Audio listeners, there is additional content included at the bottom of this post that is not mentioned in the audio.

 

GOOD MORNING SIBLINGS!
Today we complete Proverbs with chapters 30 and 31

Click here to read today’s passages on BibleGateway.

Rabbit Trails

Proverbs 30 and 31 are included as appendixes to the book of Proverbs, according to Matthew Henry and other noted Bible scholars, and both have prophetic statements. It is easy to spot the reference to Messiah in 30 – although some scholars have debated this and said it was a reference to Moses (Personally, I see them as Messianic, referring to the Messiah).

Speaking of Bible scholars, here is a sidenote that is sobering but important for us to know: Not all Bible Scholars are Bible believers. Not all Bible teachers (usually this applies to university level professors) are Bible believers. There are some scholars who view the Bible as literature or something of a historical document, but not the word of God.

As of now, these type of Bible scholars are a minority but that does not prevent their reach from being far. It is important to note also that not all Bible publishers or publishers of Christian magazines for that matter, are Believers, either. I saw this firsthand in the publishing industry when I met and worked with several of them. I once had lunch with the chief editor of a prominent Christian magazine and while he was a very kind and inspirational person, he was not a believer.
I say this not to disappoint or dissuade your trust, but to just redirect it to the Father, in all things, and His word.

I have noticed, in my faith walk, that anytime I put my faith, trust, or hope in man in any form (with regard to spiritual matters), I will inevitably be disappointed in one way or another. This is a loving and wonderful reminder that we should always look to YHWH first, in all things.
We were never meant to follow man and so anytime we drift off and start doing this, however unintentional, safeguards kick in that give us an opportunity to redirect to the Father. So if you’ve ever trusted in a person of faith and they let you down in some way, see that as a blessing. That was likely the Father reminding you of where your focus should be.

Fortunately, studying the Bible the way we are, from beginning to end, in context, allows the Bible to explain the Bible. YHWH’s word speaks for itself and explains itself. Other sources can help us to take notice of details we may have overlooked but be very careful of anything or anyone that contradicts the Bible or attempts to serve as a replacement for reading it for yourself.

Back to Proverbs 30 – I could so relate to this. As I began reading it I felt almost as if I was reading something my own heart had written. This chapter seems to come out of nowhere, unlike any of the others we have read. In my case, I’ve read it earlier in my walk and did not have that heart stopping moment of recognition until quite recently.

Isn’t it amazing how alive the Word is and how the Father reveals different things to us in His time, according to His wisdom? That is one of the many reasons why it is so very important to be in His word daily, to never stop reading it, and never stop searching Scriptures.

The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out.
Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man.
I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. ~Proverbs 30:1-3

Why did this speak to my heart? Just a few years ago I realized that the bulk of my knowledge of the Father and His word was inherited – mostly secondhand rather than firsthand knowledge. I had been taught about the Bible, told about its stories, and told about who God was. But I had not dedicated myself to reading His Word for myself.

My faith, knowledge, and obedience relied primarily on what had been spoon-fed to me by others – predigested food. Milk. Inherited religion.
I had not taken the time, initiative, or responsibility to study God’s word for myself or to learn of His character through His own words.
I didn’t even know He had a name and He clearly reveals it in Exodus 3:15! (click here)

Oh, I had done plenty of Bible studies where other people told me what was in the Bible but as I always say, “Beth Moore can’t read the Bible for you”. (No insult meant to Beth, I really like her). These things can be helpful but they should always always always be secondary sources and even then approached after having let God’s Word speak first.
If not, it only adds to our secondhand knowledge.

In His wisdom and grace, the Father showed this to my husband around the same time and together we set out to take our relationship with the Father’s word from secondhand knowledge to firsthand.

When we did this it felt a bit daunting at first. Realizing how behind we were from a knowledge standpoint. We had a lot to learn! A LOT. Here we were, both of us having been believers most of our lives, and in the middle age of our life we realized we had never fully read the Word for ourselves!

I was frustrated with myself. Knowing I should have known better and realizing that I should have started sooner. Had I of done that, I would have been much further along than I found myself at the time, a lifelong Believer with precious little firsthand knowledge of what is in God’s word and what He expects of His children:

The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out.
Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man.
I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

We set out to change that and the Father met our zeal! We’ve been dining on the “meat” ever since and wonder how we ever survived on milk.

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die:

Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,
lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is YHWH?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. Proverbs 30:5-9

He has fed us with the food that is needed by us!
Every word of God has and will always prove true.
He is the source of truth, holiness, and wisdom.
He has gifted us with His word and when we seek to understand it and find His wisdom within, His spirit guides us.

He is faithful.
He is patient.
He is waiting.

Proverbs 31 The final chapter of Proverbs contains an oft quoted passage often referred to as “the Proverbs 31 Woman”. We usually hear her described as a “Woman of virtue”. However, the Hebrew term,  Eshet Ḥayil, is more accurately translated as “Woman of Valor”. In fact, the word Hayil appears many other places in Scripture and is translated as “valor” in those instances. Woman of Valor. When reading this chapter with that in mind, an entirely new woman emerges.

This completes another book. Armor up. The Father is on the move! Rak Chazak!

This week’s Featured Coffee Chat is:

How Our Western Mindset Prevents Us From Living In Covenant

See it below:

Click here to get the Proverbs Focus Sheet

Click here to view the answer key

Test everything, hold tight to what is good.~ 1 Thess 5:21

We are saved by Grace alone: Obedience is not the root of our salvation, it is the fruit!

May YHWH bless the reading of His Word!

Print This Post Print This Post

Christy Jordan
Latest posts by Christy Jordan (see all)