There's a Lion in the Road (I Think I'll Go Back to Bed)

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Sunday - 9:15 AM Sunday School, 10:30 AM Worship Service

by: Denise Robinson

04/15/2021

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Our focus so far in Proverbs 26 has been on a "fool" (the one who says in his or her heart that there is no God). Today's verses turn our attention to a lazy person. We have read admonitions in previous proverbs, warning us against being lazy. Why is this so important to Solomon? Do today's verses give any additional insight?


The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” As a door turns on its hinges, so does a lazy person in bed. The lazy person buries a hand in the dish, and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth. The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem   than seven who can answer discreetly.   (Prov. 26:13-16)

i don't know about you, but I find these verses confusing. Why does a lazy person yell about a lion in the streets or turn in bed like a door on hinges? This is when we pastors turn to our libraries and look at what our commentaries have to say. First, we have heard similar language before: The lazy person says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” (Prov. 22:13). The key is to read the first two verses together. There is really no lion; the words are a pretext for staying in bed, an excuse for not going out of the house. The lazy one turns on the bed like a door, but won't get out of it for anything. The last two verses find him/her still at home and gloating in his/her own wisdom. 

Meditation: We all get "lazy" from time to time, but Solomon is speaking about a way of life. I wonder if he doesn't focus on laziness so much because there's something about us that makes it easy for us to fall into this trap. I will just stay home today and relax in front of the television or computer screen turns into two days, then a week, then a way of life. I, for example, am thankful the days are getting more sunlight; for me, it's' so much easier to get out of bed when it's getting light out and to stay productive at night when it doesn't get so dark so early. When it gets dark at 5:30, I have to fight against going to bed by 7:00! What about you?
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Our focus so far in Proverbs 26 has been on a "fool" (the one who says in his or her heart that there is no God). Today's verses turn our attention to a lazy person. We have read admonitions in previous proverbs, warning us against being lazy. Why is this so important to Solomon? Do today's verses give any additional insight?


The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” As a door turns on its hinges, so does a lazy person in bed. The lazy person buries a hand in the dish, and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth. The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem   than seven who can answer discreetly.   (Prov. 26:13-16)

i don't know about you, but I find these verses confusing. Why does a lazy person yell about a lion in the streets or turn in bed like a door on hinges? This is when we pastors turn to our libraries and look at what our commentaries have to say. First, we have heard similar language before: The lazy person says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” (Prov. 22:13). The key is to read the first two verses together. There is really no lion; the words are a pretext for staying in bed, an excuse for not going out of the house. The lazy one turns on the bed like a door, but won't get out of it for anything. The last two verses find him/her still at home and gloating in his/her own wisdom. 

Meditation: We all get "lazy" from time to time, but Solomon is speaking about a way of life. I wonder if he doesn't focus on laziness so much because there's something about us that makes it easy for us to fall into this trap. I will just stay home today and relax in front of the television or computer screen turns into two days, then a week, then a way of life. I, for example, am thankful the days are getting more sunlight; for me, it's' so much easier to get out of bed when it's getting light out and to stay productive at night when it doesn't get so dark so early. When it gets dark at 5:30, I have to fight against going to bed by 7:00! What about you?
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