The Proverbs Code:
What Do All These Numbers Mean?
PROVERBS 30:1-33
Main Idea: Wisdom is the way the world works, and that can only be
perceived through God's Son,
I. Look to Christ for Wisdom (30:
Ul. Look to Christ for Salvation from Sin (30:10-14).
IIL Look at the World through the Lens of Christ (30:15-33).
A. Warnings about uncontrolled appetites
1B. Tnstruction in wisdom,
Jimmy, who is really good at fixing things, began to try to teach me
how to do certain things, He and I put together all kinds of things like
cribs, rockers, and swing sets. Inevitably what would happen is that, even.
though Jimmy is good at putting things together, we would rus
the project, putit together, and then notice that we hael made a mist
somewhere along the way. For example, we put a sofa table together,
and when we we noticed the legs of the table were facing out.
ward rather than inward like th
hhad to go back and actually look
where we went wrong, and start again the right w:
really worked 50 we could do t
job in accordance with the furniture’s design,
Proverbs 30 gets at this kind of thing in the grand scheme oflife when
it comes to wisdom and your way in the world. There is a pattern to the
‘world. There isa certain way that it works, and you need to live according.
to the pattern because that’s wise, Wisclom isthe skill o live according to
that pattern. To understand what thats feo go the Maker—
the one who created the world—to see how the world works, That
Proverbs 30 is ll about, and it shows us three important t
149
Look to Christ for Wisdom
PROVERBS 30:1.9
The author of this passage is Agur the son of Jakeh (¥, 1). We do not
know who Agur is because this is the only place he
‘What we do know is th
1ese words for us,
Agur starts the passage in verses 2-3 by c
to be ignorant:
asm more stupid than any other person, and I tack a human's ability
‘o understand. Ihave not gained wisdom, and I have no knouiledge of
the Foly One.
He confesses that he is
To become wise, you need to recognize
God for it.
Just as Solomon recognized that wisdom begins with fear of the
Lord, Agur recognizes that wisdom begins with God—with knowledge of
the Holy One. Not only does wisdom reside with God, but it also resides
God's Son. Agur asks a series of rhetorical questi verse 4 t0
indicate humanity's finitude and to point out isdom belongs to
the Almighty Creator and his Son, No human has gone up to heaven
and come back dawn. No a he wind in his hands. No
human created the world. We read this from a different vantage point
than Agur. Agur asks the name of the son, but he does not know it. We
do know it—Jesus Christ! We know that Jesus is the God-Man who came
down from heaven as wisdom for us. Goldsworthy points
Agur’s question in verse is answered directly in Jesus's reply
to Nicodemus in John 3:13, “No one has ever gone into
2 There are many thorny sues the syperseipt. For a good di
Proves, Chapters 13-3), 454-63,150 CChrist-Centered Exposition Commentary
heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of
man.” (Free of Life, 186)
‘The point is that God’s Son is the one who has access to God’s wis:
dom because he came from heaven, so look to God and his Son for
wisdom,
How do you d
think verses 5-6 give us the answer
Every word of God is pure; he is @ shield to those who take refuge in
‘him. Don't ald to his words, er he will rebuke you, and be
novella liar.
Word, so we must
tous, and he has
in him, and suf
ld to it. There is a warning to those who do. Don’t sit in
God's Word as ifit’s lacking something, That was the prob-
Genesis 3. They did not see God's word as.
ives. We do the same thing. We know what the Bible says,
k our ideas in certain situations are better. We often come to
Scripture and act
lon't know my boss.”
that somehow just got left out of the
rebuke you and prove you to be a
if you act like the Word is not enough for you. In fact, Revelation
threatens a curse to those who do this (Rev 22:18.19),
Agur then tums around and does for himself what he has rec-
‘ommended for others. He looks to the Lord for wisdom. He humbly
depends upon God for wisdom by asking for it in prayer (Longman,
Proverbs, 524-25), James 1:5 says that if we lack wisclom, we should ask
God for it in prayer and he will give it to us generously. Agur prays
{or wisclom in Proverbs 30:7
power he can't be person. He says he will depend
‘on God to grant thos is own human effort can't save
im from deception and greed (Waltke, Provers, Chapters 15-31, 478).
fe learn from this that the power does not lie with us
er eel
Proverbs 30:1-33 181
jot give me
Poverty and (2) do not give me wealth, and the reference to deception.
refers to poverty and wealth (Garrett, Proverbs, 238). Pove
*God can't help you. God won't provide for you. You
self.” And riches
Agur pleads with the Lord to feed him wi
‘me my daily bread. Let me have just enough for my needs to be
met. Help me to be not greedy for more. Why? He
gives the reasons for his supplication,
deny the Lord
88 Was 0 teach them to depend’!
not on financial provision, He wanted them to learn that m:
the word of God, not by bread. In De
pose of the mann:
land flowing with
ley Were going to forget God an
profan-
cers, but itis saying that w
to recognize their need of God.
