Proverbs

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Proverbs Chapter 30

 

  • Proverbs 30:1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, 

Prophecy is not merely foretelling something in the future as most of us suppose, it is speaking forth anything that comes from God. It could be a message of repentance, joy, comfort, warning or even what we think of as prophetic future events. 

Agur was the son of Jakeh who lived in Solomon's time. He spoke these words to Ucal and Ithiel. We never hear much about Agur but from his words we can determine his character. 

  • Proverbs 30:2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. 

He considers himself less wise than others and doesn't think of himself as a person of great understanding. 

  • Proverbs 30:3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. 

Here is a person who is like most of us. We want to share God's word but we feel so unlearned and weak. In this case we have to rely on God and God alone for our wisdom.

  • Proverbs 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? 

The only way to know God and His ways is to seek Him for wisdom. 

  • James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 

There is really no other way to obtain the correct understanding and wisdom. The author of this passage realizes that compared to God, we know nothing. To understand, we must seek God who is all power and wisdom. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that even remotely count as wisdom if it is not from God or outside of God's domain. 

Here we have mention of God having a son along with the words of ascending or descending. In Ephesians we read about Christ descending and then ascending to heaven. The Son of God whom we know of as Jesus Christ, Yeshua is the only one that has ascended or descended from heaven and back to heaven. God is full of wisdom and knows all things.

  • Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 
  • 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 
  • 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 
  • 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 
  • 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 

Christ completed all the necessary things for our salvation. When He left, He gave gifts of the Spirit to enable us to spread the gospel to the entire world.

  • Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 

Wow, this is a verse to remember. The word of God is pure and a word that we can trust. The word is quick, powerful and everlasting. 

  • Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

The word is our only way to discover eternal life as we see in John 5:39.

  • John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 

One way: Jesus is the Christ who came for the purpose of dying for our sins and granting us eternal life. This is for all who receive Him.

  • John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

Jesus was and is eternal just like God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

  • John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

Jesus came full of grace and truth. He is the word made flesh and the only way to salvation.

  • Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

So good of our God to provide both Jews and Gentiles a way out of sin and a lost forever condition.

  • Proverbs 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. 

We have verses of comfort, joy and peace but also verses of warning. To be balanced, we must read and keep both. We must not add to or take away from the word. We must not change the way of salvation by adding or taking away the way for mankind to be saved. 

  1. It is not "Except a man be born again and dress appropriately he shall not enter the kingdom of God. "
  2. It is not except a man be born again and join the Methodist (Baptist)(Church of God)(Catholic) or Mormon church he or she can't be saved.
  3. It is not except a man be born again and give big offerings (although I believe in giving to those that labor in the Lord and spread the gospel) that a person is saved. 
  4. It is not except a man be born again and stop wearing jewelry although if someone wants to do that, that is between them and God. 

It is, except a man be born again he shall not enter the kingdom of God. He must be born of water and of the spirit to be saved. 

Jesus Himself said that if we do not believe that He is the one God sent to save from sin we shall not be saved and enter into eternal life. 

  • John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 

God's written word makes everything plain to understand if we diligently seek Him.

  • 1John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 

Jesus is the Christ and the only way of salvation. We may call Him Yeshua or another name in a certain language we may speak but the Jesus who died for sins over 2000 years ago, the Son of God, is our only way of salvation.

  • Proverbs 30:7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 
  • 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 
  • 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. 

Riches are snares that can easily separate us from God because we will begin to depend upon the money, fear of losing it and we become actually a slave to it. 

To have enough to survive and not enough to exalt one's self, is sufficient. We see also over eating is just as dangerous to the body as smoking and drinking. We have too much, we jeopardize our health. Removing ourselves from vanity and lies benefits our spiritual health. Both are a waste of time. Being one that loves the truth and strives to stop false rumors get the attention of God. 

  • Proverbs 30:10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. 

Since this verse follows the one which mentions vanity and lies, I would guess this means false accusation. I'm sure if we saw someone committing a crime, we should report it but be careful to get the facts straight and not give a false accusation or exaggeration. 

  • Proverbs 30:11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 

We are living in that type of generation. We are quick to curse father and mother and not respect them in this generation. 

  • Proverbs 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. 

