Proverb 30:24 - 31:9

A Mother’s Wisdom

Pastor Gregg Downs Calvary Chapel of Mercer County www.ccmercer.com

September 30, 2018

1 of 27 Good morning everyone. We return this morning to continue our look at the wisdom of Agur recorded for us in chapter 30 of the Book of Proverbs. We began our look last week at this chapter, but were not able to make our way all the way through. As such, we pick up this morning where we left oﬀ in verse 24.

As you are turning there, I will remind you that our study last week was entitled Keenly Observant which comes from our observation of the way in which Agur himself exercised observation. Agur was, as we took notice, a keenly observant man who took notice of those things, events, occurrences around him and then prayerfully and humbly drew conclusions from those observations. By way of review, I will remind you that Agur began the chapter where all men and women of wisdom begin - in humility. In comparing himself with other men, he calls himself stupid. He says,

Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. Proverbs 30:2

Which, again, means unlearned or not taught.

In comparing himself with God, he says,

2 of 27 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. Proverbs 30:3

He then says, any semblance of knowledge I do have is based on what the Lord has been gracious to reveal, through His Word, to my heart.

5 Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.

Proverbs 30:5-6

From those statements of humility, Agur moved (in verses 7, 8 and 9) to the only prayer recorded for us in the book of Proverbs, asking the Lord for two things. He says, Lord, keep me from falsehood and deception.

7 Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: 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.

Proverbs 30:7-9

3 of 27 and, give me neither poverty nor riches.

Proverbs 30:7-9

In short, he prays that anything that might cause him to sin - whether they be lies, deception, excess, scarcity - whatever they may be, he prays that they will be kept from him, lest those things trip him up. What a great prayer. It would be a good prayer for each of to pray for ourselves as well.

From there (vs 10-14), Agur begins to provide us with his observations about life and in doing so, we see what he does with those observations - he prayerfully considers them. He takes notice, in verse 10, of those that slander others and the way in which that slander of another opens oneself up to accusations and attack. He draws our attention to those who curse and dishonor their parents (vs 11) or who are lifted up in pride and self-righteousness (vs 12-13) or who are harsh and cruel toward the weak and the needy (vs

4 of 27 14). And in each case, he is whispering a silent prayer that he would not fall into the same trap these individuals have fallen into.

Beginning then in verse 15, He begins to draw our attention to three things and then four that catch his attention. In verses 15 and 16, Three things and then four that are never satisﬁed. In verses 18 and 19, Three things and then four that are too wonderful to understand. In verses 21-23, Three things and then four that cause the earth to tremble (or to say, That’s just not right).

And then, after having taken notice of each of these things, he prayerfully considers those things until he comes to the point of worship. Though the words aren’t written the context demonstrates that he is saying,

Lord, these things are not right, but You are.

Lord, these things will never bring lasting satisfaction, help me ﬁnd my peace and rest and satisfaction in You.

Lord, these things are too wonderful to understand, yet You understand them.

5 of 27 Lord, You are magniﬁcent. I worship You.

Agur used every opportunity of life as an chance to keenly observe life and prayerfully consider those things. It was as if he was having a moment by moment time of contemplation. He was, as Paul would refer to it in the New Testament, Praying without ceasing.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

That brings us to where we left oﬀ last week. Picking up then in verse 24, we ﬁnd Agur once again using that three and then four formula except this time he cuts right to the chase saying, there are four things that capture my attention and whose lessons we can learn.

24 Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: 25 the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; 26 the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliﬀs; 27 the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; 28 the

6 of 27 lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces. Proverbs 30:24-28

This time, the thing that has caught his attention are the small yet exceedingly wise creatures of God’s creation.

Agur draws our attention to the ants, the rock badgers, the locusts and the lizards (some versions say spiders).

7 of 27 lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces. Proverbs 30:24-28

All small, and in some cases, tiny creatures and yet admirable for their wisdom. The ant who works in the summer to store up for the winter. The rock badger with limited ability to dig or defend themselves, yet wise enough to know that it can craw into the clefts of the rock to hide itself from predators. The locusts, without a leader barking out orders, yet somehow able to work in unison one with the other to accomplish great tasks. And the lizard, or creeping thing (that is how we get spider), small and insigniﬁcant, yet somehow able to make his way into the inner chambers of king’s palaces. No human trained them in their wisdom, yet they know.

