will turn his cruelty on his own head (Pr 26:18-28). The lesson of this proverb is to trust God to protect you and punish your enemies, even if they take careful precautions not to be caught and to cause you harm craftily and secretly.

Consider this proverb’s use of a rolling stone, which was explained earlier. Jesus boldly warned the religious leaders of His day, “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matt 21:44). Falling on the stone Christ Jesus is to break your stubborn spirit and repent of your sins. It is far better than having Him fall on you, like He did the Jews just a few years later.