A Servant and A Fool - Proverbs 30:22

In the book of Proverbs Agur said, “For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which I cannot bear”, and in chapter thirty and verse twenty-two of Proverbs Agur shared about, “a servant … and a fool” where we read,

For a servant when the reigns;

and a fool when he is filled with meat.

The verse begins, “For a servant when the reigns;” Agur began with the words, “for a servant” or “because of a person of servile condition, a bondman or slave” “when the reigns” which means “at the time and moment he, the servant whether male or female, becomes king or queen, rules, advises and is inducted into a position of authority or royalty”. Agur said at the time a bondman becomes a ruling authority, the world trembles and he had difficulty enduring it. 

The verse continues, “and a fool when he is filled with meat.” Agur added the words, “and a fool” or “and a person who is a dullard, simpleton and stupid-fellow” “when he is filled” which means “at the time and moment he, the fool whether male or female, exists as sated, satisfied and surfeited” “with meat” or “with bread, grain or food”. Agur said the earth trembles and he could not endure the time that a simpleton is satisfied with food.

When we meditate upon Agur's words in this verse, we learn about two of the four things at which the earth trembles and he could not “bear”. The first is a person of servile condition being elevated to a position of authority, and the second is at the time a foolish person is satisfied with food. In each of these cases the people become overbearing and dictatorial. God wants us to rely upon Him, and because we have sin in our lives, we are separated from a personal relationship with Him. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the wisdom to know how to endure “servants in authority” and “foolish people” who are satisfied. 

Next time Agur says, “for an odious woman when she is married”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".