2. key Text:
“Blessed are the poor in
spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven”
Matthew 5:3
3. In the Bible humility is considered an important virtue.
The greatest of prophets, Moses, is singled out as the most
humble person who ever lived (Num. 12:3).
According to Micah 6:8, the main duty that God expects from
people is “to walk humbly with your God”.
Jesus, too, insists that humility is an ideal
that the Christian should adopt:
“ ‘Whoever humbles himself as this little child
is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven’ ” (Matt. 18:4)
4. In Proverbs 30, Agur advised us to
be humble by avoiding boasting
and by meditating on God and His
works.
1. AVOIDING BOASTING
Foolishness and boasting (v. 32)
The acts of the proud (v. 11-20)
2. ACQUIRING HUMILITY
Looking at God (v. 3-6)
Asking for what we need (v. 7-9)
Learning from nature (v. 18-19, 24-28)
5. “If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, or if
you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.”
(Proverbs 30:32)
We act like fools [nabal in
Hebrew] when we boast, brag
or become arrogant.
Nabal is the clearest example of boasting
fool in the Bible: “For as his name is, so is
he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him!”
(1 Samuel 25:25).
The proud thinks he already knows or has
everything. His problem is that he thinks he
doesn’t need anything. He’s like the
Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14; he doesn’t want to
accept God’s forgiveness and wisdom.
6. There are three despicable acts as a
result of boasting in Proverbs 30:11-20.
The crude results of being arrogant are
depicted in that passage.
Cursing one’s parents
• “There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their
mothers… The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the
vultures.” (Proverbs 30:11, 17 NIV).
Excusing sin
• “There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed
from its filthiness… This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats
and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done no wickedness.’”
(Proverbs 30:12, 20).
Despising others
• “There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids
are lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and
whose fangs are like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and
the needy from among men.” (Proverbs 30:13-14).
7. “Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound 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,
If you know?” (Proverbs 30:4)
When we see God’s work—from the vast
universe to the microscopic world—, every
reason to be proud fades away.
When we look at God’s greatness like Job did (Job 38-39), we can do
nothing but say as David did: “What is man that You are mindful of him,
and the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:4).
Thus, we must study the God’s revealed truth (the Bible) in a humble
way. Our understanding is covered with fog and mystery, since we can’t
actually understand even the simplest things in nature. How could we
question God’s Word? We cannot question the Bible just because some
passages puzzle us.
8. “Two things I request of You (deprive me not before I die)” (Proverbs 30:7)
What two things did Agur request of God (v. 8)?
1. “Remove falsehood and lies far from me.”
2. “Give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me
with the food allotted to me.”
Firstly, he asked God to separate him from falsehood and lies.
Secondly, he asked Him to give him only the necessary
sustenance.
In verse 9, Agur explained why he requested those things:
If I had too much, I might forget
I depend on God.
If I were poor, I might be tempted
to sin against God by stealing.
Jesus taught us to ask God for our
sustenance: “Give us day by day our
daily bread.” (Luke 11:3)
9. The way of an
eagle in the
sky
The way of a
snake on a
rock
The way of a
ship on the
high seas
The way of a
man with a
young woman
Which things didn’t Agur understand (Proverbs 30:19 NIV)? What can we learn from them?
Studying the nature makes us aware
of our ignorance. That’s a good way
to build humility.
10. Studying the nature makes us aware
of our ignorance. That’s a good way
to build humility.
Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they
store up their food in the summer.
Hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they
make their home in the crags.
Locusts have no king, yet they advance
together in ranks.
A lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is
found in kings’ palaces.
What can we learn from small animals (Proverbs 30:25-28 NIV)?
11. “In the varied scenes of nature also are lessons
of divine wisdom for all who have learned to
commune with God. The pages that opened in
undimmed brightness to the gaze of the first
pair in Eden bear now a shadow. A blight has
fallen upon the fair creation. And yet, wherever
we turn, we see traces of the primal loveliness;
wherever we turn, we hear the voice of God and
behold His handiwork.”
E.G.W. (Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, section 2, cp. 6, pg. 52)
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PROVERBS * The Call of Wisdom
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