Bible Commentaries

Proverbs 30:24-28

I. "The ants are a people not strong," etc. (1) This is forecast. The ants know the time of their opportunity, and make the best of it. (2) Every man has a summer. "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation."

II. "The conies are but a feeble folk," etc. The tenant is weak; the habitation is strong. Here is a puny, a very feeble folk, going up towards the great rock house. There is something very pathetic, very beautiful, in that—in weakness seeking the granite, in feebleness hiding itself in some pavilion of rock. There is a Rock provided for all weakness.

III. "The locusts have no king, yet they come forth all of them by bands"—a very beautiful and practical republic. They have no king, but every one of them has a little bit of kingliness in himself. Here I find co-operation. That is how it must be in business, in families, in Churches, in governments, in all great confederacies of life.

IV. "The spider taketh hold with her hands," etc. Does this mean skill? This skill will have its reward. Does it mean patience in working out elaborate and beautiful results? Then here is progress—getting into kings' houses, into high places, into palatial position. "In all labour there is profit."

Parker, City Temple, 1871, p. 52.

I. You must learn of the ants to take thought about time to come. Youth and childhood are your summer. Now is the best time for laying up food for your souls.

II. You must learn of the conies to have a place of safety to flee to in time of danger. Your souls have many enemies.

You need the help of One who can keep you safe. Those boys and girls are wise who put their trust in Jesus Christ, and ask Him to take care of their souls. Jesus is the true Rock for children to flee to.

III. You must learn of the locusts to love one another, to keep together, and help one another.

IV. You must learn of the spider not to give up trying to be good because of a little trouble. Keep on trying not to do what is evil, and trying always to do what is good and pleasing to God.

Bishop Ryle, Boys and Girls Playing, p. 45.

References: Proverbs 30:24.—Outline Sermons to Children, p. 80. Proverbs 30:26.—Spurgeon, Evening by Evening, p. 327. Proverbs 31:1.—W. Arnot, Laws from Heaven, 2nd series, p. 392; E. Paxton Hood, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xxiii., p. 56. Proverbs 31:1-9.—R. Wardlaw, Lectures on Proverbs, vol. iii., p. 367. Proverbs 31:10-12.—E. H. Bradby, Sermons at Haileybury, p. 160. Proverbs 31:10-31.—W. Arnot, Laws from Heaven, 2nd series, p. 397; R. Wardlaw, Lectures on Proverbs, vol. iii., pp. 378, 400. Proverbs 31:26.—A. Rowland, Homiletic Magazine, vol. x., p. 129. Proverbs 31:30.—E. W. Shalders, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xiii., p. 35. Proverbs 31:30, Proverbs 31:31.—W. Arnot, Laws from Heaven, 2nd series, p. 407.