Year 1, Week 48, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 48, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Proverbs 30-31.

Today’s reading consists of the two final chapters of the Book of Proverbs. Proverbs 30 is a compilation of proverbial sayings by Agur: “The words of Agur son of Jakeh” (Proverbs 30:1a). We are not told anything about Agur’s identity, but his collection which starts with a humble acknowledgment of the limits of obtaining wisdom without the LORD: “Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man” (Proverbs 30:2). Agur’s style consists of utilizing several numerical sayings to make his point: "Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a virgin” (Proverbs 30:18-19). Proverbs 31 is a selection of proverbial sayings by King Lemuel: “The words of King Lemuel” (Proverbs 31:1a). Like Agur, we are not told anything of Lemuel’s identity. The first part of Lemuel’s collection was handed down to him by his mother: “An oracle that his mother taught him” (Proverbs 31:1b). The second part of Lemuel’s collection is a tribute to an excellent wife, which was probably his mother: “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels” (Proverbs 31:10).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the function of the numerical sayings: “The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”: Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, “Enough” (Proverbs 30:15-16). Stylistically, the numerical sayings are arranged to put an emphasis upon the last thing stated for the last thing is added for emphasis. In the case of this numerical saying, Agur’s instructions pertain to the foolishness of dissatisfaction, or the wisdom of contentment. He introduced the theme of this numerical saying with a portrait of a blood-sucking leech who always demands more. Leeches are insatiable, they always want more. Leeches are like that, but humans should not. Agur then proceeds to list three, no wait, four more things that are insatiable. But wisdom provides the perspective to know when there is enough: “feed me with the food that is needful for me, 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 30:8b-9). Remember, wisdom is moral skill in living. Thus, contentment is a matter of moral character.

While wisdom is moral skill in living, wisdom also consists of wonder and amazement in observing the world around us. Wisdom in its curious fascination with life seeks to learn what is observed. So, the next numerical saying attempts to understand the complexities of humans: “Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a virgin” (Proverbs 30:18-19). Again, stylistically, the last thing on the list seems to provide the emphasis. There are three, no, make that four things that Agur had a hard time understanding. As hard as it is to understand the majestic flying of an eagle, or the nature of a snake, or even the unpredictability of how a ship will operate on the wind and waves, it is even more difficult to grasp the relationship between a man and a woman. Life can be hard to understand, but the quest for wisdom stirs a desire to observe and make sense of.

Wisdom is moral skill in living, but also a curiosity to understand how life operates. Combining these two matters of wisdom serve to assist us in knowing how to live well in the environment we find ourselves in. Another numerical saying from today’s reading shows this aspect of wisdom: “Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces” (Proverbs 30:24-28). Stylistically, this numerical saying does not seem to put an emphasis upon the last matter, but each example equally makes the point. The common point with each example is that the creature figured out a way to function, we might even say, to master their environment. Wisdom grasps how to function effectively in life. An ant is small but it can accomplish an enormous amount of work. Rock badgers can figure out how to dwell in an inhospitable environment. Locusts have no leader but they can live in an orderly fashion. A lizard can be captured by hand, but they are able to get to places that no one else seems to be able to reach. Each of these creatures act wisely in their context. Thus, a wise person knows the value of studying them so as to glean wisdom for how to function in life.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe