Proverbs 30
Background
We have come to the first of two supplements to the book. The book is concluded in chapter 29, and chapter 30 is supplement number one. Chapter 31 is supplement number two. Supplement number one we might call The Words of Agur, and supplement number two, The Words of King Lemuel.
The words of Agur consist first of his confession, in verses 2-4. Then the conclusion
to which he came, because of what he learned in relation to what he confessed. Then,
we have a prayer that he prayed. After that, he begins a discussion of a series of
fours. He speaks of four generations in verses 10-14. Actually, the wordgen erati ons
could be translated as well by the wordcl ***, so he is thinking about four classes of
people. Then he speaks of four insatiable things, four wonderful things, four
intolerable things, four little things, and four comely or stately things. He closes his
discussion with a word of admonition.”
This opening verse has a lot of comments just because nobody really knows who
these people are. There has been much speculation, but no facts, and so w just have
to accept that Agur and his friends are godly men that God used to convey the
wisdom of this chapter to the rest of the world. Clarke, “words of Agur the son of Jakeh - words Agur, Jakeh, Ithiel, and Ucal, have been considered by some as proper names: by others, as descriptive characters. With some, Agur is Solomon; and Jakeh, David; and Ithiel and Ural are epithets of Christ.
vs 7-9 This portion of chapter 30 contains a prayer by Agur. It shows his devotion, humility, and zeal for the Lord. He desires that nothing comes between him and God. He prays over areas that so easily distract most of us today, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These we must overcome in order to have a true relationship with God.
vs 11-14 These verses along with the beginning of 15 describes a perverse generation or class of people. These people have been overtaken by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. Their end is wickedness continually. There is another generation that is not spoken of here and it's the generation we strive to be. Psalms 24:6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
If we seek him and his way, we should indeed find him and attend to his ways while blessing others along the way.
vs 18-20 These verses convey mysterious wonders as stated in the first three examples. The fourth shows his ignorance to unseemingly dealing with a woman. The eagle flies and no man can track its path, likewise no man can track the way of a serpent upon rocks, and the ship leaves no trail as it travels in the sea. The fourth, the way of a man with maid (virgin). The wickedness of mind and dealings of a man here are foreign to him. The world calls it game, but this is a game Agur has never played. This evil cohabitation is compared to an adulterous woman who lies and conceals the true nature of her heart. Let us be likewise ignorant to sin and deceitfulness. Romans 6:12
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
vs 32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
Simply put, if we have erred in our ways, we should get it right with God. Repent and remove that weight or sin that so easily can beset us.
