We are collectors at our house: Paperweights, bells, and salt cellars, among other things. Solomon was a collector, too, but he gathered together something easier to pack and move. He collected Proverbs.

One of my favorite pastimes as a child was watching ants as they moved around the ant hill. These little creatures have six legs, but no wings. Their eyes are very tiny, but their brains are large in proportion to their size. They how how to work and how to play; how to help the injured and bury the dead; and how to be a part of a family.

The second little animal in our proverb is a grayish-brown creature with soft fur, sharp white teeth, and fourteen toes. It is called a coney or badger. The wisdom of this animal is displayed in its choice of home sites.

The next little animal in our proverb has thin, gauzy wings and a sharp jaw. The Bible calls it a locust. Locusts breed in desert places, and invade cultivated lands for food. They will travel in a column about a hundred feet deep and as much as four miles long. When locusts leave an area, not a blade of grass is to be seen.

The fourth animal in this Bible nest is a lizard. There is one thing this little creature can do. It can climb. It can climb over walls that are smooth as glass, right up into the palace of the king, and into the queen's chamber.

Fear is one of the worst enemies of human beings. We fear loss of health or security. Some people are so afraid of the unknown that they cannot leave their homes.

Lions were common in the lands of the Bible, and occur many times in scripture. They are described as strong and courageous. Their roaring is also mentioned. Samson's riddle in Judges 14 involved a lion carcass. Shepherds were familiar with lions preying on the flocks. Lions are also pictured in the symbolism of Ezekiel and Revelation. The ultimate symbol is of Jesus Christ.