Posted by Jeff Short on July 10, 2018 · Leave a Comment
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
– Proverbs 24:34
Verse 34 concludes the sayings with the ultimate conclusion of the wise observation. The “slothful” one who is “void of understanding” and always needing “a little sleep” will come to
poverty in the end. The image is of being surprised and waylaid by a robber. From the sluggard’s perspective, he will one day wake up and wonder what has happened. Sloth cannot obtain and cannot keep what has been obtained (Proverbs 10:4; 13:4).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 9, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
– Proverbs 24:33
Verses 33 and 34 give the conclusions from observing the “field of the slothful.” The sluggard is anchored to his bed (Proverbs 26:14). Sometimes it is an indulgence in sleep and sometimes it is a putting things off (Proverbs 12:27; 20:4). The wise man asks, “How long” (Proverbs 6:9)? The sluggard is also “void of understanding” and cannot be reasoned with (Proverbs 26:16).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 7, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
– Proverbs 24:32
The word for
considered it well means to set the mind to. The word for
instruction means discipline, correction, and instruction. The previous verse described the scene and this verse describes the sage. Growing in wisdom means growing in discernment to discern between good and evil in the real world (Hebrews 5:14). The instructions of wisdom are used to evaluate reality around us.
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 4, 2018 · Leave a Comment
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
– Proverbs 24:31
This verse describes the property of “the slothful … man void of understanding.” The field is overgrown and the boundary wall is
broken down. Laziness and negligence lead to greater difficulty (Proverbs 15:19), greater expense (Proverbs 18:9), and greater frustration (Proverbs 10:26). The sluggard does not have eyes in his head to understand the world he lives in. All you have inherited, or all you have worked for, will be ruined by simply doing nothing (Ecclesiastes 10:18).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 1, 2018 · Leave a Comment
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
– Proverbs 24:30
Verses 30-34 conclude this appendix of more sayings of the wise with a life lesson from the sluggard. The passage parallels Proverbs 6:6-11 in ways. The sayings of the wise have already addressed working wisely (Proverbs 24:27). Proverbs consistently points to wisdom as the necessary foundation of any good life. In other words, wisdom is first (Proverbs 4:7). Get wisdom, build your house, and then it will be filled with good things (Proverbs 3:5-10; 24:4). Short-term wealth may be gained, but without wisdom, it will not be kept (Proverbs 6:11; 20:21; 28:22).
The owner of the field is identified as “slothful” and “void of understanding.” These characteristics are apparent from the condition of the property under his management. This section is immensely practical and shows how wisdom gains discernment to perceive character and draw lessons from life experiences.
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Proverbs 24:34
Posted by Jeff Short on July 10, 2018 · Leave a Comment
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Verse 34 concludes the sayings with the ultimate conclusion of the wise observation. The “slothful” one who is “void of understanding” and always needing “a little sleep” will come to poverty in the end. The image is of being surprised and waylaid by a robber. From the sluggard’s perspective, he will one day wake up and wonder what has happened. Sloth cannot obtain and cannot keep what has been obtained (Proverbs 10:4; 13:4).– Proverbs 24:34
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