Morning Devotion - Prov. 30

Read Proverbs 30

These words of Agur reinforce the importance of humility, a lesson we have been learning throughout this book.

Verses 1-3 start the passage with a declaration of humility, that speaks of one who ascends to heaven and comes down and who would know the name of the Creator and His Son's name. This one would be the true wise man. How much more the One who came down from heaven to die for sinners and then ascended again to the highest place. He is not only Wisdom but also Humility.

This great Son of God is also the incarnate Word of God personified here (5). The humble man of wisdom needs to take refuge in this Word, who is called "him." We must hear his words with deep respect, not adding to them and leading people in a different way.

The majority of this chapter (7-31) records numbered observations of the humble wise man - things that he observes from the world of men and animals. These are grouped into four sections:

There are wise reasons to seek neither poverty or riches (7-9)

There are those who curse their fathers and bring trouble on themselves (10-17)

There are things too wonderful for me and things that make the earth tremble (18-23)

Small things can be a great force, but a king with an army is not to be ignored (24-31)

The conclusion in verses 32-33 brings us back to humility, now before both natural revelation (7-31) and special revelation (5-6). The humble man of wisdom will bow before the Incarnate Word who is the Master of heaven and earth.