S) "18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Four which I do not understand:
19 The way of an eagle in the sky,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,
And the way of a man with a maid.
20 This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, 'I have done no wrong.'"
Proverbs 30:18-20 (NASB)
O) Talk about a mystery within a mystery! I had a little trouble tracking what is meant in some of this, and so I read a popular, historic commentary (Matthew Henry). Keeping the context of v.20 in mind (which is the last verse of this stanza), he viewed vv.18-19 from a context of being discovered. That is, an eagle in the sky cannot be tracked by prints or scent, many of which can move much faster than a man could ride. A serpent on sand or in the grass also leaves tracks, but upon a rock it does not. a ship in the middle of the sea is the same. With the fourth example, Matthew Henry's commentary takes a somewhat more pessimistic turn, making the man a lecher and the maid his victim. That's a possibility, and is hard to "track" such a man in that kind of depravity. While there may be some clue to that meaning in the last verse, I think that may read too far into this than is warranted. There are plenty of classic poems, stories, epics, and songs that try to explain the mysteries of love. The last verse is pretty self-explanatory. The adulterous woman is devious and full of denial.
A) The first thing that struck me about this passage, and the reason I have the first verse marked as instruction, is that this man, this king, this writer of proverbs (Agur, in this chapter) is admitting that some things he doesn't understand. As modern technology, zoology, and telemetry have improved, so have our abilities to understand things like the flight path of eagles, the slithering of snakes, and the navigation of ships. Still, there are a great many things that remain mysteries to even the greatest thinkers of our time. I must remain humble enough to admit when things are beyond my knowledge. Specifically in this passage, the mysteries of romance can be difficult. I am happily married, and I know what the Bible prescribes for happy marriage. If a man came to me for advice on how to apply what the Bible teaches about marriage, I would be well equipped. I know how to communicate well with my wife, and solve problems with my wife. If a man came to me for advice on how to translate that to his own marriage, with his wife, I would be moderately well equipped. If a man came to me for advice on who to date, or how to date, or how to know if he should marry his girlfriend... these topics are getting further and further from my past experience, let alone my current reality. Every relationship is different. Even another marriage, which may be like mine in how the couple feels satisfied with each other and fulfilled and joyful, and seeking to glorify God in their marriage, and great in every respect like my own marriage - the details may still look dramatically different than my own marriage. That other, great, God-honoring marriage will still hold countless mysteries in it, that only those two people understand, just like no one understands my marriage like me and Kristin. I love giving advice, but I must remember to be plain, honest, and humble. I cannot assume that my own experience will translate properly into another man's circumstances.
Also, I must avoid the adulterous woman at all times.
A) The first thing that struck me about this passage, and the reason I have the first verse marked as instruction, is that this man, this king, this writer of proverbs (Agur, in this chapter) is admitting that some things he doesn't understand. As modern technology, zoology, and telemetry have improved, so have our abilities to understand things like the flight path of eagles, the slithering of snakes, and the navigation of ships. Still, there are a great many things that remain mysteries to even the greatest thinkers of our time. I must remain humble enough to admit when things are beyond my knowledge. Specifically in this passage, the mysteries of romance can be difficult. I am happily married, and I know what the Bible prescribes for happy marriage. If a man came to me for advice on how to apply what the Bible teaches about marriage, I would be well equipped. I know how to communicate well with my wife, and solve problems with my wife. If a man came to me for advice on how to translate that to his own marriage, with his wife, I would be moderately well equipped. If a man came to me for advice on who to date, or how to date, or how to know if he should marry his girlfriend... these topics are getting further and further from my past experience, let alone my current reality. Every relationship is different. Even another marriage, which may be like mine in how the couple feels satisfied with each other and fulfilled and joyful, and seeking to glorify God in their marriage, and great in every respect like my own marriage - the details may still look dramatically different than my own marriage. That other, great, God-honoring marriage will still hold countless mysteries in it, that only those two people understand, just like no one understands my marriage like me and Kristin. I love giving advice, but I must remember to be plain, honest, and humble. I cannot assume that my own experience will translate properly into another man's circumstances.
Also, I must avoid the adulterous woman at all times.
P) Father, thank You for my marriage. There is immeasurable grace at work in it. Thank You for who Kristin is. She is an absolute crown of glory to me. Thank You for who I am, the man and husband You are still making me to be. I want to be the husband that Kristin is glad to have married, in every way. I want to be the kind of man that honors the name of Christ that I bear. Let our marriage always reflect the goodness of the gospel, the reality of Christ and His church, and honor You, Lord. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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