“There be four things which are little upon earth, but they are exceeding wise.” v. 26. These aptly set forth the truth of the gospel.
“The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.” Unable to withstand the severe winter weather, they prepare their food in the summer. This day of grace is the summer time for the sinner and he may well learn from the ant that now is the time to obtain the salvation that God has provided. The wintertime of God’s judgment will soon come and then it will be too late.
“The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.” Similar to our rabbits, the conies are small defenseless creatures, but they have their nests hidden away in the rocks, safe from attacks. In Psalm 61:22From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2) we read of “the Rock that is higher than I,” and 1 Corinthians 10:44And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4) tells us that the Rock is Christ, the only refuge for a sinner.
“The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands.” They have a natural instinct that keeps them together. They aptly illustrate those who belong to the Lord Jesus, who are born again and have a new nature. The Spirit of God, unseen by natural eyes, dwells within their hearts and unites them together in one body.
“The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” Though an undesirable little creature, the spider nevertheless finds its way into kings’ palaces. We, poor sinners, by nature and practice unsuited to God’s presence, who have been cleansed from our sins in the blood of Christ, are now made fit for a place in the Father’s house, and one day will be caught up to be with Christ there forever.
The last four things are stately and impressive. “A lion, which is strongest among beasts” — type of Satan. Who would dare to meet him alone unprotected? It is only by abiding in Christ that we can overcome him. Next a “greyhound,” or better rendered a “warhorse” which would strike terror into one who might meet him on foot. Then “a he goat” — symbol in Scripture of a great empire, noted for swiftness in conquest. Last of all “a king, against whom there is no rising up.” These all symbolize powers that are beyond us naturally and particularly the last. This carries our thoughts on to Christ who is to be a King with whom this world will have to do. When He comes in His power and glory He “shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath” (Ps. 110:05), and the most modern weapons of war will be no defense against Him. Those who put their trust in Him now will be with Him when He comes forth out of heaven, and his coming will mean deliverance for His poor persecuted earthly people in that day.
Then in the end of Chapter 31 we have the “virtuous woman” or “woman of worth,” whose price is “far above rubies” and in whom “the heart of her husband doth safely trust.” “She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” If in the last chapter we had Christ the Son set forth in mystic language as the One who is coming forth to reign, here we have a figure of the Church, for which He died. “For Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.” Eph. 5:2525Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25).
ML 11/05/1961