Here we see another description of our own generation. We think we are pure yet we are full of evil. We measure someone's righteousness by his education, his success in business and his wealth. High paying jobs impress people also but does not impress God. We admire the football heroes and movie stars, yet many of them have lives full of sin but we don't see it as sin. Multiple divorces, unfaithfulness, adultery, fornication are no longer considered sin. Breaking up families and divorcing multiple time is the norm rather than a rarity in today's culture. 

  • Proverbs 30:13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. 

This continues the thought in verse 12 of seeing ourselves as pure yet being full of evil. Pride is described in verse 13 and we know from other verses that pride goes before a fall. This is the opposite of whom the Lord spoke of in Matthew 5, "Blessed are the poor in spirit" meaning humble and more likely to rely on the Lord for salvation rather then have any self righteousness. 

  • Proverbs 30:14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. 

All throughout history we've had much exploitation of the poor. Even the church of that day would justify taking money from the poor. There was such a thing called debtor's prison also. The poor were considered the lowest of human beings and the rich exploited them and misused them. The opposite extreme is to despise the rich and force by law those that work hard for a living to give to those that do not want to work thereby enabling laziness with no responsibility.

  • Proverbs 30:15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: 

Symbolic of greed and never wanting enough. a horseleach is a leech that sucks out blood. Here are the things that are never full:

  • Proverbs 30:16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. 
  • 17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. 

Fire will burn and burn at will and it is hard to stop. The grave is never full. A disobedient child that is never satisfied is another example of never getting enough to stopping their behavior. 

  • Proverbs 30:18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: 
  • 19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. 
  • 20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. 

When one continues to do evil and overrides their conscience, it isn't long until we feel it is not wrong. We should always rejoice when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin because at least we know that our conscience is not seared and He is still working within us. Glory to God. 

Sometimes a conviction may be because of how we were brought up and the feelings of people around us but when we are sure it comes from the Holy Spirit, it is to be welcomed and we should allow it to bring us reproof. 

I had a person try to talk me into something once. As far as I know this person wasn't even a person who trusted in the Lord yet but she tried to talk me into doing something I thought was wrong and went on to tell me that after I do it a few times, I would not feel it was wrong any longer. Well, that stopped the temptation right then and there because I remembered being taught that we could override our conscience enough until we do not feel it is wrong any longer and I didn't want that. 

  • Proverbs 30:21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: 
  • 22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; 
  • 23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. 

For a person who is not brought up to learn how to handle wealth and power, they can easily abuse it if they happen to get the power to rule over men. Using one's wealth to help others is a good thing to have. This would be willingly, not the government over taxing them and forcing them to give up what they earned.

An odious woman is one that is full of hate and and is an enemy to her own husband. 

  • Proverbs 30:24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 
  • 25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 
  • 26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 
  • 27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 
  • 28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces. 

Its amazing to see the hard working ants and insects that work hard to build their places of habitation. Outside my back window was a nest that a robin built from scratch. To watch him was fascinating. 

  • Proverbs 30:29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: 
  • 30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; 

This is how we should be in a way. Like a lion that fears nothing but goes forward and turns not away, we should be like that in the things of the spirit. We go forward living for the Lord, walking in the spirit and in love, doing and working righteousness without wavering, without fainting in our hearts, trusting the outcome to the Lord. 

  • Proverbs 30:31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. 
  • 32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. 
  • 33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife. 

Proverbs covers so many things we need to get along with people and live in moderation.

  • James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 
  • 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 

Lifting up ourselves in pride, thinking evil and forcing wrath works evil and not the righteousness of God. Slow to speak, humble in spirit and trusting in Christ is the only way to bring forth fruit and walk in holiness. 

In Hebrews chapter 12, it mentions that without holiness no man shall see the Lord; sometimes we emphasize the holiness part and neglect the first part of that same verse that says to follow peace with all men. That is holiness also.

Going about stirring up trouble, walking in pride, backbiting, and speaking evil is not following peace and is not holiness. The fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (self control) is holiness, not the man made outward holiness we substitute for the real holiness. I'm not saying true biblical holiness that comes by the Holy Spirit would not affect the way we dress, but the dress itself is not holiness. True holiness is from the inside out, not the other way around. -Dorna

 

 
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