Wednesday, May 28, 2014

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 30:15-17


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Proverbs Of Agur: “It Is Not Enough”: Proverbs 30:15-17
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.


In this chapter we may have a new author, a man by the name of Agur.  Very little is known about this man but, from the context of our text, it seems as if he is a teacher who is instructing his two students Ithiel and Ucal.  

EXPOSITION:
Agur now gives to us several pictures of dissatisfaction and unfulfilled lusts…

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:

1.  The leech which is constantly crying for more blood
2.  has two others that follow its example and shares in its unsatisfied desires...
3.  there are three things that are never filled and content
4.  there are four things that do not utter “I need no more”

In this opening verse of our text, Agur sets the stage for what is about to come.  All of this section will be addressing those who possess selfish desires which are never satiated….

But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;  And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;  But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.  (2 Peter 2:12-17)


16) The grave; and the barren womb; the earth [that] is not filled with water; and the fire [that] saith not, [It is] enough.
Four other examples from nature of things which cannot be satisfied are:
1.  The grave – which will always be willing and able to receive more bodies of those who have died.
2.  The barren womb – which is constantly seeking to bear a child, yet will never give birth.
3.  The dry earth – which will always need rain to keep it moist and fruitful.
4.  The fire – needs a constant flow of fuel to extend its life.

These all help us to understand the condition of the sinful heart which is filled with lusts which can never bring true satisfaction and contentment.

Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.  (Proverbs 27:20)



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.
Agur now uses two final examples (ravens and eagles) to complete his theme….
1.  The person who perceives his father as one to be ridiculed and slighted
2.  The person who shows no respect to submission to the loving authority of their mother
3.  The ravens that live in the lush valley shall peck out the eye
4.  The eagles that have youthful strength and ability shall consume it.

Here we are told that the Lord’s judgments upon the haughty and prideful (ravens and eagles) will not be satisfied.  On the contrary, the Lord will continue to bring discipline upon those who are full of disobedience as long as disobedience exists in the world.  He will never grow weary nor lax in His judgment against of sin. His justice will never be satisfied as long as sin is unpunished.

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.  (Galatians 3:10)

  
SUMMARY:
Due to the sinful lusts that dwell within all mankind, we find ourselves constantly desiring that which will never satisfy nor bring lasting contentment.  These same desires, when acted upon, bring forth a certainty of judgment from the Lord, for all sin must be judged.  Just as the sinful desires of man are never satisfied, so to the judgment of God upon those sins.  The major question for each of us is this….

Must we stand and face the judgment of God for our sins or has the punishment for our sins been paid thought the death of Christ on the cross?

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.   (Ephesians 5:1-2)

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.


Tuesday, May 27, 2014

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 30:11-14


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Proverbs Of Agur: There Is A Generation…: Proverbs 30:11-14
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.


In this chapter we may have a new author, a man by the name of Agur.  Very little is known about this man but, from the context of our text, it seems as if he is a teacher who is instructing his two students Ithiel and Ucal.  

EXPOSITION:
Agur now explains some of the distinguishing marks of a generation that is given over to sin…

11) [There is] a generation [that] curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
1.  There is an age that disrespects by mocking their father
2.  There is an age that does not submit to, nor wish well to come to, their mother.

There is an age that disrespects those who exercise loving authority over them.



12) [There is] a generation [that are] pure in their own eyes, and [yet] is not washed from their filthiness.
1.  There is an age that perceives themselves to be clean and without blemish
2.  and yet they are not cleansed from their own waste

There is an age that does not perceive their sinful condition and their alienation from the Lord


13) [There is] a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
1. There is an age that possesses eyes that look over others
2. There is an age that show their pride in their looks of disgust and disregard for others.

There is an age that are prideful of heart and mind to the point of contempt of all others


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 an age that have sharp teeth like swords of war
2.  There is an age that have incisors like sharp eating utensils
3.  that are used to “chew and swallow up” (like eating a meal)
4.  those who are afflicted, pained and tormented
5.  and those who lack necessities of life

There is an age that will abuse the defenseless, poor and suffering for their own personal gain.

  
SUMMARY:
Some outstanding marks of a generation that ignore the principles of God’s Words and live lives according to their sinful lusts….

1.  There is an age that disrespects those who exercise loving authority over them.
2.  There is an age that does not perceive their sinful condition and their alienation from the Lord
3.  There is an age that are prideful of heart and mind to the point of contempt of all others
4.  There is an age that will abuse the defenseless, poor and suffering for their own personal gain.

