Proverbs Study – Lesson 48 (Proverbs chapter 30:10-17)
V. 10 reminds us that it is easy to criticize others…especially those less fortunate. Often our criticism can be for such petty things or reasons. Criticizing a servant for minor and petty offences can have severe repercussions for a servant, repercussions that they, the servant, will not forget, waiting for payback when the right time presents. His council here is ‘leave another man’s servant alone’ unless the offence is grave and severe. You may think that you are helping out the employer or master, but you are more than likely opening up a can of worms concerning all involved. Application of this verse today could be don’t report everything to the boss…especially the littler things. It is none of your business and you may smart for it later. The Apostle Paul in Rom. 14:4 said in essence ‘What business is it of yours’. Your opinion is your opinion and will cause nothing but trouble for them. Trouble they may not deserve, as well as eventually causing trouble for you as well.
In verses 11-4 he goes on to tell his students some important things for young people to think about and understand. Respect is supreme and pride if not dealt with will continue becoming a lifestyle that will last a lifetime being very damaging. Again we see that he restates one of the Ten Commandments saying that it is a directive from God to honor our father and mother. It was a requirement in the Old Testament and was one of the first laws and requirements God found to be beneficial for man. Every nation and society that turns their back on the wisdom and ways of their parents will have as a natural progression the attitude and perspective of the beginning of v. 12…self righteousness. This is one of the most deadly traits of man, that is justifying our actions when there is clearly a problem.
This does not mean that some of the ways of the past do not need to be changed or tweaked. But, changes need to be questioned and made with respect to parents realizing that they did get some things right. A new generation if they leave the past behind will leave behind the good with the bad. Rehoboam did this as recorded in I Kings chapter 12 and suffered for it as well as his nation. This problem can and does have severe and penetrating ramifications. The comment is often made that it is an ‘old fashion’ concept and that comment has applied to it that because it has been around for a while that it is no longer relevant. However, many of the ways of the past are still extremely practical having practical application and if discarded are only rediscovered at a later date being hailed as a new discovery and reapplied to applicable life issues. It was Solomon that said that ‘there is nothing new under the sun’. Respect for the ways of the past builds on what is good from the past and has a practical advantage of making the future better.
He continues on in v. 12 saying that such a generation that thinks that they have all the answers degrades into a cesspool of wickedness…not a good scene. Notice the emphatic emphasis on their end being lifted up so high in their own eyes that they are only sure of their fall, and how great their fall shall be. Great civilizations have had their end such as this being so proud believing that they can break all the rules and think that they can still survive and/or even prosper. Is our nation and the nations of the world headed and well on the way here?
He continues in v. 14 with the natural progression of a nation that turns their back on their mother and their father giving the picture of society degrading to complete survival mode…survival of the fittest where if left unto its own none would survive. What a hostile and mean society. As stated before, a society that denies the basic laws of God is sure to eventually parish. Thank God for His intervention into our lives to literally ‘save us’ from our selves.
V 15 Reminds us that there are givers and takers, and givers tend to be givers and takers tend to be just that ‘takers’. He mentions here what is referred to as the horse leach. This term is mentioned nowhere else in the Bible and we are not totally sure of its actual meaning. It is surmised from the context and the name that the reference is to nothing but a blood sucking entity that will continue to suck the life out of something till there is nothing left. And if that is not enough, he drives the point home by saying that this beast also has relatives that even though uninvited will be there and come to visit. He tells us that they are ungrateful and are never satisfied asking for more no matter how much they have. Unfortunately, this sounds like many of those in our nation today, never being satisfied with the good that they already have always wanting more. He says that their cry is always ‘more, more’. When taking in context of the preceding verses these could be young people that have never grown up, never taking on the responsibilities of life, never being satisfied, always wanting more, pretty much looking for a free ride. This is why more government programs are not the answer. He, Agur, actually should have added it to the following list of things that are never satisfied making government one of his examples. He would have undoubtedly instructed his students to accept responsibility in life instead of blaming everyone else of their lack. Agur I am sure would admit that we all have times where we could use some help, but this crowd does not fall into that category.
V. 16 He goes on to give examples of things that are always receiving but never full always wanting more. He specifically names four things here. He names the grave, the barren womb, the earth’s ability to accept water and fire. If the grave had a voice it would always be like the daughters of the horse leach crying for more…never full…never satisfied. Even after great slaughter the spirit of death looks for more. Next he mentions the barren womb. It is not exactly sure what is meant here. It could be referring to a woman having a barren womb always crying to God to be full. However, there is also mention by some commentators that it could refer to the barren womb of a harlot that craves to be full and satisfied concerning lust, never being satisfied always wanting more pleasure. The third thing he mentions is his observation that no matter how much water the earth accepts it seems that there is always room for more. And, fire, what a great example, is never satisfied. It will always accept more and will still be asking or saying, ‘feed me’. One may ask ‘what is his point in mentioning these’? Although they may just be observations of wonder to him, they more likely are examples of not being able to satisfy the ungrateful termed as the ‘horse leach’ in the beginning of v. 15 which also could apply to the verses preceding v. 15 as well as that which follows, v. 17.
V. 17 He again returns to the need of his students understanding the importance of respect. He makes the point that critical children never learn anything and in the end suffer in very real ways for it. Adding to what was mentioned in earlier verses in this chapter, children that are disrespectful often verbally make sport openly criticizing their parents for anything and everything no matter what it is. As a parent of children like this in their eyes you can do nothing right. He warns them that they will smart for it suffering real and significant consequences that will be painful. He makes the point that the wounds inflected will also not be easily overcome. These are hard lessons of life for such foolishness!
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