Rev. Don Campbell
Proverbs 30-31
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 22, 2019
“THE SCRIPTURES”
The last two chapters of Proverbs were not the work of Solomon, but of two named, but unknown individuals. First, allow me to make a brief comment about the words of King Lemuel. It is sound advice from a mother to her son. That does not mean that the advice is not from God. Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, beginning with the first letter of the Jewish alphabet and ending with the last. If we were to look for a flesh and blood woman who epitomized this poem, we probably would not find her. She rises before daylight (v.15) and works far into the night (v.18). She is at the spinning wheel, involved in real estate, plants a vineyard, tends to the needs of the poor, clothes her family in scarlet, makes and sells linen garments, and all the while she is busy teaching others. Read it for what it is, a poem which stands in contrast to the unworthy wives described by Amos: “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’” (Amos 4:1).
We now return to chapter 30, where Agur writes, “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar” (vv.5-6). We are reminded of the words of Paul to a young preacher: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If we preachers really believe this, we would lead our churches in studying as if our lives depended upon it—AND THEY DO!
Not every passage is equal in importance, but if we dwell only on those which we consider most important, we are in danger of twisting out of context our favorite passages. Every passage must be approached with equal reverence, for all Scripture is profitable. I once had a preacher friend who joked—I thought of having 50 sermons and a filibuster. Based on how often he moved, he may not have been joking.
George F Santa in his commentary on the Proverbs wrote, “Every heresy probably stands upon some insulated text or some exaggerated truth, pressed beyond the portion of faith [Romans 12:6]. but none can stand upon the combined view and authority of the Scripture.”
Santa explained: “But usually we read and reread our favorite passages. We take a small part all too often, instead of the whole or as if it were the whole. One is absorbed in the doctrinal, a second in the practical, a third in the prophetical, a fourth in the experimental.”
In about a week we will be halfway through our journey through the Scriptures. Not every text “grabs” us alike, but every text is the word of God and is profitable. Paul’s words to Timothy do not just apply to preachers, but they especially apply to preachers: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
CONNECTIONS
1. It has been said that no mother believes that any woman is good enough for her son. Does this statement contain a grain or two of truth? The answer will probably depend on what kind of mother-in-law one had.
2. The statement “I’d rather see a sermon any time than to hear one” contains truth. However, if we stress only the practical and not the doctrinal, is danger that the sermon we display will contain error?
