Posted by Jeff Short on October 2, 2016 · 1 Comment
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
– Proverbs 6:8
Without an overseer, the ant works diligently in the appropriate season and has food in the later season. The ant does not delay or put off work until another time. Working urgently and diligently now yields good fruit later. Contrariwise, the sluggard accomplishes little to nothing on his own, doesn’t plan ahead, and doesn’t have what we call a hard work ethic. Likewise, the sluggard will have little to gather in the harvest.
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 1, 2016 · 1 Comment
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
– Proverbs 6:7
Solomon’s point is not that the ants have no sort of organized or cooperative effort, but that the individual ant is not driven by a supervisor or taskmaster. In other words, the ant is self-motivated and does not need the overbearing presence of an overseer in order to work diligently. Often the young man does not accurately assess his slothfulness because perhaps he works hard when a parent, teacher, or coach is over them driving them forward. We are to learn wisdom from the ant and the ant has no such oversight.
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 30, 2016 · 1 Comment
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
– Proverbs 6:6
Verses 6-11 warn against the folly of slothfulness, or laziness. Laziness was warned against in the previous section concerning delivering yourself from surety and here is addressed more bluntly. Sloth is addressed frequently in Proverbs and is always pitted against wisdom. Sluggard means a sluggish or lazy person. Verses 6-8 instruct the sluggard to consider the lowly ant as an example and a reproof. A few characteristics of the ant are considered, such as diligence, unwearied and persistent effort. The point here is not to humanize ants but the fact they aren’t human supplies a reproof. They do not have the capacity for wisdom a human has, and so when they act more wisely than a human does, it is a thorough rebuke. The ant is not only good for rebuke, but also instruction in wisdom and that is why the wise teacher directs attention there. In fact, it is a mark of wisdom to be able to learn from many different places and the things around you.
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 29, 2016 · 1 Comment
Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
– Proverbs 6:5
Solomon uses two images to finish off this warning. A roe is something like a gazelle, though the exact animal is not known to us today. A bird could be any such animal subject to trapping. The point in both cases is that when they are trapped, they give all their attention and energy to escaping. This reinforces the urgency necessary when becoming ensnared is such a foolish obligation. Solomon exhorts to focus all your time and effort on getting out of the trap you’re in.
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 28, 2016 · 1 Comment
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
– Proverbs 6:4
The point Solomon presses is urgency in freeing oneself from so unwise and potentially disastrous of a decision. The urgency throughout this section of verses reflects the serious nature of the problem. The point is to take it seriously and not casually and to do all that can be done in honesty to get out of the obligation, including humbling yourself extremely.
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 27, 2016 · 1 Comment
Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
– Proverbs 6:3
Solomon employs the language of urgency and immediate action. If you have found yourself in this situation, get out of it as soon as possible. Deliver means to tear away and answers to the image of being ensnared in the previous verse. Humble has the thought of trample. It is a picture of lying down on the ground and being walked on. The point is to humble yourself to whatever extent necessary. To make sure means to urge and implies strenuously. Solomon does not advise trickery or deceit, but he does implore to lower yourself however far necessary and to pursue urgently the release from your hasty suretyship.
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 26, 2016 · 1 Comment
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
– Proverbs 6:2
Snared and taken refer to being caught in a trap such as a hunter might use to catch an animal. In this case, the impetuous youth’s mouth has landed him in the trap. Being in the trap is the consequence of a hasty action taken without thought. The way of wisdom is to consider well the implications and outcome of a path before entering upon it (Proverbs 4:26; 14:8, 15; 22:3). The issue here is debt and surety but the applications go beyond.
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 25, 2016 · 1 Comment
Chapter 6, verses 1-15, bring forward three follies or traps for a young man to avoid. Solomon continues his fatherly addresses and speaks plainly and practically. He warns of being hasty and obligating oneself, sloth, and avoiding unprofitable friendships or partnerships. Verses 16-19 is the famous list of seven abominations and verses 20-35 return to warnings against going after an evil woman. The repetitive and extensive way Solomon addresses this alerts us to attention to its importance.
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger;
– Proverbs 6:1
Solomon begins a new address here that runs through verse 15. Verses 1-5 address the issue of hastiness in becoming obligated for the debt of another. He doesn’t use the usual call to attention, but begins simply, “My son.” Surety refers to giving a pledge to pay a debt if a person defaults and striking hands refers to the method then of entering into a contract. The point is speaking of becoming legally obligated to pay the debts of another. Friend here doesn’t necessarily indicate closeness. It could be anyone, so the relation is not important. The point is this being done willingly. In other words, it’s a situation where you are not under any binding obligation and so Solomon is warning against rashly obligating oneself voluntarily.
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Proverbs 6:8
Posted by Jeff Short on October 2, 2016 · 1 Comment
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Without an overseer, the ant works diligently in the appropriate season and has food in the later season. The ant does not delay or put off work until another time. Working urgently and diligently now yields good fruit later. Contrariwise, the sluggard accomplishes little to nothing on his own, doesn’t plan ahead, and doesn’t have what we call a hard work ethic. Likewise, the sluggard will have little to gather in the harvest.– Proverbs 6:8
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