WEBVTT

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 God, we come to you this evening recognizing that you oppose the proud but give grace to the humble.

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 Just as water flows down to the lowest valleys, the water of your grace flows down to those who have lowered themselves,

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 those who have humbled themselves before you.

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 And Lord, that is exactly what we hope to do this evening as we come to this chapter in Proverbs which speaks of our need to live humbly before you.

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 We pray that you'd shape us in that way, that you'd speak to us and impress the truth and the goodness of your word to us deeply this evening.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 Proverbs chapter 30 verses 1 to 33.

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 The words of Agur, son of Jacke.

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 The oracle.

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 The man declares,

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 I am weary, O God.

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 I am weary, O God, and worn out.

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 Surely I am too stupid to be a man.

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 I have not the understanding of a man.

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 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

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 Who has ascended to heaven and come down?

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 Who has gathered the wind in his fists?

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 Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?

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 Who has established all the ends of the earth?

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 What is his name?

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 And what is his son's name?

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 Surely you know.

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 Every word of God proves true.

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 He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

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 Do not act to his words lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

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 Two things I ask of you.

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 Deny them not to me before I die.

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 Remove far from me falsehood and lying.

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 Give me neither poverty nor riches.

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 Feed me with the food that is needful for me,

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 lest I be full and deny you and say,

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 Who is the Lord?

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 Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

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 Do not slander a servant to his master,

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 lest he curse you and you be held guilty.

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 There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.

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 There are those who are clean in their own eyes,

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 but are not washed of their filth.

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 There are those, how lofty are their eyes,

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 how high their eyelids lift.

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 There are those whose teeth are swords,

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 whose fangs are knives,

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 to devour the poor from off the earth,

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 the needy from among mankind.

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 The leech has two daughters,

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 give and give.

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 Three things are never satisfied,

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 four never say enough.

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 Sheol, the barren womb,

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 the land never satisfied with water,

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 and the fire that never says enough.

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 The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother

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 will be picked out by the ravens of the valley

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 and eaten by the vultures.

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 Three things are too wonderful for me,

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 four I do not understand,

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 the way of an eagle in the sky,

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 the way of a serpent on a rock,

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 the way of a ship on the high seas,

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 and the way of a man with a virgin.

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 This is the way of an adulteress.

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 She eats and wipes her mouth and says,

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 I have done no wrong.

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 Under three things the earth trembles,

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 under four it cannot bear up.

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 A slave when he becomes king,

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 and a fool when he is filled with food.

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 An unloved woman when she gets a husband,

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 and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.

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 Four things on earth are small,

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 but they are exceedingly wise.

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 The ants are a people not strong,

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 yet they provide their food in the summer.

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 The rock badgers are a people not mighty,

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 yet they make their homes in the cliffs.

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 The locusts have no king,

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 yet all of them march in rank.

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 The lizard you can take in your hands,

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 yet it is in king's palaces.

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 Three things are stately in their tread,

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 four are stately in their stride.

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 The lion which is mightiest among beasts

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 and does not turn back before any.

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 The strutting rooster,

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 the he-goat,

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 and a king whose army is with him.

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 If you have been foolish,

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 exalting yourself,

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 or if you have been devising evil,

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 put your hand on your mouth.

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 For pressing milk produces curds,

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 and pressing the nose produces blood,

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 and pressing anger produces strife.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 In his book, G.K. Chesterton,

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 in his book, Orthodoxy,

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 writes about the paradoxical aspect of Christianity,

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 where he says,

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 the more I considered Christianity,

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 the more I found that while I had established

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 a rule and order,

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 the chief aim of that order

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 was to give room for good things to run wild.

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 Imagine that you're driving up a mountain road,

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 and that road has no guardrails

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 to keep you from driving off the cliff.

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 Would that make you drive more freely,

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 since there's nothing restricting you?

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 Or would that make you drive more timidly,

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 because there's nothing to protect you?

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 Likewise, God imposes

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 a certain order on the universe.

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 He imposes a certain rule on his people,

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 but this is for our good.

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 It's for his glory,

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 and that's where true freedom

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 is found for good things to roam wild.

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 And Proverbs 30 is all about that.

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 It teaches us that those who follow

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 the humble king

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 ought to live humbly within

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 our God-given boundaries.

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 First, we see the God-given boundaries of Scripture

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 in verses 1 to 9,

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 and then we see the God-given boundaries

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 in society in verses 10 to 33.

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 Verse 1 tells us that

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 we're in a new section, as I mentioned.

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 It says,

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 the words of Agard, son of Jacay,

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 and he designates this an oracle,

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 which means divinely inspired speech.

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 Like Solomon, who earlier in chapter 2

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 claimed that knowledge and understanding

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 that he is teaching,

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 he's imparting to us in the book of Proverbs,

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 are from the Lord's mouth,

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 Agard claims divine inspiration.

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 He is consciously writing

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 with the sense, the awareness,

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 that God himself is speaking through him.

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 And notice that he doesn't defend

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 that claim in any way.

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 He doesn't appeal to any other external authority

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 to say, well, you know that this is God's word

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 because it's consistent with such and such philosophy

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 or such and such ethical framework.

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 He doesn't defend the authority of the oracle.

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 He simply asserts it.

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 Scripture often does this.

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 The apostles often do this.

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 In 1 Thessalonians 2, 13, Paul says,

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 we also thank God constantly for this,

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 that when you received the word of God

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 which you heard from us,

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 you accepted it not as the word of men,

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 but as what it really is,

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 the word of God,

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 which is at work in you believers.

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 But again, Paul gives no proof.

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 This is because Scripture is ultimately

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 self-authenticating.

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 It is self-attesting

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 because it is the final and ultimate authority.

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 It appeals to no other authority.

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 In Hebrews 6, 13, it says that

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 since God had no one greater

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 by whom he might swear,

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 he swore by himself.

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 When you're a student writing a paper,

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 you need to cite sources.

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 You need to appeal to other authorities

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 to prove your point

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 because you have no authority.

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 But if you are the leading scholar

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 on the subject,

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 if you are the authority

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 on the subject,

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 you don't cite other sources.

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 You just speak

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 because you are the authority.

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 That's what Scripture is like.

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 It doesn't appeal to others' authority.

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 It is God's word

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 and therefore needs

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 no other verification.

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 We don't believe Scripture

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 because it is consistent

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 with popular opinion.

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 We don't believe Scripture

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 because it is consistent

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 with even expert opinion.

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 Whatever the domain

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 of that expert might be,

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 we believe in God's word

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 because God spoke it.

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 And how do we know

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 that God spoke it?

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 Jesus, the incarnate word of God,

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 says this in John 10, 2-3,

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 The sheep hear the shepherd's voice

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 and he calls his own sheep by name

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 and leads them out.

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 The sheep follow him

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 for they know his voice.

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 Those who belong to God

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 recognize his voice.

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 This is why we say

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 that Scripture is self-authenticating

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 or self-attesting.

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 And that self-authenticating authority

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 is behind the word oracle.

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 This is what God says to us.

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 So let's listen to what he has to say.

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 The man declares,

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 I am weary, O God.

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 I am weary, O God,

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 and worn out.

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 What is Agur weary from?

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 We see the answer

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 in verses 2-4.

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 He seems to be exasperated

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 by people who claim

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 to have wisdom and understanding

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 apart from God's gracious revelation.

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 People who claim understanding

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 and wisdom

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 when they actually have

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 nothing of the sort.

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 He says sarcastically,

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 surely I am too stupid

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 to be a man.

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 I have not the understanding

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 of a man.

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 I have not learned wisdom

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 nor have I knowledge

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 of the Holy One

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 who has ascended to heaven

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 and come down,

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 who has gathered the wind

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 in his fists,

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 who has wrapped up the waters

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 in the garment,

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 who has established

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 all the ends of the earth.

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 What is his name

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 and what is his son's name?

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 Surely you know.

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 Many people in the world

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 claim to be wise.

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 They set themselves up

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 as gurus and coaches

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 that can guide us

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 through life.

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 They act like they know

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 everything there is to know

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 about God

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 and this world.

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 But if they are right,

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 then Agur must surely be a fool.

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 Someone too stupid

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 to be a man

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 because he doesn't have

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 the kind of knowledge

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 that they claim to have.

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 He certainly doesn't share

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 their presumption and pride.

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 The words understanding

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 and wisdom

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 in verses 2 to 3

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 are parallel to

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 the knowledge

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 of the Holy One

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 which reminds us once again

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 of the thesis

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 of the book of Proverbs

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 that the fear of the Lord

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 is the beginning of knowledge.

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 True wisdom begins

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 with the personal relationship

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 with God.

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 Without knowing Him,

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 we cannot attain wisdom.

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 You might be a very skilled

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 violinist in the orchestra,

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 but if you are not

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 synced to the conductor,

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 you are not going to play music

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 that fits with the rest

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 of the orchestra.

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 Similarly, human beings

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 who have not submitted

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 themselves to

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 and aligned themselves

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 with God's vision

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 and God's order

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 are not going to attain wisdom,

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 which is the skill

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 for living in proper relationship

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 with God and with man.

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 Sinful human beings

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 who are impaired,

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 who have impaired discernment

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 cannot arrive

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 at God's cohesive vision

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 for all of creation.

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 And when they try to,

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 they despair,

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 they fail,

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 and they resign themselves

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 to relativism.

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 That's why we must begin

00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:13.300
 with the fear of the Lord

00:12:13.300 --> 00:12:14.480
 for the knowledge

00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:15.600
 of the Holy One

00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.600
 is wisdom

00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:17.600
 and understanding.

00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:19.379
 And knowing this,

00:12:19.540 --> 00:12:20.800
 Agar asks a series

00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:21.919
 of rhetorical questions

00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:22.740
 in verse 4,

00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:26.659
 who has ascended

00:12:26.659 --> 00:12:27.839
 to heaven and come down?

00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:28.819
 Who has gathered

00:12:28.819 --> 00:12:29.620
 the wind in his fists?

00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:31.479
 Who has wrapped up

00:12:31.479 --> 00:12:32.479
 the waters in the garment?

00:12:32.839 --> 00:12:33.759
 Who has established

00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:34.839
 all the ends of the earth?

00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:38.519
 The interrogative pronoun

00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:38.979
 who,

00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:40.259
 which is repeated here,

00:12:40.319 --> 00:12:41.500
 once again emphasizes

00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:43.879
 the personal dimension

00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:45.000
 of wisdom?

