Subject: PROVERBS Title: Prophecies of the Sage Agur Text: Proverbs 30:1-33 The last two chapters of Proverbs form an appendix of sayings by other otherwise unknown sages, Agur and Lemuel. Most of Agur s material is given in clusters of numerical proverbs. Nothing certain is known of Agur and Lemuel. It is vain to speculate since it appears that God has been silent in the matter. Proverbs 30:1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, * Agur is the son of Jakeh. Agur is a sage, a wise man. He is prophesying, for he calls his work prophecy. He is speaking to two men, Ithiel and Ucal, primarily Ithiel because of the mention of his name twice. These two younger men have come to him to learn about life. 30:2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. * Agur humbles himself before speaking. As he begins to teach, he does not do so with a haughty spirit. The word brutish is an adjective which means, marked by animal traits and by a lack of man s dignity or refinement. 30:3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. * Agur continues his introduction by saying I m not all that wise and I m not all that holy. These thoughts introduce the following very difficult questions in v.4, keeping in mind that the word prophecy is found in verse one. 30:4 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? * Question: Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Acts 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white 218
apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Ephesians 4:8-10 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended fi rst into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fi ll all things.) * Question: Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? - See Psalms 104, 139, 148. The questions of this verse lead to the answer found in v.5, specifically to the question, What is his name, and what is his son s name, if thou canst tell? 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 And the Word was made fl esh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; Revelation 19;13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. * Note that he is a shield... Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Jeremiah 26:2 Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take 219
away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 30:7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it. 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 30:9 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. * The writer requires two things of the Lord: 1) Remove far from me vanity and lies. 2) Feed me with food convenient for me. The author explains he wants enough to get by but not so much that he will deny (v.9) or not need the Lord. The writer recognizes the inherent dangers in both being poor and being rich. There is no dollar amount or net worth that can be an absolute amount to guarantee that one avoids the pitfalls of the extremes. Poverty and wealth are relative. When you feel no need to steal to survive and you are not so successful, prosperous and self sufficient that you have no need of God, you are where you are satisfied. 30:10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. * The accusation is by necessity of the context, a false accusation. The tattletale is trying to gain brownie points at the expense of another servant. (Personal Illustration: Accused of falling asleep in a class at Camp Pendleton in jungle warfare training.) The next four verses are addressed about a generation that does four things or it could be four generations that are noted by one thing. 30:11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. 30:13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. 30:14 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. 1. There is a generation that is disrespectful and rebellious toward parental authority (v.11). 220
2. There is a generation that is self-righteous, however, the generation is not as pure or holy as it perceives itself to be (v.12). 3. There is a generation that is prideful and thinks a great deal of itself - they re superstars (v.13). 4. There is a generation that is cannibalistic and greedy, persecutors of the poor and disadvantaged (v.14). In total there is a generation that is disrespectful, self-righteousness, arrogant and greedy. 30:15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: 30:16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. * The horseleach is a bloodsucker, as in Psalm 16:4 and Deuteronomy 32:33 noted below: Psalm 16:4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. Deuteronomy 32:33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. * The two daughters of v.15 could find prophetic fulfillment in Revelation 17:3-6, the woman...mystery BABYLON THE GREAT... and in Zechariah 5:5-11 with the ephah (basket) that is filled with a woman described as wickedness and lifted up by two women, and the wind was in their wings...like the wings of a stork... Nonetheless, these two daughters have insatiable appetites like the following things that are never satisfi ed...not fi lled, and there s never enough : 1) the grave 2) the barren womb 3) the earth 4) the fi re 30:17 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 offender of this verse gives his parents the eye. The look is mocking and hateful. Refer back to v.11. The consequences are that the rebellious child will be destroyed, plucked and eaten. 221
30:18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: 30:19 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. * Agur shares four things that are full of wonder and that he does not completely understand or have knowledge of: 1. The way of an eagle in the air - flight, seemingly effortless flight - aerodynamics. 2. The way of a serpent upon a rock - locomotion, how does the snake move so quickly, so surely without any legs? 3. The way of a ship in the midst of the sea - flotation/displacement, wind currents, water currents, steering with the rudder. Like so many things that we take for granted, we often fail to realize the many scientific principles that are in operation at any given time to allow existence and even progress. And if you think these things are complex... 4. The way of a man with a maid - the personal dynamics of opposite sex relationships. What every man wishes his wife knew about men and what every woman wished her husband knew about women - See the book, Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus! 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. * The point of the verse - the woman is so desensitized to sin that she partakes and says, I didn t do anything wrong. Can you understand that? 30:21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: 30:22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; 30:23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. * Agur shares four more observations - things that tear up the earth because they don t fit, make sense and are out of place: 1. A servant when he reigneth - the servant should not be in charge, trouble is a-brewing. 2. A fool when he is fi lled with meat - as a fool, he probably deserves not to eat. Surely he has violated several principles that would promote poverty. 3. An odious woman when she is married - A woman who is odious is deserving of or arouses hate. The question, What did that man ever see in her to marry her? 222
Proverbs 21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. Proverbs 21:19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. Proverbs 25:24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. Proverbs 27:15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. 4. An handmaid that is heir to her mistress - according to common sense and generally accepted practice, the handmaid is not, and the children are the heirs of the mistress. 30:24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 30:25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 30:26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 30:27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 30:28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings palaces. * These verses are about four things which are little upon the earth that do great things in spite of their size: 1. The ants (v.25) - They prepare themselves for the proverbial rainy day. They make hay while the sun shines. Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 2. The conies (v.26) - This animal is seen listed with the hare in Leviticus 11:5-6 and Deuteronomy 14:7 as unclean animals. They are feeble folk but they know where to build their homes - in rocks. They know how to protect themselves. 3. The locusts (v.27) - They have enough sense to stick together without defined leadership. They are dependent on one another. 4. The spider (v.28) - They do not have hands, they have feet, in fact, that is the idea. Ants are weak, conies are feeble, locusts lack leadership, spiders have hands (no they really don t), yet, they show up in king s palaces. Each animal has an innate weakness, yet, it is still successful. The lesson is learn to overcome your handicaps! 30:29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: 30:30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; 30:31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. 30:32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. 223
* These verses speak of four things that are comely in going - i.e., very pleasing or delightful to observe in action: 1. A lion - He s the king of beasts. He is at the top of the food chain. he is strong and fearless. He will not run away from any other animal. 2. A greyhound - He s fast and graceful, beauty in motion. 3. An he-goat - He s powerful climbing and in mortal combat. He s sure-footed, he will go comfortably where others dare not tread! 4. A king - Who puts all opposition and competition in his place. He s a man who elicits respect and is in complete control. * After all these phenomena are presented for our consideration by our teacher (Agur), he essentially says in v.32, If you think you are something, or if you in your mind have violated any of these principles, why not just be quiet! Have you considered the beauty, danger and complexity of life? Job 26:5 Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof. Numbers 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? 30:33 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 and thoughts of evil will kindle strife like churned milk brings forth butter and a punch in the nose will bring forth blood. 224