Four Prudent Preachers in Proverbs

And they are little preachers at that. And several of them can really “bug” a person, as we will see in our message. But before we get to our four friends, let’s see them in their context.

Proverbs, of course, is the Biblical book of wisdom. It is chock full of practical, pertinent advice on how to live life successfully from heaven’s point of view. In the thirtieth chapter, we discover some practical lessons about life. The passage, especially beginning in v. 15, uses a series of interesting illustrations regarding issues we deal with on a daily basis.

The four insignificant things attracted Solomon’s attention because, according to v. 24, they were “exceeding wise,” i.e. they were “wiser than the wisest.” They do what they were designed to do by their Creator without questioning God, unlike most of us at times. Each of these prudent preachers teaches us an aspect of wise living.

At first glance, we wouldn’t expect great accomplishments from such small creatures; yet, in their own ways, each performs extraordinary feats for their size.

  1. The ant teaches us about the wisdom of PREPARATION-30:25

    2. Preparation is necessary if anything is to be accomplished. Though the ant is often considered a pest, she has something to teach us. Back in ch. 6, the sluggard is admonished to learn from the industrious ways of this little bug.

    Ants are feeble creatures, easily crushed. But they are also extremely diligent in storing food for winter. And if you have ever stopped to observe a tiny ant pushing an object, often bigger than itself, you can see how wise they are. They are smart, have a look-into-the-future attitude. Their survival depends on not being shortsighted.

    Nothing is done by wishing, waiting for it to happen. Planning is essential in life.

    Ants are quite incredible. They are able to overcome their individual weakness by the organization, structure of their social system.

    Did you know that there are over 15,000 different species of ants? And they all have one major factor in common: they plan, provide for the future. And their social system is designed to achieve maximum use of available resources.

    At the top of their social heap is the queen. She is attended by a small army of ants, and as long as she operates efficiently, effectively, and her social structure keeps growing, expanding, all is well. But if she falters in her task, she is simply removed, replaced.

    And if you and I don’t look ahead, not only in this life, but in the life to come, we will not be prepared for what comes our way. Are you planning for eternity? Are you sending treasures ahead? What about you service for the Lord? Will it be rewardable or refused because it wasn’t done for God’s glory alone?

  2. The coney teaches us about the wisdom of PROTECTION-30:26

    3. Coney? Not exactly a household word. The closest we get to it today is Coney Island.

    So, what is a coney? It is a rodent that looks like a rabbit and also resembles a badger. It has short legs, ears, a tail, reddish fur. They have long front teeth and heavy, broad nails on their feet to assist them in climbing. And while it looks as if these “folks” (those who live in groups) would be an easy prey for their predators, they are always close to a refuge they can run to when being hunted by their enemies.

    Because the coney is weak, indefensible, they must use the only defense they know...going and hiding under the rocks. cf. 18:10; Ps. 27:5; 31:1-3; 62:7.

    Here is the message from Mr. Coney: Be like Joseph--run and hide from the tempter’s snare. That is your only sure protection. Hide in your Rock--Christ Jesus.

  3. The locust teaches us about the wisdom of PARTNERSHIP-30:27

    4. The third prudent preacher in Proverbs is the grasshopper-like locust. Though they have no perceived leader, they work together to get the job done. They stick together and devour acres of green crops, usually eating their body weight in 15 minutes. That may not seem like much, but percentage-wise, you try it and see what you look like as a result.

    Partnership is another way of saying “fellowship.” We need each other. The emphasis in the NT in on the “one another” cooperation between believers.

    One hundred locusts can get a whole lot more done than one single locust. Instinctively, locusts move in hoards, bands wreaking great havoc. But at least they work together and not against one another.

    Here is an interesting little tidbit, a little morsel of wonderful truth. The word “bands” in v. 27 rendered in the LXX an most interesting Greek word. We find the same word in I Thess. 4:16, 17. It’s the word “shout.” The word describes a shout of command, a cry of urging on, a shout to assemble. It is used, for instance, in Greek outside the NT to refer to the rhythmic shout that kept the oarsmen on a ship rowing in unison, harmony.

    Note I Cor. 4:1, 2 where the word “ministers” = “underrowers.”

    Are you a faithful partner in the work of the Lord...that reliable underrower?

  4. The spider teaches us about the wisdom of PERSISTENCE-30:28

    5. The final prudent preacher is one, that when I look at it, scares me. It gives me the ebie gebies. I wouldn’t want to look like this fellow. How can this itsy bitsy teeny weeny little creepy crawler teach us any spiritual lessons when it is considered to be the villain of the insect world? Why, often, the female spider will murder her husband on their honeymoon and then dine on his remains. What a great start to a marriage!

    In fact, spiders are the world’s master murderers. The hunting spider pounces on its victim and consumes it on the spot. But the web-weaving spider is even more clever, persistent. How it weaves it web in the first place is absolutely fascinating. But once its web is woven, it will sit on it, and when a carefree, unsuspecting fly buzzes by, it is caught in the web’s strands. By the way, I have had difficulty even vacuuming up the ends of cobwebs that are stuck to walls, other objects.

    As it struggles to free itself, the spider feels the vibrations and can tell the distance, direction, and even the size of its soon-to-be-meal. Isn’t evolution wonderful? The spider walks delicately on the strands of the web (it never gets caught in its own web) that it has left unsticky and, like immobilizes the fly by wrapping it up in silken ropes.

    Then the spider gets down to where the rubber meets the road. Out come the deadly fangs, which gives the victim an injection that either kills or paralyzes the prisoner. If death eludes the fly, it waits, paralyzed and roped, for the murderer to return. The spider then injects some chemicals that turn its victim’s insides into insect soup, and then polishes it off.

    Have you ever considered some of the places a spider can be found? Just about anywhere one can imagine.

    How did this little creature/preacher get there? Solomon tells us that the spider uses its “hands.” Hands? That’s right. At the end of each of its 8 legs are tiny appendages like a claw with finger-like additions by which to climb walls, etc.

    We shrink in alarm from such a creature and such a career. But we admire its persistence.

None of these four creatures have any intrinsic strength that would qualify them for great accom-plishments. Yet, by using their God-given abilities, they achieve significant tasks: storing food for winter, finding protection from their enemies, working cooperatively, overcoming through persistence.

So it is that we, by the grace, gifts God has bestowed on us, can do great things for God.

Preparation, Protection, Partnership, and Persistence. Four prudent, practical qualities for each of us to cultivate for God’s glory.