Proverbs 19:24 (NASBStr)
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
This proverb is the same as:
Proverbs 26:15 (NASBStr)
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
In both of these proverbs we see Solomon giving us an observation about what he sees in the sluggard. As he watches and observes he notices that even though opportunity is right in front of them (the dish full of food) they won't take the effort to do so. By using food as a metaphor here we can assume he means the sluggard, even for his own sustenance, will not do the work. The sluggard character in Proverbs is often illuminated to us. It is simply outcome of a life that is absent the fear of The Lord. When you think of those who have talent and don't use it, this proverb would apply. When you think of those who have time and waste it, this proverb would apply. When you think of those who have faith and don't express it to God, this proverb would apply. The "dish" is a great metaphor but we narrow our thinking when we think just food. The sluggard buries his hand in his resources, no matter what they are, and he won't bother to utilize it. A person with many friends but won't show his/her friendship is a sluggard. They are too lazy to do the work to be social to receive the blessings of being social. So, this proverb has a wide variety of applications. Believers today have countless ways to study God's Word but although their hand is on the dish (the Bible) they won't so much as bring it to their mouth (digest and enjoy the nutrition of the Word). The proverb has many applications.
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