Pro 30:21-22 | KingComments | STEP | The common element in is the unbearable. Agur gives four examples of this, divided equally between the two sexes. Each example indicates the abuse of power and prosperity obtained by persons who come to occupy or receive a position that is inappropriate for them. They go against the order that God has established. When God’s order is reversed, it brings quaking of the earth ( ). It cannot bear that. It makes the whole society unstable. Maintaining God’s order works stability and peace. Thus He wants everything in the church to be done “properly and in an orderly manner”, that is, in His order ( ). The first example is that of “a slave when he becomes king” ( ). For a slave, a place of ruling is not reserved. If he does get that place, it will be a mess in the land, for he simply has no understanding of it. He who is suddenly elevated in his status becomes an unbearable person. Everything begins to quake, for there is no longer a clear government. Such a change shakes the order of life. In the church, everything also shudders when someone who should be serving begins to rule ( ). The second example is that of “a fool when he is satisfied with food” ( ). It is a lazy fool. The fool, by definition, excludes God. That makes him a fool. Giving such a man food until he is completely full of it turns God’s order upside down. One who does not want to work will not eat either ( ). If you do give such a person food, he will not only sit with a satisfied feeling in his belly, but also with a full feeling of arrogant self-satisfaction. Because he is satisfied, he is not thinking about going to work. He spends his time preaching and performing follies. With such a person, chaos only increases. The third person under whom the earth quakes is “an unloved woman when she gets a husband” ( ). An unloved woman means a woman on whom there is nothing attractive; she has an evil character. This becomes apparent as soon as she is married. Then she takes control within the family. The power she has, she uses not for good, but for evil. The relationships in the family are disturbed. Underneath it, the earth quakes. The fourth person is “a maidservant when she supplants her mistress” ( ). She is similar to the slave who becomes king in . The possessions she inherits suddenly give her a completely different life. She was a maidservant, but suddenly she feels she is a mistress because of the inheritance. Instead of obeying, she now gives orders. This cannot be borne by those with whom she used to serve her mistress.

‏ Proverbs 30:21-22

Four Things That Are Not to Bear

The common element in Pro 30:21-23 is the unbearable. Agur gives four examples of this, divided equally between the two sexes. Each example indicates the abuse of power and prosperity obtained by persons who come to occupy or receive a position that is inappropriate for them. They go against the order that God has established. When God’s order is reversed, it brings quaking of the earth (Pro 30:21). It cannot bear that. It makes the whole society unstable. Maintaining God’s order works stability and peace. Thus He wants everything in the church to be done “properly and in an orderly manner”, that is, in His order (1Cor 14:40).

The first example is that of “a slave when he becomes king” (Pro 30:22a). For a slave, a place of ruling is not reserved. If he does get that place, it will be a mess in the land, for he simply has no understanding of it. He who is suddenly elevated in his status becomes an unbearable person. Everything begins to quake, for there is no longer a clear government. Such a change shakes the order of life. In the church, everything also shudders when someone who should be serving begins to rule (3Jn 1:9-10).

The second example is that of “a fool when he is satisfied with food” (Pro 30:22b). It is a lazy fool. The fool, by definition, excludes God. That makes him a fool. Giving such a man food until he is completely full of it turns God’s order upside down. One who does not want to work will not eat either (2Thes 3:10). If you do give such a person food, he will not only sit with a satisfied feeling in his belly, but also with a full feeling of arrogant self-satisfaction. Because he is satisfied, he is not thinking about going to work. He spends his time preaching and performing follies. With such a person, chaos only increases.

The third person under whom the earth quakes is “an unloved woman when she gets a husband” (Pro 30:23a). An unloved woman means a woman on whom there is nothing attractive; she has an evil character. This becomes apparent as soon as she is married. Then she takes control within the family. The power she has, she uses not for good, but for evil. The relationships in the family are disturbed. Underneath it, the earth quakes.

The fourth person is “a maidservant when she supplants her mistress” (Pro 30:23b). She is similar to the slave who becomes king in Pro 30:22a. The possessions she inherits suddenly give her a completely different life. She was a maidservant, but suddenly she feels she is a mistress because of the inheritance. Instead of obeying, she now gives orders. This cannot be borne by those with whom she used to serve her mistress.