Proverbs 30:1
Outline:
I. \\#1:1-9\\ Introduction
II. \\#1:10-9:18\\ - A Father’s Exhortations
III. \\#10:1-22:16\\ - Short Proverbs
IV. \\#22:17-24:34\\ - Medium-Length Proverbs
A. \\#22:17-21\\ Listen to Wisdom
B. \\#22:22-23\\ Do Not Mistreat the Poor
C. \\#22:24-25\\ Do Not Make Angry Friendships
D. \\#22:26-27\\ Do Not Co-sign
E. \\#22:28\\ Don’t Steal Land
F. \\#22:29\\ The Diligent Will Prosper
G. \\#23:1-3, 6-8\\ Beware Gluttony
H. \\#23:4-5\\ Do Not Work for Money Alone
I. \\#23:9\\ Do Not Correct A Fool
J. \\#23:10-11\\ Do Not Steal Land
K. \\#23:12-16\\ Discipline Your Children
L. \\#23:17-18\\ Do Not Envy the Sinners
M. \\#23:19, 22-25\\ Listen
N. \\#23:26-28\\ Stay Away from the Strange Woman
O. \\#23:29-35\\ Stay Away from Strong Drink
P. \\#24:1-2, 19-20\\ Dealing with Evil People
Q. \\#24:3-4\\ The Spiritual Trio of Life
R. \\#24:5-6\\ True Strength
S. \\#24:7\\ Wisdom and the Fool
T. \\#24:8\\ Don’t Plan to Hurt
U. \\#24:9\\ The Ideas of the Wicked
V. \\#24:10\\ Quitters Never Win
W. \\#24:11-12\\ Deliver the Innocent
X. \\#24:13-14\\ Take the Good
Y. \\#24:15-16\\ Pick Your Battles
Z. \\#24:17-18\\ Do Not Gloat Over Your Enemy
AA. \\#24:21-22\\ Be Cautious
BB. \\#24:23-26\\ Nuggets of Wisdom
CC. \\#24:27\\ Business First, then Comfort
DD. \\#24:28-29\\ Treat Your Neighbor Right
EE. \\#24:30-34\\ Beware A Little Laziness
V. \\#25:1-29:27\\ - More Short Proverbs
VI. \\#30:1-33\\ - Agur’s Proverbs
A. \\#30:1-6\\ Introduction
B. \\#30:7-9\\ Two Wise Requests Agur Makes of God
C. \\#30:10\\ Do Not Accuse A Servant
D. \\#30:11-14\\ Agur Described a Generation
E. \\#30:15-16\\ Four Never Satisfied
F. \\#30:17\\ Don’t Disrespect Your Parents
G. \\#30:18-20\\ Four Things Too Hard to Understand
H. \\#30:21-23\\ Four Things Not Right
I. \\#30:24-28\\ Four Small Things with Large Lessons
J. \\#30:29-31\\ Four Things Which Do What They Want
K. \\#30:32\\ Don’t Brag
L. \\#30:33\\ Some Things That Just Are
VII. \\#31:1-31\\ - King Lemuel’s Proverbs
Chapters 30 and 31 are a chapters unto themselves. While the first 29
chapters are declared to be Solomon’s \\#1:1, 25:1\\, these two
chapters are labeled as belonging to other writers.
Chapter 30 is a beautiful chapter of lists. The items in these lists
are common to all generations and demonstrate that God is ever and
always using His creation to teach us. Since the lists do not have
commentary, the lessons come from considering them.
I. \\#30:1-6\\ Introduction
A. \\#1\\ The writer is one, Agur.
1. We know nothing of him except what this text tells us.
2. His father was named Jakeh.
3. He wrote these words to Ithiel and Ucal.
B. \\#1-4\\ Agur calls himself….
1. …a Prophet. He speaks of this writing being a prophecy.
2. …a brutish man.
a. \\#2\\ By brutish he means stupid or unlearned.
b. \\#2-3\\ Agur points out he has a limited
understanding, wisdom, and knowledge. (the spiritual
trio)
c. \\#4\\ Agur is not slamming himself for he points out
that all men have limited knowledge. Who has done
the great things of \\#4\\? No human has.
C. \\#5-6\\ Agur is certain of some things:
1. \\#5\\ Every word of God is pure.
2. \\#5\\ God protects those who trust Him.
3. \\#6\\ Men are not to add to God’s Word for He will not
sit by while we do.
II. \\#30:7-9\\ Two Wise Requests Agur Makes of God
A. Agur desires to be neither extremely poor or extremely rich
for each has its own temptation.
B. The extremely poor are tempted to deny God by their stealing.
C. The extremely rich are tempted to deny God by their arrogance.
III. \\#30:10\\ Do not accuse (I think falsely) a servant to his
master. For a servant with a good record before his master is
too valuable to be cast away lightly.
IV. \\#30:11-14\\ Agur described a generation. This is either a
description of the most wicked generation to live or more likely
representation of every generation.
A. \\#11\\ These curse their parents.
B. \\#12\\ These are self-righteous.
C. \\#13\\ These are proud.
D. \\#14\\ These devour the poor and needy for their own gain.
V. \\#30:15-16\\ Four things which are never satisfied. Agur starts
to list two but increases his list until it reaches four. (The
horseleach is a leech.)
A. the grave
B. the woman who cannot give birth
C. the earth which can always hold more water
D. the fire which can always burn more fuel
VI. \\#30:17\\ Agur warns those who disrespect their parents that
their end is to be a painful demise. Perhaps there is some
relationship in \\#17\\ and the preceding list which I do not
see.
V. \\#30:18-20\\ Four things (actually five) which are too hard to
comprehend.
A. the movement of an eagle in flight
B. the movement of a snake on the rock
C. the movement of a ship in the sea.
D. the movements of men and women in courtship.
E. \\#20-23\\ A fifth thing too difficult to understand. An
adulterous, who devours her prey and thinks she has done
nothing wrong.
VI. \\#30:21-23\\ Four things that just aren’t right.
A. when a (male) follower is made a ruler (leader).
B. when a fool gets what he doesn’t deserves.
C. when a hateful woman gets married.
D. when a (female) follower is made a mistress (leader).
VII. \\#30:24-28\\ Four things which are small but teach great wisdom.
A. Ants are small but do a great work together.
B. Rabbits are weak but tough enough to live in the rocks.
C. Locusts do not have a leader but remain organized.
D. Spiders can walk on walls and find their way into palaces.
VIII. \\#30:29-31\\ Four Things Do What They Want.
A. a lion because of his strength
B. a greyhound (hips, loins) because of his movements (speed)s
C. a he-goat because of his stubbornness
D. a king because of his authority
IX. \\#30:32\\ If you have done wrong, do not brag about it.
X. \\#30:33\\ Some things are just logical:
A. If you churn cream, you will get butter.
B. If you wring someone’s nose, you will get blood.
C. If you stir up anger, you will get a fight.
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