At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Ps. 16: 11)
Speak not in the ears of a fool: For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
Proverbs 23:9
There are times, Scripture teaches us, when we should save our breath for cooling our porridge. There are occasions when it would be more fitting to save our breath for walking uphill. There are circumstances when we should save our breath for some future occasion, when we are no longer talking with a fool.
One of the common mistakes that reasonable people make is the error of attributing intelligence to anyone we may happen to meet. This is appropriate as a matter of good manners, but we should also be aware of the fact that it might not be the case, and when we get feedback indicating that it is not the case, we must be prepared to cut our losses and go.
The fact that a reasonable explanation would satisfy you does not mean that it will satisfy someone who has no intention of listening.
Now remember that in Scripture a fool is not someone with an IQ deficiency, but rather someone who is morally bent. Folly is rebellious at the core. A very simple man can be pious and devout, and a very intelligent man can be a fool. What this proverb is telling us is that conversation won’t fix a fool. Argument won’t fix him. Wisdom cascades off his back and does not go down into the inward parts.
This is a variation on what Jesus taught, when He said not to cast your pearls before swine. Wisdom is not appreciated by the fool. He does not want it. So once it becomes apparent that he has no interest, stop trying to capture his interest with words. Words won’t fix this problem. Until the Spirit of God has addressed the heart of the problem, which is the heart, it is not possible for the Word to get through. But when that happens, then real communication becomes possible.
Or as the sage once put it, never try to teach a pig to whistle. It is a waste of your time, and it annoys the pig.