he will be tempted to steal Ihe is
poor, (Con his tax return, misuse petty cash, be
stingy toward the poor, or take money off his mom's dresser. He makes
the strangest of requests to American ears because he wants the middle
‘The pointis that both riches and poverty can lead to a lack of depen-
dence on God. Ifyou are rich,152 Christ Centered Exposition Commentary
Look to Christ for Salvation from Sin
PROVERBS 30:10-14
Proverbs 30:15-33 gives a list of numerical sayings. The verses between
1¢ numerical sayings help us understand the meaning of the numerical
c, Proverbs, Chapters 15-31, 481-82). He starts by talking
in verses 10-14 to set up the nu I sayings. He
says not to slander a servant to his master or he'll curse you and you.
become guilty (v. 10). Don’t ruin an employee's reputation by slander-
ing them to the boss, making fun of
the back, or being ov
cursing you, and God wil uphold the curse. Yikes! You are being foolish
and wicked when you slander and gossip against someone, and by doing
\dgment on yourself. When the person retaliates
In fact, judgme:
in this section behavior that deserves condemnation. So verse 10)
the listing of verses 11-14 and gives us a key for how to interpret ther
In verses 11-14 he gives four “generations” or types of sinners who
bbe condemned by God (Murphy and Hu
First, there isa generation that curses instead of blessing its parents
.psons of the world who are smartalecks to
heir parents, “I hate you!”;
the bratty three-year-old who shouts “No!” to his parents’ directions; or
even the grown child who refuses to provide care for aging parents. I
(Jon) remember when I pastored in Louisville, we were hit with a huge
power. We received a
sly members who was
(OK. We were happy to do so.
fhy—danghiter lived in
the same tovin as her parents and she did not lift finger to help
8 says this sort of behavior is condemned before God.
‘onors God is what Christ displayed—obeying his
parents in childhood (Luke 2:51) and caring for his aging mother as he
died (John 19:2627).
is pure in its own eyes but is not
Proverbs 30:1-33 153
-ousness and hypocrisy. The word for “
rd for dung.® The picture is
the Hebrew is
someone who is unaware
dog mess, and now it's smeared on their clothes,
ing is fine Yet they are nasty.
ighteousness looks like to God, TI y
are not sinners and look down on others as if they are hetter than them
ook disgusting in God's eyes! When we try to categorize sins by
the sins of the that is gross to
God. The word pure refers to those who are able to appro.
ence of God in the temple. These folks 1
that they stepped
Jesus
ike 2:52). We are always in danger of thinking more
of ourselves than we ought. It keeps
Deca
‘Third, there isa prideful generation
eyes! Again, the cemptation to
ought is a strong one. Pride is
Proverbs, Proverbs repeatedly:
Fourth, there isa generation
the poor (v. 14). There are peo}
toward the needy.
tage of the poor. They
thout a second thought, There are those who are sim]
the oppressed. Proverbs repeatedly brings up the poor. It condemns
those who mistreat them, and ithonors those who are generous to them,
Proverbs 30:17 gives us the outcome fo)
ly those who curse parents, but it applies to al
Fidicules father and despises obedience to.a mother, may ravens of the
valley pluck it out and young val outcome is the end
for those who roll their eyes at their parents. Judgment will fall on these
generations, and itis described in the grossest of ways, The language of
being eaten by vultures outside the camp is the sign of someone who
is accursed. God's judgment is described sometimes as being ea
birds (Rev 19:17-18)
hese generations, sp
“As for the eye
{See Longmans explanation of exerement and ritual wneleannessin Pree, 527
“6 Waltkeargucs that verse 17 coversal four scion, See Proves, Chapters 13-31, 489.158 CChrist-Centored Exposition Cammentary
The good news is that Jesus took th
‘entire curse that we deserve for not hi ar parents, for our self
righteousness, for our arrogance, and for out indifference to the poor
crushed Jesus on the cross in our place. He was taken outside the camp,
executed under the judgment of God,
vindication so all who believe in him will be declared right before Godt
So look to Jesus for salvation from your sins.
curse for us (Gal 8), The
Look at the World through the Lens of Christ
PROVERBS 30:15.33,
at is happening with these numbered
sayings. Agur—like Solomon (1 Kgs 4:33.34)—observes
iving in accordance with the pat
observations will do two things: warn us about uncon
and instruct us in wisdom,
Warnings about Uncontrolled Appetites
Agur observes that the way the uncon
appetites for money, sex, and status. For example, verses 15-16
ch an uncontrolled appetite for money. A leech is. blood
icker that attaches to es
is metaphorically to
even use the term “leech” metap]
1d consumes but does not procluce, He says the leech has two
rs, referring to the suckers on the leech by whic!
drains the host (see Waltke, Proverbs, Chapters 15-31,
want more and more and more, The dad can never get
stuff! They cai
‘can be just like
enough,
them because
you of y ie, money, and energy; and don't be a greedy person who
constantly craves more and more. He observes four things in nature that
are never satisfied to warn you that if you are not a content perso
Proverbs 30:1-33 155
away. Fire always wants to rage out of
ifyou are the kind of person who can’
your apps
ing is that you will never be satisfied. Instead, be content wit
God has given you.
