Wisdom in the flesh

INTRO

Proverbs 30:1-6

“1 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle. The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out. 2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man.

An old man who is worn out. Trying to figure out life is puzzling at every age. You try to be wise and make all the right moves and you eventually come to the conclusion you don’t know what you are doing.

Recognizing his lowly state is a step of wisdom. This seems to be a man reflecting on his legacy. He is contrasting himself with an arrogant man who knows it all.

We all go through seasons of life where things are just clicking. And then you hit a season where you are just worn out. You realize you could have done this or you could have done that but now you are here. You wonder if you know anything about life.

3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

1 Corinthians 3:18 “18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

The connection between wisdom and knowing God is clear. You cannot have wisdom with out a relationship with God. The book began with the premise that the fear of God is the foundation or beginning of knowledge. It is a conundrum. He is hearing an oracle from God yet he doesn’t know God.

4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down?

Exodus 19:20-21 “20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish.”

Who has gathered the wind in his fists? (HEB. RUAKH)

Job 34:14-15 “14 If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, 15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.”

PSALM 104:29-30 “29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.”

Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?

Job 26:8 “8 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them.”

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

Psalm 22:27 “27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.”

Job 38:4 “4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”

What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know!

There is no doubt the Old Testament answer is YHWH- Creator of the universe.

4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down?

John 3:13 “13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.”

Ephesians 4:9 “9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?”

Who has gathered the wind in his fists? (HEB. RUAKH)

Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?

Mark 4:41 “41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?””

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

Acts 1:8 “8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know!

Mark 1:11 “11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.””

John 5:18 (ESV) 18This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

YOU

Proverbs 30:8–9 ESV

8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

The law doesn’t meet the need to know God. The Old Testament longs to know Him.

Jeremiah 31:34 “34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.””