The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.
The man declares, I am weary, O God;
I am weary, O God, and worn out.
2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man.
I have not the understanding of a man.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son's name?
Surely you know!
5 Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
7 Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.
10 Do not slander a servant to his master,
lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11 There are those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers.
12 There are those who are clean in their own eyes
but are not washed of their filth.
13 There are those—how lofty are their eyes,
how high their eyelids lift!
14 There are those whose teeth are swords,
whose fangs are knives,
to devour the poor from off the earth,
the needy from among mankind.
15 The leech has two daughters:
Give and Give.
Three things are never satisfied;
four never say, “Enough”:
16 Sheol, the barren womb,
the land never satisfied with water,
and the fire that never says, “Enough.”
17 The eye that mocks a father
and scorns to obey a mother
will be picked out by the ravens of the valley
and eaten by the vultures.
18 Three things are too wonderful for me;
four I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a virgin.
20 This is the way of an adulteress:
she eats and wipes her mouth
and says, “I have done no wrong.”
21 Under three things the earth trembles;
under four it cannot bear up:
22 a slave when he becomes king,
and a fool when he is filled with food;
23 an unloved woman when she gets a husband,
and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.
24 Four things on earth are small,
but they are exceedingly wise:
25 the ants are a people not strong,
yet they provide their food in the summer;
26 the rock badgers are a people not mighty,
yet they make their homes in the cliffs;
27 the locusts have no king,
yet all of them march in rank;
28 the lizard you can take in your hands,
yet it is in kings' palaces.
29 Three things are stately in their tread;
four are stately in their stride:
30 the lion, which is mightiest among beasts
and does not turn back before any;
31 the strutting rooster, the he-goat,
and a king whose army is with him.
32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
or if you have been devising evil,
put your hand on your mouth.
33 For pressing milk produces curds,
pressing the nose produces blood,
and pressing anger produces strife. Proverbs 30 ESV
Proverbs 30
1-6 I am weary, O God, and worn out - Taken within the context of this chapter, it is not one weary of the day, of hard labor, but rather the limitations of a man trying to understand God. Philosophy has not taken him to an "enlightened" state.
Surely I am too stupid to be a man - Man, in his fallen nature, is beneath Adam's comprehension before the fall, and, as Adam became, so all men are, without that access to God that Adam so enjoyed. It is humble of the author, and not the least exaggerated, that he has not learned wisdom, as one who goes to school and earns a degree. He does not also own, within himself, knowledge of God, as those who declare themselves so high minded and "spiritual".
…14“I was not a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees. 15 But the LORD took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ 16 Now, therefore, hear the word of the LORD. You say: ‘Do not prophesy against Israel; do not preach against the house of Isaac.’… Amos 7: 14-16
Who has ascended to heaven and come down - Only God. Man is limited in his understanding of God and heaven to what is revealed to him by God inside of time and space. Even in the visions given to some of the prophets, they are always perplexed and in humble awe. The charlatans of today speak of trips to heaven so they can fleece those with itching ears and sell ridiculous books. What contrast to the humility of this Agur.
…3 Then Job answered the LORD: 4“Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth. 5 I have spoken once, but I have no answer—twice, but I have nothing to add.”… Job 40: 3-5
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6: 1-8
What is His name and what is His Son's name - "I am that I am", the One who tells the wind and sea to be still, the One who created the heavens and the earth. They perceive that Messiah is coming, someone to take the throne of David, the Seed of the woman promised in the garden, but all this, that God knows from His eternal decree, but must be revealed to men in God's time and according to His purpose. So the answer to Agur is, God knows.
Do not add to His words - It is vain, and not faith, to speculate beyond what is revealed. It is gross to add what God never intended to be there. His word is pure, sufficient, and must be handled with great care. Doctrine must be derived from the whole counsel of God, teachers are not the end all, and what they say must be measured against the word of God. Why the church today has failed to see that this discounts Popes, false prophets and teachers within movements that say, "Christian", yet are open to "new words, revelations, fresh prophecies," that are not Biblical, sound, or Christian, is beyond disheartening. If we do not respect His word, then we do not respect Him.
7-9 Remove far from me falsehood and lying - You have not because you ask not - God is willing the things we read of here, but men would ask for the sake of their pleasures instead.
Give me neither poverty nor riches - Agur, you won't sell many books with sermons like that.
Feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you - Don't give me so much that I think it comes from me. I don't want to be so satisfied with the material that I deny my need for the spiritual. Don't let me think of myself as arrived in any sense, make me hungry again the next day, desiring Your company and seeing Your hand in all.
Or lest I be poor and steal - Give me enough or let me know that it is enough, so that I do not profane Your name by declaring Your word, which says, "thou shalt not steal", and yet Your servant be found a thief. My life should only bring You honor.
…30 If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. 32 Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God,… 1 Corinthians 10: 30-32
10 Do not slander a servant to his master - Why make a man look bad to his boss when it is not true? Why attack another's livelihood? If what you say is not true of him the curse will stand.
11-14 There are those who curse their fathers - These things are abominable. Disrespect of parents, self righteousness (clean in their own eyes), the proud (how high their eyelids lift).
4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 5 Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.… 1 Peter 5: 4-6
15 The leech has two daughters, give and give - A mouth that holds on and a mouth that draws the life from it's victim. Covetous, lazy, always with an eye to what is not theirs. Parasites.
