Thursday: TWO THINGS I REQUEST

Feb 23, 2023
2 min read

Proverbs 30:1-9

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal: Surely I am more stupid than any man, and do not have the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom nor have knowledge of the Holy One.

Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if you know? Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food allotted to 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.

Solomon was not the only one to write proverbs—these are from Aqur. He declared his humility by asserting his stupidity and lack of understanding, neither of wisdom nor knowledge of the Holy One.

He proclaimed through a series of questions the many attributes of God. Not only does God exist outside His creation, He has supremacy over it; only God has ascended into heaven and descended to the earth. He declared the greatness and power of God when he says God has gathered the wind in His fists, bound the waters in a garment, and established the ends of the earth. God revealed His Son to Aqur many centuries before God sent Jesus Christ to earth, what is His Son’s name.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS

While Agur claimed ignorance, God spoke through him to assert the purity of His words. He warned against adding to His words—in other words, don’t credit God for anything He did not say nor any book He did not inspire, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Agur requests two things: to remove falsehood and lies far from me, and don’t give me anything except what is allotted, lest I be full and deny You.

Lying only leads to more lies. Having too much can lead me to focus on my stuff and foster self-reliance rather than thanking the Lord for all He has given me; not having enough can cause me to profane the Lord’s name by stealing and not relying on His provision.

Lord, help me to think about You and turn to You in all circumstances. Please use what You have given me to honor Your name. Amen.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman