Proverbs 30

Read Proverbs 30:1 – 14. These verses are described as the “sayings of Agur,” a person unknown to us from Scripture. Scholars have debated and disagreed on the possible identity of this wisdom writer. Is it Solomon using another name as he shifts to another style of writing? Is the entirety of Verse One, which contains a Hebrew palindrome, a word which is the same written backward as forward, with riddle-like qualities, meant to express that God’s wisdom is sometimes difficult to understand? Agur’s four questions clearly convey the truth that none of us can fully attain to God’s wisdom. Yet, even while raising questions, the writer gives us practical wisdom which we can apply immediately.

In Verse Eight, he writes, “Give me neither poverty or riches,” that he might not fall into pride or theft. Here, his prayer is for moderation in his circumstances. Do you ever pray for “just enough,” so that you can meet your real needs, but avoid extremes? If not, why do you pray for more than you really need?

Read Proverbs 30:15 – 31. This section contains five numerical sayings, each in the “three plus one” format. Each set of sayings reflects on observations from nature and ties them to human life. Sometimes, the connections between the items in the list are difficult to discern. Perhaps the riddle-like quality of the connection is meant to remind us how we can’t always discern God’s wisdom because our capacity to understand is limited to those aspects which God chooses to reveal.

Read Proverbs 30:32 – 33. The final two verses of this chapter are a warning against the foolishness of pride. In keeping with the riddle-like quality of the remainder of the chapter, these two verses remind us that God is the ultimate power and that humility is the only truly wise approach to the things of this life.

Choose one proverb from this chapter, which fits your life today. Memorize it. Read it aloud several times, emphasizing a different word each time. Close your eyes and recite it. Repeat this process several times until you are confident you know it. Pray and ask God to bring it to mind several times today. Recite it mentally each time it occurs to you. At the end of the day, take a moment to consider how it has applied to your life.