Agur takes note of these creatures and says to himself, I need to be more like them. I need to be more diligent in the times of plenty to prepare for the times of scarcity (like the ant). I need to realize my limitations and weaknesses and use the available resources around me to guard and protect me. (like the rock badger). I need to work in unity to with others to accomplish great tasks that are far beyond my ability when working alone (like the locust). And, like the creeping thing, I need to entrust myself to the

8 of 27 Lord to take me places far beyond my station in life to be used as He would use me to accomplish what He would have for me to accomplish.

Keenly observant, every opportunity was a learning opportunity for Agur - even observing ants, and badgers and lizards and locusts. No wonder he was one of the wise men of his day. No wonder we read his words this many years later.

Continuing, Agur gives us four more things in this world that catch his attention and wonder. We read, beginning in verse 29,

29 Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride: 30 the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any; 31 the strutting rooster, the he-goat, and a king whose army is with him. Proverbs 30:29-31

This time, he presents four things that are stately, majestic, or that rise to the highest of heights. They are this time: the lion (who even today is referred to as the king of the beasts), the strutting rooster (your version might say the greyhound), the he-goat and kings (of the human variety).

9 of 27 29 Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride: 30 the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any; 31 the strutting rooster, the he-goat, and a king whose army is with him. Proverbs 30:29-31

Each one with their own lesson to be learned. The lion for his courage. The strutting rooster or greyhound who with their swiftness and speed continue on until they have reached their goal. The he-goat who refuses to settle in the low valleys, but instead makes his dwelling place in the highest of heights. One might even call them stubbornly persistent. And ﬁnally the king, who with his army can go forth to conquer. If only each of us would have a little more courage and stubborn persistence to ascend the highest of heights and secure victory. Agur says, I see these traits in these four beings. I want these traits in my being.

And now some ﬁnal words of wisdom from Agur in the closing verses of his proverb to us. He says,

32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. 33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.

10 of 27 Proverbs 30:32-33

This last word of exhortation - both to himself and us his readers - is an exhortation toward self-judgment. Agur has already demonstrated (verses 1 to 4) an expression of personal humility, here now he speaks a word regarding those times he might slip into pride and self-exaltation (or when we might). If you have slipped back into a place of self-exaltation, than cover your mouth lest in that state you say something foolish.

Something foolish like: Lord, which of us is the greatest of the disciples. (Luke 9:46).

Again, you are better oﬀ saying nothing in those instances, lest the things you do say reveal what is really going on down in your heart.

That word of self-exhortation is then followed up with a second word of exhortation, this time speaking to

11 of 27 the issue of stirring up trouble. I think we all know that people that want trouble can find it pretty easily. If we want a fight, it’s not too hard to find one or create one. Agur touches on that here. He says,

33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife. Proverbs 30:32-33

If you are in a mood - or you come across someone else who is - get yourself out of there; drop the conversation; move on to something else. Now is not the time to press the issue.

33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife. Proverbs 30:33

Well, I’m going to make sure that they know…… Yeah, you could do that, but notice one of the two parties is going to end up with a bloody nose.

33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.

12 of 27 Proverbs 30:33 Is it really worth it? And, if you’re not sure of the answer, the answer is no. Learn the lesson of Agur - just walk away.

Well, with that we come to the end of our chapter with the proverb of this man Agur - a keenly observant man, that looked at every opportunity as a learning opportunity and as a means for personal growth in wisdom and godliness. We would do well to learn the lessons of Agur for our lives as well.

We move on now to chapter 31 which begins with a short proverb from King Lemuel. King Lemuel, who when he was just a young prince, had these words of wisdom taught to him by his loving mother.

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: Proverbs 30:1

Somewhere in his later years, (when he is a king) He puts these words of wisdom that he had learned so many years earlier into print. Those are the words we read this morning.

Like Agur from the previous chapter, we do not know much of this King Lemuel. There is no record of a King

13 of 27 Lemuel in the line of either the kings of Israel or Judah and so it is possible that Lemuel was a king of one of the surrounding nations whose mother was one of the daughters of Israel that had married into one of those foreign dynastic lines. That is possible, though we have no record of a King Lemuel in any of the lines of the kings whose names we know from the surrounding nations either.

