ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Tu’apulelulu Me 6, 2021

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways

‘Alu ki he lō, ‘a e makau na; Siofi hono ngaahi ‘alunga

Palovepi 6 (Proverbs 6)

(6:6-8) 6 ‘Alu ki he lō, ‘a e makau na; Siofi hono ngaahi ‘alunga, ka ke ma‘u poto: 7 ‘A ia ‘oku ‘ikai hano angi, Hano ‘ōfisa, Pe pule. 8 Tokonaki pē ia ‘ene me‘akai ‘i he fa‘ahita‘u māfana, Pea kuo ne tānaki ‘i he taimi ututa‘u ‘ene me‘a tokoni.

(6:6-8) 6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

 

*Commentary: David Guzik – Study Guide on Proverbs*

Go to the ant, you sluggard! Solomon spoke wisdom to the sluggard—essentially, the lazy man or woman. That lazy person should learn from the ant, an insect proverbial for hard work.

The book of Proverbs speaks a lot about the value of hard work, and for good reason. The difference between success and failure, between potential disappointed or fulfilled, is often hard work.

“No insect is more laborious, not even the bee itself; and none is more fondly attached to or more careful of its young, than the ant.” (Clarke)

“Christ sends us to school to the birds of the air, and lilies of the field, to learn dependence upon divine providence, [Matthew 6:25-29] and to the stork, crane, and swallow, to be taught to take the seasons of grace, and not to let slip the opportunities that God putteth into our hands. [Jeremiah 8:7].” (Trapp)

Having no captain, overseer or ruler: The ant is wise and worthy of imitation because she works hard without having to be told to work hard. The ethic of diligence comes from within, and does not have to be imposed by a captain, overseer or ruler.

“Aristotle also asserted that ants labor without rulers to direct them. Modern entomologists have discovered a perfect social organization among ants, but, as Plaut notes, this does ‘not imply that there is a hierarchy of command.’” (Waltke)

Providers her supplies in the summer: The ant works hard when the work is to be done. In the summer and in the harvest, the work gets done. This means that the ant gives a good lesson in her ways and her wisdom.

“What a deal of grain gets she together in summer! What pains doth she take for it, labouring not by daylight only, but by moonshine also! What huge heaps hath she! What care to bring forth her store, and lay it drying on a sunshine day, lest with moisture it should putrefy.” (Trapp)