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. (v2-3)
The writer, Agur, begins with humility. He admits he doesn’t have it all figured out.....and that’s the best place to start with God. True wisdom isn’t about how much we know, but how much we realize we need Him. A humble heart will learn more from God than a proud one ever will!
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. (v5)
God’s Word is flawless, tested, and trustworthy. Everything else in life shifts, but His Word stands unmoved. His Word isn’t just information......it’s protection. When we trust Him, His promises become our shield.
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. (v7-9)
What a great prayer worth repeating! TOO much prosperity may tempt me to be self-sufficient and forget God! Agur doesn’t ask for wealth or success; he asks for balance. Enough to live, but not so much that pride blinds him. Enough to sustain, but not so little that desperation tempts him. Contentment is found in trusting God’s daily provision....NOT in chasing more.
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, l
ay thine hand upon thy mouth. 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. (v32-33)
If pride or anger starts to rise, stop it before it spills out. Just like milk churned long enough becomes butter, anger stirred long enough becomes strife. Wisdom knows when to put a hand over the mouth and let God calm the storm inside before it turns into a fight outside.
Proverbs 30 is a chapter of humility and perspective. It pulls us back to dependence on God....His Word, His provision, and His timing. It warns us of the dangers of pride, the pull of riches, and the damage of unchecked anger.
I would say that this chapter calls us to live small before a great God.....trusting Him to be our shield, our provider, and our peace.
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