Lemuel means dedicated to God or belonging to God, and the traditional Jewish understanding has been that Lemuel was a pet name for King Solomon that was given to him by his mother. If that is the case, then his mother would be Bathsheba - the well-known woman from the David and Bathsheba account in II Samuel. If indeed this is Solomon and Bathsheba, then it is remarkable to note how God in His grace had restored and changed this woman whose introduction to the pages of scripture was most inauspicious. Whomever this King is and whomever his mother is, we are given an inside look into those sweet and meaningful times between a mother and her young son in which she was able to pour into his life instructions that would remain with him decades into the future.

The opening verses of Proverbs 31, serve then as an exhortation from a wise and loving mother to her

14 of 27 young son to steer clear of the sins he would be tempted toward and to faithfully exercise the responsibilities of the position he would one day be called to. Let’s take a look at the instructions this wise woman has for her son - and us.

She begins in verse 2 saying,

What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Proverbs 31:2 Now, if you have ever parented a young toddler - particularly a young toddler boy - you understand this mother’s words here: What are you doing? That reminds me of the book children’s book Love You Forever that we read many times to our kids when they were that age.

15 of 27 The reality is her words are probably not words of exasperation at a son that just ﬂushed your favorite watch down the toilet, but rather words of contemplation. Words like: Hmmm. What words of wisdom should I pass on to you? This trifecta of questions that she asks herself expresses her deep concern that she would give just the counsel that was needed. She recognizes the high calling she has as this child’s mother and wants to speak the exact, God- inspired word into his life. As such, she observes him and takes the time to learn his unique tendencies and proclivities. And in doing so, she prayerfully formulates the instructions she will to bring him. It was her desire to have the mind of God because that is what she desired to impress upon his young heart. She felt keenly the need of instructing her son properly, and was genuinely apprehensive lest she in any way mislead him.

Notice also this progression of relationship she has had with her son. She begins by calling him my son.

What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Proverbs 31:2

16 of 27 But her authority in his life and her aﬀection for him go beyond the fact that he is merely her son. She continues by referring too him as the son of my womb.

What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Proverbs 31:2 which takes the intimacy of their relationship a step further.

Finally, she refers to him as the son of my vows

What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Proverbs 31:2 which is likely a reference to a vow she made - pre- conception - that if the Lord would give her a child she would “return” that child to the Lord or dedicate that child to the Lord. (Much like Hannah prayed for a son in I Samuel and promised to give him to the Lord all the days of his life).

And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the aﬄiction of your servant

17 of 27 and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” I Samuel 1:11

Remember, Lemuel means dedicated to God or belonging to God.

Each statement she makes, takes the relationship a step deeper and marks it as being a little bit more intense. This is a woman who because of her great concern for the gift that God had given her, begins by carefully considering the exact advice to give to her son.

And so, after much thought and prayer, she presents her son with two, initial, God-inspired cautions. They are, cautions against uncleanness (vs 3) and drunkenness (vs 4-5). Or, as one commentator wrote, women and wine. She ﬁrst warns her son to avoid a life in which he gives into sensual lust and then follows that up to avoid the excessive use of wine and strong drink.

If he will grow to be a great man and a great king, then he must ﬁrst learn to govern himself. And so, with that, she begins in verse 3, saying,

18 of 27 Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. Proverbs 31:3

The sense is that an excessive sexual interest in women (notice the plurality of the word) wastes a man’s strength.

Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. Proverbs 31:3

Her warning then is against an unhealthy obsession with sex, which though it has a proper place in person’s life, should not be made into the all- consuming reason for their life.

Now, of course, this same advice could be given to a young woman to guard herself from giving her strength to men, but the fact is that we have before us the words of a mom to her son and thus, she warns him against giving his strength to women. Both men and women need to remain faithful to God in regard to sex, or, as we see here they will give away their strength. Strength in the sense of spiritual strength (sexual sin impacts your relationship with God and others), but it would also include a person’s overall

19 of 27 self-control, their self-respect, and even, their standing within a society. All of those things are sacriﬁced when a person, in their folly, does not submit this area of their lives to the Lord.

If we are speaking about Solomon here, then we see that this was a lesson that Solomon did not - at least initially - take to heart, and that it destroyed his kingdom as a result (See I Kings 11:1-10). Or, consider King David, who gave himself to sexual sin and soon spiraled into all manner of sin including conspiracy and murder (II Samuel 11).

Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. Proverbs 31:3

His sexual sin destroyed his kingdom. Lemuel’s mother warns him, and each of us, against something so powerful that it destroys kings—even the greatest of kings. If she would have warned him to guard against Trojan Horses or internet hackers or ﬁnancial spy bots of some sort, we would all stop and pay careful attention because we know how serious those threats could be toward taking down a kingdom. Her warning, probably based on experience, was to avoid being taken down by the danger of sexual sin. She is a woman who knows what she is talking about. And, if it

20 of 27 can bring down kings, it can bring down each one of us as well. We would do well to take heed to this woman’s warning.

Now she continues, in verse 4, saying,

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, 5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the aﬄicted. Proverbs 31:4-5

If you want to be in leadership in any way, than it is not for you to be given to wine or strong drink. Wine and strong drink, or any substance that can eﬀect your mental state, hinders your ability to rule fairly, justly or properly.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, 5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the aﬄicted.

Proverbs 31:4-5

The responsibilities of a king, or any leader, are so great that it is essential that that person not be impaired in their judgment or abilities in any way. This

21 of 27 principle is true not only for kings, but for leaders of many types, including and especially those who consider themselves leaders among God’s people. If a person wants to lead others well, they must ﬁrst learn to lead themselves well. Giving themselves to alcohol (ie drunkenness) or any mind altering substance is evidence that a person has not done that.

She goes on,

6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; 7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Proverbs 31:6-7

It’s not for king’s to drink wine and strong drink. Perhaps for the one who is perishing (ie a condemned criminal.

6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; 7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Proverbs 31:6-7

Historians point to verse 6 as the Jews justiﬁcation for giving a condemned criminal strong drink either prior

22 of 27 to or in the midst of the execution (as they did with Jesus as recorded in the gospels).

And they oﬀered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. Mark 15:23

Or for the one that is in bitter distress

6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; 7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Proverbs 31:6-7 which might be exempliﬁed by Paul’s instructions to his protege Timothy to drink a little wine for his frequent ailments.

(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) I Timothy 5:23

The point is, those instances may be appropriate and folks in those circumstances perhaps should do so, but not for you as a king. A king’s mind needs to be

23 of 27 clear and prepared to properly function. A king does not have the luxury to partake of these things and run the risk of distorting or perverting justice. In those other cases, there is little consequence for those individuals to partake. but there are potentially huge consequences if a king is not ﬁt to exercise proper judgment when the circumstances of his position warrant it.

Verses 8 and 9.

8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9

And so, having warned her son to keep himself from two certain dangers (ie wine and women), she now proceeds to tell him of things he should give himself to. We are reminded of the Apostle Paul’s admonition in the Book of Ephesians to put oﬀ the old man and to put on the new.

22 put oﬀ your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after

24 of 27 the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

In our walk with Christ, there will be old things we put oﬀ and new things that we put on (like garments). There will be old places we no longer go to and new places we begin to go to. There will be things we no longer say and new things that we begin to say.

Lemuel’s mom says to him here put oﬀ these things (wine and women) and put on these (righteousness and justice). Again, she says,

8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9

She says to him, When you become king, you must use your power for good. Speciﬁcally, she says, Be the voice for those that don’t have a voice.

8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

25 of 27 Proverbs 31:8-9

She says, Protect the rights of those that are poor.

8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9

She says, Judge righteously and without prejudice regardless of what it might mean for you.

8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9

It is noteworthy that this woman’s sole political concern is not that he build up a strong military or facilitates a strong economy or treasury, or that he squashes all of his political opponents. Her chief concern is that he give himself to justice and righteousness. She communicates to him that he must do good with his power and that he must administer justice with care, courage, and compassion; that he must, in all matters that come before him, judge

26 of 27 righteously, and, without thought to any prejudice or signs of favoritism.

Lemuel’s mother knows what Lemuel will hopefully one day come to discover. Lemuel’s mom knows that being a leader means you will have some level of position and power. The question is, How will you use that position and power? Will you use it indulge yourself (ie with women or wine), or will you use your position and power to protect and beneﬁt those you lead (fairly, equitably and in righteousness)?

It is a high calling to be a leader and it is a high calling to be a mom and a dad. May the Lord give each of us the grace to serve in these positions well and in a way that honors and pleased him.

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