Next, he warns abo
but what moves does not leave any trace of
leave any tracks. An ¢
fing a trace serve the fin
hough the best transi
1¢ other three is “in”) a virgin ora young woman, This is talking of the
proper context of sexual relations between a man and a woman in mar=
riage. Unlike, say, a plow or a sword, these four things involve graceful
‘movement and leave no damage or sear.
‘This fourth and final observation sets up the hor
All four "ways" in verse
1¢ way of a man with his wife provides
impropriety of the “way” of an adulteress—sexual relation
- and says, me
of
he wipes her
of her actions,
of nature. She goes on and forgets
common act of « ju
say it’s just a nar
you're hungry. They say if you repress it,
‘what we are made to do, how we evolved.
four observations
treats sex I
rae ection woe greatly aided by Waltke, Pro
Chaps 15-31, 490-02,inne
156 (Chrst-Centered Exposition Commentary
She wipes away the trace and goes on
nothing wrong. While she doesn’t feel gu
the evidence. So many people do t
Internet history, erase an e-mai
saying she’s done
she does try to get rid of
ing. They clear an
pay in cash at the motel so that no
in marriage, otherwise you will week your life
‘f God. While these four things behaving prop
pmoral person's ways are belore the
ims to uncontrolled appetites for status and
-28, These verses talk about judgment against
8 for status that overturn the social
the cosmic order. It is inappr
because he is not ready t0 r
slave had so many things
tory wit!
Often, a tyranny that
Previous pranny ares
ne book Aninal Fam in indctncne
ew the tat ut set up a gute jose
eof this is when Sear Becomes tke ting
TheLion King. His appetites out of convene nd
{producing and Pie Rock becomes awn
;buthe snot the kindof person ee
like us—needs a un
oppressive.) A perfect ex:
of Pride Rock
consumes:
Proverbs 30:1-83 197
loved woman gets
t, Proverbs, 242), A woman
who goes throughout life unloved starts to crave affe
and seek itin the wrong ways. Once she becomes married,
.er husband's attention in a way that
is a warning to dads to love their dat
unloved). She craved the status of marriage, but now tha
is not enough. Finally, and similar to the first observat
inappropriate when a servant girl becomes queen,
Instruction in Wisdom
Agur observe the world and warn al
, but second, he moves on to observations
ful living. He observes four small but wise animals in verses 24:28
and then more stately animals in verses 29-81. You learn. wisdom by
observing these animals. A skill for life. None
of these animals could take an 1Q tes
should not overspend, and y
Second, the hyrax or rock badger is a very sm
is secure from things that might destroy you. You need to learn to resist
peer pressure that might eause you to make a stupid decision that gets
you in trouble. You need to learn how to resis the temptation toward
adultery that would destroy your family. Third, he observes the locusts,
‘who have no king but march in ranks (v.27). This observation shows
need for community and co s need to be in a group
% Goanet’s disc ction wemendously. See Garrett, revels, 242
ped158 Christ Centered Exposition Commentary
takes care of each other. Finall
to live in the palace transitios
stately
\ce so that he can rule, and
the Ii
only happen
our Messiah
dependence
creatures, And like
wwe also must humble ourselves in
50 we can make our way wisely throu
bear a striking resemblance to
red food in
Agur ends this chapter on the same
h selfexaltation (wv. 82-93). If.
up, turn off Twitter, ig
bloody conflict,
2 Waltke makes these eo
ca a these connections,
85-500
Proverbs 30:1-33 a
‘There is an order
tain way. That order
world, upholds the world, and
20). The pattern of the seasons was woven into cré
t gives way t0 the resurrection of spring in order to point
‘he pattern of the seven-day week was woven into creation,
jnt us to passion week where
out of the grave into a new world on the eighth day. After
King, when the rightful king overthrows the usurper and assumes the
throne, even the creation itself is healed. the gospel (ef. Isa 11).
King Jesus sets the world 1 id you can only navigate through that
vworld—you can only be wise—through him,
Reflect and Discuss
1. We recognize that a designer gets to decide how his or her project,
works, In what ways does that apply to God and what he tells us
about the world?
2. In what ways does recognizing out
us to become
In what ways do we justify our sin as if it's not wrong,
adulteress?
9. What are some practical ways you can practice making wise provi-
sion like the an?
10, How does having a church community help you grow in wisdom?