The Wisdom of Agur

2 Surely I am more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man. 3 Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!

John 3:13 NASB95

13 “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.

2. Affirmation of God’s Word

Proverbs 30:5–6 NASB95

5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

Don’t think that you can add your own wisdom to thoughts of God. Your thoughts will be proven false by God.

3. Prayer To God

Proverbs 30:7–9 NASB95

7 Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, 9 That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

4. Warning

Proverbs 30:10 NASB95

10 Do not slander a slave to his master, Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.

There is a judge who will protect the slave.

5. 4 Kinds of Pride

Proverbs 30:11–14 NASB95

11 There is a kind of man who curses his father And does not bless his mother. 12 There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness. 13 There is a kind—oh how lofty are his eyes! And his eyelids are raised in arrogance. 14 There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords And his jaw teeth like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth And the needy from among men.

Contrast of the humility of Agur.

6. Satisfaction

Proverbs 30:15–16 NASB95

15 The leech has two daughters, “Give,” “Give.” There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, “Enough”: 16 Sheol, and the barren womb, Earth that is never satisfied with water, And fire that never says, “Enough.”

What will satisfy you? Will you be satisfied with God’s Word?

7. Respect

Proverbs 30:17 NASB95

17 The eye that mocks a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.

Graphic consequences show the serious nature of not honoring your parents. It is deadly.

8. Nature

Proverbs 30:18–19 NASB95

18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand: 19 The way of an eagle in the sky, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the middle of the sea, And the way of a man with a maid.

the first 3 are creatures that move in different ways.

Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary (Wilson) ii. Proverbs and Numerical Sayings (30:10–33)

The sages cannot fully comprehend how such scenarios are ordered, and yet there appears to be patterns and familiar cycles. Life is both hard to understand, yet a wonder to explore.

9. Brazen

Proverbs 30:20 NASB95

20 This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, “I have done no wrong.”

Her actions are no more important to her than eating a meal.

10. Earth Shaking

Proverbs 30:21–23 NASB95

21 Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up: 22 Under a slave when he becomes king, And a fool when he is satisfied with food, 23 Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband, And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

11. Small and Wise

Proverbs 30:24–28 NASB95

24 Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise: 25 The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer; 26 The shephanim are not mighty people, Yet they make their houses in the rocks; 27 The locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in ranks; 28 The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings’ palaces.

You don’t need to be physically impressive or a natural born leader to be wise.

12. Leadership

Proverbs 30:29–31 NASB95

29 There are three things which are stately in their march, Even four which are stately when they walk: 30 The lion which is mighty among beasts And does not retreat before any, 31 The strutting rooster, the male goat also, And a king when his army is with him.

the strength of a leader is found in his men.

13. Arrest Yourself

Proverbs 30:32–33 NASB95

32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth. 33 For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.

When we humbly accept the wisdom of God we will not be like beasts, but human beings that can be used by God.

1 Corinthians 1:18–20 NASB95

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

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