For the woman (or Church) God gave us Proverbs 31; for man (or priesthood) He gave us Proverbs 30. Proverbs 30 is a powerful look into the mind of man and the direction he must take. It begins with repentance and baptism.
The Words of Agur
30 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.
The man declares, I am weary, O God;
I am weary, O God, and worn out.
2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man.
I have not the understanding of a man.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
Surely you know!
Life’s journey begins with the realisation that the old life is futile and unproductive. We do violence to ourselves with sin. By ignoring God and the wisdom of Scripture, the decisions we make are unsound. The pressures of life in Egypt lead us to seek a hedonistic lifestyle. Living without a God gives no purpose and no future; no reason to live other than producing glimpses of pleasure, how ever one can manifest it. For some it is substance abuse; for others it’s through sex; and then there are those for whom it’s through a tireless war to gain wealth.
The world wakes to work, forgets family and friends; and understands little need for love. Competition sees the individual strive for recognition. Promotion means more wealth, a better credit rating, and more access to goods and services. The wife must work to pay the bills. The children are minded by strangers so parents can afford to drive a better car.
We say: “He lives in a small house, so he is not doing very well. He has four children, so he must be doing it hard. He works 80 hours a week and never sees his family; he is such a hard worker. He wears expensive suits; he must be important. He drinks too much; he must be under stress. He borrows money to take his children on holiday; so he fulfils his obligations. His wife wears expensive jewellery; how he must love her. He has affairs; work pressure caused them to drift apart. He works seven days a week; he is burnt out. However, his family has needs. He spends his boss’ time surfing the net; his work is so important. How productive he feels. He must get home to his family as its sports night”.
We work out what is important in life. How can we love anything without knowing how? We need to think: “I am too stupid to be human”. We must ask ourselves: “Have I forgotten everything that is important in life? My parents raised me to love me – have I forgotten that? Who can teach me how? Surely I know.
I see the cares of this world are drowning me. I see that wealth lies in people. I see emotions are richer than rocks. I see the folly in sin. I see that Christ is my teacher. I feel the need to be clean. I want to learn how to live. I want to teach others. I want others to feel how I feel - liberated. I want to work with the people who feel like I do and plead the case of the poor and ignorant. My time is better. I want my Feasts and my fasts. They are mine and I want them. I need them and so does my family”.
In this text we see the reference to the name of God and the fact of the existence of the Son of God.
5 Every word of God proves true;
He
is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
He is the One True God who guides me and He sent His Son to save me.
I am so confident in everything I do. I am baptised and Christ is my teacher. There is an answer to all my questions if I sit down for a minute to read. I know what to do every day, because the Law shows me what I need to do. I cannot be harmed. My spirit is guarded by a legion of angels. God tells me He created the world in six days. Why would I not believe Him? God tells me He rested on the Sabbath. Why would I think any different? God tells me to give to the poor as He does. Why would I do any different? God tells me Christ will come again. Why would I believe any different? God tells me to seek out my people and to spend time with them. Why would I want to do anything different? God tells me to fast to be near Him. Why would I not want be near Him? God tells me to go to a nice place for a feast and buy what I desire, and study the word of God with my people and eat good food. Why would I not want to do this? I cannot fail because I believe. The Spirit makes me believe.
6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
I am baptized and I know the truth. The revelation the Lord gives is sufficient. Do I need people to tell me that I created these things? Do I need people to tell me that I am the one who can protect you? Can I give you everlasting life? Can I give you a place in heaven? Can I build a church and wash people of their sins? Can I rule over you? Don’t we already have a master and don’t we already know how we must live? Don’t we already know what to do from day to day? Are we not already mesmerised by the brilliance of creation and the wonder of our fellow man? Are not we already convinced of the truth? Do we not see how every Scripture interlocks and holds all others up? Do we not see the patterns and colour of the word? How can we improve on perfect? Do we cut off a man’s ears and sew them on his back, or take off our legs to fit in a hole? The Bible is inspired and true. My faith relies on that premise. I am an ape without it. I am an animal with no life. I can murder and rape without thought without it. The Bible makes me human. The Bible makes me real. The Bible introduces me to God.
7 Two things I ask of you;
deny
them not to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give
me neither poverty nor riches;
feed
me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full and deny you
and
say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.
Why do I not do as God says? Hide nothing from man. Why do I feel like I must protect myself with deceit? What can a man do to harm me? Have I done anything so bad? Why can I not be master of my own destiny; confident and proud that I am a God created being? I am a worker in the church, a husband and father, brother and sister, mother and wife, uncle, aunt, cousin, and friend. Do I need to be more? Why would I want to be less? Why do we lie? Life is so simple. We sleep; we wake up; we eat; we love and we work. We drink and we laugh and remember our people. We go to church when we can. We fellowship; we study; we wait patiently and we pray. Why is there a need for more and why is there a need to confuse the wonderful reality put before us?
Why do I want so many things? Why do I need to be regarded in such a way? When I have it all I need nothing. Is this where I no longer need my creator and God? How do I get there? If money can corrupt, why would I take the risk? If you don’t love me unless I live in a nice home and drive a fancy car, can you ever love me? My wealth lies in my people. If we could understand God by being full, why would He ask us to fast? If we paid the man to grow a plant, how could we understand the creation? How can a child understand the creation unless he or she cares for a pet? Children in the city have never seen a cow.
Have you ever tasted bread you baked yourself? It hurts to be hungry, but some food just never satisfies. Please don’t buy my meal. Offer me a tomato from your pot; the taste cannot be compared. Why must I have a car when I can walk? That way I can see the birds. It is the pressures and organisation of modern society that make us weak and acquisitive.
10 do
not slander a servant to his master,
lest
he curse you and you be held guilty.
If God hears everything we say, and knows everything we think, then when we think badly of someone we slander the servant to his master. We should not take advantage of those in lowly positions. The world takes care of all personalities and people of various ideas and levels of wisdom. What makes us better, but our capacity to forgive as the Father forgave us. What makes you wiser than me? Does everything always work out perfectly for either of us? I can cook, but you can repair the broken pot. She can dance, but man you draw a great picture. So many people have time for me, why can’t I have time for many people? Why would I make an enemy of my brother? Why harm my sister? Why cause my Father pain by venting on his children? Why do I want what you have when I already have the same gifts? My manhood lies in my capacity to work with other people. I need other people and others need me. Why stop a man helping me when I may need it most.
11 There are those who curse their fathers
and
do not bless their mothers.
12 There
are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.
13 There
are those—how lofty are their eyes,
how
high their eyelids lift!
14 There
are those whose teeth are swords,
whose
fangs are knives,
to
devour the poor from off the earth,
the
needy from among mankind.
Who am I without my mother and father and who are they without theirs? Only they could bring me into the world and only Christ can wash me clean. How can I convince myself of any other situation? How can you convince me you can do it in their stead? Can you offer me life outside of a family and eternality outside of the creation? Who are you to tempt me with ideas contrary to this? I did not ask to be born; I did not ask to exist, and I didn’t make an application. My mother and father came together under the direction of God and I am so. The family is of the father and the son and the mother and the father and I am the child - can it be any other way? I don’t know of any. Is it different for any other person on the planet? Are not we all equal under this premise? Are not the blacks and whites, the Asian and the Indian created in the same way? Are not the children of kings and queens manufactured from the same plans as the children of the ghettos? Are not their needs the same? Is not their duty and responsibility the same? Is not their reward equal with ours? Who are you to assume your needs are greater and your worth of more importance because you have a label on your shirt? If you do, you are not reading the same books as I am. Only God can feed us. Only God can give us water and only God can teach us truth. Why take what little He has to add to your pile of nothing?
15 The leech has two daughters;
“
Give” and “Give,” they cry.
Three
things are never satisfied;
four
never say, “Enough”:
16 Sheol, the barren womb,
the
land never satisfied with water,
and
the fire that never says, “Enough.”
Why do we convince ourselves of so much? Our lives are a continual justification. Why do we need that which we have just convinced ourselves is so necessary? Christ said:
“Our father who is in heaven hallowed be your name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass amongst us.
Lead us not in to temptation and deliver us from evil:
for Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever Amen.”
I don’t see anything about dishwashers, jewellery, cars, holidays, leather couches, juicers, coffee machines, spas, machines that bake bread, automatic vacuum cleaners that don’t need to be pushed around and other annoying things that beep early in the morning. It’s not a sin to have these things, but really how important are they in my life? How much do we need to live? Do bright colours, fancy designs, the beeping and the moving distract us from what we actually need? Do I spend enough effort on knowing who you are, or do I try to get you the things I think you want? I don’t need it, I want it. I don’t care what you have, I care what you are. The people in the church are the richest in the world because they are in the church. I don’t want to be rich and if you think badly of me because I am poor, then I am richer than you. If you love me, then the richer I become, and the longer you love me the greater I become.
17 The
eye that mocks a father
and
scorns to obey a mother
will
be picked out by the ravens of the valley
and
eaten by the vultures.
18 Three things are too wonderful for me;
four
I do not understand:
19 the
way of an eagle in the sky,
the
way of a serpent on a rock,
the
way of a ship on the high seas,
and
the way of a man with a virgin.
