THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for
the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
PROVERBS
CHAPTER 30
1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, 2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. 3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. 4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
It is very interesting to do a "word study" in these verses. The word Agur means "gathered," or "one accepted with the wise men." The word Ithiel means "God with me." The word Jakeh is a synonym for Solomon. And the word Ucal means "mighty one." The words Ithiel and Ucal, as presented in the Hebrew, could very well be regular nouns rather than proper nouns.
Thus the man Agur is the "son" of Solomon. The word "son" can refer to child or grandchild or one brought up by another. This man Agur has "gathered" wise sayings and spoken them to people believing in "God with us." And this God has a very particular name, THE Mighty One, which reflects the Hebrew belief of Jehovah God being the ONLY God. As such, he is speaking to you and me!
Not only did this man believe that God IS with us spiritually, but that God would COME to be with us in His Son (Verse 4). The wise men of prophecy believed a Messiah was to come, and that He would be a man and the very reflection of God Himself. You and I certainly know this to be true, through the Person of Jesus Christ Who fulfilled the prophecies of the Scriptures.
This man, Agur, is a very humble man. He considers himself to be "more brutish than any man." True wisdom begins with realizing how little we are in comparison to Almighty God. This leads us to the 'fear of God' (reverence) which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).
He says (in verse 3) that he has not learned wisdom. Indeed, Solomon requested wisdom and received it by the Lord God Himself. He did not gain it on his own. He simply requested and it was given. In other words, he did not receive it by works or education, he received BY FAITH!
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17)
A person can come to know the intimate personal nature of God without knowing the "how" of God's creative power.
And following is HOW we can know God in an intimate mnner.
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
God reveals Himself through His WORD. The written Word of God is a progressive revelation of the Person of God. The written Word culminates in and is fulfilled by the Son of God, Jesus, Who is the "WORD OF GOD" in flesh. He is the "logos," the perfect reflection and complete revelation of God.
The written Word tells us of:
1) God's creation of mankind,
2) God's separation of mankind because of sin,
3) And God's plan of redemption for anyone willing to surrender to Him.
Therefore the written Word is "pure" because it is written by God of Himself, even though it is written through the use of believers (see 2Timothy 3:16). The written Word of God is "inspired" by God's Holy Spirit. The Greek term for inspired is theopneustos, meaning "God-breathed." ((See also 2Samuel 23:2, Acts 1:16))
The Word of God is also a "shield" of protection against UNbelief. Studying the Word of God allows us more intimate knowledge of His presence and power. And thus shields us from failure to FAITH God in all parts of our life.
We are cautioned here, as in other places, to NOT add to or subtract from God's Word (see Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32 and Revelation 22:18-19).
7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Here is true wisdom from God put to practical use in life. This is a prayer of one who trusts God implicitly in his life.
If one is surrounded by "vanity and lies" he is smothered by sinsickness and unable to breathe hope. Being surrounded by such also makes one subject to the same.
Being overly poor or overly rich may bring a corrupted sense of self worth. Even the poorest of people is worthy of God's love, mercy and salvation. Having too much sujects one to inflated pride.
In any condition or position it is good to say, "It is well with me, if it is well with God." Whether we be poor or rich, let us subject ourselves to honoring God in all that we do.
10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
"Accuse" can mean slander. "Curse" can mean "bring to contempt."
If a person accuses another and is proven wrong, then he himself is corrupted.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. 13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
Sometimes children become filled with their own pride (verse 13). They are disrespectful to parents (verse 11), and mean-spirited to others (verse 14).
The reason? They are "pure in their own eyes, and yet...not washed from their filthiness" (verse 12).
Not all children who are born to well-to-do families are this way. But it is a truth that "some" are. Their only focus is selfish desire. They see no need to surrender to God and be cleansed from sin, and they have felt no need or compassion for or to others.
15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: 16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. 17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
The former discussion is continued with five examples in life. The "horseleach" which gives birth to children that only desire MORE. The grave which is never filled because people are continuing to die. The barren womb that constantly desires a child. The ground (or 'earth') which cannot be totally filled with water. And the fire that continues to burn until all fuel is exhausted.
These examples are compared with the children of a "generation which "curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother."
Children who live this way become victims of their own evil (verse 17).
18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: 19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. 20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
There are some things in the earth that we understand, and some that we do not. Here are some examples of things that are mysteries. How does the eagle soar on wind currents a mile high and yet see a rabbit? How does a small sail ship follow wind currents and progress on a true course in such a large ocean with no land marks? How does a man and a woman know when they love each other? These things are indeed a mystery.
And why is it that some people will commit sin, and say they did not (verse 20)? This is a mystery also. Could it be that it is because the conscience of the person is of no effect because of the focus upon self?
21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: 22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; 23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
Here are some things which "disquiet" the earth. These things are harmful to society.
One cannot help but notice that the connection between all four of the things mentioned is PRIDE!
Pride is UNwise because it brings harm to others. On the other hand, there is humility and servanthood.
24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
These four things are content to be what God has made them to be. They exhibit humble servanthood in the plan of God.
We humans can take lessons from the ant who is small and weak but very industrious. We should learn from the field mouse and be careful to guard our lives with the "rock" of Christ. We would do well to remember that though rulers are on earth, we have only One King - Jesus. If man, created in the image of God, would be diligent in being godly (like the spider), he will soon be found in the KING'S palace!
29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: 30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; 31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
We are all created in the image of God; yet, we are all different. These four examples show the differences in God's creation; yet, there is beauty in their being.
Each human being may be different from all others; but, there is beauty in the person! The beauty is when the person is NOT filled with pride, and is GIVEN to being godly.
32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. 33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
Pride forces anger in others just as the "churning" of clabbered milk creates butter, and the squeezing of the nose brings blood to the top layer of skin (verse 33).
The caution here is to exercise self-restraint (verse 32). Rather than being filled with pride, which is "foolish," let us live and act in love and kindness. Let us indeed BE as we are created: in the IMAGE of God!
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.