My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth,
caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
Comment: Generosity is great and without doubt the Bible tells us to look after the poor, widows, orphans etc. But Jesus whilst teaching this also talks sometimes almost like a capitalist – for instance talking about talents and what we do with them. Here the author is talking about making foolish and thoughtless promises. Certainly it is presented as a case of making an unwise decision! His advice is’ recognize your mistake and do something graciously to try and sort it out!’ I love the poetic way he says ‘save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.‘
We have just gone through a flood and now we have ants everywhere seeking every crumb they can find. They are not under ‘government’ orders but industrious as nature (God) has created them to be. Some humans are here called, very disparagingly ‘sluggards’ or lazy slobs! You’ll be poor and needy the author says and adds ‘Get up and get to work!’
Prayer: We would help those who are in desperate need, but please help our nation to be one where people want to work!
As I read it! 