Proverbs 30:1-33

These final two Proverbs are not authored by Solomon.  Today’s Proverb is the work of Agur and we really have no idea who he was.  The Proverb can be divided into two main sections, the first section He makes confessions concerning himself and God; in the second section he makes comparisons in groups of four.  They demonstrate a keen understanding of his human condition as well as a deep understanding of the world in which we live.  The unique style and honest self-evaluation of this Proverb make it a very interesting and thought provoking read.

THREE CONFESSIONS: Agur’s first confession is that of his own stupidity.  He recognizes that he is worn out by his own sinful condition; he lacks the wisdom that a man ought to have and has no accurate knowledge of God.  His second confession is that of God’s greatness.  No man can ascend into the presence of God and live.  God controls the wind, the waters, the world and all of His words are completely true.  God never changes and His word will always come to pass.  We cannot change God nor should we try.  His third confession is a recognition of his own spiritual weakness and a request to be protected from that which would be too great for him to handle.  He asks for falsehood and lying to be removed from him because he knows his own weakness in this area.  He also asks to be preserved from both poverty and riches because he knows that both of these states present temptations that are very difficult to resist.  Wealth fosters pride and poverty fosters dishonesty we must seek to avoid both in our lives.

FOUR COMPARISONS: Agur then begins to make a series of comparisons in groups of four.  Four terrible things: slandering slaves, cursing our parents, pride in our own self-righteousness and oppressing the poor.  Four insatiable things: death, a childless woman, dry land and fire.  Giving in to these terrible desires will lead to death in the open field and having vultures eat our flesh.  Four amazing things: the flight of and eagle, the stealth of a snake, the ship on the sea and a man in love with a woman.  We must beware of beautiful adulteress women because they have no conscience.  Four dangerous things: a slave who becomes king, a rich fool, an unloved wife and a maid who takes the place of a wife.  Four little but wise things: the industrious ant, the creative badger, the orderly locust and the sneaky lizard.  Four majestic things: the mighty lion, the proud rooster, the goat and a king with a powerful army.  We must do all we can to prevent our own foolishness, violence and strife.