Weed Control

(Pro 24:31 KJV) And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

This verse caught my eye in the NASB because instead of the “thorns” (7063) of the KJV it has “thistles” (7057).  My references say that they are actually the same word in the Hebrew.  Both translations have “nettles” (2738).  The reason I noticed is because I have been pulling them up out of my yard.  I originally thought they were the same thing but evidently not.  The plant with the glorious purple flower is a thistle.  Nettles are not so colorful.  Both have the spiky, thorny leaves.  Both have to go.

I am just beginning my struggle against these two plants.  I am operating on the assumption that just mowing them down will not take care of the problem.  I am pulling them up and trying to keep the seeds from spreading.  Fortunately they seem to come up easily.  One thing I know, if I don’t pull them they will multiply.

So?  The point Solomon is making is that we need to be diligent in our spiritual lives as well as our gardening.  We need to pull the weeds out by the roots or they will take over.