Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 546 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

I Am Weary O God - Proverbs 30:1-17

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 546 of our trek, and it is Wisdom Wednesday. Every Wednesday along life’s trails, we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. Today we will explore the 1st half of chapter 30.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. In our study of Proverbs, we switch focus from King Solomon who wrote most of Proverbs to a man we know little of who name was Agur. In some translations it indicates that Agur was writing “to Ithiel and Ucal;” these men could have been disciples or friends of Agur, although some Bibles translate the meaning of the two names with the assumption that they do not refer to actual people. Most commentators believe Agur lived in the same era as Solomon. We don’t know much about Agur except what we can glean from this one chapter. This is one of my favorite chapters in Proverbs because of its rich imagery and contrasting statements.

The name Agur comes from a Hebrew word meaning “collector.” Agur and his father Jakeh are only mentioned here in the Bible and are otherwise unknown. From the very first verse, Agur’s talent for relating to the obvious shines through. I am sure that many of us can relate to him from his first statement which is…

I Am Weary, O God

Let’s dig for the nuggets of wisdom today that Agur shares in verses 1-17.

1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.

I am weary, O God;

I am weary and worn out, O God.

In today’s ever changing, fast paced society, we have more technology available to us that should make life so much simpler, and yet we are rushing through life at ever-increasing speeds. Nearly everyone seems to be involved in more work and activities than we can possibly fit into our schedules. Our sleep suffers, our diets suffer, and we are weary and worn out. Well, I guess not all that much has changed since Agur wrote these proverbs. We do need to take note and make the needed changes in our lives.

2 I am too stupid to be human,

and I lack common sense.

3 I have not mastered human wisdom,

nor do I know the Holy One.

Although probably a highly educated person in a position of authority, Agur finds himself feeling inadequate, especially when it comes to his knowledge and understanding of God, whom he refers to as the Holy One. We should dedicate our lives to learning and understanding God’s precepts.

4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?

Who holds the wind in his fists?

Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?

Who has created the whole wide world?

What is his name—and his son’s name?

Tell me if you know!

We have made great advances in gaining knowledge of our world and even the universe, but the more we discover, the more evidence we find of what we do not know. There are signs everywhere of an intelligent creator, but society’s lack of acknowledging God as that creator is ever-increasing. God created all things, and God embodied as His son was Jesus Christ.

5 Every word of God proves true.

He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.

6 Do not add to his words,

or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.

God’s Word, through the Bible is true, every word contained in it. He does protect and shield us for eternity. We need to do all that we can to understand it and not add to it.

7 O God, I beg two favors from you;

let me have them before I die.

8 First, help me never to tell a lie.

Second,