Proverbs 30 - The Oracle of Agur

LINK: Proverbs 30

BACKGROUND

These proverbs contain the wise counsel from Agur declared to Ithiel and Ucal. We know nothing about any of these individuals. Agur spoke in an oracle which means “weighty message” in Hebrew. He wrote numerical proverbs and pictures from the natural world. He summarizes many of the themes from the whole book: wisdom and folly, greed and gluttony, adultery, and hypocrisy.

After a brief introduction, he speaks of knowledge about God (30:2-9) emphasizing that man can know God only because He has revealed Himself through the written Word because every Word is tested (30:5). Then he wrote about four . . .

Undesirable behaviors (30:11-14)
Things never satisfied (30:15-16)
Amazing things (30:18-19)
Unbearable, unfair things (30:21-23)
Small, wise things (30:24-28)
Stately creatures (30:29-31)

There are also warnings (30:17, 20) in the middle of these lists of four things, and they are surrounded by advice (30:10, 32-33).

REFLECTION on Proverbs 30:5-6

Every word of God is tested; 

He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 

Do not add to His words 

Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. 

(Compare with Psalm 12:6; 119:140)

The Word is indispensable to our growth in the knowledge of God. We cannot add to His words. Our understanding of God can only come from protracted time alone with Him in His Word. Even some Bible studies are “commentary” studies and are often like receiving food that has already been chewed. God wants us to know Him by direct interaction with Him in the pages of Scripture.

Thank you for taking this adventure in knowing God through His Word with me. I am so grateful to be doing this with you! The BBC has been such an “iron sharpening iron” sort of thing for me as I am held accountable to spend time in His word every day!

Rejoice! We are almost done with our first year of the Bible Book Club.  Let’s keep digging into it so that we might grow in our personal relationship with Him!

APPLICATION

Your reading is about a relationship with God. Do not lose sight of that as you continue to read through the Scriptures. Talk to God about how much you want to know Him through His Word.

PRAYER

Lord, establish Your word to Your servant, 

As that which produces reverence for You. (Psalm 119:38)