Proverbs 30
The answers to the questions which Agur asked in verse 4 are to be found in John 3:1313And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:13); Jeremiah 51:15, 1615He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding. 16When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. (Jeremiah 51:15‑16); Psalm 135:6, 76Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. 7He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. (Psalm 135:6‑7); Job 38 and John 1:1818No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18). In verse 5 he acknowledges the Word of God, that it is pure, or tried. There is nothing like it,—the Book of Books; on it we rest our hopes for eternity; in it we have found the matchless story of the grace of a Saviour God; heavenly light and heavenly, spiritual food fill its pages. It is a living Book, and it tells of the living God who is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.
Verse 7 is rather “ask” than “demand,” and the request has the fear of God in it. He would be kept in a happy sense of dependence upon Him, distrustful of self. We may compare this passage with the expression in Philippians 3:3,3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3)
“We ... .worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” This and the verses following set out the Christian’s position and prospect.
Verse 10 is in the New Translation, Speak not too much about a servant to his master, lest he curse thee and thou be held guilty.” The master may be expected to defend his servant if too much is said about him.
Verses 11 to 14 mirror the generation of those who reject God and His Christ today. Without natural affection, unthankful, unholy, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 2 Timothy 3 tells about them, and that they have a form of godliness or piety while denying the power of it.
Verses 15, 16 go on to show that in this life, short of the knowledge of God, there is no satisfaction. Sheol (here, although translated the grave, is the spirit state, the unseen world) takes away by death the objects of affection. That is one sorrow, and another is the unanswered longing for children which some married couples experience. The elements, too, add their testimony to the human heart’s grief; there is no satisfaction here.
Verses 18, 19 tell of four things that cannot be searched out,—inscrutable; the eagle in its flight far above the earth; the serpent beneath; the ship in its course which like the others leaves no path behind it; and the seductive arts of man, are surveyed in turn.
Next follow four things which are hard to bear with, intolerable, as people say,—a servant reigning; a vile person or fool when he is filled with meat; an odious woman when married; and a servant-maid who is heir to her mistress (verses 21-23).
This is followed by four creatures which in themselves are utterly weak, but God has provided amply for them: the ants, which provide their food in the summer; the rock badgers (the Syrian hydrax), which make their house in the cliff; the locusts, which go forth by bands; and the lizard, which was in kings’ palaces (verses 24-28).
Lastly are four stately creatures: the lion; the horse (perhaps the war-horse); the he-goat; and a king against whom none can rise up.
. In all of these “fours” there are doubt less object lessons for the believer. Perhaps the course of this world, and of the believer in it, is set forth in them, beginning in the first of the series (verses 11-14). If so, the fifth one, verses 24-28, sets out the dependence of faith upon God.
Messages of God’s Love 10/16/1932