Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Proverbs 30 by Doug

 

Proverbs 30:1 (NRSV) –>"How can I prevail?” is how the NRSV translates the last phrase here.  I can feel that pain.  How do we prevail? I think that Agur was tired, stressed out, and probably burned out.  He was striving to do right, but couldn’t get anyone to go with him.  How could he prevail? Look on down to verse 5:

 

Proverbs 30:5 (NRSV) –>”Every word of God” is how we prevail. It’s not by our strength or by our own wisdom, but by the power of God.  And when we are too weary to keep trying, take refuge in Him.

 

Proverbs 30:6 (NRSV) –>Adding to anyone’s words is a recipe for a quick rebuke.  How much more to add to God’s!  Yet we see it happen frequently, whether it be by adding more laws or saying God has changed His mind about something.  We must be very careful.  By the way, if it’s your opinion, say so! Be prepared to explain it.  Even if it’s just your intuition or gut feeling.  But don’t attribute it to God!

 

Proverbs 30:8-9 (NRSV) –>I’ll pray half of this, but the half about not being full or rich is tough.  Really tough.

 

Proverbs 30:14 (NRSV) –>How did “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me!” become a saying when there is abundant evidence and Scripture to show otherwise?  Words can hurt me.  Much of the pain from sticks we can recover from.

 

Proverbs 30:33 (NRSV) –>Need proof the Bible is true?  Press fresh milk and see if you get curds.  Need more proof?  Press your nose.  Hard.  Get blood?  Maybe there is some truth here.

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