June 13, 2020
The book of Proverbs is a collection of short sayings in the Old Testament meant to instill wisdom in God’s people. As we read, it is important to remember that a proverb is a statement which is generally true in principle, not a universally true promise. Let’s dig into the Word together and allow the Lord to shape our hearts, our minds, and our lives in his wisdom over the next month!
The author of this proverb wants to be a righteous person but admits that he has failed to learn wisdom and has acted foolishly. He is tired and weary. But when a person perceives and understands more of God’s ways, they become humble enough to realize how much they still don’t know, and they can experience greater intimacy with the Creator of all things!
God is great and every word of his ultimately proves to be true. When one draws close to him, he will experience God’s safety and peace (v.5). The writer warns a person to not add to, take away from, or distort God’s word, and to not lead a self-enlightened life because it is foolishness. We learn that joy and integrity is found in the balanced life—not too many riches that might lead one to falsely believe they are a self-made person who doesn’t really need God, or poverty that might lead one to steal and dishonor God.
We see lists of three and four things that Agur observes in life that contrasts righteousness and wickedness, wisdom and foolishness, compassion and cruelty, and life and death. Life has signposts along way that reveal the wisdom and truth of God. The question is, will we have the heart and humility to see them and respond in kind to the Spirit of God?
Proverbs 30
The Words of Agur
30 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.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
- What do you do about the regrets and past failures of life? Do you find it easy to confess sin to God and to turn from sin? Do you find it easy or difficult to learn from failures of the past?
Family Discussion Question:
- Why is it so important that, as we seek the Lord, we do so in humility? What truths about God should cause us to approach Him in humility and reverence?
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Gracias mi padre amado por otro día más en tu presencia, gracias por todo lo que haces en mi vida y con cada uno de mi familia, gracias por tu generosidad mi SEÑOR guía tu nuestros pasos dame sabiduría para nunca defraudarte y ser un seguidor y hacedor de tu enseñanza para que nunca me aparte de ti mi Dios y seamos luz del mundo y sal en la tierra en nombre y por amor a nuestro señor Jesús amén ?
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Father, thank you for another day to worship you, to seek you, to tell others of your love for them. Guide my thoughts, my words, my actions this day, may they glorify you. I surrender to you, my LORD. Now…let’s be going to find one more soul for your precious son, Jesus. Amen
Lord Jesus thank you for the spirit that says let’s get going and find one more soul for You Jesus. Oh send Your Spirit to catch us on fire for Your kingdom. Wake up Your people for You are coming. Coming with all Your glory and I say Holy Holy Holy is the Lamb of God. For You take the sins of the world away and Oh how our world needs a cleaning. We need to be washed white as snow. Lord forgive me for my sins and teach me to walk in Your righteousness. Jesus You are my God. Revive us for Your Name Sake. In Jesus Name Amen.
Keep deception and lies far from me. Feed me with the food that is my portion.
Dear Lord please help to keep lying words from my mouth. Help me to be truthful always. Keep my mind clean from saying hurtful things. I ask this in Jesus name Amen
Dear Heavenly Father,
It is so true that we should live a life of balance and harmony. Too much or too little makes some haughty or
others turn to their own scheming devices. I love the reference to “landmarks along the way”. You,Lord, are our guide through this life. Just having this daily walk with You through Your Word , more than I have ever done before, is really adding joy to my life. I am reminded of the song that says, “every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before”. That is so true , Lord. I love you more and more. Thank you for loving me and showing me the way. You are all I need and I should not fear. For You will supply all my needs. I will continually have Your name on my lips. Help me to reflect Your great love to all I meet along the way. In Jesus ‘ name. Amen.
Amen!
Thank you Lord for teaching me to reverence you.
Good morning Lord! We humbly ask you not only to guide us in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake but also to help us stay wary of becoming self-righteous.
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18: 9-14
Lord I lift up the oppressed today. Specifically I lift the law enforcement officers who are under attack. I pray for those who serve our community with steadfast hearts for you – trying to follow you through helping our community members. I lift up my son-in-law who faithfully serves as a police officer. He and his family are SO discouraged and burdened because of the untruths. Dear God I pray for those who told him to go kill himself – just because he was serving you. I pray for those who threw rocks at my sweet son just because he has on a uniform. Dear God please have mercy on us. Give the righteous a voice. Restore truth! Thank you for protecting my son as well as the others who serve with him. Protect my daughter who is attempting to encourage him to leave her and the boys each morning to face the anger while serving. Please have mercy on our nation! Please restore us to righteousness! I beg you dear Lord to intercede. I beg you to have mercy.
You are the King of King – the Lord of our home, our church community, our large city, our state, and our nation! May we give you the honor of glory!
Tracey I will have my class to pray for protection for your husband tomorrow in .LG
I must confess that the first paragraph of the commentary is the state of my life and the desire of my heart. “The author of this proverb wants to be a righteous person but admits that he has failed to learn wisdom and has acted foolishly. He is tired and weary. But when a person perceives and understands more of God’s ways, they become humble enough to realize how much they still don’t know, and they can experience greater intimacy with the Creator of all things!” Oh, God, I want a vibrant relationship with you.
Father God, I give thanks to You for the pure and true Word that gives me hope.
Lord I confess I have fallen short in every area of my life. Today I will seek you, apply your wisdom in my life and relationships, serving you, my family and enjoying your generous blessings.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for another glorious day regardless of the troubles of this world. None of what is happening is a surprise to you and help us see you in the middle of chaos. Please continue to reveal the evil in this world so that as Christians we all can show love and pray for the ones that don’t know you. Protect us all from evil and have your way with everyone that is not seeking you with honesty, humility and wisdom according to your word. As Christians we know that there is going to be trials and tribulations and we need not to fear but trust in you only. We know that today or tomorrow is promised but we have the assurance of heaven as this is not our home. Thank you for shedding your blood for this world and for providing us a new home whereby we live forever without chaos. I pray these things in Jesus name. Amen