Obedient Gatherer
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Daily Passage
Reflections
Today the speaker changes and so too, the style. This passage is more narrative in form, and even more poetic. The words of Agur. Just who is Agur? All we have is that Agur is the child of Jakeh and an oracle, a medium for God. This nor the name of the father are not mentioned anywhere else in the Biblical text. Even my trusty IVP Bible Background failed me on this one. There are no notes regarding this person. I wonder why? I now dig around and find from several sources that “Agur” translates as “gatherer” and “Jakeh” as “obedient.” Some think this speaker is not a historical figure, but allegorical, which I think adds to the poetic nature of this passage. It certainly makes sense when one considers the other allegorical aspects of this book. Also, with this chapter, we are nearing the close of this collection. It seems that the scholars are gathering all of the many threads together and presenting the finale.
I love the words here, and I love how they are written. The speaker observes the people of this Earth symbolized as “the man” (30). Speaking with God in a comfortable tone, the one observed is tired and questions how they can continue in this world. This one has come to an idea that they are limited in their ability to understand the vastness of the Earth and asks God if anyone could possibly understand so much as to control the elements of the Earth (1-4). I think of The Book of Job here, so very similar to this writing before us. In Job, God asks of him, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding” (38:4).
I love the opening lines of Proverbs 30 from this New Revised Standard translation:
Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in the hollow of the hand?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is the person’s name?
And what is the name of the person’s child?
Surely you know!
I think it is interesting that the speaker asks God for the name of the person and the name of the person’s child. This is clearly a clue, flagging the listener to think and to connect. I get the feeling that this is the conclusion of all of the book, and we are being asked to reflect on the book as the whole and to prepare for a distillation of meaning. After all of the readings about wisdom, we are weary. Who can fathom everything that has been said? This parallels the speaker’s introduction as being the child of Jakeh. From the Jewish Encyclopedia.com, Jeka is translated as "one who is free from sin" (from naḲi, "pure"). So we have an obedient gatherer who is born of purity speaking of a weary soul who questions God of their existence and asks seemly rhetorically - I am at my limits is there one who is not? I get the feeling too that the reader of the text is being told that after all the other chapters on Wisdom, “surely YOU know!”
We have been told the answer throughout our readings in Proverbs. Lady Wisdom was there at the beginning of time and was creator with God as the boundaries were set (Proverbs 8). Not only that, but in these texts, she has welcomed us in as her children (Proverbs 9). Could Lady Wisdom be the speaker here? She is an obedient gatherer born of purity. In Proverbs, she has invited us in to to dine with her. In light of this, and other readings within Proverbs, we must understand just how special and limitless we are as the children of wisdom.
And if so, if Lady Wisdom is the Speaker here, what is she obediently gathering? The wind, it’s in the hollow of her hand! The water, it’s wrapped around her shoulders! I think back to Proverbs nine and say, her children, they are seated at her table!
With the first pericope, the scholars seem to have set the stage for rest of the chapter. The threads are pulled together. The distillation below.
Stay True
With verse five, we move back to the words of the speaker, this Agur, an oracle. The first point made is that God’s word is true and when abiding in God, people are protected. There is a warning to stay true too (5-6). Reflecting on this study of Proverbs as a whole, how often were listeners reminded of the importance of truth. For one example, remember Lady Wisdom in Proverbs 8: “Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! . . . Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception (Proverbs 8:1, 6 - 7, NLT). Truth is promoted in Proverbs 12:17, 14:5, 25. There are other verses too, but to gather them here would take me much longer than I want to invest at the moment; perhaps another day . . .
Everything We Need and Nothing We Don’t
Lines 7 - 9 seem to move back to the one observed who asks God to keep them in the truth and to supply them with all that they need, neither too much nor too little, but the perfect amount of wealth and food. We can reflect on all of the lines that spoke of wealth and food and how to wisely come by it.
In lines 10 - 17 the speaker considers people who are not true and who are too greedy. The consequences of their poor words and actions are vividly dipicted. In this section, verses 15 - 17 really elevate this idea with the use of personification, metaphor and strong imagery. This type of imagery is also used in line 12 to show the adulteress without a conscious. Again, these thread has been woven throughout Proverbs. In countless verses are we shown images of the foolish and the wicked, and of those who would entice us off of out true path.
The Earth and Human Connection
In lines 18 and 19, the one observed considers the delights of the world and begins the pattern of first considering three things and then adding a fourth. This pattern is repeated in verses 21 - 23 with a picture of a topsy-turvy world in which the status quo is challenged, with verses 24 - 28, where the speaker considers four things on Earth that are very small, but very wise: the ants, the baker, the locusts, and the lizard, and again with verses 29 - 31, where the speaker considers those that are confident in the way that they walk: the lion, the rooster, the goat, and a king. Throughout Provers the speaker pointed us to the natural world to consider it and to learn of God and the ways of God.
Live Peacefully
Finally, this chapter closes with the advise to cover your mouth if you have been foolish, too proud, or evil, and with the words “Pressing anger produces strife,” reminds people to seek truth and humbleness, and peace. How often have we heard these words in this study?
The Book of Proverbs has provided listeners with small nuggets of wisdom and philosophy to help mould our behavior as we make our way in this world. This text has also presented grand considerations cosmic in scope. The truths now have been offered up to us in this chapter in a neat little package, obediently gathered together for us by this oracle, Agur. Seated with Lady Wisdom as her children, we are reminded of the importance of living an authentic life, staying true and speaking true to ourselves, to our divine nature, and to others. We are reminded that as we stay true, we are protected by God, and that we can live just as happily and securely and wisely as the other creatures of the world, having all that we need in terms of wealth and food and nothing we don’t need as we avoid the temptations in our lives. And finally, We are reminded to be in control of our emotions and to live in peace.
As we began this chapter, a weary one is questioning God. At the end, there is a reminder to be gentle and humble. I am curiously reminded of the words of Jesus as related through Matthew: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (11:28 - 30, NIV). When we are in harmony with Lady Wisdom, we are all where we need to be, and we all have exactly what we need. We can shed our weariness and our worries. These laws are not to burden us or to weigh us down, but to instruct us to connect with ourselves, the Earth, and others. We are reminded that as we live the life we love, we will have everything we need and nothing we don’t, and we will be at peace.
reflect
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
― Søren Kierkegaard
Eight Affirmations of Gratitude
I am grateful for the the connection I have to Earth.
I am thankful for literature that helps me to consider myself and the Earth around me.
An give thanks for the wind.
I am thankful for the water.
I am thankful for wisdom.
I give thanks that I am always exactly where I need to be and that I always have exactly what I need.
I am thankful that I am truthful.
I am grateful that I and protected.
Questions to Consider
Am I feeling tired and limitless in this world, and if so, why?
What questions do I have when I consider my existence here on Earth?
Have I been too greedy, or have I expected too little from the universe?
Blessings
Thank you for joining me. Love and light to you my friends. Namaste.