FREE YOURSELF

Proverbs 6:1-11 / Keywords 6:5

 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

 

Warnings Against Folly

6:1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,

    if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

2 you have been trapped by what you said,

    ensnared by the words of your mouth.

3 So do this, my son, to free yourself,

    since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:

Go—to the point of exhaustion—[a]

    and give your neighbor no rest!

4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,

    no slumber to your eyelids.

5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,

    like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;

    consider its ways and be wise!

7 It has no commander,

    no overseer or ruler,

8 yet it stores its provisions in summer

    and gathers its food at harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?

    When will you get up from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

    a little folding of the hands to rest—

11 and poverty will come on you like a thief

    and scarcity like an armed man.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 6:3 Or Go and humble yourself,

1. Often without wisdom, we agree too hastily to a commitment that we cannot keep or will burden us too much. When we realize that we have done so, we must not sleep until we have freed ourselves. We will regret it if we do not. The financial, physical, mental, and emotional toll will be our undoing.

 

2. The author of the proverb gives two analogies of freedom: a gazelle from the hand of the hunter and a bird from the trap of the fowler. It is highly unlikely that either can get free, but it’s possible when they try persistently with all their strength. To succeed, the trapped prey doesn’t give up until they have escaped, even if they are injured and bleeding.

 

3. Why do people not seek a way out from their unwise commitments? It is because they procrastinate or are too lazy to try. Those who sleep and try to forget about it will lose precious opportunities and become impoverished. The proverb offers the example of an ant, which is so diligent and self-starting. Though so small, an ant displays extraordinary commitment, diligence, patience, planning, work ethic, and wisdom.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for giving me the means to get out of any situation when I persistently do something by faith. Help me to escape unwise commitments before it is too late.

One Word Be diligent and be free