Proverbs 30 - God's Wisdom Series

Proverbs 30:13 (NASB) There is a kind--oh how lofty are his eyes! And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.

The Contemporary English Version says, "Some people are stuck-up and act like snobs."

Matthew Henry says, "In every age there are monsters of ingratitude who ill-treat their parents. Many persuade themselves they are holy persons, whose hearts are full of sin, and who practise secret wickedness. There are others whose lofty pride is manifest. There have also been cruel monsters in every age."

Proverbs 30:14 (NASB) There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords And his jaw teeth like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth And the needy from among men.

We need to beware of those who will chew you up and spit you out.

Verses 11-14 contains cautions against keeping company with certain persons;

1. Those who are ungrateful to their parents;

2. dissembling hypocrites;

3. supercilious proud;

4. cruel and uncompassionate.

Let us not keep company with such nor should we be them.

Proverbs 30:15 (NASB) The leech has two daughters, "Give," "Give." There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, "Enough":

The Message Bible says it this way, "A leech has twin daughters named "Gimme" and "Gimme more." Three things are never satisfied, no, there are four that never say, "That's enough, thank you!"--

In the next two verses the writer will tell us what will never be satisfied. "Three things . . . no, four" is a poetic way of saying the list is not complete.

Proverbs 30:16 (NASB) Sheol, and the barren womb, Earth that is never satisfied with water, And fire that never says, "Enough."

Here are the four things that are never satisfied:

1. Sheol - the abode of the dead

2. The Barren Womb

3. The parched earth

4. Fire

None of these have ever said, "Enough! I am satisfied."

Proverbs 30:17 (NASB) The eye that mocks a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.

Here is a graphic description of what will happen to those who mocks their father or scorns their mother. The ravens will pluck their eyes out and the eagles will eat it. The commandment remains - honor your father and mother. Be careful how you treat your parents.

Proverbs 30:18 (NASB) There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand:

Here is another list. It consists of four things that are amazing to him:

1. The way the eagle flies through the sky.

2. The way a snake moves itself on the rocks.

3. The way a ship sails through the middle of the ocean.

4. The way of a man with a maiden.

Proverbs 30:19 (NASB) 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.

Of the first three there are no lasting signs that the eagle, snake, or ship has passed through their course once they are gone. Once they are gone who would know they were there.

So too a young woman could pass for a virgin even though that may not be the case. Perhaps that is why verse twenty talks of the "adulterous woman".