Standing Our Ground

DEVOTION

ECCLESIASTES

STANDING OUR GROUND

Eccl 10:8-11

8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them. 10 If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success. 11 If a snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

NIV

 These are somewhat difficult to understand as they speak of issues not common to ordinary people, but rather are analogies with another meaning. Like who of us would actually dig a pit? That might have been a method of trapping animals in the past and maybe some even do that today, but this is speaking about setting a trap, digging a pit to cause harm to another person. We can’t image someone doing that, however, we can image Satan digging a pit for us and we know he is going to fall into a pit himself. As far as that hidden snake behind the wall, we cannot image anyone other than it referring to Satan, that old serpent. But what is the breaking through the wall mean? It could mean the concept of envy, jealously and finally the exercise of lust, trying to take that which belongs to another, like breaking in as a thief would. Of course we would not actually break into someone’s home, breaking down the wall. But that desire for what is not ours amounts to the same thing and when we lust after something, we are bitten by Satan. We know it is wrong to crave after the things of the world, to make things the subject of our desires, and yet it is so difficult to not want more than we have, so we try to break through the wall. This same concept seems to carry through into the way we conduct business or our affairs among others. The idea of quarrying stones and splitting logs could refer to those kind of endeavors. Same goes for the arm that swings the ax and the charmer of snakes. These are analogies for other means of conducting ourselves in the affairs with others. It does not matter is we are the sharpest blade in the group, that is the smartest, most educated, or most highly regarded, if we conduct ourselves in the wisdom of the Lord we are successful. But when it comes to the snake charmer, we might be talking about something else. Could charming the snake have anything to do with charming Satan? That is how we deal with him, how we control or influence him rather than the reverse. If we do not charm him rightly, or control him, keep him at bay, and he bites us, we gain nothing. Even though we are in Christ it does not mean that slimy snake, the serpent of old is not going to dig a pit for us, or try to break us down, or injure us in some financial matter, or try to dull our senses, or give us a bite, injecting his venom of evil within us. So we are to take our stand, with the full armor of God and stand our ground.