THE SONG OF THE ANT
The ant sings of the virtue of industrious labor necessary to bring Hashem’s world to fruition.
[Song 82] Ant (Ch. 6)
נְמָלָה אוֹמֶרֶת. לֵךְ אֶל נְמָל ָה עָצֵל רְאֵה דְרָכֶיהָ וַחֲכָם: (ספר משלי ו ו)
The Ant is saying, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.”
Commentary
The ant is the epitome of industriousness. The wisest of men, King Shlomo,
directed the lazy to go learn from the ant. Throughout the summer, it carries
food many times its size in order to store it for the winter. They function with
discipline, and they not steal from each other, even though no supervisors stand
over them. They sing of the virtues by which the Creator's perfectly designed
world thrives. Productive usage of the human body and the mind is part of their natural
function. Conversely, inaction fosters unhealthy, negative emotions. The more
one labors, the more he will become inspired to achieve yet more, and he will
be both physically and emotionally satiated. Ants succeed in their relatively
insignificant lives through their healthy work ethics. We, whose lives are truly
significant, and who need to amass enough Torah and mitzvos to last eternally,
would be wise to learn from the song of the ant.
LIVING WITH THE SONG
From the most basic of creatures we learn the most basic of lessons. It is common sense for one to utilize the
time he has been granted to achieve that purpose for which he has been created.
Effective usage of the body and the mind is neither tedious nor damaging. It is the natural function of the capable
and thinking man. On the contrary, lethargy and inaction foster negative emotions and are altogether unhealthy
for a person. The more one labors the more he will become inspired to achieve yet more and he will be both
physically and emotionally satiated. Those that do not wish to use their lives productively are not only giving up
on what is good for themselves. They are also passively destroying the world that Hashem created to be settled
and developed.
If the ant which needs almost nothing to live its insignificant life carries loads many times its mass and of greater
quantity than it now needs, all the more so should we, whose lives are truly significant. The Jewish nation needs
to amass enough Torah and Mitzvos to last it eternally in the World to Come. Moreover, we have a King
overseeing us watchfully. We should be wise to shake off the bonds of lethargy and merit eternal goodness.
If we do not listen to the song of the ant, who shall?
Inspirational commentary By Shmuel Ben-Tzion Kraines author of
The Song of Existence.