00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:50.659
 It's not an abstract principle

00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:51.220
 of what,

00:12:51.299 --> 00:12:51.840
 but a who.

00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:55.100
 The outer two questions

00:12:55.100 --> 00:12:56.439
 mention the heaven and earth,

00:12:57.039 --> 00:12:58.360
 and then the inner two questions,

00:12:58.439 --> 00:12:59.200
 the rhetorical question,

00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:00.019
 mention the wind

00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:00.639
 and the waters,

00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:01.879
 two elements that make up

00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:02.860
 the stormy sea,

00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:04.820
 which for the people

00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:05.519
 in the ancient world

00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:06.700
 represented the most

00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:08.600
 uncontrollable part

00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:10.200
 of creation,

00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:10.740
 of nature.

00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:13.019
 And yet God holds

00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:14.340
 the wind in his fists,

00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:16.019
 and he wraps up

00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:17.240
 the waters as in a garment.

00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.820
 And these pairs together,

00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:20.759
 the two pairs,

00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:22.000
 of heaven and earth

00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.360
 and water and wind,

00:13:23.799 --> 00:13:24.539
 together allude

00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:25.740
 to God's complete knowledge

00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:27.120
 and control

00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:28.580
 over creation,

00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:29.279
 the sky,

00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:29.720
 earth,

00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.299
 and sea.

00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:31.820
 And so then,

00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:32.840
 the answer that

00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:33.960
 these rhetorical questions

00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:35.080
 anticipate is this,

00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:35.779
 the Lord,

00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:37.419
 who has done this?

00:13:37.419 --> 00:13:38.700
 The Lord alone

00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:40.060
 ascended to heaven.

00:13:40.059 --> 00:13:41.399
 The Lord alone

00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:43.399
 established the earth.

00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:44.579
 The Lord alone

00:13:44.579 --> 00:13:45.500
 gathered the winds

00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.979
 and wrapped up the waters.

00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:49.699
 This is reminiscent

00:13:49.699 --> 00:13:50.779
 of Job 28,

00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:51.500
 12 to 20,

00:13:51.579 --> 00:13:52.519
 which also speaks

00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.339
 of God alone

00:13:53.339 --> 00:13:54.319
 being the source of wisdom

00:13:54.319 --> 00:13:55.179
 because he alone

00:13:55.179 --> 00:13:55.639
 was there

00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:56.099
 at the beginning

00:13:56.099 --> 00:13:56.719
 of creation.

00:13:58.279 --> 00:13:59.479
 So people then

00:13:59.479 --> 00:14:01.099
 who presumptuously

00:14:01.099 --> 00:14:02.319
 claim to have

00:14:02.319 --> 00:14:04.039
 knowledge and wisdom

00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:05.399
 apart from God,

00:14:06.939 --> 00:14:07.859
 Agar is contending,

00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:08.859
 are deluded

00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:10.300
 because there is

00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:11.560
 only one fount

00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:12.200
 of wisdom,

00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:14.240
 that is God himself.

00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:16.080
 And at the end

00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:17.120
 of this forceful line

00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:17.899
 of questioning,

00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:19.460
 the pretenders of wisdom

00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:20.360
 can't help but

00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.500
 be reduced to silence

00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:24.240
 because we were not there

00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:25.139
 when God established

00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:25.620
 the earth.

00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:27.519
 We have not ascended

00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:28.060
 to the heavens.

00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:29.700
 We were not there

00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:30.539
 when God rolled back

00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:31.000
 the seas

00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:31.919
 and tamed the wind.

00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:35.159
 The pretenders of wisdom

00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:36.139
 are humiliated

00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:37.219
 and reduced to silence.

00:14:39.079 --> 00:14:40.019
 And then verse 4

00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:42.099
 ends with the final

00:14:42.099 --> 00:14:43.459
 two rhetorical questions.

00:14:44.179 --> 00:14:46.000
 What is his name?

00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:49.079
 And what is his son's name?

00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.679
 There's a pivotal section

00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:52.459
 in the Old Testament

00:14:52.459 --> 00:14:54.179
 where this exact question

00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:54.740
 is asked.

00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:56.459
 What is his name?

00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:57.980
 And that's Exodus chapter 3

00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:59.360
 verses 13 to 15

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:01.139
 where God reveals himself

00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:02.180
 to Moses.

00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:04.300
 And when Moses asks God,

00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:05.220
 what should I tell

00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:05.820
 your people

00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:06.659
 when I go to Egypt

00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:07.500
 to deliver them

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:09.019
 in your name?

00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:09.879
 And they ask me,

00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.360
 what is his name?

00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:12.919
 And God says,

00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:14.519
 I am who I am.

00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:16.320
 Say this to the people

00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:16.800
 of Israel,

00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:18.700
 I am has sent me to you.

00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:19.820
 The Lord,

00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:20.519
 Yehovah,

00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:22.480
 the God of your fathers,

00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:23.539
 the God of Abraham,

00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:24.519
 the God of Isaac,

00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:25.600
 and the God of Jacob

00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:27.820
 has sent me to you.

00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:30.640
 And then in the following chapter,

00:15:30.760 --> 00:15:31.740
 Exodus chapter 4,

00:15:32.260 --> 00:15:33.680
 God instructs Moses

00:15:33.680 --> 00:15:35.040
 to tell Pharaoh this,

00:15:35.420 --> 00:15:36.340
 Thus says the Lord,

00:15:36.520 --> 00:15:38.720
 Israel is my firstborn son.

00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:40.000
 And I say to you,

00:15:40.060 --> 00:15:41.200
 let my son go

00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:42.480
 that he may serve me.

00:15:42.560 --> 00:15:43.840
 If you refuse to let him go,

00:15:43.900 --> 00:15:44.180
 behold,

00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:46.379
 I will kill your firstborn son.

00:15:47.400 --> 00:15:48.760
 The answer to the final

00:15:48.760 --> 00:15:49.600
 rhetorical question,

00:15:49.760 --> 00:15:51.060
 what is his name,

00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:52.200
 is the Lord.

00:15:53.060 --> 00:15:54.460
 And the answer to the question,

00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.940
 what is his son's name,

00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:57.620
 is Israel.

00:15:58.280 --> 00:15:59.340
 God's chosen people.

00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.700
 In other words,

00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:04.460
 God is the only fount of wisdom,

00:16:05.040 --> 00:16:07.940
 and only those who are chosen by God

00:16:07.940 --> 00:16:09.560
 and taught by him

00:16:09.560 --> 00:16:10.780
 receive his wisdom.

00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:13.700
 Divine wisdom is not something

00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:15.320
 we attain through our own striving,

00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:16.700
 through our own intelligence

00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:17.520
 and diligence.

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:20.160
 Rather, it's something

00:16:20.160 --> 00:16:22.620
 that we receive from God freely,

00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:24.740
 something that God reveals to us,

00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:27.860
 something that God has sole

00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.539
 proprietary rights to,

00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:31.220
 that he shares with

00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.139
 whomever he pleases.

00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:35.680
 And this reality demands

00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:37.259
 humility before the word of God.

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:39.460
 That's what verses 5 to 6 are about.

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.659
 It's only through what God

00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:42.820
 reveals to us

00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:44.000
 that we come to know

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.799
 his wisdom.

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.860
 Every word of God

00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:47.680
 proves true,

00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:48.060
 it says.

00:16:48.059 --> 00:16:49.779
 He is a shield to those

00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:51.159
 who take refuge in him.

00:16:51.619 --> 00:16:53.099
 Do not add to his words,

00:16:53.219 --> 00:16:54.519
 lest he rebuke you,

00:16:54.699 --> 00:16:56.419
 and you be found a liar.

00:16:57.699 --> 00:16:59.119
 This is a quotation

00:16:59.119 --> 00:17:01.619
 of a line from the victory song

00:17:01.619 --> 00:17:02.859
 that David used to celebrate

00:17:02.859 --> 00:17:03.899
 after God delivers him

00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:04.579
 from his enemies

00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:06.220
 in 2 Samuel 22,

00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.220
 verse 31,

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.960
 and Psalm 1830.

00:17:09.919 --> 00:17:10.980
 It means that those

00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:12.399
 who take refuge in God,

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:14.699
 those who stake their lives

00:17:14.699 --> 00:17:16.199
 on the word of God,

00:17:16.879 --> 00:17:18.379
 will be delivered.

00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:20.779
 They will not be disappointed.

00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:23.119
 But those who add to his words

00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:24.500
 will be rebuked

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.439
 and found a liar.

00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:28.099
 Because we are not the authors,

00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:30.059
 because we are not the editors

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:31.000
 of God's word,

00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.759
 we're only readers,

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:34.160
 only hearers,

00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:34.900
 only recipients.

00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:37.240
 We have no right to add

00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:38.839
 or subtract from his words.

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.460
 So then,

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.839
 we have to ask ourselves

00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:43.319
 the question,

00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.140
 do you live

00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:46.619
 with the God-given boundaries

00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:47.640
 of Scripture?

00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:50.740
 Or are you always trespassing?

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.539
 Pushing the envelope,

00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.359
 fudging the lines.

00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:00.059
 To those who trust in his word,

00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:01.519
 God is refuge,

00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:02.460
 that shields him,

00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.980
 but those who forsake his word

00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:06.019
 will be left exposed

00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:06.640
 and vulnerable.

00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:09.740
 The expression,

00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:10.500
 proves true,

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.980
 is a metaphor from metallurgy,

00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:15.500
 referring to some precious metal

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:17.340
 being refined in the furnace.

00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:19.900
 If what's inside the furnace

00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:22.000
 is truly a precious metal,

00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.880
 it will withstand the heat

00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:25.299
 and remain till the end.

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:27.360
 It will prove true.

00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:29.039
 Similarly,

00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:30.979
 every word of God

00:18:30.979 --> 00:18:32.819
 proves true.

00:18:35.199 --> 00:18:36.299
 Brothers and sisters,

00:18:36.379 --> 00:18:37.319
 do you believe that?

00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.979
 That there is not

00:18:38.979 --> 00:18:40.779
 a drop

00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:42.099
 of dross

00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:43.939
 in this word.

00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:46.659
 That every word

00:18:46.659 --> 00:18:47.939
 of God

00:18:47.939 --> 00:18:49.299
 proves true.

