February 25, 2018
Hymn 335 - I am so glad that our Father in Heaven
Prayer
Proverbs 30:1-3. A man named Agur wrote this chapter of Proverbs, and he really didn’t think highly of himself. In fact, he calls himself “brutish” which means “stupid”. For being stupid, though, he gives us some very nice thoughts. In Matthew 11 Jesus said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” Jesus isn’t looking for people with intelligence, He’s looking for people with a heart that is willing to learn. He wants us to grow in His knowledge, and to do that He gave us His word.
In verse 4, Agur asks five questions, four of which start with “Who?” Firstly: who has gone up into Heaven (God’s presence) or come down from it? John 3:13 tells us that there is only one person, Jesus, who has come down from Heaven. Also, as we’ve seen with Uncle Norm, He also later ascended back into Heaven. John 6:38-40. Jesus came down to Earth to die for our sins; so that we can have eternal life if we believe in Him. He came to show us God’s love. Once He had finished His job, He went back to Heaven.
Agur’s second question was: who has gathered (or controlled) the wind in His fists? We can’t even see the wind, let alone hold onto it! Psalm 135:6-7 speaks of person that can control the wind, and we know that Jesus calmed a storm on the Lake of Galilee. He controls the wind, and can stop it (like He’s holding it in His fists).
Third question: who has bound the waters in a garment? Again, this makes us realize that God controls everything. He controlled the flood in Noah’s time, and He uses the water cycle today to give the land the water it needs. He controls when it rains, snows, and everything else.
Colossians 1:17. God created everything with just His words! What is His name? What is His Son’s name? Agur felt small when He saw how powerful God is. Creation show us His power.
Vv.5-6. Every word of God is pure, or perfect. God has given His word—the Bible—to us, and it is sufficient for every spiritual need. We don’t need any other books to tell us what God has said, even though some people think so. These verses warn us not to add to what God has written.
Joshua 1:8. Reading the Scriptures is an important part of the Christian life. We need to meditate on them, and trust in them like a shield.
So this is Agur’s introduction as he speaks about God’s power and greatness. He show us how important God’s Word is. May we be trusting in it! Agur may have been a simple man, but he has given us some very precious thoughts.
James 4:7 - 17
Submitting yourself to God is a matter of obedience. The enemy will be after you to rebel against God; but he is a beaten foe. We must resist him. How do we do that? We mentioned last time that we must do it aloud; we should also follow the Lord’s example and use scripture to resist: when He was tempted in the wilderness, He quoted several verses from Deuteronomy. The devil is pursuing us and we must be prepared.
In v. 8, we are told to draw nigh to God. This should be our activity. We should seek to dwell in the secret place of the most high, under the shadow of the Almighty. In our times of communion with Him, we should draw near to God. We need him so much, and we can feel that need. Let us draw nigh to Him.
James next speaks to “sinners.” If seems that the situation is much like it is today: within Christendom, some people are saved, and some are not. He instructs them to cleanse their hands and purify their hearts. He tells them to mourn and weep. We sometimes sing, “happy they who trust in Jesus.” However, the sinner is in a grim condition, and must get serious about it. They must humble themselves in the sight of the Lord. He is the one who can lift our heaviness and given us joy. He will give us peace.
Now in v. 11 he speaks to the Christians again. We have a warning against evil speaking. If a brother is in sin, it may need to be discussed in order to assist them. However, it should not be done into make oneself look better. To do this is to judge your brother and judge the law, as the rest of the verse tells us. We should instead follow after the things that make for peace.
Prayer