Proverbs 24:10 Commentary and Bible Study

The marginal notes will tell you that the Hebrew translated ‘small’ is ‘narrow’. ‘If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is narrow and constricted. It is like trying to run any distance when you are unfit. When for some reason or other, you have not walked anywhere or run any distance or done anything energetic for ages, and after a short space, you have got a tight band across your chest. That is exactly what this is referring to in this illustration. You are winded and breathless, and, unless you have an illness, it is just because you are unfit. You could do something about it.But we transfer this to the spiritual realm. We yield to covetous thoughts because we do not practise self-restraint and self-denial. Anything you do not practise you become weak at, and it is the same with temptation, the same in spiritual matters. If you faint in the evil day, in the time of temptation and demonic attack, it is because you are out of practice. You have given yourself an easy ride. You have not been carrying out spiritual duties and so on. It is as simple as that.And it is so with wisdom. We have to keep applying wisdom, every day. We are thoughtful people as believers. That is the message of this chapter. Every day of our spiritual life, we are thinking about what we do, and we are learning. It is our lifelong occupation.These are some of the aspects of wisdom or skill, which you need for the construction of your life, which is a project. You need them for the constant engagement against the enemy of souls and the flesh. That is the war. You need to be learning and preparing all the time whatever your age. And you need to be exercising that wisdom, checking all decisions. There are major decisions being taken by us every week, things that will influence our service for the Lord. We have to watch out for implications. If I do this, what is likely to be the outcome? So this is about spiritual wisdom, and the pictures are wonderful and may God ever help us to value and pursue knowledge and wisdom.