00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:50.659
 As Jesus said

00:18:50.659 --> 00:18:51.740
 in Matthew 5.18,

00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:52.819
 until heaven and earth

00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:53.599
 pass away,

00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:55.339
 not an iota,

00:18:55.339 --> 00:18:56.419
 not a dot

00:18:56.419 --> 00:18:57.819
 will pass from the law

00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:59.779
 until all is accomplished.

00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:02.379
 It's all gold in here.

00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:04.119
 It will all stand

00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:05.039
 the test of time.

00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:05.980
 Do you believe that?

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:08.480
 If you bank

00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.500
 your life

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:11.019
 on the word of God,

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:12.319
 your check

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.220
 will never bounce.

00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:17.579
 If you believe

00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:18.660
 God's word,

00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:20.039
 every word he says,

00:19:20.860 --> 00:19:22.920
 not a single word

00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:23.819
 of it

00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:25.000
 will fall to the ground.

00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:30.019
 If we only believe this

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:30.880
 with our whole heart,

00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:31.759
 we would experience

00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:33.339
 so much more joy.

00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:37.899
 so much more

00:19:37.899 --> 00:19:38.899
 of fulfillment

00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:39.779
 of his promises

00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.939
 as we believe

00:19:40.939 --> 00:19:42.279
 and take hold

00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:42.959
 of what he has

00:19:42.959 --> 00:19:43.859
 in store for us.

00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.379
 If you have

00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:47.679
 an unwavering trust

00:19:47.679 --> 00:19:48.480
 in God's word,

00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:50.419
 you have solid ground

00:19:50.419 --> 00:19:51.099
 to stand upon,

00:19:51.199 --> 00:19:52.019
 but if you don't,

00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.459
 you'll be tossed

00:19:53.459 --> 00:19:53.980
 to and fro

00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:54.699
 by the waves

00:19:54.699 --> 00:19:55.439
 and carried about

00:19:55.439 --> 00:19:56.359
 by every wind

00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:56.939
 of doctrine,

00:19:57.879 --> 00:19:58.879
 by human cunning,

00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.859
 by craftiness

00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:01.480
 in deceitful schemes.

00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:03.779
 And so it is

00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:04.559
 we need to live

00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.360
 humbly within

00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:06.500
 our God-given boundaries.

00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:09.140
 In light of this reality,

00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:09.980
 Agur brings

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:10.880
 this first subsection

00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:11.519
 to a close

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.819
 by making two requests

00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:13.339
 of God.

00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:14.680
 These are the only prayers

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.640
 in the book of Proverbs.

00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.880
 Verses 7 and 9,

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:19.579
 Two things I ask of you.

00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:21.099
 Deny them not to me

00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:21.860
 before I die.

00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:23.779
 Remove far from me

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:25.240
 falsehood and lying

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.339
 and give me

00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:27.099
 neither poverty

00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:27.620
 nor riches.

00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:29.339
 Feed me with the food

00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:30.420
 that is needful for me,

00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.380
 lest I be full

00:20:31.380 --> 00:20:32.080
 and deny you

00:20:32.080 --> 00:20:32.440
 and say,

00:20:32.560 --> 00:20:33.279
 Who is the Lord?

00:20:33.900 --> 00:20:35.060
 Or lest I be poor

00:20:35.060 --> 00:20:35.640
 and steal

00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:36.400
 and profane

00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.560
 the name of my God.

00:20:39.080 --> 00:20:39.539
 First,

00:20:39.620 --> 00:20:40.500
 because he knows

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.160
 that God

00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:43.000
 is the sole proprietor

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.500
 of wisdom

00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:45.220
 and that every word

00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:46.200
 of God proves true,

00:20:46.340 --> 00:20:47.080
 he asks God

00:20:47.080 --> 00:20:48.480
 to remove far from him

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.920
 falsehood and lying.

00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.500
 He wants to tell

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.519
 the whole truth

00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.340
 of God's word

00:20:53.340 --> 00:20:54.100
 and nothing

00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:55.180
 but the truth.

00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:56.519
 He wants to be

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:57.820
 a pure conduit

00:20:57.820 --> 00:20:58.779
 of God's word

00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.779
 without adding

00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:00.680
 or subtracting

00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:01.480
 from it

00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:03.059
 because he doesn't

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.839
 want to be rebuked

00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.759
 and be found a liar.

00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.819
 And then second,

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:08.359
 he prays for moderation.

00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:10.500
 Give me neither poverty

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.099
 nor riches.

00:21:11.879 --> 00:21:12.759
 Feed me with the food

00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.960
 that is needful for me.

00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:15.879
 And he gives the reason

00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.480
 for that prayer

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.099
 in verse 9,

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.559
 Lest I be full

00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.379
 and deny you

00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:21.200
 or lest I be poor

00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.839
 and steal

00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.720
 and profane

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.579
 the name of my God.

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:26.339
 it's possible

00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:27.199
 for us

00:21:27.199 --> 00:21:29.059
 to romanticize poverty

00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:32.039
 out of a false humility

00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:33.619
 and spiritual bravado.

00:21:36.299 --> 00:21:37.619
 God, make me poor.

00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:39.519
 Send me to the hardest

00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.379
 parts of the world

00:21:40.379 --> 00:21:41.879
 so I can be more

00:21:41.879 --> 00:21:43.039
 sold out for you.

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:49.200
 And it's possible

00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:51.440
 to idolize wealth

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:53.359
 out of a hidden worldliness

00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:54.500
 saying,

00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.700
 God, make me rich

00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:57.720
 so I can do more for you.

00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:59.539
 So I can donate millions

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.119
 of dollars

00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:01.099
 toward kingdom causes.

00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.980
 So that I can do

00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:05.960
 bigger things for you.

00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:10.500
 Both of these extremes

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:12.059
 reveal a level

00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:13.680
 of self-centered pride.

00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:17.099
 If poverty

00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:17.839
 and suffering

00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.440
 are the lot

00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.380
 that God intends

00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:19.920
 for us,

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:21.240
 then they will come

00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:23.200
 and God will sustain

00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.900
 us through them.

00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.319
 But there's no need

00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:26.460
 for us to seek

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:27.119
 them out

00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:28.240
 because it will

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.099
 tempt us

00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:30.059
 to steal

00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.880
 and profane

00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:31.720
 the name of God.

00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:34.980
 Similarly,

00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:35.980
 if prosperity

00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:36.900
 is the lot

00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:37.619
 that God has

00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:38.180
 for us,

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.579
 then wealth

00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:40.299
 will come.

00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:42.700
 without us

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.240
 desiring

00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:43.960
 to be rich.

00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:46.119
 In fact,

00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:46.660
 we shouldn't

00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.539
 desire to be rich

00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:50.019
 lest we be full

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:52.940
 and deny God.

00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:55.599
 It's similar

00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.319
 to the Lord's prayer,

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:56.700
 isn't it?

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.960
 Jesus doesn't teach us

00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.539
 to pray

00:22:58.539 --> 00:23:00.400
 lead us

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.339
 into the severest

00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.099
 temptations

00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:02.819
 so that we might

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.799
 triumph over them.

00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.819
 Jesus teaches us

00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:07.279
 to pray

00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:08.359
 lead us

00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:08.940
 not

00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.960
 into temptation.

00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:14.319
 Agar's prayer

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.079
 is a humble

00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.700
 prayer that

00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:16.400
 doesn't

00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:17.539
 overestimate

00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:19.039
 his own

00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.859
 willpower,

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:21.059
 his own

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:22.119
 ability to be

00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:22.960
 faithful to God.

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.759
 He would

00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.720
 rather not be

00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:26.160
 tempted

00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:27.839
 lest he fail

00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:28.940
 and bring

00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.940
 dishonor to God.

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.440
 He doesn't

00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:32.279
 seek the glory

00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:33.299
 of being a man

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:33.880
 who is faithful

00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:34.299
 to God

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:34.940
 under the most

00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:36.000
 difficult circumstances.

00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:37.279
 He doesn't

00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.619
 seek the glory

00:23:38.619 --> 00:23:39.099
 of riches

00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:39.879
 and the respect

00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.639
 and admiration

00:23:40.639 --> 00:23:41.559
 that that brings.

00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:42.939
 He simply

00:23:42.939 --> 00:23:44.119
 seeks the glory

00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:45.099
 of God.

00:23:47.939 --> 00:23:48.459
 God,

00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:48.979
 I just want

00:23:48.979 --> 00:23:49.559
 to be faithful

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:49.959
 to you.

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.359
 I don't need

00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:53.000
 to do anything

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.459
 big.

00:23:55.459 --> 00:23:56.359
 I just want

00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:56.899
 to make sure

00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:57.699
 I don't

00:23:57.699 --> 00:23:58.799
 dishonor you

00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:00.119
 in any aspect

00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:00.679
 of my life.

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.439
 I just want

00:24:01.439 --> 00:24:02.139
 to be faithful

00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:02.579
 to you,

00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:02.799
 Lord.

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.799
 That's

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.500
 Agar's

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.159
 humble prayer.

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.440
 A life

00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.059
 of moderation,

00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.180
 a life

00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:11.279
 of contentment,

00:24:11.879 --> 00:24:12.379
 a life

00:24:12.379 --> 00:24:13.579
 lived within

00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.659
 God-given

00:24:14.659 --> 00:24:15.319
 boundaries.

00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.740
 He's not

00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.419
 interested in

00:24:22.419 --> 00:24:22.779
 being

00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.960
 extraordinary,

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:26.359
 just a

00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:26.759
 faithful,

00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:27.579
 ordinary

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.159
 follower of

00:24:28.159 --> 00:24:28.399
 God.

00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:31.119
 Christian author

00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:31.839
 Michael Horton

00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.639
 puts it this

00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:33.059
 way in his

00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:34.559
 book that's

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.000
 entitled

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.779
 Ordinary,

00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.659
 Sustainable

00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:38.879
 Faith in a

00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:39.439
 Radical,

00:24:39.979 --> 00:24:40.419
 Restless

00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:40.819
 World.

