Pr. 30: Agur the Oracle Says

Proverbs 30:8 "Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread."

Agur sounds like that part in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure where they're reading Socrates (So-crates) and they read "The only true wisdom consists in knowing that you know nothing." This is the humble place where Agur starts Proverbs 30. He admits to not having wisdom, not having a great education. But there are still things he knows, based on what he doesn't know.

God binds up and controls the winds, the waters, the land. He holds absolute power, which is mind-blowing. There is no one capable of understanding this, let alone being capable of doing this.

This power leads him to say that every word of God is flawless.

It would be bad to add to the words God said. In other words, don't attribute to God words he didn't say. God's words are flawless, and anything, any "wisdom" man purports to attach to God is filth, tainting.

The oracle asks two things from God.
1. Keep falsehood and lies far from him. He wants to live in truth and honesty.
2. Give me neither poverty nor riches. He just wants to live his normal life. And it makes sense. Too much wealth, and a man grows arrogant, not needing God. Not enough, and a man steals, besmirching the God he claims to honor and love.

I don't know who will curse you, the servant or the master, when you slander the servant, but I could see grounds for both parties wanting to do that.

A leech is like the four things which are never satisfied...never sated: The grave (death), a barren womb (See: Rachel), a dry and thirsty land, and a raging fire. They all want more, and are never satisfied with more.

Four amazements:
1. how an eagle navigates the sky
2. how a snake navigates the land
3. how a ship navigates the ocean
4. how a man navigates a maiden.

I think he's going somewhere with that. The point is, why give up a faithful wife for adultery, or for a prostitute who offers her services, feigns love, then cleans up and says "Next?" It makes no sense.

Four things the earth shouldn't bear
1. A servant becoming king
2. A fool full of food
3. An unloved woman who is married (See: Leah)
4. A girlfriend displacing a wife.

Wisdom in small things.
1. Ants store up food for winter.
2. The hapless coney, who find protection in rocky hills
3. The leaderless locust, who advances in ranks, as one
4. The lizard, who is found in the king's court. Apparently not making a pest of himself

Stately in their stride.
1. Mighty lion
2. Strutting rooster
3. He-goat
4. A king with his army

Have evil planned? Shut your lips.

3 proven facts:
Churn milk = butter.
Twist the nose = blood.
Stir up anger = strife.

Ps. 139: God Knows

Psalm 139:7 "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?"

This 139th Psalm is a pretty incredible confession and a great revelation of who God is. It's been emphasized in previous readings and books that God knows everything and is all powerful. The macro view of God's power is fairly awe-inspiring, but here David makes it personal. God cares for creation and everything, which includes man. But God also cares about the individual man, and cares deeply. It doesn't matter where a person is, who they are, or how far from God they seem, God knows every thought, every emotion, every sense a person experiences. God also knows the future, being able to know every man's words before he speaks them. That is an incredible power, can you imagine that? It isn't enough to just know what a person is thinking. God takes it a step further and knows what a person will think. Before we think it. And that includes every single person. All at once. And it doesn't confuse him. In some ways that is chilling, but in other ways that's comforting. He understands a person.

There is no where to go to escape this omni-everything God. Even in darkness, which is just as light to God, He sees everything. As we walk through the daytime, it is just as God walks through the night, nothing is hidden.

I love the visual in verses 13-16. He created my inmost being, he knit me together in my mother's womb. "Fearfully and wonderfully made" the text says. Being "fearfully made" gives me pause, but I imagine that fear is another word for "awe." Every person is an awesome creation, wonderfully made, no matter who they become. I'm not sure what "woven together in the depths of the earth" means, but the idea that this may be a metaphor is not lost on me, after all, Job 1:21 offers a similar concept, comparing a mother's womb to the earth. All the days were ordained for a person, before that person lived one. This speaks to planning, for every single person. God knows exactly who a person will be. I don't think this means necessarily that God puts a person on a rail so to speak, and the person drifts into God's ordained destiny. I believe this speaks more to God knowing who a person will become.

And then there is more imprecation at the end of the Psalm, imploring God to crush those who oppose him. Which seems a bit of a weird juxtaposition in a Psalm that glories in God's creation and care in forming lives.

David ends by asking God to search him and to know his mind. David invites God in, as if to say, "Try me," and to keep drawing him to the everlasting if there is any wicked way in him. There's a great song by Christian music iconoclast Steve Taylor called "I Just Wanna Know" that really crystallizes that concept. Give it a listen. Don't worry about the RIAA, Taylor's made a lot of music freely available.

Ps. 113: Good LORD

Psalm 113:3 "From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised."

