The Field Grown Over with Thorns and Nettles - Proverbs 24:31

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse thirty-one of Proverbs Solomon shared how the field, “was all grown over with thorns” where we read,

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns,

and nettles covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

The verse begins, “And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, ...” Solomon began with the words, “and, lo” or “and look, behold or consider this”, “it was all grown over” which means “it, the field and the vineyard, completely existed as ascended and exalted” “with thorns” or “by the means of thistles, nettles and useless prickly plants”. Solomon shared how the “field and vineyard” were completely covered in thistles, nettles and prickly plants. 

The verse continues, “... and nettles covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.” Solomon added the words, “and nettles” or “and weeds or prickly, pointed bramble thorns” “covered the face thereof” which means “clothed, concealed and hid the presence or surface of the field and vineyard”, “and the stone wall thereof” or “and the precious and solid marble or petrified rock” “was broken down” which means “existed as dashed apart or torn down”. Solomon said the protective wall of rock that surrounded the field and vineyard was torn down. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon the results of the lazy person not attending to their “vineyard” and “field”. Not only were the “field and vineyard” covered with weeds and thorns, but the protective wall surrounding them was destroyed as well. God wants us to attend to our allotted goods, and when we neglect them, they come to ruin. God loves us, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins, He provided access to Him through belief and trust in Jesus. When we surrender to Him and make Him LORD of our lives, He will give us the knowledge, strength and ability to manage what He has given to us in a way that is pleasing to Him and not covered with thorns or surrounded by “broken down” walls. 

Next time Solomon says, “then I saw, and considered it well”, 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".