Please keep in mind, these attitudes existed throughout human history.  However it does appear as if these type of attitudes are increasing gradually over time.  These types of prideful, selfish, carnal attitudes are said to take place before the second coming of Christ….

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.   (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

As we look around us at the world in which we live, may we humbly bow before our Lord and ask Him to intervene and grant salvation and wisdom to the sinful generation in which we are living.

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways.  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.   (Hebrews 3:7-12)

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.


Monday, May 26, 2014

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 30:7-10


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Proverbs Of Agur: The Desires Of Agur: Proverbs 30:7-10
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].
10) Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

In this chapter we may have a new author, a man by the name of Agur.  Very little is known about this man but, from the context of our text, it seems as if he is a teacher who is instructing his two students Ithiel and Ucal.  


EXPOSITION:
Agur now explains the desires of his heart in an effort to set an example for each one of us…

7) Two [things] have I required of thee; deny me [them] not before I die:
1.  Agur brought before the Lord two requests that could only be fulfilled by the Lord
2.  He then asked the Lord to bestow both of these requests upon him prior to his death.

a.  We can see in this text that Agur understood his great need of the Lord in his life.  Agur recognized that only the Lord could give him what he was requesting, he was unable to supply these things for himself. 
b.  Secondly, we can see that he was a patient man who understood the Lord blesses in His timing not ours.  Agur was willing to wait his entire lifetime for the Lord to answer his request.  His only desire was to see the Lord’s blessings come upon him before his passing.

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  (Acts 17:27-28)


8) Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
The two requests of Agur:
1. drive away from me worthlessness and deceitfulness
2. bestow upon me the proper supplies that will be properly measured to fill my needs (I am not asking to be kept in a condition of want nor am I asking for overflowing wealth )

Agur desired of the Lord both spiritual and physical supplies:  
1.  Spiritually, he was asking the Lord to make his life count in his service and allow him to live honestly life.
“Vanity” means worthlessness, waste, or nothingness.  He is saying that he wanted to be kept from wasting his life by chasing after worthless, spiritually valueless pursuits, or creating a worthless testimony through deceitful living.
2.  Physically, he was asking the Lord to meet his material needs (to avoid excessive need or excessive wealth).  Why didn’t Agur desire great wealth? 
He knew that great wealth opens up great avenues of temptation, which when submitted to, can lead to a wasted life of carnal living. 

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.   (1 Timothy 6:6-8)


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].
Why didn’t Agur desire great wealth or desire poverty?  He knew that evils would come from either…
1.  If he has an abundance of wealth, he will perfectly satisfied and say deny the role of the Lord in his life.  He will think himself to be self-sufficient with no need of Him.
2.  If he lives in a constant state of need and lack, he will be tempted to take the belongings of others and curse the Lord for not meeting his needs.

We can see, in all of this, that Agur’s true desire was to please the Lord with his life.  He knew a big part of his success would be based on the avoidance of temptations that can lead to sin and a ruined testimony.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.   (Matthew 6:13)

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak. (Matthew 26:41)


10) Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
As Agur begins to teach, he reminds us of the ill effects of being over-critical of others…
1.  do not slander a bond servant
2.  he may wish evil to come upon you and bring disrespect upon you through his speech and actions
3.  this will cause others to find fault with you as well.

How can we apply to the previous verses in this text?  This is another desire of his heart.  As he taught the Word, he desired for his students to look at their own lives and their need of the truths of God. 

Agur knew how easy it is for us to hear God’s Word and then apply the principles, in fleshly way, to find fault in lives of others.  This can make us feel better about our own shortcomings.  But as Agur taught, he desired for his students to hear his words and seek to apply them to their own lives.  He did not want the teachings of the Lord to be used to make carnal, critical, false judgments based upon our own fleshly motivations.  This should always be one of our concerns as we hear the teachings of the Word.

  
SUMMARY:

May the Lord bless us with the same set of Godly desires as shown to us in the life of Agur. 
May we all desire for:
1.  our life to be God honoring
2.  our needs be met
3.  we avoid temptations that can ruin us
4.  His teachings to be used to change our hearts and lives and bring us closer to Him.

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.


Friday, May 23, 2014

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 30:5-6


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Proverbs Of Agur: The Word Is Impeccable: Proverbs 30:5-6
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.

In this chapter we may have a new author, a man by the name of Agur.  Very little is known about this man but, from the context of our text, it seems as if he is a teacher who is instructing his two students Ithiel and Ucal.  

As Agur begins to share God’s Word with us, he reminds us of the exclusivity of the Word… it is perfect, all-encompassing and is exclusively backed by Divine authority.  No other teaching whether in written or verbal form can begin to compare to it.  This is why we should listen to his message very carefully… 

 EXPOSITION:

5) Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Agur now shares two motivations for us to follow the Word of God that he is revealing to us.
1.  The speech of God is perfectly refined (with no error)
2.  God is a protector of those who put their confidence in him
We are to follow his teachings (and all the Word of God) because:
a.  it is a perfect message that proceeds from the One that deserves all of our worship.  Why do we owe Him our undivided devotion?  Because we owe our physical and spiritual life to Him (He is our Creator and Redeemer).
In other words, we are to follow His Word because WE OWE IT TO HIM.
b.  God is the One that meets our every need as we look to Him in faith.  One of the greatest tools He uses to supply our needs is through the teachings found in His Word. 
In other words, we are to follow His Word because IT IS OF GREAT SPIRITUAL BENEFIT TO US.


6) Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Agur continues to explain the sanctity of the Word.  When this sanctity is violated there are two devastating results.
1.  Do not expand to His Word or attempt to improve it in any way
2.  He will convict, chasten and correct us
3.  We will be revealed as a deceiver

Folks, we should take great heed to this warning from Agur.  There are many dangers that await those who attempt to in any way change or augment the Word of God.  This principle is declared throughout both the Old and New Testament portions of the Word…

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.   (Deuteronomy 4:2)
Moses warned the children of Israel of the need to be certain to not change the Word in any way.  This includes adding to it or diminishing it (taking away from it or changing it).

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 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.   (Revelation 22:18-19)
As John penned the final book of the Bible, he brought the revelation of God to an end and gives the fateful warning to not add, nor take away from Divine revelation in its entirety. 

We should never think that Agur, Moses or John’s warnings only apply to their own individual writings.  This warning is found throughout the Scriptures helping us to understand that the entire, inspired Word is included in this grave warning.  

Think of it this way, if we limit this warning to the writings of the individuals who are giving the warning, we are by implication, saying that the others parts of the Bible can be added to, taken away, or changed.  These warnings are not found in every book of the Bible, therefore do we have the right to change those books?  Absolutely not. 

And yet there are those who claim that the Word can be added to today. Their reasoning is that the warnings we have looked at only apply to the books of Deuteronomy, Revelation and the Proverb that Agur wrote.  Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable for them to add their own “revelation” to the mix.  How sad. 
Please do not fall for their message of deceit.  When they say “God has given me a new message” or “God has revealed to me a new truth”, just rack it up to Satan, turn from the messenger of error, and turn back to the Word for Godly instruction.

Why is this warning given, and why is it such a “big deal” if we purposely change His Word?

All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
In this text, we are to look to the Word is the God-given tool that would perfectly, thoroughly gives us all we need to serve the Lord in a way pleasing to Him.  From this text we can learn several different truths:

a.  The Word is a completed revelation. 
If there were still portions to be revealed to man it could never result in men being described as “perfect (complete)” and “throughly (fully equipped or finished being equipped)”.  If we were waiting for the final pieces of revelation to come to us, it would be as if we are waiting for the last pieces of equipment to be supplied to us as we prepare for spiritual warfare. 
(The Word was completed in 100 AD with the writing of the last Biblical book, The Revelation Of Jesus Christ which was given to the Apostle John.  From that point forward we have had the complete revelation of God given to man.  As such, we now have the ability to be throughly furnished for spiritual warfare.

b.  Since the Word is our source of “equipment” for spiritual battle we dare not add to it, take from it, or change it in any way. 
If we do, we are making the equipment God has given to us less effective for our spiritual warfare.  After all, there is NO WAY we can be improving what God has given to us, therefore our “changes” must deteriorate its effectiveness. 

c.  Finally, by changing His inspired Word we are, by our actions, stating that we know better than the Lord. 
If we add to it, we are saying that He didn’t give us all that we need.
If we take away from it, we are saying he gave us what we did not need.
If we change it, we are calling Him a liar and we need to correct Him. 
In all three of these changes, we are calling Him imperfect, sinful and beneath us.



SUMMARY:

In these verses, Agur helps us to understand the importance of his teachings (as the very Word of God) and the importance to not change God’s Word in any way. God’s Word is the perfect Word of the Lord given to equip us for spiritual warfare.  

If we present untruth under the guise of the Truth, we are hindering His service and blaspheming His person and Word.   Therefore, we all must labor to come to a proper understanding of the Word and then clearly present it to others.  In doing so, we are equipping ourselves and others to be fully equipped to do the work of the Lord. 

This is what Agur was doing for his students and for each one of us.

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.