The creation is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. The mind of God is an open page. Walk outside and read the book. We ask not is there a God, but why isn’t there one? It’s too obvious and clear and transparent. The universe cannot exist in scientific understanding without intervention. What man could dream a tree? What man could draw a bird lest he be shown how? The angels wept for joy after they created this world. When was the last time you cried because of the creation? If you haven’t then I suggest you get into the middle of it. It’s your garden. It was made for you. It was gift from God. How grateful are you everyday? Tend this garden; keep it clean and fight to protect it. Everyday do something positive to save it. Protect the animals and the plants. Don’t add to its plight. Walk, if possible, don’t drive. Take the bus; it’s going anyway. If it can be used again, then use it again. If it breaks down, then break it down. If it can be turned into something else, turn it into something else. Do you vote - then make one for the creation. It’s more important than defence, roads or the death penalty.
If you love God you love His mind and you will honour His gifts. Do I have to understand it? Why do I need to understand a woman and why does a woman have to understand the man? Does not the wonder lie in the mystery? Doesn’t the intrigue add to the colour? Doesn’t the desire create the energy? Isn’t love a journey? Why is it so necessary to dissect all things? Will knowing all the secrets, all aspects of the creation make me a better person? Not knowing everything makes us love God. It makes us respect God more. It makes us respect His creation more.
20 This is the way of an adulteress:
she
eats and wipes her mouth
and
says, “I have done no wrong.”
21 Under three things the earth trembles;
under
four it cannot bear up:
22 a slave when he
becomes king,
and
a fool when he is filled with food;
23 an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maidservant when she
displaces her mistress.
We must understand that only through the church are we saved and through the church can we win the battle against evil. The mainstream Church, the religious adulteress, wipes her mouth and says: “I have done no wrong”. We will become kings. Christ fills us with food, so we are not fools and we become rulers of the house. The world will not remain as it is when we achieve this goal. Our husband will love us and the last will become first.
Who wants this current world to stand? We must work to make it change and for Christ to take over. The church is the most fundamental and integral aspect of our lives. Do not sleep with the adulteress religious whore. Would you not prefer to sleep in your own bed?
24 Four things on earth are small,
but
they are exceedingly wise:
25 the ants are a people not strong,
yet
they provide their food in the summer;
26 the
rock badgers are a people not mighty,
yet
they make their homes in the cliffs;
27 the locusts have no king,
yet
all of them march in rank;
28 the lizard you can take in your hands,
yet
it is in kings’ palaces.
He who does not provide for his family is worse than an unbeliever. We do not need to be strong, just diligent and intelligent. Plan for the lean times. The farmer fills a hay shed with his good crop for a drought - or does he go on holiday? Do we build our homes on the sandy coastlines to be swept away in the tides? Do we need to see our king to know where we must march? Does Christ need to sit at your table before you are convinced to go to church? Even the locust, a puny grasshopper, knows what his duties are. Do we let Christ pick us up in his hands and let us roam in his palaces? Reptiles let him do that. Do we listen to prophecy and heed its warning? Did not the Pharaoh prepare for the drought? We know because God’s words prove true. Put your food away, build a house in a good place, fulfil your responsibilities and let Christ carry you.
29 three
things are stately in their tread;
four
are stately in their stride:
30 the lion, which is mightiest among beasts
and
does not turn back before any;
31 the strutting rooster, the
he-goat,
and
a king whose army is with him.
Christ, when his army is with him is complete. When we are working in the Church and all are unified and fulfilling their roles Christ is proud and unstoppable. We fight Satan’s armies with Christ. We are integral to the battle. Christ needs us to fight with him. He marches through armies and wins all battles when the Church marches with him. The power of the Church cannot be negated; the power of the Church cannot be trivialised. We are his army. We do not carry guns, nor are we governed in the same way. We are an army of volunteers, weak people made strong with common goals and common missions.
32 If
you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
or
if you have been devising evil,
put
your hand on your mouth.
33 For pressing milk produces curds,
pressing
the nose produces blood,
and pressing anger produces strife.
Think about what you say and do before you act. Do not seek status in the world unless you are invited. Ask yourself: “Why would I want to make you angry? Why would you want to hurt me? Is what I do constructive? Is it sustainable? Is it out of love? Do we say things with hidden agendas? Many false prophets come and make empty statements. Are you one of those? Do you seek the spirit or are you led by it? Or do you want power over the people for vanity’s sake? Why do I create things that are not needed to be when all I have is right here?”
Love one another as God and Christ love us.
[1]The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Pr 29:27-30:33). Good News Publishers: Wheaton
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