Today, as read from Proverbs 30, we see the sayings of Agur. These are interesting and follow some interesting patterns. One of the things we see frequently in this passage is Agur looking to the created order and seeing wisdom there. He sees so much that he learns about God just by looking all around him. This is a good word for us today. There is so much wisdom, so much goodness, so much of God’s glory all around us every day. It’s there for us. We just have to look around.

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Good morning! It’s good to be with you as we read Chapter 30 of Proverbs. We have just two more days left in our January in Proverbs. It’s been good to walk through this wonderful book of the Bible with you, and we’re almost done. Tomorrow, of course, is Proverbs 31—one of the more famous passages in Proverbs that talks about a godly woman. So that’s a wonderful passage. But today, we’re picking up with verse, with chapter 30, the Sayings of Agur.

This is an interesting chapter. Proverbs has different sections written or attributed to different wise individuals. These sayings are different than some of the other sayings, with an interesting pattern. Several times you’re going to see “three things the Lord has said, four he likes.” This pattern appears a lot in the latter part of the chapter. “Three things are too wonderful for me, four I do not understand.” “Four things are small, yet they’re exceedingly wise.” “Three things are stately in their stride, four are stately in their gates.” It’s a unique rhythmic structure that caught my attention.

This chapter is full of observations about how we can see God and experience God through nature. For example, in verse 24: “Four things on earth are small, yet they’re exceedingly wise.” The ants, though without strength, provide their food in the summer. The badgers, lacking power, make their homes in the rocks. The locusts, having no king, march in rank. The lizard, graspable in the hand, is found in kings’ palaces. Then, in verse 29, “Three things are stately in their stride, four are stately in their gate”: the lion, the strutting rooster, the he-goat, and a king sitting before people.

Observing nature and the order within it allows us to experience and see God’s goodness. C.S. Lewis said, “Faith enlivens the eyes.” So, when we live with faith and through the power of the spirit, simply looking around will reveal much goodness and point to God. We just have to pay attention.

So, where do you see God’s goodness today? In the created order, where do you witness God’s creativity and glory? Nature, with its inherent order, reflects the goodness of God. We only need to look.

Now, going back to the beginning of the chapter, there are a couple of verses I found impactful. In verse 7 and 8, Agur expresses a wise desire: “Two things I ask of you. Do not deny them to me before I die. Remove far from me falsehood and lying. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need.” This is a wonderful prayer for wisdom and contentment. It seeks honesty and simplicity, recognizing the dangers of both poverty and wealth—acknowledging that both can lead us away from faithful living.

Lastly, verse 4 poses thought-provoking questions: “Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the hollow of the hand? Who has wrapped the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is that person’s name? And what is the name of that person’s child? Surely you know.” These questions emphasize God’s incomprehensible greatness, reminding us of our finite nature and the vastness of God’s creation. In times when our problems seem overwhelming, it’s comforting to remember that, in the grand scope of eternity, our issues are small. Let’s remember who is God, and that He is truly worthy of our praise and thanksgiving.

I’ve enjoyed preparing for and reading this chapter today. Tomorrow, we’ll conclude our journey through Proverbs with Chapter 31, a renowned and impactful passage. I look forward to finishing strong with you. Have a great rest of your day!