Posted by Jeff Short on March 11, 2021 · Leave a Comment
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
– Proverbs 30:8
This verse continues Agur’s prayer. He prays for daily bread and to be kept from falsehood and uselessness. In asking for neither poverty nor riches, he seeks a balance to his possessions and contentment.
Posted by Jeff Short on March 4, 2021 · Leave a Comment
Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
– Proverbs 30:7
Verses 7-9 bring Agur’s opening to a close with the only prayer in the book of Proverbs. The word for
require means to ask or request. It can mean demand, but probably is not that forceful here. The request is given for the timeframe of his mortal life—before I die. His concern is to end his life well and with wisdom. From the following verses of the prayer, wisdom entails controlling speech and natural desires (Proverbs 15:16; 19:1, 22).
Posted by Jeff Short on September 27, 2019 · Leave a Comment
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
– Proverbs 28:9
The word for
hearing is common in Proverbs and means to hear intelligently, or with understanding. Obedience is implied. The command to hear is given frequently in the law (Exodus 4:1-8; 5:1; 8:32-34; 15:26; 24:7; Deuteronomy 5:1; 29:3; 31:11-12, 38, 30; 32:1, 44). Refusal to listen to God’s instruction renders one’s prayer an
abomination, or detestable in God’s sight. Wisdom teaches God will not listen to us if we do not listen to him (Proverbs 1:23-33).
Posted by Jeff Short on July 20, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
– Proverbs 15:29
Being far is contrasted with hearing prayer. The wicked go their own way, so God does not hear their cries (Proverbs 28:9; Psalm 34:16). The righteous walk in the way of wisdom that is pleasing to God. He is near to them and hears their prayers (Proverbs 15:8). The subject of prayer is infrequent in Proverbs.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 29, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
– Proverbs 15:8
This proverb deals with worship and our approach to God. It is consistent with the rest of Scripture in that worship is a matter of spirit and not outward form (1 Samuel 15:22). The word for
sacrifice refers to the slaughter of an animal, and contextually to the purpose of offering to the Lord. It is a ritual act. Even if the outward act is performed impeccably, the wicked condition of the offerer’s heart makes it an abomination to God (Isaiah 1:10-15). The wicked despise God’s word and want to perform a ritual for acceptance, but God hates and rejects it (Proverbs 21:27; 28:9; Luke 6:46). The contrast is the
delight, pleasure or acceptance, of the
prayer of the upright (Proverbs 15:29; 1 Chronicles 29:17).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Proverbs 30:8
Posted by Jeff Short on March 11, 2021 · Leave a Comment
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
This verse continues Agur’s prayer. He prays for daily bread and to be kept from falsehood and uselessness. In asking for neither poverty nor riches, he seeks a balance to his possessions and contentment.– Proverbs 30:8
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Filed under 30, Proverbs, Short Comments · Tagged with Commentary, Prayer, Proverbs, RIches