Proverbs 30
Yesterday’s expounded chapter of proverbs was the last set of proverbs specifically written by Solomon. For this chapter of Proverbs, it was written by Agur who was a sage from Arabia of that time. This chapter could be regarded as the sayings or book of Agur.
Proverbs 30:1-3 KJV
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
The chapter starts out as a conversation between two men: Ithiel and Ucal, about his current state of dissatisfaction with his level of wisdom and understanding.
Then he eulogizes God by pointing out various questions that no being in heaven and earth could ever do:
Proverbs 30:4 KJV
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 answer to Agur’s questions can only be GOD.
Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.
Proverbs 30:5-6 KJV
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Agur talks about the infallibility and purity of God’s Word. Every word spoken by God has no flaw or error in it. God’s Word can be trusted and holds substance. His Word works anywhere, regardless of the situation or circumstance. No one needs to add to or subtract from it.
Proverb 30:7-9 KJV
Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 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.
Agur here makes a sincere and humble request to stay connected with God. He didn’t want to be taken away by the riches of the world and he didn’t want to be in a compromising situation due to poverty that will put the name of God to disrepute.
Is it wrong to be rich? Certainly not, neither is it good to live a life of poverty. But let us be careful not to allow the love of riches (money) take us away from our relationship with God. And we shouldn’t allow poverty into our lives that will make us susceptible to stealing, taking bribes, changing figures and cheating people to make ends-meet.
Proverb 30:10-14 KJV
10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
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.
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.
verse 10 – If you have a legitimate complaint on harassment of any kind or a true report of an illegal activity to make about a team member or colleague to a leader or person in authority, it is wise to make it known without the person being there, else the person will deny and may insult you right before the leader. This is a wise move to make.
verse 11 & 17 – It is despicable and grievous for any child to curse their father and mother who nurtured, provided and raised him or her. We must honor our parents always and care for them as much as we can.
Long life is promised to those who honor their parents but the life of a child who dishonors their parents will be cut short.
verse 12 – 13 – No man can be pure, if he is still in sin. Purity of the spirit is only through Jesus Christ and the manifestation of God’s purity in the soul (mind, emotion and will) of a man is when a man turns away from sin and wickedness, yields not to temptation and pursues after God to know Him each day.
If a man without Christ claims to be pure, such a person lies to himself. And if a believer continually and intentionally sins, such a person is living an impure life.
verse 15 – 16:
Grave: until the new heavens and new earth is made by God at the end of time, people will keep dying to be buried in the grave.
Barren womb: No woman barren of children wants to leave this earth without bringing forth a child from her womb.
Pray for every woman you know yet to conceive and be delivered of a child, that God will open their womb to conceive a child and will bring forth at the set time.
Land or Earth: No matter how much water pours from the sky, the earth has more than enough capacity to soak it all down.
Even when a place is flooded, the water will seep down.
Fire: Unless fire is to keep one warm, pray that none of the property catches fire. If it isn’t put out on time, it will burn everything up to ashes.
And there’s an ultimate fire called the Lake of Fire that will never go out. It will keep burning for eternity. I do not even pray for my enemy to be found in such a place. The lake of fire is reserved for satan, anti-christ, false prophets, death and hades (place of the dead), cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and liars. – Revelations 21:8
Proverbs 30:18-20 KJV
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.
Eagles – they soar in the air. It is so beautiful to behold
Snakes or serpents – make their way sneakily and craftily up on the rock no matter the height, to eat up the eggs of eagles, hawks, etc.
Ship on the sea – now we know by virtue of discovery made by Archimedes. His principle states “that a body at rest in a fluid is acted upon by a force pushing upward called the buoyant force, which is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces.” God created this principle, Archimedes only uncovered what was already existing.
Science cannot be explained in isolation. God was responsible for all creation in the heavens and earth.
An adulterous man or woman: It’s weird that a man who took time to woo his spouse, gets married to her and has kids with her still cheats on his wife. Same goes with a woman. There are faithful spouses who love their significant others but unaware of the latter cheating on them. Worse is that they keep cheating regardless of the sacrifice, love and kindness shown by their faithful spouses.
Truly, it is a wonder to know that a cheating husband or a cheating wife will put so much effort to cover their tracks and lie just to satisfy their lustful sexual pleasure.
Proverbs 30:21-23 KJV
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 a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
A servant who becomes a king or a leader is not new to any of us but everyone will always be surprised when a lowly person who was nobody suddenly rises to fame and influence. God is able to make this happen in anyone’s life.
No one likes it when the wicked still enjoy riches and provisions, even though they are practitioners of evil. For such people, we must leave them to God who is giving them time to repent and turn from their wicked ways.
An unlovable and unaccepted woman still has hope of getting married. There’s still a man who can love and handle such a woman.
Just as a servant or a ‘nobody’ can rise to fame and influence, so also can a maid or servant replace her mistress for good or for bad.
Examples – a mother who abandons her children and husband to be with her side-lover, can be replaced by the maid who takes good care of the children – This is for good. The common one which is bad, is as a result of an affair between the mistress’s husband and maid. If the mistress has no child for her husband, and the maid has a male child, the unfaithful husband will waste no time bringing her into the house and marrying her to make her his wife. No woman married long enough to her husband will be able to bear this.
Proverbs 30:24-28 KJV
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.
What wisdom do these little creatures communicate to us?
Ants – Proactiveness, diligence, planning for the future and advance preparation.
Hyraxes or Rock badgers – determination regardless of their weakness and creativity
Locusts – cooperation, unity and collaboration
Spider – audacity and skillfulness
Common trait of all these little creatures is that they are wise.
Proverbs 30:29-31 KJV
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.
What is majestic about the lion, greyhound, (male) he goat and a king?
Lion – king of the animal kingdom. The lion has enormous strength. And it is able to take down and chase down any herbivorous animal, regardless of its size.
The lion is used as a metaphor to describe Jesus as the ‘Lion of Judah’. The lion symbolizes strength, dominion, royalty and leadership.
Greyhound – A greyhound is a type of dog that was used for hunting back in ancient times. They are very fast when they run. That’s why in our time, they are used for racing.
The Greyhound symbolizes speed, agility and endurance.
(Male) he-goat – The he-goat has huge horns they use in any fight. It never backs down in a fight.
The he-goat symbolizes strength and endurance.
King – Doesn’t need much explanation. Kings command respect, honor and power when they are seated on their throne and when they walk.
When all these four walk, they walk with pride, elegance and boldness.
Proverbs 30:32-33 KJV
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.
verse 32: Never elevate yourself, sing your praises before people, nor glory in your strength. This is not the way of wisdom. The way of wisdom, esteems others above oneself and allows others to sing their praises.
verse 33: Be wary of those who like to push people to become angry, lest there be division in your group, team or church. Stay away from them for such people only seek to cause commotion and trouble.
#SeekGodMore
Mo 🙂
