God’s Quatrain of Little Things
“There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.” (Proverbs 30:24-28)
A quatrain is a unit or group of four lines of verse. Now, hold on there. While this is not Bible
Literature 101, I dare say you will find the subject matter interesting. At least, I hope so. So, stick around.
You might find something that will bless you.
Take note, if you will, that Agur, the writer of this proverb, has informed us of two things: of the four
creatures mentioned in this quatrain, they are all little, and they are all exceeding wise. So, for all you picnic
lovers, consider the ant … they love your picnics, also.
“The ants are a people not strong,” The ants know the time of their opportunity and make the best of it.
Every man has a summer. “Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.” We must learn from the ants
to take thought about our future. Youth and childhood are our summers. Now is the best time for laying up food
for our souls. We are admonished by Solomon to “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth ….”
“The conies are but a feeble folk. The tenant is weak, but the apartment is strong. Here is a puny, feeble
little creature going towards the great rock house. There is something very pathetic, very beautiful, in that—in
weakness seeking a home in the granite; in feebleness hiding in some pavilion of rock. But then, even for us, the
people of God, there is a Rock provided for all our weaknesses. We must learn from the conies to have a place
of safety to flee to in times of danger. Our soul has many enemies. We need the help of One who can keep us
safe. All are wise who trust Jesus Christ and ask Him to take care of their souls. Jesus is the true Rock for us to
flee to.
“The locusts have no king, yet they come forth all of them by bands”—a very beautiful, wonderful, and
practical community. They have no king, but everyone has a little bit of kingliness in himself. Here I find
cooperation. That is how it must be in business, families, churches, governments―indeed, in all great unities of
life. We must learn of the locusts to love one another, keep together, and help one another.
“The spider taketh hold with her hands.” Does this mean skill? This skill will have its reward. Does it
mean patience in working out elaborate and beautiful results? Then there is progress—getting into kings’
houses, into high places, into palatial positions. “In all labour there is profit.” We must learn from the spider not
to give up trying to be good because of a little trouble. Keep on trying not to do what is evil and trying always
to do what is good and pleasing to God.
The ants prepare their meat in the summer so that they may not starve in the rigours of the winter
months. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats, and the rocks for the conies; and has God provided no
refuge for our souls? God himself is our refuge and our strength, and those that make him their habitation shall
be secured from the fear of evil.
Francis Mason
Pastor Mason