The Slothful Saying There is a Lion Without - Proverbs 22:13

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “the eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse thirteen of Proverbs Solomon said, “the slothful man says, there is a lion without” where we read,

The slothful man says, there is a lion without,

I shall be slain in the streets.

The verse begins, “The slothful man says, there is a lion without, ...” Solomon began with the words, “the slothful man says” or “the sluggish, indolent and lazy person whether male or female utters, declares and proclaims”, “there is a lion” which means “there exists a violent lion as with a mane” “without” or “outside, outdoors, abroad or in the street or field”. Solomon said the lazy person proclaims that a ferocious “lion” is outside, in the street or in the field. 

The verse continues, “... I shall be slain in the streets.” Solomon added the words, “I shall be slain” or “I, the lazy person, will be killed, murdered or assassinated” “in the streets” which means “within the avenue, broad place or open plaza”. Solomon said the lazy person will declare how they will be killed in the open plaza if they go outside.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how Solomon addressed the mindset of people who are lazy. Rather than going outside of their homes to work, they make excuses, sometimes even as extreme as a “lion” being in the open plaza, to avoid working. Their perceived fear and laxity keeps them from producing, and this is not the way God wants us to be. God gave us abilities, and we are to use them in His Kingdom. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us from using excuses like a “lion” to avoid working for ourselves and Him in the world. 

Next time Solomon says, “the mouth of the strange woman is a deep pit”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".