00:24:42.379 --> 00:24:42.719
 Quote,

00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:43.859
 Facing

00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:44.899
 another day

00:24:44.899 --> 00:24:46.539
 with ordinary

00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.739
 callings to

00:24:47.739 --> 00:24:48.859
 ordinary people

00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:50.000
 all around us

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:51.059
 is much

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:52.159
 more difficult

00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:53.279
 than chasing

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:54.379
 my own dreams

00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:54.819
 that I have

00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.459
 envisioned for

00:24:55.459 --> 00:24:55.939
 the grand

00:24:55.939 --> 00:24:56.619
 story of my

00:24:56.619 --> 00:24:56.939
 life.

00:24:58.239 --> 00:24:59.039
 Sometimes,

00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:00.179
 chasing your

00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:01.019
 dreams can be

00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:02.139
 easier than

00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:02.940
 just being

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.720
 who we are,

00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:04.740
 where God

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.379
 has placed

00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:06.160
 you with

00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.759
 the gifts

00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.440
 he has

00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:07.980
 given to

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.279
 you.

00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:11.680
 Though

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.980
 agar uses

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.720
 food as

00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:14.019
 the main

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.579
 category,

00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:15.720
 it stands

00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.220
 in general

00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:16.779
 for all

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.660
 the circumstances

00:25:17.660 --> 00:25:18.119
 in our

00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:18.559
 lives.

00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.279
 We can

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:20.839
 apply this

00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:21.420
 across the

00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:21.619
 board.

00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:22.019
 God,

00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:22.619
 give me

00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:23.220
 not too

00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:24.079
 much power

00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:24.920
 lest I

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.579
 abuse it

00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.279
 and dishonor

00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:26.559
 you,

00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:27.879
 nor give me

00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:28.460
 so little

00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.259
 lest I be

00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.879
 abused by

00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:30.400
 others and

00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:31.140
 despise you.

00:25:32.600 --> 00:25:33.100
 God,

00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:33.580
 make me

00:25:33.580 --> 00:25:34.080
 not so

00:25:34.080 --> 00:25:34.780
 successful

00:25:34.780 --> 00:25:35.220
 that I

00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.000
 forget you,

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:36.920
 nor make

00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:37.340
 me such

00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:37.880
 a failure

00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:38.320
 that I

00:25:38.320 --> 00:25:38.900
 blame you.

00:25:40.060 --> 00:25:40.520
 We are

00:25:40.520 --> 00:25:41.020
 to seek

00:25:41.020 --> 00:25:41.880
 contentment

00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:43.260
 and moderation

00:25:43.260 --> 00:25:43.840
 in our

00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:44.340
 lives for

00:25:44.340 --> 00:25:44.800
 the sake

00:25:44.800 --> 00:25:45.580
 of God's

00:25:45.580 --> 00:25:46.040
 glory,

00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:47.960
 and not

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:48.600
 to satisfy

00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:49.080
 our ego.

00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:49.220
 love.

00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:53.839
 After

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.319
 exhorting

00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:54.619
 us to

00:25:54.619 --> 00:25:55.319
 live within

00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:56.119
 the God-given

00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:56.619
 boundaries,

00:25:56.939 --> 00:25:57.359
 scripture

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:58.179
 agar teaches

00:25:58.179 --> 00:25:58.899
 us to

00:25:58.899 --> 00:25:59.519
 live humbly

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.099
 within the

00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:00.480
 God-given

00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.099
 boundaries in

00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:01.899
 society as

00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:02.299
 well in

00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:02.799
 verses 10

00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.359
 to 33.

00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.419
 Using

00:26:05.419 --> 00:26:05.839
 various

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.559
 examples from

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:06.980
 nature,

00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:08.259
 he warns

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.119
 us not to

00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:10.019
 transgress

00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:11.359
 God-instituted

00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:12.000
 boundaries in

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.519
 society.

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.339
 First,

00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:15.279
 he addresses

00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:17.980
 insolent

00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:19.099
 people of

00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:20.160
 verses 10

00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.700
 to 14.

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.220
 So,

00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:22.759
 verse 10

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.119
 has in

00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:23.539
 view someone

00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.000
 who seeks

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.779
 to subvert

00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:26.000
 the employer-employee

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.539
 relation.

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.000
 Do not

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.639
 slander a

00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:29.079
 servant to

00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:29.559
 his master,

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.039
 lest he

00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:30.619
 curse you

00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:30.819
 and you

00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:31.160
 be held

00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:31.599
 guilty.

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.339
 The servant's

00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:34.519
 livelihood depends

00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.180
 on the

00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:35.940
 pleasure of

00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.619
 his master.

00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:37.460
 So,

00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.119
 to spread

00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:38.579
 malicious

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:39.420
 lies about

00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:40.079
 the servant,

00:26:40.619 --> 00:26:41.259
 particularly to

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.920
 his master,

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:44.339
 is a grave

00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:45.119
 violation of

00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:45.899
 societal order.

00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:47.539
 And if the

00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.519
 aggrieved servant

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.519
 then curses

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.019
 you because

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.519
 he has no

00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.199
 other resort,

00:26:51.919 --> 00:26:52.419
 then God

00:26:52.419 --> 00:26:53.059
 will uphold

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.119
 his well-based

00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:55.899
 curse and

00:26:55.899 --> 00:26:56.359
 hold you

00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:56.799
 accountable.

00:26:58.359 --> 00:26:59.199
 This verse

00:26:59.199 --> 00:26:59.859
 that introduces

00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:01.039
 11 to 14,

00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:01.500
 which are

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.359
 united by the

00:27:02.359 --> 00:27:03.159
 initial phrase,

00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:03.799
 there are

00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:04.259
 those.

00:27:04.939 --> 00:27:05.479
 Verse 11

00:27:05.479 --> 00:27:05.839
 has in

00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:06.159
 view the

00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:06.899
 family order.

00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.279
 There are

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:07.779
 those who

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.219
 curse their

00:27:08.219 --> 00:27:08.639
 fathers and

00:27:08.639 --> 00:27:08.879
 do not

00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.379
 bless their

00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:09.799
 mothers.

00:27:10.459 --> 00:27:10.799
 Children

00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.239
 ought to

00:27:11.239 --> 00:27:11.919
 bless their

00:27:11.919 --> 00:27:12.439
 fathers and

00:27:12.439 --> 00:27:13.000
 mothers who

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:14.639
 gave birth to

00:27:14.639 --> 00:27:14.899
 them.

00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:15.679
 And to

00:27:15.679 --> 00:27:16.199
 rear them

00:27:16.199 --> 00:27:17.939
 and to

00:27:17.939 --> 00:27:18.599
 curse them

00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:19.559
 instead is a

00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.959
 grave transgression

00:27:20.959 --> 00:27:21.619
 of societal

00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:22.039
 order.

00:27:24.239 --> 00:27:24.919
 And then

00:27:24.919 --> 00:27:25.699
 verses 12 to

00:27:25.699 --> 00:27:26.379
 13 get

00:27:26.379 --> 00:27:27.479
 underneath these

00:27:27.479 --> 00:27:28.359
 transgressors'

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.059
 behavior to

00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:29.459
 their hard

00:27:29.459 --> 00:27:29.919
 attitude.

00:27:30.679 --> 00:27:31.000
 It says,

00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:31.319
 there are

00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:31.859
 those who

00:27:31.859 --> 00:27:32.419
 are clean

00:27:32.419 --> 00:27:32.719
 in their

00:27:32.719 --> 00:27:33.479
 own eyes but

00:27:33.479 --> 00:27:33.859
 are not

00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:34.359
 washed of

00:27:34.359 --> 00:27:35.000
 their filth.

00:27:35.379 --> 00:27:35.799
 There are

00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:36.119
 those,

00:27:36.199 --> 00:27:36.879
 how lofty

00:27:36.879 --> 00:27:37.179
 are their

00:27:37.179 --> 00:27:37.439
 eyes,

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.039
 how high

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.659
 their eyelids

00:27:38.659 --> 00:27:39.099
 lift.

00:27:40.159 --> 00:27:40.599
 They are

00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:41.319
 insolent.

00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:42.559
 Their eyes

00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.279
 are full of

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:43.879
 filth,

00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:44.360
 literally

00:27:44.360 --> 00:27:45.420
 excrements.

00:27:46.040 --> 00:27:46.340
 And yet

00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:46.980
 instead of

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.900
 lowering their

00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:48.460
 eyes in

00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.020
 shame,

00:27:49.520 --> 00:27:50.240
 in humiliation,

00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.120
 in repentance,

00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:52.440
 their eyes

00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:53.120
 are haughty.

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.260
 They lift

00:27:54.260 --> 00:27:54.980
 high their

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.400
 eyelids.

00:27:56.280 --> 00:27:56.580
 They have

00:27:56.580 --> 00:27:57.200
 too high a

00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:57.480
 view of

00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:57.860
 themselves.

00:27:59.140 --> 00:27:59.840
 They exalt

00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:00.820
 themselves over

00:28:00.820 --> 00:28:01.740
 and above the

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.220
 commands of

00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:02.460
 God.

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:04.220
 And precisely

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:04.920
 because they

00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.920
 think that they

00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:06.620
 are better than

00:28:06.620 --> 00:28:07.560
 others, they

00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:08.320
 use other

00:28:08.320 --> 00:28:08.800
 people for

00:28:08.800 --> 00:28:09.460
 selfish gain.

00:28:10.280 --> 00:28:10.900
 Verse 14

00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.520
 tells us that

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.000
 there are

00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.740
 those whose

00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.400
 teeth are

00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.619
 swords, whose

00:28:14.619 --> 00:28:15.259
 fangs are

00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:15.819
 knives to

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.400
 devour the

00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:16.940
 poor from

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.339
 off the

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.180
 earth, the

00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:18.779
 needy from

00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:19.740
 among mankind.

00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:22.519
 They exploit

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.879
 the needy and

00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:24.720
 rob them of

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.319
 what little

00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.879
 they had so

00:28:26.879 --> 00:28:27.220
 that they are

00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:27.980
 wiped off the

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.240
 earth.

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.920
 Instead of

00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:30.839
 being compassionate

00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:31.420
 toward the

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.200
 poor, generous

00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:32.839
 toward the

00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:34.500
 most needy

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:34.920
 members of

00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:35.940
 society, these

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.720
 insolent people

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.639
 impoverish the

00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:38.500
 poor further to

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.400
 enrich themselves.

00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:40.720
 And these

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.120
 are all

00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:41.960
 examples of

00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:42.740
 the insolent

00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.860
 who transgress

00:28:43.860 --> 00:28:44.420
 God-given

00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:45.000
 boundaries in

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:45.500
 society.

00:28:46.540 --> 00:28:47.460
 Instead, we

00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:47.860
 are to live

00:28:47.860 --> 00:28:48.820
 humbly within

00:28:48.820 --> 00:28:49.720
 those boundaries.

00:28:51.280 --> 00:28:51.759
 Dan Agar

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.360
 warns us about

00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:53.240
 the insatiable

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.300
 things, the

00:28:54.300 --> 00:28:55.320
 insatiable people

00:28:55.320 --> 00:28:56.240
 in verses 15

00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:56.840
 to 17.

00:28:57.580 --> 00:28:58.259
 Verse 15

00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:58.800
 begins with

00:28:58.800 --> 00:28:59.259
 an example

00:28:59.259 --> 00:28:59.880
 from nature.

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.560
 The leech

00:29:00.560 --> 00:29:01.440
 has two

00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:02.740
 daughters, give

00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.660
 and give.

00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:05.440
 The leech, as

00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.100
 you know, is a

00:29:06.100 --> 00:29:07.140
 parasitic worm

00:29:07.140 --> 00:29:08.380
 that has two

00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.300
 sucking organs.

00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.120
 It uses one

00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:10.780
 to attach

00:29:10.780 --> 00:29:11.660
 itself securely

00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:12.240
 to its host.

00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:13.120
 It uses the

00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:13.940
 other to suck

00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.540
 blood.

00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:16.600
 It's like the

00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:17.380
 definition of a

00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:17.720
 parasite.

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.680
 And the

00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:21.340
 leech has two

00:29:21.340 --> 00:29:22.960
 daughters and

00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:23.720
 an identical

00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.540
 twin, give

00:29:24.540 --> 00:29:25.420
 and give.

00:29:25.800 --> 00:29:26.620
 It's an apt

00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:28.200
 illustration of

00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:30.040
 greedy, insatiable

00:29:30.040 --> 00:29:30.420
 people.

00:29:31.380 --> 00:29:32.280
 They are never

00:29:32.280 --> 00:29:32.940
 satisfied.

00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:34.960
 They keep

00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.759
 saying give

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.240
 and give.

00:29:36.320 --> 00:29:36.780
 They keep

00:29:36.780 --> 00:29:37.980
 sucking other

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:39.200
 people's resources

00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:40.700
 stealing from

00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.440
 others, taking

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.259
 advantage of

00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:42.720
 others.

00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:44.660
 They live in a

00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:46.180
 parasitic lifestyle.

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:47.740
 Instead of adding

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.860
 value to society,

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:50.120
 they suck life and

00:29:50.120 --> 00:29:51.279
 value out of it

00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:53.039
 and drain others'

00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:53.660
 resources.

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:56.400
 These two are

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.120
 examples of people

00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:58.259
 who are transgressing

00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:59.120
 God-given boundaries

00:29:59.120 --> 00:29:59.779
 in society.

00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:03.359
 this class of people

00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:03.859
 are further

00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:04.500
 illustrated in

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.220
 verses 15 to

00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:05.680
 16.

00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:07.139
 Three things are

00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:08.039
 never satisfied,

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.220
 four never say

00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:09.619
 enough.

00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:12.339
 The use of

00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:13.259
 ascending numbers

00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.559
 going from the

00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:15.279
 leech who has two

00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.079
 daughters to the

00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:17.019
 three things that

00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.759
 are never satisfied

00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.519
 and to the four

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.059
 that never say

00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:20.000
 enough is a

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.759
 poetic device.

00:30:20.899 --> 00:30:21.440
 It's a rhetorical

00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:22.440
 device that seeks to

00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.859
 escalate, kind of

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:25.480
 raise the stakes in

00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.920
 order to emphasize a

00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:28.240
 point that these

00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:29.460
 things really are

00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.940
 never satisfied.

00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:33.000
 And what are those

00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:33.700
 four things?

00:30:33.860 --> 00:30:35.259
 Sheol, the barren

00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.360
 womb, the land

00:30:36.360 --> 00:30:37.259
 that never satisfied,

00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:37.860
 there's never

00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:38.640
 satisfied with water,

00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:39.779
 and the fire that

00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:40.700
 never says enough.

00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.600
 The Sheol, the

00:30:42.600 --> 00:30:43.500
 realm of the dead,

00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:45.440
 is never satisfied

00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:46.539
 even though

00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:49.259
 approximately 150,000

00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:50.960
 people die in the

00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:52.560
 world every single

00:30:52.560 --> 00:30:53.080
 day.

00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:57.439
 The barren womb

00:30:57.439 --> 00:30:58.659
 is never satisfied.

00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:00.839
 It never produces

00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:02.480
 offspring no matter

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.899
 how much seed it

00:31:03.899 --> 00:31:04.419
 takes in.

00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:08.819
 The land that must

00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:10.099
 continually drink more

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:12.379
 water is never

00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:13.460
 satisfied.

00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:16.639
 Unless it's

00:31:16.639 --> 00:31:17.500
 continually given

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.379
 water, it will not

00:31:18.379 --> 00:31:19.179
 produce crops.

00:31:20.419 --> 00:31:22.000
 And finally, fire that

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.220
 spreads and consumes

00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:24.220
 everything in its

00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:26.420
 path never says

00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:26.859
 enough.

00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:28.960
 These vivid

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:30.099
 illustrations all serve

00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:31.359
 to warn us against

00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:32.920
 greedy, insatiable

00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.319
 people.

00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:34.700
 Greedy people

00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:35.859
 transgress God-given

00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:36.880
 boundaries in society

00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:37.980
 because their appetites

00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:38.880
 are never satisfied.

00:31:39.880 --> 00:31:40.619
 If you are driven

00:31:40.619 --> 00:31:42.359
 by lust, don't

00:31:42.359 --> 00:31:43.339
 delude yourself into

00:31:43.339 --> 00:31:44.519
 thinking that looking

00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.839
 at one more picture,

00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.559
 watching one more

00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.319
 video clip,

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.740
 visiting the brothel

00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.640
 one more time,

00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.960
 or having an

00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:53.259
 affair one more

00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:54.560
 time will satisfy.

00:31:55.080 --> 00:31:56.280
 It will never

00:31:56.280 --> 00:31:57.259
 satisfy.

00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:00.340
 If you are driven

00:32:00.340 --> 00:32:01.220
 by a gluttonous

00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:02.160
 appetite, don't

00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:03.000
 delude yourself into

00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:03.700
 thinking that eating

00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:04.740
 one more cookie,

00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:06.240
 or drinking one

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.480
 more pint of beer,

00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:08.900
 taking one more

00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:10.000
 puff of marijuana,

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.740
 or eating one more

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:13.360
 piece of meat will

00:32:13.360 --> 00:32:14.840
 satisfy you because it

00:32:14.840 --> 00:32:16.900
 will never satisfy

00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:17.540
 your appetite.

00:32:17.539 --> 00:32:19.980
 if you are driven

00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:21.039
 by a desire for

00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:22.059
 fame and esteem,

00:32:22.139 --> 00:32:22.960
 don't delude yourself

00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.700
 into thinking that

00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.759
 one more like,

00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:26.440
 or one more retweet,

00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:27.720
 or one more viral

00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:29.519
 video will satisfy

00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:29.759
 you.

00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:30.859
 It will never

00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:32.319
 satisfy you.

00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:34.819
 If you are driven

00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:36.099
 by a worldly pursuit

00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:37.119
 of outward beauty,

00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.440
 don't think getting

00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:39.200
 a little more

00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:40.039
 jewelry, a little

00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:40.940
 more clothes,

00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.399
 losing a few more

00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:44.220
 pounds will satisfy

00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:45.299
 you because it will

00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:47.359
 never satisfy you.

00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:49.799
 If you are driven

00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:51.099
 by greed, don't

00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:52.039
 think that a little

00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:53.480
 more money will

00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.220
 satisfy you.

00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.639
 It will never

00:32:55.639 --> 00:32:57.079
 satisfy you.

00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.539
 This is the very

00:32:58.539 --> 00:33:00.379
 nature of lust,

00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:02.819
 very nature of greed.

00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:04.859
 These things are

00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:06.180
 never satisfied.

00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:09.720
 Instead, we should

00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.899
 be content and live

00:33:10.899 --> 00:33:12.039
 humbly within our

00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:12.899
 God-given boundaries.

00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:15.440
 But there's something

00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:16.420
 else that these verses

00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:17.200
 are saying also.

00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:18.059
 Notice that the

00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:19.580
 illustrations complement

00:33:19.580 --> 00:33:20.140
 each other.

00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.799
 Shield, the realm

00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.360
 of the dead,

00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:24.200
 contrasted with the

00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:27.220
 womb, incubator of

00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:27.600
 life.

00:33:28.620 --> 00:33:29.380
 Land that needs

00:33:29.380 --> 00:33:30.779
 water, contrasted

00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:31.640
 with fire.

00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:34.039
 This adds another

00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:34.940
 layer of poetic

00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:35.420
 meaning.

00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:36.720
 Agar seems to be

00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:37.700
 suggesting that the

00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:39.840
 cycle of life, the

00:33:39.840 --> 00:33:41.400
 push and pull of

00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:43.740
 life, life and death,

00:33:44.120 --> 00:33:45.319
 rains and fires,

00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:47.220
 will continue as long

00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:48.480
 as we live.

00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:50.659
 It is no use trying

00:33:50.659 --> 00:33:51.579
 to escape this

00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:52.000
 reality.

00:33:52.139 --> 00:33:52.879
 Instead, we should

00:33:52.879 --> 00:33:54.220
 humbly learn to live

00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:55.740
 with whatever lot

00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:57.059
 God gives us.

00:33:57.059 --> 00:34:01.980
 after these illustrations,

00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:03.500
 verse 17, which

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:05.299
 matches verse 11,

00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.500
 caps off the

00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:07.240
 subsection and

00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:08.000
 brings together the

00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:08.840
 insulin and the

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.900
 insatiable in one

00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:10.299
 proverb.

00:34:11.779 --> 00:34:13.500
 The eye that mocks a

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.559
 father and scorns to

00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:15.920
 obey a mother will be

00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:16.779
 picked out by the

00:34:16.779 --> 00:34:17.900
 ravens of the valley and

00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:19.019
 eaten by the vultures.

00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:20.900
 The haughty eye,

00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:22.019
 right, mentioned earlier

00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:23.519
 in verses 12 and 13,

00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:24.779
 occur again here in

00:34:24.780 --> 00:34:25.440
 verse 17.

00:34:26.100 --> 00:34:26.700
 Those who are

00:34:26.700 --> 00:34:28.040
 insolent and transgressed

00:34:28.040 --> 00:34:29.260
 societal order will be

00:34:29.260 --> 00:34:30.660
 picked off by the

00:34:30.660 --> 00:34:31.700
 insatiable people,

00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:33.200
 represented by the

00:34:33.200 --> 00:34:34.320
 ravens and vultures,

00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.140
 which are both

00:34:35.140 --> 00:34:36.960
 scavenging birds and

00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.920
 therefore apt pictures

00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.680
 of the greedy,

00:34:39.260 --> 00:34:40.060
 parasitic people.

00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:44.360
 And then in verses

00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:46.000
 18 to 20, Agar turns

00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:46.920
 his attention to the

00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:48.440
 incomprehensible things.

00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:50.680
 He says in verses 18

00:34:50.680 --> 00:34:52.240
 to 19, three things are

00:34:52.240 --> 00:34:53.740
 too wonderful for me.

00:34:53.739 --> 00:34:55.139
 For I do not

00:34:55.139 --> 00:34:57.139
 understand the way of

00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:58.339
 an eagle in the sky,

00:34:58.459 --> 00:34:59.339
 the way of a serpent

00:34:59.339 --> 00:35:00.859
 on a rock, the way of

00:35:00.859 --> 00:35:02.000
 a ship on the high

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:03.259
 seas, and the way of a

00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:04.259
 man with a virgin.

00:35:05.399 --> 00:35:06.979
 The way an eagle, the

00:35:06.979 --> 00:35:08.959
 heaviest bird found in

00:35:08.959 --> 00:35:10.199
 Israel, the way it

00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:11.979
 defies gravity and

00:35:11.979 --> 00:35:13.619
 flies with its majestic

00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:15.139
 seven-feet wingspan,

00:35:16.139 --> 00:35:17.559
 soaring effortlessly in

00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:18.079
 the sky.

00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:21.500
 The way a serpent,

00:35:21.939 --> 00:35:23.079
 the way it has no hands

00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:24.119
 or feet to grab hold

00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:25.480
 of anything, glides

00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:26.779
 smoothly and climbs

00:35:26.779 --> 00:35:27.840
 steep rocks.

00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:29.779
 The way a ship,

00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.920
 floating on the high

00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:32.559
 seas, undulates with

00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:34.239
 the rising tide, rising

00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:35.099
 and falling with the

00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:36.880
 waves, without capsizing.

00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:39.400
 The way a man moves

00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:40.619
 in concert with the

00:35:40.619 --> 00:35:41.779
 virgin during intercourse.

00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:43.960
 These four things,

00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:45.599
 Agar says, are beyond

00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:46.420
 his comprehension.

00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:48.679
 There's something so

00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:50.579
 graceful and breathtaking

00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:52.440
 about these things found

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.079
 in nature.

00:35:55.319 --> 00:35:56.980
 The way they move in

00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:58.159
 accordance with God's

00:35:58.859 --> 00:36:00.059
 order in creation.

00:36:01.839 --> 00:36:03.000
 But all of these

00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:04.079
 wonderful examples serve

00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:05.440
 to highlight this jarring

00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:07.019
 contrast in verse 20.

00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:09.859
 This is the way of an

00:36:09.859 --> 00:36:10.659
 adulteress.

00:36:11.219 --> 00:36:12.579
 She eats and wipes her

00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:13.659
 mouth and says, I have

00:36:13.659 --> 00:36:14.759
 done no wrong.

00:36:14.760 --> 00:36:17.100
 The word way, which

00:36:17.100 --> 00:36:18.420
 was repeated four times

00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:19.480
 in verse 19, is

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:20.400
 repeated here again

00:36:20.400 --> 00:36:21.080
 in verse 20.

00:36:21.520 --> 00:36:23.160
 But this way is not

00:36:23.160 --> 00:36:25.120
 the beautiful, graceful

00:36:25.120 --> 00:36:26.400
 way that's in

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:27.500
 accordance with God's

00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:28.180
 created order.

00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:29.260
 Rather, it's the

00:36:29.260 --> 00:36:30.980
 forbidden, twisted

00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:31.360
 way.

00:36:32.980 --> 00:36:34.680
 The virgin symbol of

00:36:34.680 --> 00:36:35.400
 sexual purity is

00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:36.180
 contrasted with the

00:36:36.180 --> 00:36:36.820
 adulteress.

00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:38.880
 Instead of following

00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:39.940
 the God-ordained

00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:41.120
 ways of nature,

00:36:41.260 --> 00:36:42.140
 instead of keeping

00:36:42.140 --> 00:36:43.380
 within the God-given

00:36:43.380 --> 00:36:44.740
 boundaries, the

00:36:44.739 --> 00:36:46.259
 adulteress transgresses

00:36:46.259 --> 00:36:47.439
 these boundaries and

00:36:47.439 --> 00:36:48.979
 subverts the God-ordained

00:36:48.979 --> 00:36:49.500
 way.

00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:52.279
 She, along with the

00:36:52.279 --> 00:36:53.079
 man who is foolish

00:36:53.079 --> 00:36:53.979
 enough to sleep with

00:36:53.979 --> 00:36:55.959
 her, do violence to

00:36:55.959 --> 00:36:57.199
 the social order,

00:36:57.739 --> 00:36:58.779
 destroying marriages,

00:36:59.759 --> 00:37:01.599
 families, societies.

00:37:02.939 --> 00:37:04.099
 And yet, afterward,

00:37:04.259 --> 00:37:05.519
 the adulteress eats and

00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:06.319
 wipes her mouth.

00:37:07.099 --> 00:37:08.479
 It's no big deal to her,

00:37:08.479 --> 00:37:10.339
 just like eating food.

00:37:11.279 --> 00:37:12.279
 Eats and wipes her

00:37:12.279 --> 00:37:13.199
 mouth and says, I've

00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:13.799
 done no wrong.

00:37:14.739 --> 00:37:15.959
 It was consensual.

00:37:16.359 --> 00:37:17.239
 What's wrong with that?

00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:19.259
 It's not my fault that

00:37:19.259 --> 00:37:20.259
 his wife doesn't

00:37:20.259 --> 00:37:21.079
 satisfy him.

00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:22.859
 The adulteress has a

00:37:22.859 --> 00:37:24.399
 seared conscience and

00:37:24.399 --> 00:37:25.459
 does not take ownership

00:37:25.459 --> 00:37:27.119
 of the grave harm that

00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:27.879
 she has done.

00:37:28.539 --> 00:37:30.099
 Instead of straying it

00:37:30.099 --> 00:37:31.959
 from the ways of the

00:37:31.959 --> 00:37:33.039
 ordained ways of God,

00:37:33.299 --> 00:37:34.339
 like this adulteress,

00:37:35.239 --> 00:37:36.279
 Agar calls us to live

00:37:36.279 --> 00:37:37.659
 humbly within our God-given

00:37:37.659 --> 00:37:38.079
 boundaries.

00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:42.099
 And then in verses 21 to

00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:43.480
 23, Agar turns to the

00:37:43.480 --> 00:37:44.559
 intolerable things.

00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:47.039
 Three topsy-turvy social

00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:48.039
 situations that are

00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:48.679
 intolerable.

00:37:49.239 --> 00:37:50.440
 Under three things the

00:37:50.440 --> 00:37:51.519
 earth trembles.

00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:53.179
 Under four it cannot bear

00:37:53.179 --> 00:37:53.440
 up.

00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:54.960
 A slave when he becomes

00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:56.360
 king and a fool when he

00:37:56.360 --> 00:37:57.360
 is filled with food.

00:37:57.779 --> 00:37:59.239
 An unloved woman when she

00:37:59.239 --> 00:38:00.319
 gets a husband and a

00:38:00.319 --> 00:38:01.099
 maidservant when she

00:38:01.099 --> 00:38:02.380
 displaces her mistress.

00:38:02.380 --> 00:38:07.940
 So when a person who

00:38:07.940 --> 00:38:08.660
 does not have the

00:38:08.660 --> 00:38:10.440
 character nor the

00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:11.460
 competence to rule

00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:13.019
 takes the throne, he

00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:14.900
 becomes intoxicated by

00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:16.220
 newfound privilege and

00:38:16.220 --> 00:38:17.280
 power and becomes

00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:18.000
 overbearing.

00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:19.820
 He abuses his power,

00:38:19.980 --> 00:38:20.920
 perverts justice.

00:38:21.900 --> 00:38:23.059
 His rule becomes erratic

00:38:23.059 --> 00:38:23.980
 and uncontrollable.

00:38:25.140 --> 00:38:26.360
 That's what is in view

00:38:26.360 --> 00:38:26.619
 here.

00:38:26.820 --> 00:38:28.039
 A servant that doesn't

00:38:28.039 --> 00:38:29.480
 deserve to rule becoming

00:38:29.480 --> 00:38:29.960
 king.

00:38:30.760 --> 00:38:32.360
 Similarly, when a fool who

00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:34.200
 should go hungry is

00:38:34.200 --> 00:38:36.039
 instead satisfied, bloated

00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:36.700
 with food.

00:38:37.240 --> 00:38:38.820
 When an unloved or

00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:41.160
 better, a hated, unlovable

00:38:41.160 --> 00:38:42.740
 woman gets a husband.

00:38:43.400 --> 00:38:44.640
 When a maidservant

00:38:44.640 --> 00:38:46.099
 displaces her mistress.

00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:48.720
 From their places of

00:38:48.720 --> 00:38:50.960
 undeserved privilege, they

00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:52.740
 broadcast their folly further

00:38:52.740 --> 00:38:54.460
 and magnify their harmful

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:56.059
 effect on society.

00:38:57.019 --> 00:38:58.720
 When those who transgress

00:38:58.720 --> 00:38:59.960
 God-given boundaries in

00:38:59.960 --> 00:39:01.579
 society are rewarded with

00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:03.539
 a platform, with

00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:06.259
 privilege, with power, it

00:39:06.259 --> 00:39:07.679
 erodes the very foundation

00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:08.299
 of society.