He had spoken before of those that devoured the poor (v. 14), and had spoken of them last, as the worst of all the four generations there mentioned; now here he speaks of their insatiableness in doing this. The temper that puts them upon it is made up of cruelty and covetousness. Now those are two daughters of the horse-leech, its genuine offspring, that still cry, "Give, give, give more blood, give more money;’’ for the bloody are still blood-thirsty; being drunk with blood, they add thirst to their drunkenness, and will seek it yet again. Those also that love silver shall never be satisfied with silver. - Matthew Henry
16 - 17 Sheol (hell), it is always wanting, open and devouring. It will always make room for more, lead men astray, sit like an ant lion concealing it's mouth in the pit.
The barren womb - It is a high calling to be a mother, and much neglected in our day, but yearned for by women like Rachel and Hannah.
…10 In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. 11 And she made a vow, pleading, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head.” 12 As Hannah kept on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.… 1 Samuel 1: 10-12
The land never satisfied with water and the fire that never says, "enough" - The rain falls, is soaked in, used up and the land begs for rain again. The fire will never turn down more fuel, but grows with it.
So insatiable are the corrupt desires of sinners, and so little satisfaction have they even in the gratification of them.II. He adds a terrible threatening to disobedient children (v. 17), for warning to the first of those four wicked generations, that curse their parents (v. 11), and shows here,1. Who they are that belong to that generation, not only those that curse their parents in heat and passion, but, (1.) Those that mock at them, though it be but with a scornful eye, looking with disdain upon them because of their bodily infirmities, or looking sour or dogged at them when they instruct or command, impatient at their checks and angry at them. God takes notice with what eye children look upon their parents, and will reckon for the leering look and the casts of the evil eye as well as for the bad language given them. (2.) Those that despise to obey them, that think it a thing below them to be dutiful to their parents, especially to the mother, they scorn to be controlled by her; and thus she that bore them in sorrow in greater sorrow bears their manners.2. What their doom will be. Those that dishonour their parents shall be set up as monuments of God’s vengeance; they shall be hanged in chains, as it were, for the birds of prey to pick out their eyes, those eyes with which they looked so scornfully on their good parents. The dead bodies of malefactors were not to hang all night, but before night the ravens would have picked out their eyes. If men do not punish undutiful children, God will, and will load those with the greatest infamy that conduct themselves haughtily towards their parents. Many who have come to an ignominious end have owned that the wicked courses that brought them to it began in a contempt of their parents’ authority. - Matthew Henry
18 - 19 Three things are too wonderful for me - He says this in the same pattern, adding 4 to the next line, making it open to as much as one could consider. We will always find marvelous things, wonderful things, be creatures of awe.
The way of an eagle in the sky - Men have long been fascinated with flight; birds let us know that it was possible, and we invented vehicles to take us skyward. We have looked back upon the earth from space, but have not traversed it's expanse.
The way of a serpent on a rock - How effortlessly he moves without legs upon places our feet would stumble.
The way of a ship on the high seas - The sea is vast and known as treacherous still, but here is this little boat using it as a highway, navigating by the stars.
The way of a man with a virgin - Some have called this a mystery of iniquity, but sex itself is not a sin within the context of God's design. It is a beautiful thing, and the mystery and wonder of all that which brings a couple together, the love, dying to self, becoming one, and sharing in life together, marriage holds many a great mystery. I don't think it is here vilified by Agur; he will make that distinction next.
20 She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done no wrong" - This is the way of the adulteress, all that was meant in sacredness she destroys. All that was grand and powerful in fidelity, the promises of faithfulness, she discards. Israel was often referred to as a harlot in the Bible, for she went whoring after other gods. There is much in marriage that relates to our relationship to God.
21-23 A slave when he becomes king - A man unfit for this duty, unprepared or vengeful. Joseph was elevated to such heights but prepared for it. As Potipher's slave he worked his way to manager, as a prisoner he was faithful and so trusted in running the jail. David was a shepherd, but God trained him in the king's house, in battle, and neither of these used their power to get revenge on those who mistreated them.
A fool when he is filled with food - He is content until the next time he is hungry. It is like a baby bird that never leaves the nest. A fool only sees thus far, and he will not prepare for leaner times.
An unloved woman when she gets a husband - Some interpret as angry or contentious. It is a hard thing for any house to endure.
And a maidservant when she displaces her mistress - This reminds us of the story of Abraham and Sarah. They chose earthly wisdom rather than trust in God's word, so Sarah gave Abraham her servant, Hagar. This breaks the bonds and trust of marriage, where the two become one, and created a contention that still goes on to this day.
24-28 The ants are a people not strong - Go to the ant thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise. She prepares during the times of plenty for the times of drought. Ants are always at productive work, always building and preparing.
The rock badgers are a people not mighty - Conies or Marmots, live in the crags of rocks. They are a prey item, but have learned to avoid predators by living in strongholds up high. David also hid in such places when pursued by Saul.
Yet it lives in king's palaces - Some think this to be the Mediterranean gecko, and they are amazing to watch. Geckos and Agamas are found in places that I could not afford, but they are small and out of the way. When one watches them long enough, you come to find them a welcome guest; they eat a lot of bugs that would otherwise overrun a place.
29-31 The strutting rooster, the he-goat - Some of said the greyhound, and again the awe can be found in the cheetah, gazelles, so many animals. I have sat and watched a group of Arabian horses for hours, and the stud horse was quite a show off, prancing rather stately, entertaining for sure.
32-33 If you have been foolish exalting yourself - It is never so well built a pedestal as we think, and we are always and clearly told that pride comes before a fall. Some comfort themselves that they have not been caught in it or that they are worthy of their words, but left to such delusion only causes one to fall from a higher place, and from some heights this is not recoverable by a mere dusting off. A haughty spirit before destruction.
“Those who make trouble get into trouble…. Hidden in the second simile, however, is the warning that those who make trouble are liable to get punched in the nose!” (Garrett)
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