The mystery surrounding this last verse in the proverb of the four small but wise creatures makes it the most interesting.It's unclear what type of creature is referred to and how it demonstrates wisdom. Some translations render it "spider" and some "lizard" and at the risk of oversimplification there are two concepts; "the creature grasps" or "the creature is easily grasped". If you, or someone you know, speaks ancient Hebrew or Chaldee I hope you will tell me exactly what creature is spoken of and unlock the secret of the mysterious virtue the creature possesses. Until then I have, of course, gone back to the original document to uncover the truth...
huh?
What did you say?
No, not the original hebrew, the King James version of course.
The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces - Proverbs 30:28
God has, throughout history, placed spiders in palaces. Joseph, Moses, Esther, Daniel, Nehemiah. These people demonstrated skill, wisdom and integrity and while different and foreign to their surrounds they were regarded as extremely useful and God was able to use them to further His purposes.
The spider is regarded by many to be ugly, sometimes frightening, even evil. It's an unfair characterization and I personally am offended for spiders everywhere. Here are the facts, and they are undisputed; spiders are extremely efficient at pest control, they weave beautiful webs, the silk they create is one of the strongest fibers on earth, what's not to like?
So the takeaway for us should be whenever you feel like an ugly, eight legged, arachnid remember, wherever your place in the world is, God wants you to use your skill and be prepared that He may lead you into a palace of sorts. If that happens remember Mordecai's warning to Esther.
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? - Esther 4:14