00:39:10.619 --> 00:39:11.840
 And then next, in verses

00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:13.719
 24 to 28, Agar commends

00:39:13.719 --> 00:39:15.299
 the example of ingenious

00:39:15.299 --> 00:39:15.719
 creatures.

00:39:16.860 --> 00:39:18.400
 Four things on earth are

00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:19.279
 small, but they are

00:39:19.279 --> 00:39:20.360
 exceedingly wise.

00:39:21.139 --> 00:39:22.639
 The ants are a people not

00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:23.679
 strong, yet they provide

00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:24.579
 their food in the summer.

00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:26.360
 The rock badgers are a

00:39:26.360 --> 00:39:27.679
 people not mighty, yet they

00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:28.819
 make their homes in the

00:39:28.819 --> 00:39:29.119
 cliffs.

00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:31.460
 The locusts have no king,

00:39:31.559 --> 00:39:32.980
 yet all of them march in

00:39:32.980 --> 00:39:33.279
 rank.

00:39:33.799 --> 00:39:35.279
 The lizard you can take in

00:39:35.279 --> 00:39:36.579
 your hands, yet it is in

00:39:36.579 --> 00:39:37.799
 king's palaces.

00:39:38.799 --> 00:39:40.500
 Each of these animals have a

00:39:40.500 --> 00:39:42.900
 significant liability, and

00:39:42.900 --> 00:39:44.599
 yet they make up for it with

00:39:44.599 --> 00:39:47.019
 other admirable qualities.

00:39:47.019 --> 00:39:49.900
 First, the ants make up for their

00:39:49.900 --> 00:39:52.539
 weakness by their industry, by

00:39:52.539 --> 00:39:53.139
 their diligence.

00:39:54.219 --> 00:39:55.539
 They have foresight enough to

00:39:55.539 --> 00:39:57.019
 store up food during the

00:39:57.019 --> 00:39:58.239
 summer so that when there's

00:39:58.239 --> 00:39:59.380
 scarcity in the winter, they

00:39:59.380 --> 00:40:00.440
 have something they can eat.

00:40:01.480 --> 00:40:03.539
 Second, the rock badgers, this

00:40:03.539 --> 00:40:04.759
 is a reference to the rock

00:40:04.759 --> 00:40:07.019
 hyraxes, rodent-like mammals

00:40:07.019 --> 00:40:08.000
 that live in the Middle East.

00:40:08.099 --> 00:40:09.360
 They make their homes in the

00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:11.759
 cliffs, literally, and therefore

00:40:11.759 --> 00:40:12.860
 they're noted for their

00:40:12.860 --> 00:40:14.719
 attention to security.

00:40:14.719 --> 00:40:16.639
 Though they are weak and

00:40:16.639 --> 00:40:17.879
 incapable of protecting

00:40:17.879 --> 00:40:20.179
 themselves from predators, they

00:40:20.179 --> 00:40:21.679
 provide for their security by

00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:23.239
 essentially creating a fortress

00:40:23.239 --> 00:40:23.980
 for themselves.

00:40:25.239 --> 00:40:28.259
 Third, locusts model order and

00:40:28.259 --> 00:40:29.000
 unity.

00:40:29.699 --> 00:40:31.219
 Though they have no king to lead

00:40:31.219 --> 00:40:33.279
 them, they march in rank like a

00:40:33.279 --> 00:40:35.199
 well-disciplined army, and

00:40:35.199 --> 00:40:36.859
 because of that, they can wreak

00:40:36.859 --> 00:40:39.439
 havoc on farmlands, consume a

00:40:39.439 --> 00:40:41.079
 staggering amount of props at

00:40:41.079 --> 00:40:41.399
 once.

00:40:41.400 --> 00:40:45.079
 Fourth, the lizard, though it's not

00:40:45.079 --> 00:40:46.800
 particularly elusive, you can

00:40:46.800 --> 00:40:48.160
 take it in your hands, it's easy

00:40:48.160 --> 00:40:50.740
 to catch, yet it is in king's

00:40:50.740 --> 00:40:51.220
 palaces.

00:40:52.119 --> 00:40:53.420
 This is the only one that's not

00:40:53.420 --> 00:40:54.380
 really explained.

00:40:55.260 --> 00:40:56.680
 The lizard in view is what's

00:40:56.680 --> 00:40:58.440
 commonly known as the house

00:40:58.440 --> 00:41:00.900
 gecko or the moon lizard, because

00:41:00.900 --> 00:41:02.539
 it has the habit of coming out

00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:03.900
 under the moonlight.

00:41:04.860 --> 00:41:06.340
 And these geckos have no

00:41:06.340 --> 00:41:08.039
 particular strength except that

00:41:08.039 --> 00:41:10.800
 they are unobtrusive and

00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:11.700
 inconspicuous.

00:41:13.700 --> 00:41:15.120
 We might call this their

00:41:15.120 --> 00:41:15.900
 modesty.

00:41:17.160 --> 00:41:18.220
 They're only three to six

00:41:18.220 --> 00:41:20.500
 inches long, often live unseen

00:41:20.500 --> 00:41:22.140
 in small crevices of the house,

00:41:22.360 --> 00:41:23.960
 and they are benign to humans.

00:41:24.060 --> 00:41:25.360
 In fact, they could be very

00:41:25.360 --> 00:41:27.620
 beneficial because they prey on

00:41:27.620 --> 00:41:29.240
 insects that are often

00:41:29.240 --> 00:41:31.680
 destructive, like moths, spiders,

00:41:32.140 --> 00:41:34.820
 roaches, termites, and wasps,

00:41:35.320 --> 00:41:38.140
 which can at times be

00:41:38.140 --> 00:41:38.640
 destructive.

00:41:38.639 --> 00:41:42.239
 And because these animals, the

00:41:42.239 --> 00:41:43.699
 geckos, are unobtrusive and

00:41:43.699 --> 00:41:45.179
 inconspicuous, they're benign and

00:41:45.179 --> 00:41:48.039
 even beneficial, even kings are

00:41:48.039 --> 00:41:49.900
 content to let them inhabit their

00:41:49.900 --> 00:41:50.400
 palaces.

00:41:52.259 --> 00:41:53.699
 Though if they wanted to, they could

00:41:53.699 --> 00:41:54.500
 easily catch them.

00:41:55.940 --> 00:41:58.099
 This last example of the lizard seems

00:41:58.099 --> 00:42:00.460
 to be tied to the rest of the

00:42:00.460 --> 00:42:02.039
 chapter, which speaks of kings.

00:42:03.319 --> 00:42:05.719
 Verses 29 to 31 speak of proud

00:42:05.719 --> 00:42:07.059
 creatures who have indomitable

00:42:07.059 --> 00:42:07.659
 spirits.

00:42:08.759 --> 00:42:10.699
 They stand for stately kings.

00:42:11.339 --> 00:42:12.939
 Three things are stately in their

00:42:12.939 --> 00:42:13.339
 tread.

00:42:13.539 --> 00:42:15.259
 Four are stately in their stride.

00:42:15.319 --> 00:42:17.000
 The lion, which is mightiest among

00:42:17.000 --> 00:42:19.039
 beasts and does not turn back before

00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:19.439
 any.

00:42:19.779 --> 00:42:22.659
 The strutting rooster, the he-goat,

00:42:22.679 --> 00:42:24.239
 and a king whose army is with him.

00:42:25.079 --> 00:42:28.419
 These four invulnerable creatures are

00:42:28.419 --> 00:42:30.219
 contrasted with the four vulnerable

00:42:30.219 --> 00:42:32.739
 creatures of the preceding verses.

00:42:32.739 --> 00:42:36.279
 The lion, the strutting rooster, and

00:42:36.279 --> 00:42:38.559
 the he-goat cower before nobody.

00:42:39.299 --> 00:42:41.179
 And they represent the king who is

00:42:41.179 --> 00:42:42.819
 bold because he has his army with

00:42:42.819 --> 00:42:43.000
 him.

00:42:43.439 --> 00:42:45.639
 There's no use trying to overthrow or

00:42:45.639 --> 00:42:48.259
 scare that king because he will not

00:42:48.259 --> 00:42:49.279
 cower before you.

00:42:49.719 --> 00:42:50.899
 He will not back down.

00:42:52.399 --> 00:42:54.019
 These proverbs seem to caution us

00:42:54.019 --> 00:42:56.679
 against causing social upheaval, trying

00:42:56.679 --> 00:42:58.259
 to cause rebellion, treason.

00:42:58.260 --> 00:43:02.320
 The four weak creatures of verses 24

00:43:02.320 --> 00:43:04.680
 to 28 are contrasted with these four

00:43:04.680 --> 00:43:05.460
 mighty creatures.

00:43:06.500 --> 00:43:07.980
 And I think the weak creatures are

00:43:07.980 --> 00:43:10.020
 intended to represent the citizens of

00:43:10.020 --> 00:43:11.580
 the kingdom, unlike these strong

00:43:11.580 --> 00:43:12.980
 creatures who represent the kings.

00:43:14.640 --> 00:43:16.180
 I think this is confirmed by the

00:43:16.180 --> 00:43:18.240
 repetition of the word people in

00:43:18.240 --> 00:43:19.640
 verse 24 and 25.

00:43:20.060 --> 00:43:22.760
 The ants, the rock badgers, are each

00:43:22.760 --> 00:43:25.840
 personified as a people, which is the

00:43:25.840 --> 00:43:28.120
 same word that's translated sometimes as

00:43:28.119 --> 00:43:28.779
 nation.

00:43:29.859 --> 00:43:32.619
 The ants are a nation not strong.

00:43:33.079 --> 00:43:34.920
 The rock badgers are a nation not

00:43:34.920 --> 00:43:35.519
 mighty.

00:43:36.259 --> 00:43:38.380
 The regular old citizens of the kingdom

00:43:38.380 --> 00:43:40.940
 who are weak by the very virtue of

00:43:40.940 --> 00:43:44.139
 their station need to adapt for

00:43:44.139 --> 00:43:45.900
 survival in the kingdom by emulating

00:43:45.900 --> 00:43:47.099
 these weak creatures.

00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:50.099
 They need to learn the ants' industry

00:43:50.099 --> 00:43:52.059
 because they can't tax subjects like

00:43:52.059 --> 00:43:52.440
 the king.

