Wednesday, June 4, 2014

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 30:24-28


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

The Proverbs Of Agur: Principles Of Wisdom In Creation: Proverbs 30:24-28
24) There be four [things which are] little upon the earth, but they [are] exceeding wise:
25) The ants [are] a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26) The conies [are but] a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27) The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28) The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.


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 a listing of some wise principles that can be learned through God’s creation…

24) There be four [things which are] little upon the earth, but they [are] exceeding wise:
1.  Agur teaches us that his list of four types of wise creatures are typically looked upon as being insignificant
2.  yet they possess an overflowing wisdom that they exhibit in their actions.

Agur is helping us to understand a very important principle. In the eyes of the world, it is normally thought that the wisest among us are the ones with the greatest education, wealth, or position of authority.  However, the possession and exhibition of wisdom is not limited to the great.  Many times those who are insignificant in the eyes of man are the ones who possess the greatest amount of wisdom. 

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:  Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.  Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?  In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.   (Job 12:7-10)


25) The ants [are] a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
Example #1: The ant
1.  The ants are a division of insect that are not physically strong in comparison to other creatures.
2.  However, because they are wise, they make sure they store up food in times of plenty.

There are two lessons we can learn about wisdom in this illustration:
1.  Wisdom can be used to overcome PHYSICAL WEAKNESSES.  Although the ants are weak and cannot survive winter if they had to find daily food, wisdom allows them to lay up for their winter needs.  In doing so, they can overcome their weakness to the cold by never leaving their burrows in search of food during the winter season.  
2.  Wisdom teaches us to LOOK AHEAD, PREDICT OUR FUTURE NEEDS AND THEN GRADUALLY WORK TO MEET THOSE COMING NEEDS.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:  Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,  Provideth her meat in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest.  (Proverbs 6:6-8)


26) The conies [are but] a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
Example #2: The rabbit (or an animal similar to a rabbit?) (the Hebrew word is unclear on its identity – for our study we will use a rabbit)
1.  The rabbit is a weaker type of animal with little natural defenses.
2.  The rabbit exhibits wisdom by living in very strong, defensible homes.

There are two lessons we can learn about wisdom in this illustration:
1.  Wisdom can be used to overcome OUR NATURAL DEFICIENCIES.  Although rabbits have weak defenses, they can strengthen their weak defenses by choosing to live in burrows made among rocks.  This makes digging up their burrows much more difficult for their predators. 
2.  Wisdom teaches us to HONESTLY EVALUATE OUR SHORTCOMINGS AND DEVELOP WAYS TO FORTIFY THEM.

The high hills [are] a refuge for the wild goats; [and] the rocks for the conies.(Psalms 104:18)



27) The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
Example #3 – The locust
1.  The locusts do not follow the leadership of a king (unlike bees who follow the queen etc.)
2.  The locusts have the ability to labor together as a unified group.

There are two lessons we can learn about wisdom in this illustration:
1.  Wisdom can be used to overcome OUR LACK OF DIRECTION.  Although locusts have no leader that directs their movements, by wisdom they know the proper role they are to play in a group setting.  By each doing their own part, they can successfully feed themselves and aid, not hinder the efforts of others.   
2.  Wisdom teaches us to HONESTLY EVALUATE OUR GIFTS AND ABILITIES.  In doing so, we can better UNDERSTAND OUR ROLE WE ARE EXPECTED TO FULFILL IN OUR SERVICE TO HIM.

That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.  Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.  For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth [are] the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.  He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast [it] away; the branches thereof are made white.   (Joel 1:4-7)


28) The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
Example #4 – The spider
1.  The spider grabs and carefully manipulates her web with her hands instead of spreading it at random
2.  The spider inhabits not only nature and the house of poor men, but in places of authority and honor as well.

There are two lessons we can learn about wisdom in this illustration:
1.  Wisdom can be used to overcome THE WEAKNESSES OF OUR FALLEN NATURES. The spider’s web is one of the most fragile, weak and exposed tools that are used by any of God’s creation.  But, in spite of their weaknesses, the spider’s web is an absolute necessity for the spider’s welfare.  By wisdom, the spider spins the vulnerable web very carefully spinning it in the most effective, strong and beautiful way as possible.  This allows the spider’s web to accomplish the task set before it and, due to its incredible beauty, allows it to be an acceptable addition to the most luxurious of homes.     
2.  Wisdom teaches us to RECOGNIZE THE RESULTS OF OUR FALLEN NATURE UPON OUR TESTIMONY FOR CHRIST.  By doing this, we can see our need to TAKE GREAT CARE AND DILIGENCE AS WE SEEK TO WEAVE A STRONG, EFFECTIVE AND BEAUTIFUL TESTIMONY FOR HIM.

So [are] the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:  Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust [shall be] a spider's web.  He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.  (Job 8:13-15)


SUMMARY:

We have seen in our study for today that the simple things of nature (ant, rabbit, locust and spider) can teach us much about the importance and nature of Godly wisdom.  By His grace, let us all strive to be like these “weak ones” as we live our lives to display His wisdom to a lost and dying world.

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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