# 49 2023 Dev. Prov. 30:5 God, Our Refuge! Read all of chapter thirty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Prov. 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Prov.30 This chapter and chapter31 are an appendix to Proverbs. Chapter 30 are the sayings of Agur son of Jakeh who is speaking to Ithiel and Ukal. This is the only place in scripture these four men are mentioned and we know nothing about them. They probably are not Hebrew, but more like Job and friends.
Vs.1-4 He starts out with a concern and addresses God directly “I am weary, God, but I can prevail.” He continues to address God: “Surely I am only a brute, not a man… nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.” He is starting to sound like Job and speaks much like him in verse 4, “ Who has gone up to heaven and come down?” But Agur confirms what he knows about God; “Whose hand…” holds the wind, “Who has wrapped up the waters… who has established… the earth. What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!” This sounds a little like Job 19:25 “I know that my redeemer lives and…he will stand upon the earth.”
Vs.5-9 Agur praises God, “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words…” He then continues with a prayer, the only prayer we find in Proverbs. “Two things I ask of you, Lord… Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches…Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you… Or I may become poor and steal…”
Vs.10-14. Do not slander…” do not curse your father and bless your mother. Do not be self-righteous, do not “devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind.” The poor and the needy turn to God!
Vs.15-17 “The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry. There are three things…” No, “four that never say, ‘Enough!’: the grave, the barren womb, land…” needs water, “fire…”needs wood. “The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother…” repeated from v.11 indicating its importance. They cannot and will not see the blessing of parents or the blessings of God! Parents are the voice of God in a child’s life.
Vs.18-20 “There are three…” No, “four that I do not understand: “the way…” birds fly, “the way…”a snake moves, “the way of a ship…” on water. “The way of a man with a young woman.” Four mysteries better understood today, but not completely. “This is the way of an adulterous woman…” (and man) ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’” The whole world is saying that today!
Vs.21-31 “Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up”: when leadership is given to the unwise and the inexperienced at every level of society. The earth trembles today!
Vs.24-28 “four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise…” Ants plan ahead. Hyraxes find their homes in unlikely places. Locusts are able to organize. Some lizards live in palaces. Creation is the word of God, it is all around us, displaying God’s wisdom and power.
Vs.29-31 “There are three things… No, “four that move with stately bearing: a lion, mighty…” never retreats. “A strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt.” Self-confidence is an important part of life but over-confidence assures failure.
Vs.32-33 “if you play the fool and exalt yourself. Or if you plan evil…”, if conflict and crime is ignored, it is inevitable that “stirring up anger produces strife.” Lack of prosecution and the lack of security will destroy our country! We trust and thank God because He is in control of our lives and our world.
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Heavenhigh 