Bible 105-B27 LUO: Old Testament Survey
201320 Spring 2013
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Liberty University
February 24, 2013
Hebrew Wisdom on Diligence and Laziness There is a great deal of Hebrew wisdom in the Bible in regards to the subjects of diligence and laziness. Throughout the book of Proverbs the words of lazy and diligence can be found in many different forms. Sluggish, sluggard, and idle describe laziness. The word diligence can also be considered as, thorough, attentive, and persistence. Each of these words, found in the Bible, can reference diligence, and laziness within Hebrew Wisdom in many cases.
The book of Proverbs is the Hebrew book of Wisdom. Its purpose is to provide practical instructions to live a wise, well ordered live. The difference between being diligent, wise, lazy, and having folly is knowledge. Proverbs addresses this in its first chapter: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). This is the most basic ingredient in wisdom. All wisdom depends on knowledge of God and the submission to His will. To think or believe that you know something, but you do not know God negates the value of having knowledge. Wisdom comes from being faithfully diligent in the Word of God.
Many positive effects come from being diligent. Some of those are wealth, wisdom, abundance, power, satisfaction, profit, and meaningfulness. Laziness brings forth negative effects of poverty, disgrace, servitude, failure, destruction, hunger, fear, absurd behavior, ruin, decay, and death. Having folly is one of being a fool that lacks good sense. Those that is lost to the Lord.
Early in the book of Proverbs you find, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The last four verses of this chapter that follow this verse are a key to its meaning. It is a warning of the perils of adultery
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