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Parenting by the Book

Proverbs   Study
Study 99

STUDY 99

Text: Proverbs 14
18 May 2003

Dear Parents,

APPRECIATING HEBREW LITERARY STYLE
As we read the Book of Proverbs, we stand amazed at the wisdom we discover from it. Each text read and pondered over, yields rich and deep truths. The heart is truly blessed when the truths are prayerfully and diligently applied.

There are other things to appreciate as well, if we but take time to ponder over the Word of God with a literary eye. Let us consider this engaging text.

Where no oxen are, the trough is clean.
But much increase comes by the strength of the ox.

Proverbs 14:4

Let us try and appreciate a number of things as we study this text:-

1. The mention of oxen, but no mention of the owner

The focus seems to be the oxen, for they are the ones which plough the fields. Yet, oxen cannot be expected to plough the fields without being properly yoked. They must of necessity be managed carefully by a good and skillful farmer.

The beauty of this text is to be found in what is not mentioned! The farmer is not mentioned, but he is obviously the intended subject! The lack of diligence on the part of the farmer will result in a clean trough! There is nothing to put into the trough, since he did not apply himself to working his oxen to plough the fields.

2. The strength of the ox

The ox was regarded as the strongest of all the farm animals, and understandably so. As the lion is regarded as the king of the jungle beasts, the ox is often regarded as the king of the domestic beasts. His strength is formidable and unmatched when it comes to the matter of ploughing the field!

Note again, the absence of the owner-farmer. He is the intended subject of the text. The strength of the ox is his to harness. However, the nature of ploughing the field involves the combined strength of both the master and the beast of burden. The strength of the ox is without question. What is as important is the strength of the master. His strength of will and determination to plough the fields must be combined with the strength of the ox. Then would there be “much increase”. The troughs need not be “clean” (that is “empty”) but full of grain for the oxen. He deserves a good feed because he has worked hard in the fields for and with his master.

A SUBTLE CHALLENGE TO THE LAZY
The challenge is obvious after a bit of pondering. The subtle wisdom hits home after a while. The potential for wealth (“increase”) is right there. However, the individual must be prepared to work as hard as the oxen to succeed.

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie

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