“It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,”
The three words chosen by Solomon in this verse all have very specific government meaning. The word here translated commander is the word for judge, the root meaning “to decide”. In Joshua the word is also translated as a military commander. The word overseer is also used as the person employed by the Egyptian taskmasters to urge on the Israelite slaves. And the word ruler was understood by the early reader of Proverbs to be a king, lord or prince. Solomon implies that we too should need none of these to get us to do the very things God has placed us here to do, our purpose or calling. It is normal in the ant community to operate in the exact purpose and function for which they were created. Out of that comes pretty much flawless execution of their communities function. Imagine a world of people who all lived in harmony and operated in the exact calling of their life. What the ant seems to lack is free will and a capacity for sin and rebellion. Believe it or not I’m thankful for the difference. The reason we have a need for officials regulating boundaries for our lives is the same reason we needed a savior. God loves us too much to make us robots or machines driven with no conscience reality and the ability to live in obedience or rebellion. Because of sin, not to praise it, we have come to experience the greater love of a God who would send His one and only son to die a miserable, wretched death on a rugged cross for us. Today live free in obedience. #BeTheEdge
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh…” Galatians 5:13a NIV
