Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 551 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

There are Three Things that Amaze Me – Proverbs [30:18]-33

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 551 of our trek, and it is Wisdom Wednesday. Every Wednesday along life’s trails we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. Today we will explore the 2^nd half of Chapter 30.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. After nearly three weeks of constant travel, I am in our office most of this week before heading to Charlotte for three days. After that, I should be in for two weeks before heading to Arizona towards the end of March.

Last week in our study of Proverbs, we switched focus from King Solomon who wrote most of Proverbs to a man we know little of whose name was Agur. In some translations it indicates that Agur was writing “to Ithiel and Ucal,” men who could have been disciples or friends of Agur, although some Bibles translate the meaning of the two names with the assumption that they do not refer to actual people. Most commentators believe Agur lived in the same era as Solomon. We don’t know much about Agur except what we can glean from this one chapter. This is one of my favorite chapters in Proverbs because of its rich imagery and contrasting statements.

The name Agur comes from a Hebrew word meaning “collector.” Agur and his father Jakeh are only mentioned here in the Bible and are otherwise unknown. As we start with verse 18 today, Agur’s talent for relating to the obvious shines through. It is a Hebrew poetic style comparing similar statements for impact. This section starts out with…

There Are Three Things That Amaze Me

Let’s dig for the nuggets of wisdom today that Agur shares in verses 18-33.

¹⁸ There are three things that amaze me—

no, four things that I don’t understand:

¹⁹ how an eagle glides through the sky,

how a snake slithers on a rock,

how a ship navigates the ocean,

how a man loves a woman.

While we have made significant advancements in our scientific knowledge of the first three items that are listed, they still are an amazement to us. To witness the eagle in flight floating on the winds, the snake slithering on a rock at angles we could never achieve, and a large ship navigating the largest oceans, leaves us in awe.

A greater mystery in life is what causes the attraction between a man and a woman. Many times the physical and emotional differences between couples are so different that we wonder what chemistry caused the attraction in the first place. All four of these references leave us standing in amazement.

²⁰ An adulterous woman consumes a man,

then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?”

Another one of life’s mysteries that can leave us pondering is an illicit affair between people who are married to others. Those that are involved in such activity appear oblivious to the dangers. It is a situation that will never end well and causes such hurt and grief to all that are involved.

²¹ There are three things that make the earth tremble—

no, four it cannot endure:

²² a slave who becomes a king,

an overbearing fool who prospers,

²³     a bitter woman who finally gets a husband,

a servant girl who supplants her mistress.

Here is another analogy that compares, contrasts, and then adds a fourth element for emphasis. Three things that shake our very paradigm of our world…A slave who rises to the position of king is an unusual occurrence but has happened on occasion. A person who is obnoxious and treats others unkindly and yet seems to prosper in life. A person with a bitter and unhealthy attitude, who still seems to find a mate in spite of it. The fourth element for emphasis is a servant girl rising through the ranks and becomes a lover to one who is in authority. This unnatural and unhealthy relationship will shake the very foundations of the family and household.

²⁴ There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise:

²⁵ Ants—they aren’t strong,

but they store up food all summer.

²⁶ Hyraxes—they aren’t powerful,

but they make their homes among the rocks.

²⁷ Locusts—they have no king,

but they march in formation.

²⁸ Lizards—they are easy to catch,

but they are found even in kings’ palaces.

The next set of four examples from the animal and insect world shows that those who are small but wise and mighty can have a huge impact on their worlds. Ants are such tiny insects, and yet they work so hard to store up the food necessary to survive even the harshest of winters. Hyraxes or rock badgers are easy prey to a lot of different predators, but they build a sophisticated tunnel system among rocks to have a way to escape. Locusts, or grasshoppers, do not appear to have a ruler of the swarm, and yet they move across a field in stark formation devouring vegetation as they proceed. The last comparison in this section is that of a lizard. You can’t keep them out of homes or palaces. They will always find a way in. Even those of high positions cannot control them easily.

²⁹ There are three things that walk with stately stride—

no, four that strut about:

³⁰ the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything,

³¹     the strutting rooster,

the male goat,

a king as he leads his army.

This next set of comparisons is from the animal kingdom and is rather humorous to think about. Three animal are compared to a king, all of whom strut about as if they were rulers of all. No one disputes that the male lion is the king of all animals. Their presence and stately stride are second to none. If you have ever raised chickens or goats, you know very well how a rooster or male goat will strut around as if they were king. The last is comparing the animals to a human king who does strut before his army and subjects as if they were the ruler of the earth.

³² If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil,

cover your mouth in shame.

³³ As the beating of cream yields butter

and striking the nose causes bleeding,

so stirring up anger causes quarrels.

This final section of this chapter compares what problems are caused by someone who is a fool. It is a shameful thing. Just as beating cream will produce butter, or getting hit on the nose will cause it to bleed, so a fool will stir up the anger of another and inevitably cause quarrels.

Today on our Wisdom Trail we were able to see a little of the rich imagery of life that is presented by Agur. Next week we begin the final chapter of Proverbs. All of the proverbs provide us with rich wisdom, insight, and understanding on a myriad of life issues. Regardless of where you are in your faith walk, if the precepts in Proverbs are followed, your life will be rich and satisfying. Take them and plant them in your heart so that you will reap a harvest of wisdom. I would challenge you to take just one precept that we learn today in Proverbs and commit yourself to applying it to your life.

Tomorrow we will hike another short trail of Wisdom Unplugged where we will discover an inspirational wisdom quote. Encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along with us tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!