“I am weary, God,
but I can prevail.
2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man;
I do not have human understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Whose hands have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is the name of his son?
Surely you know!
5 “Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
”
Every one of these words to open Proverbs 30 ring true for me this morning. They are a sobering call to continually come before the Lord with humility and repentance.
As I read these words, “surely I am a brute, not a man” I think immediately of the apostle Paul who referred to himself as the chief of sinners. I think of Job when reading the next verse, he suffered God’s rebuke to gain this understanding, “where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?”
I could read and write on these Proverbs every day of every month for the rest of my life and I would still be left with these same utterances; who am I but a brute with no true wisdom. I do not understand the ways of God or His Son. What do I possibly have to say?
Thankfully, every word of God is flawless, He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
The challenge in writing these reflections each morning is also addressed in these opening verses. Do not add to His words or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Please don’t!
“We don’t eat, we dine!”
This is a familiar saying in our household. I learned it from a man named Jerry Johnson over twenty years ago and it has stuck with me and been passed on to my kids. If you ask my kids the difference between eating and dining they would say this: dining means you slow down, the table is set nicer, you converse with friends, you have many courses, you enjoy the flavours, and there is wine!
I trust you have enjoyed this journey through the wisdom of the Proverbs with me this month. I have been writing them for myself mostly, disciplining myself to dine in the scriptures rather to simply eat. I have dined each morning this month (sans wine) as I have sat with the Lord and with you, slowly feasting on the wisdom of God in Proverbs; a 31-course meal. Thank you for joining me on this journey!
Of course, at the end of a feast when you know you are full and shouldn’t have any more, the host offers you a little extra dessert and some champagne. You know you should turn it down, you are done! But alas, you take it because it is just too appealing, and you typically regret it almost immediately! That is where I am now – I am done. But Proverbs 31 is offered as that extra piece of dessert and champagne – I should turn it down, wisdom would say get up from the table and walk away.
See you tomorrow morning!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Do you find refuge in the God’s word? Is there a particular passage of scripture you dine in often? Do you experience the joy and frustration of feeling like the word of God both strengthens you and makes you feel weak at the same time? Share your thoughts below.