00:43:53.299 --> 00:43:54.500
 They need to provide for their own

00:43:54.500 --> 00:43:54.859
 future.

00:43:55.579 --> 00:43:57.099
 They need to imitate the rock badgers'

00:43:57.099 --> 00:43:58.920
 attention to security because they lack

00:43:58.920 --> 00:44:00.480
 the king's military prowess.

00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:02.460
 They need to find other ways to secure

00:44:02.460 --> 00:44:03.699
 their families and properties.

00:44:04.259 --> 00:44:05.759
 If they want to thrive in this kingdom,

00:44:05.860 --> 00:44:07.779
 instead of provoking the king by

00:44:07.779 --> 00:44:10.440
 inciting anarchy, they should imitate

00:44:10.440 --> 00:44:13.139
 the unity of the locusts that march in

00:44:13.139 --> 00:44:14.639
 rank despite not having a king.

00:44:15.339 --> 00:44:17.079
 And lastly, they should emulate the

00:44:17.079 --> 00:44:19.679
 modesty of the lizard who gains access

00:44:19.679 --> 00:44:22.539
 to the palace not by being brash and

00:44:22.539 --> 00:44:25.900
 self-exalting but by being civil and

00:44:25.900 --> 00:44:26.639
 unobtrusive.

00:44:28.599 --> 00:44:30.559
 This interpretation is confirmed by

00:44:30.559 --> 00:44:32.980
 Agar's conclusion in verses 32 to 33

00:44:32.980 --> 00:44:34.599
 where he warns against being a

00:44:34.599 --> 00:44:35.779
 political opportunist.

00:44:36.480 --> 00:44:37.059
 It says,

00:44:37.199 --> 00:44:38.960
 If you have been foolish exalting

00:44:38.960 --> 00:44:40.880
 yourself or if you have been devising

00:44:40.880 --> 00:44:43.380
 evil, put your hand on your mouth for

00:44:43.380 --> 00:44:45.139
 pressing milk produces curds,

00:44:45.579 --> 00:44:47.179
 pressing the nose produces blood,

00:44:47.179 --> 00:44:49.919
 and pressing anger produces strife.

00:44:51.440 --> 00:44:54.639
 Continuing to incur people's wrath by

00:44:54.639 --> 00:44:57.159
 foolishly exalting yourself will

00:44:57.159 --> 00:44:58.519
 surely produce strife.

00:44:59.099 --> 00:45:01.119
 If you find yourself doing that, if you

00:45:01.119 --> 00:45:02.819
 find yourself devising evil, plotting

00:45:02.819 --> 00:45:04.879
 against others, using others as stepping

00:45:04.879 --> 00:45:07.879
 stones in order to get ahead, then you

00:45:07.879 --> 00:45:09.579
 need to put your hand on your mouth, stop

00:45:09.579 --> 00:45:12.899
 yourself in your tracks, lest you bring

00:45:12.899 --> 00:45:14.179
 disaster upon yourself.

00:45:14.179 --> 00:45:16.919
 Once again, this is Agar's recurring

00:45:16.919 --> 00:45:17.419
 theme.

00:45:18.259 --> 00:45:20.679
 We should live humbly within God-given

00:45:20.679 --> 00:45:22.679
 boundaries instead of exalting

00:45:22.679 --> 00:45:24.059
 ourselves beyond them.

00:45:26.879 --> 00:45:29.319
 But the bad news is we have all

00:45:29.319 --> 00:45:32.279
 foolishly exalted ourselves beyond our

00:45:32.279 --> 00:45:33.239
 God-given boundaries.

00:45:35.719 --> 00:45:37.980
 That's been the history of humanity from

00:45:37.980 --> 00:45:38.639
 the very beginning.

00:45:39.460 --> 00:45:41.460
 God created the heavens and the earth

00:45:41.460 --> 00:45:44.679
 and at the climax of his creative work, he

00:45:44.679 --> 00:45:45.740
 created Adam.

00:45:46.740 --> 00:45:50.300
 He then created Eve and gave her to Adam

00:45:50.300 --> 00:45:53.619
 as his special helper so that together they

00:45:53.619 --> 00:45:55.840
 might exercise dominion over the earth,

00:45:56.000 --> 00:45:57.400
 including over all the creatures.

00:45:58.360 --> 00:46:01.460
 However, at the fall, the serpent transgresses

00:46:02.240 --> 00:46:04.760
 its boundary by tempting Adam and Eve to

00:46:04.760 --> 00:46:06.659
 eat from the tree of knowledge of good and

00:46:06.659 --> 00:46:09.920
 evil, which God had forbidden them to eat

00:46:09.920 --> 00:46:11.980
 from.

00:46:11.980 --> 00:46:15.340
 And Eve, instead of exercising proper

00:46:15.340 --> 00:46:18.280
 dominion over the creature, listens to it

00:46:18.280 --> 00:46:19.400
 and eats it.

00:46:20.940 --> 00:46:23.500
 Then she offers it to her husband Adam, and

00:46:23.500 --> 00:46:26.880
 Adam, instead of exercising his headship over

00:46:26.880 --> 00:46:30.200
 his wife, listens to her and eats it.

00:46:31.480 --> 00:46:34.280
 And so humanity together, which was supposed to

00:46:34.280 --> 00:46:37.880
 rule as God's representatives, instead seeks to

00:46:37.880 --> 00:46:39.640
 usurp God's throne.

00:46:40.360 --> 00:46:43.400
 Instead of relying on God's revelation of good

00:46:43.400 --> 00:46:47.280
 and evil, Adam and Eve seek moral autonomy,

00:46:47.980 --> 00:46:51.000
 seeking to determine for themselves what is good

00:46:51.000 --> 00:46:53.200
 and evil, without reference to God.

00:46:54.660 --> 00:46:57.960
 And that's what we all have done at one point.

00:46:58.559 --> 00:47:01.119
 Living for ourselves without reference to God,

00:47:01.440 --> 00:47:04.099
 we have foolishly sought to exalt ourselves

00:47:04.099 --> 00:47:08.559
 over and against God, our King, instead of living

00:47:08.559 --> 00:47:10.440
 humbly within the boundaries He's given us.

00:47:11.960 --> 00:47:15.099
 We have had insolence toward His societal order.

00:47:15.219 --> 00:47:18.599
 We have shown indulgence of insatiable greed and

00:47:18.599 --> 00:47:18.900
 lust.

00:47:19.000 --> 00:47:22.559
 We have tolerated intolerable social upheaval by

00:47:22.559 --> 00:47:25.440
 giving folly and wickedness free reign in our lives and

00:47:25.440 --> 00:47:26.019
 in our world.

00:47:26.579 --> 00:47:29.440
 We have transgressed the boundaries God's given us.

00:47:29.440 --> 00:47:36.559
 But God, because He loves us, does not leave us to our own

00:47:36.559 --> 00:47:36.960
 devices.

00:47:37.780 --> 00:47:41.380
 As Agur asserted in verse 4, only the Lord who has ascended

00:47:41.380 --> 00:47:45.480
 to heaven and come down, and only His Son can save us from

00:47:45.480 --> 00:47:48.700
 our folly and impart to us the wisdom from God.

00:47:49.760 --> 00:47:53.639
 And it is for this reason that God the Father sent His only Son,

00:47:53.820 --> 00:47:54.559
 Jesus Christ.

00:47:54.559 --> 00:47:56.820
 John 1.18 says,

00:47:56.920 --> 00:48:00.239
 No one has ever seen God, the only God who is at the Father's

00:48:00.239 --> 00:48:00.539
 side.

00:48:00.619 --> 00:48:01.579
 He has made Him known.

00:48:02.299 --> 00:48:03.460
 John 3.13 says,

00:48:03.539 --> 00:48:07.299
 No one has ascended into heaven except He who descended from

00:48:07.299 --> 00:48:08.820
 heaven, the Son of Man.

00:48:09.539 --> 00:48:12.579
 Jesus is the fulfillment of Agur's prophecy.

00:48:13.159 --> 00:48:17.579
 He is the only person who can reveal God the Father and His

00:48:17.579 --> 00:48:23.099
 wisdom to us because He is the only Son of God.

00:48:23.099 --> 00:48:28.119
 God, Jesus is the Son that Israel failed to be.

00:48:30.179 --> 00:48:34.539
 We had trespassed into where only God should be, but instead of

00:48:34.539 --> 00:48:39.259
 despising us and punishing us and kicking us back to the place

00:48:39.259 --> 00:48:45.739
 where we belong, God sent His Son Jesus to cross over into our

00:48:45.739 --> 00:48:49.139
 filth, into our sinful places.

00:48:49.139 --> 00:49:01.379
 Jesus did this so that He might rescue us.

00:49:01.380 --> 00:49:06.220
 In our hubris, we exalted ourselves against God, but in humility,

00:49:06.400 --> 00:49:11.640
 Christ emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the

00:49:11.640 --> 00:49:15.840
 likeness of man, and being found in human form, and He humbled Himself by

00:49:15.840 --> 00:49:21.119
 becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.

00:49:21.119 --> 00:49:28.199
 And it's because Jesus paid the price of our treason on the cross.

00:49:29.079 --> 00:49:35.199
 The King, think about it, the King, the heir to the throne, dying on the cross like an

00:49:35.199 --> 00:49:42.599
 exile among His own people so that we might be reconciled to God and restored to His kingdom.

00:49:42.599 --> 00:49:48.920
 And it's only by believing in Jesus, in His life, death, and resurrection for our sake,

00:49:49.420 --> 00:49:53.519
 that we can be forgiven of our transgressions, that we can be filled with His Spirit.

00:49:53.940 --> 00:49:59.539
 We can receive the wisdom of God and live humbly, following the humble King,

00:50:00.039 --> 00:50:01.960
 within the boundaries that God has given us.

00:50:01.960 --> 00:50:08.360
 Please take a moment to reflect on this.

00:50:15.659 --> 00:50:18.420
 How is God calling you to greater humility in your life?

00:50:23.780 --> 00:50:29.659
 How is God asking you not to occupy yourself with things that are too great and wonderful for you,

00:50:29.659 --> 00:50:36.460
 but instead to humble yourself and to walk trustingly beside Him like a weaned child with its mother?

00:50:39.920 --> 00:50:44.299
 After you've done some reflection, let's, we'll respond together by praying out loud as a church.

00:50:44.299 --> 00:50:44.420
 Amen.