Daily Devotional Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in
the Bible.
The Wisdom of God
Verses for the Day:
Proverbs
30:1-4 (KJV): 1 The words of Agur the son
of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and
Ucal,
2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a
man.
3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in
his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the
ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst
tell?
Proverbs
30:1-4 (AMP): 1The words of Agur son of
Jakeh of Massa: The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:
2 Surely I am too brutish and stupid to be called a man, and I have not the
understanding of a man (for all my secular learning is as nothing).
3 I have not learned skillful and godly Wisdom, that I should have the knowledge
or burden of the Holy One.
4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His
fists? Who has bound the waters in His garment? Who has established all the
ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know?
Thoughts for the Day:
These verses
from Proverbs are the words of a man named Agur, who
is a man of secular learning and does not consider himself a spiritual man, as
he has not learned godly Wisdom; yet, he is a man who is perceptive about the
things of God. Agur is speaking to Ithiel (a Benjamite) and a man named
Ucal. He first declares that he is ignorant and stupid, as he does not have the
knowledge of holy things. He considers all of his secular education as nothing,
compared to the knowledge of God. This man may not have had a spiritual
education, but he did have the sense to ask the right questions, and by reading
this entire chapter, we find he was a man of spiritual perception.
He reminds me of
another man named Elihu, in the book of Job, who had the virtue of being
able to assess his own knowledge, and when compared to the knowledge of God,
realized that he knew nothing. Both of these men took humble positions in regard
to their own understanding, while acknowledging the greatness of God.
Job 32:4-9:
4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then
his wrath was kindled.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye
are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not show you mine opinion.
7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them
understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
Elihu knew that
truth and understanding came from Almighty God, who is the one who gives
inspiration and wisdom. Men of greatness, and aged men with experience, do
not always have wisdom and act in proper judgment, just because they have a
position and are older. We are told in scripture not to lean upon our own
understanding, but in all of our ways to acknowledge God.
Proverbs 3:5-7:
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
In Proverbs
30:4, Agur asks several questions, with the last question being, and the
answer to those questions is "God, and His Son, Jesus." We know that is
the answer because Jesus was the one who ascended into Heaven after he descended
into hell, following His death on the cross.
John 3:13-15:
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven,
even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of
man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Ephesians
4:7-10:
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift
of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and
gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the
lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens,
that he might fill all things.)
When Jesus died on
the cross for the sins of all mankind, He then was in the grave and hell for
three days and three nights, before he ascended to heaven. He took all
those who were held captive in Paradise with Him to heaven above. (Those Old
Testament saints who walked in faith were kept in Paradise until Jesus paid the
price for their sins on the cross. Paradise was in the lower regions. Jesus "led
captivity captive," which was to lead them out of that place into heaven with
Him, after He rose from the dead.) Jesus' death, burial and resurrection made a
way for all since then who repent and believe in Christ to follow Him to heaven
also.
Verse 4 in
today's study describes our God as the One who gathers the wind in His fists,
has bound water in His garments and established the ends of the earth. This
description of God reveals the might and power that He holds. He is ruler
of heaven and earth!
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We worship You as the Almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth! May we, as
Your children, always keep an attitude of being meek and lowly before Your
throne. Lord, if we have any wisdom, knowledge and understanding, it is
because You have enlightened us. I thank You for Your gift of Jesus to us,
so that we do not have to go to hell and can now have our home in heaven with
You. I am eternally grateful for Your love and sacrifice. It makes me ask
the question David asked, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the
son of man, that thou visitest him?" I praise You for crowning us with
Your glory and honor because of Jesus. Amen.
