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A Study of Proverbs 30
March 02, 2008
One of our members requested a study of Proverbs. This chapter repeats some points already made and introduces new ones. God's word is pure--don't add to it, or take from it. Be satisfied with your state in life. Children must love and care for their parents. Think before speaking. Don't stir up strife.
Bernie Parsons
Proverbs Chapter 30
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to the Load church of Christ 03-02-2008
Proverbs 30:1: “The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,”
Agur means to gather, to collect. The Proverbs are a collection, so Agur seems to be denoting the one who made this collection. The root of Jakeh means to preserve from evil or fear, or to be pious. Ithiel, which literally means with me is God or simply God is, and Ucal which means an able one. Scholars debate what all of this means. Are they proper names, some of which appear nowhere else in the Bible or other Jewish writings, or are they descriptive of the person writing this chapter, or even the entire book of Proverbs?
Some scholars say that the last half of verse one should be rendered: "I have wearied myself, O God, I have wearied myself, O God, and am consumed."
Proverbs 30:2: “Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
3: I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.”
The writer of this chapter now says that he is not a man of wisdom or understanding—in fact, that he lacks the understanding and wisdom of a man, making him less than a man.
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?”
This is reminiscent of other scriptures.
Ephesians 4:8: “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?”
Job
38:8 “Or who shut up the sea with
doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9: When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a
swaddlingband for it,
10: And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11: And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy
proud waves be stayed?”
1 Corinthians 2:16: “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may
instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
It establishes the power and authority of God, as described in Job chapter 38. Who has intimate knowledge of God, to know His name, or His son’s name?
Proverbs 30:5: “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
Matthew 4:4: “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3)
He states that God’s every word is pure, and that God protects those who trust Him.
Proverbs 30:6: “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
This admonition is found throughout the Bible.
Deuteronomy 4:2: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
Deuteronomy 12:32: “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”
Revelation 22:18: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
We all have an obligation to accept the unadulterated word of God, adding nothing to it nor detracting from it. Since His words are pure, any change makes them impure.
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.”
1 Timothy 6:6: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
1 Timothy 6:8: “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”
Our poverty or prosperity must not interfere with our respect for God.
Proverbs 30:10: “Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.”
If you accuse a servant, his master may disbelieve you and hold it against you.
Proverbs 30:11: “There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.”
There is a generation that turns on its parents.
Proverbs 30:12: “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.”
Romans 12:16: “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”
There is a generation that is self-righteous and does not seek to repent.
Proverbs 30:13: “There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.”
There is a generation overcome with pride.
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.
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:
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.”
Some among the young are rebellious, never satisfied with their state. They do evil against their parents, and continue to do so, never being satisfied.
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.”
Some things are to be admired even if not understood.
Proverbs 30:20: “Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.”
An adulteress tries to justify her sinful behavior, as do many who sin in different ways.
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.”
Such people described here are unbearable—their positions go to their heads!
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.”
We can take a lesson from small creatures about hard work and cooperation.
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;
31: A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.”
A well-liked king will not be overthrown by revolution.
Proverbs 30:32: “If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.”
James 3:8: “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”
Careful what you say! Sometimes it is better to refrain from speaking.
Proverbs 30:33: “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.”
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.”
Ephesians 4:26: “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”
Better to cool off when angry, before worse things happen.
