Animal Wisdom

The Road of the Wise

Imasdov;ivn Gyntaninyren

Imasdovnin Jampan

Proverbs 30:29-31

This morning we are having a special service honoring our graduates. It is a pleasure for me to see so many students finishing a stage in their lives and moving on to the next one. All of them participated in graduation ceremonies, and probably listened to a speaker who shared with them of words of wisdom. Today, as your pastor, I will preach from the Book of Wisdom addressing all of us, specially the graduates.

While we were growing up, we were often told stories where the characters were animals. A famous story by Hovhannes Toumanian is about The Lion, the Fox and the Wolf. The lion king was sick. The wolf accused the fox because he did not visit the sick king. When the fox visited the lion, he said to him, “I did not visit you earlier, because I was thinking about a cure for your sickness.” “Did you find a cure?” asked the king. “Yes, sure. You should eat the meat of the wolf and warm your body with the wolf’s skin,” was the fox’s reply.

In all cultures there are stories involving animals that illustrate a moral point. Spiderman, Batman, the Disney characters of Mickey Mouse and more, illustrate characters that relate with animals.

The book of Proverbs is also full of examples from the lives of animals. There is wisdom in observing them and learning what God is trying to tell us through their examples.

I will take two allegories:

1. The Lion, the rooster and the goat

Proverbs 30:29-31

“Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride: the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any; the strutting rooster, the he-goat, and a king whose army is with him.”

The lion is the king of animals. He walks like a king and acts like a king. He walks among the beasts and does not retreat before anyone. In one ward, the lion walks in confidence.

Let me make a note here that we are called to be “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” (1 Peter 2:9) We are the daughters and sons of the King of Kings. We should live like royal people, who serve the Lord. Therefore the reference to royalty is a reference to the Christian life. It is about us. And you students, this word goes to you too.

There are others who think they are kings. Not every “king” is a real king. They walk like a king, act like a king, but in reality they are not a king.

It is like the rooster and the goat. Both animals walk like a king in their families. The rooster is “king” within the secure pen. The goat is “king” among his goats. They will not face the “beasts of the jungle”.

These two are funny looking. We Armenians say, “Don’t be like a rooster, who thinks he knows everything.” Or “Don’t be like a goat that always goes its way away from the flock.” How dangerous will our lives be when we think we are in control and we are ignorant and full of pride.

Have you seen any flags of nations with rooster or goat signs?

Almost all nations use the figure of a lion or an eagle. They represent confidence and bravery in the midst of dangers. They represent security and genuine leadership in facing the dangers of this world. We are talking about genuine royalty and not the appearance in royalty.

We read in 1 Samuel a similar story about a genuine king and a false king. Although the two kings were anointed by God, yet were not the same. I am talking about Saul and David.

We will continue in English.