Four Little Things - Daily Inspiration P. 485 - Supernatural Truth in Christ

Proverbs 30: King James Bible

Four Little Things – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter thirty, Verses 24-28

24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

Daily Inspiration from These Verses – Four Little Things

Continuing on with the Old Testament version of listicles, Agur presents to us the very first which doesn’t include mankind. Seems ironic to me, talking about four things that are exceedingly wise, and people are left out of the equation.

These four little things Agur lists for us as examples of excessive wisdom, are the ants, conies (rock badgers), locusts, and the spider. Unlike other lists he’s given us earlier in this chapter, he’s given us short explanations to think about.

The Ant

“A people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.”

Ants have always been famous for their diligence. Earlier in Proverbs, Solomon instructs the sluggard to refer to the ant when it comes down to getting things done in season.

We touched on this particular topic early on in these devotionals, in the page called “Go to the Ant.” They’ve got no taskmaster, deadlines, circumstances that force them to do what they’ve got to do…

They work and gather as a community and a team. In my opinion, it is the only circumstance that communism works without eventually destroying the community. Nobody is in charge outside of the hill, they all have their various jobs to do, and without any prompting they get it done. No sluggards at the ant hill waiting around for his food.

They have a queen, but she’s got the worst job of them all, not the cushiest. Eventually, becoming a job that will take her life. And yet she’ll continue on until then.

There is indeed wisdom to their ways which insures their survival.

The Conies

“A feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.”

In the area Agur came from, conies were what we’d call rock badgers. In Europe, they’re a type of rabbit, in South Africa they’re called Dassies.

These little critters live in crevices of rocks, giving them shelter and also keeps them from the reach of predators. They are masters of defense.

They live in groups of 15-80, and actually send out sentries to make sure the coast is clear, while the group is foraging. Any sign of danger and the sentries alert the others, and they vanish back into the safety of the rocks.

Their success at evasion has translated into becoming a pest for humans in areas where they are found.

The Locusts

“No king, yet go they forth all of them by bands.”

Of the four little things, I’d say the most notorious would be the locusts. Also of all the four, they are the most bold. At least they appear to be.

Flying around, creating an ominous dark cloud, constantly on the hunt for food, and on the run from the locust behind them. Yes locusts are cannibals and fear cannibals, all at the same time.

They’re a menace everywhere they go, leaving ruin in their wake. An unwelcome bunch of guests wherever they land. The Lord didn’t use them as one of the plagues for nothing!

But despite their inner community turmoil, they work in unicin, move in unicin, breed in unicin, and do whatever else it is that they do, as one. No leader, no commander, nobody there to tell them what they need to do, or where they need to go.

A sluggard locust would only be found on the menu.

The Spider

“Taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.”

The spider is an odd one to have included in the list. How often do we associate wisdom with a spider? Well, there are a few things to think about, despite how we feel about these creepy eight legged intruders.

The spider through wisdom knows where its best chances are of catching its food. Then sets a trap beautifully and masterfully, and waits it out. It’ll wait to feel the vibrations of struggle in its web, then rush out to fetch its prey.

Patience, diligence, and wisdom can all be found in the actions of a spider.

Lessons of the Four Little Things

These four examples give us a display of several traits that require wisdom in order to be effective and long lasting. Diligence, patience, discretion, vigilance, knowledge, and understanding, all need wisdom at the root in order to bear fruit.

Through wisdom we know the right things to be diligent about. Or what requires patience and what doesn’t. What to be discreet about or when it is right to be vigilant. Without wisdom, and that which we learn from the Word of God, all of these traits can get us into a lot of trouble.

Related New Testament Scripture

Luke 7: King James Bible

35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

Luke 21: King James Bible

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Acts 6: King James Bible

10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Hebrews 12: King James Bible

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

1 Peter 5: King James Bible

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

2 Peter 3: King James Bible

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Prayer

Father,

Your Word is inexhaustible, and we thank you for it all. If any of us need more of your wisdom, please fill us all with it over-abundantly. May you cause for our cup to run over with understanding and knowledge as well. All so that we are better representatives and ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven. Just and upright servants of the Living God. This we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen

Question

Have you ever considered these four little things before?

Daily Inspiration from Proverbs 30 P. 485 – Four Little Things