God is the ruler of all the Earth. And most likely, from what I gather, he must be the LORD of the universe. He is exalted over the nations and above the heavens. From the rising to the setting sun. So not just everywhere, every time.

There is no one like him. God is the lone superpower in the universe.

And he's good, lifting the poor from the ash heap and the dust to set them among princes. He doesn't play favorites. He doesn't see rank. All are equal at his table. And he doesn't lower those with high stature. He wants to better lower people's situations. He doesn't take away the prince's success in this illustration. He certainly could, and has punished the high and mighty, but he seeks to elevate those in need, not ruin those with plenty.

Also, that part about settling the barren mother in her home as a happy mother...That's wonderful, and we've seen numerous situations where that has been the case. Sarai, Rebekah, Hannah, Rachel.

Ps. 97: Power

Psalm 97:9 "For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods."

There's a lot of imagery in the 97th Psalm related to power. The mountains, the thunder, the lightning. Fire and darkness. Mountains are said to melt like wax...this metaphor was used before when David was hopeless...his heart melted like wax. That is fear.

All these entities beyond the grasp and control of man are subject quite handily to God almighty. Its a good thing he is in control, because I'd hate to live in a world where these things run amok. This power God has is praiseworthy.

Ps. 93: Immovable

Psalm 93:1 "The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved."

A brief Psalm that makes no bones about the ultimate power in the universe and how this universe showcases and shouts not only God's existance, but his Godhood. He is the be-all end-all. What God has put in place are not changing, will not be moved by any sort of power. His strength is in his holiness. And I just wonder if that holiness is obeyed by everything. If that holiness is the force that brings everything together.

Ps. 82: Olympus

Psalm 82:8 "Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance."

God is like the head God of other gods. They have no power but to submit to God. So I wonder if these other gods have any actual power? But they are given this power. By God. Would God give power to other gods? Why? Unless I am not understanding the word "god" here in this context. Perhaps it is just powerful men. Perhaps angels. Perhaps extraterrestrial life forms? 

Anyway, in verse two, my guess is that God's voice confronts these lesser gods for being partial to the wicked. I suppose it could be man's questioning God for allowing the wicked to be successful, but God doesn't have to answer to that for any reason.

These other gods must be jerks, because they have to be told to stand up for the fatherless and to help deliver the weak and needy. They must be unfair to the poor. It is the social justice aspect that makes me think these gods are rulers of men, who are swayed by their own greed and desire for earthly things that they would neglect the neglected.

But then the high strangeness takes over in verse 6. "You are gods, sons of the Most High." The most high being God himself, presumably. Is it the fact that God ordains rulers? Or are these another race of beings with power from and under God? Angels? But they are told they will die like Adam. Like mere men. Their time is gonna come. They don't rule the way God does, they don't do things his way, therefore they can only pass away, just like every other ruler.

Maybe the 82nd Psalm ultimately serves as a bit of a reminder to rulers on the earth that they are in fact mortal and owe their power and position to one person.

Ps. 76: Gravitas

Psalm 76:8-9 "From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet- when you O God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land."

God is no small-timer to be trifled with. He is known. He is the famous one. He is all powerful. The 76th Psalm tells of God's fearsomeness. God's gravitas.

First off, God seems to be a God who values peace over war, talking about breaking the weapons of war, shields, swords and arrows. No weapon forged could stand against God. He simply brushes them off.

Men may have their scuffles and battles, but when God shows up on the scene, all is quiet, and all is still. Except for the trembling, I'm sure. The fear of God towers over any conflict man may have with another man. It is a matter of what matters. Men may put their leaders up in charge, but again, it is God who breaks their spirits and puts them in fear. Any survivors of this wrath are quiet. They can't hang.

Ps. 58: Memo to Leaders

Psalm 58:11 "Then men will say, 'Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.'"

Whoa...apparently there was disenchantment with one's government even back a million years ago when David roamed the earth. This is one stinging chapter about those who abuse their power. Those who are in a position of leadership, with justice as their charge. The result is injustice, violence, wickedness and deceit.

Its interesting that they are refered to as cobras, which are among the world's most venomous snakes. But look at this, they're like a snake that doesn't listen to the charmer. I would guess that means God. I've never looked at God as some divine snake charmer before today. So even though God's sovereignty puts men in charge, it is up to them to listen to the director. And here, even in the Bible, government officials are likened to snakes. I love it.

When the psalmist writes "break the teeth in their mouths, and tear out the fangs of the lions," to me that says make their decrees powerless. Especially when it is a decree of rebellion. In spite of the brood of vipers in charge, the psalmist hopes that God will still be the vindicator, acknowledging Him as the charge of the earth. A position no man has ever attained. Yet.