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”.
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