Proverbs 30:5-9 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 30:5-9, which read,

v.5, 6 - Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.  Do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

The word "tested" has the meaning that God's word has been "tried."  It has been found to be a shield or a protection because it has been faithful in what it says to those who walk with God.  A couple great cross references of these verses are Psalm 12:6 and 18:30 which say, 

"The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times."

"God--His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is pure.  He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him."

The warning comes with the testing of God's word to not add words to His words.  God is the standard of truth and doesn't need our additions  Those who do add and put on extra qualifications will be dealt with and the "adder" will be found in the wrong.  We can go to both ends of the Bible to see this proverb in action and instruction.  Genesis 2:16 and 17 says,

"And the LORD God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.'"

The realization of the consequences of this command or words of God was challenged by Satan the serpent to doubt God's words or add to them and the result to Adam and Eve's sin is found in Genesis 3:24 which reads,

"He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life."

There is so much Biblical material about this subject that I need to quote here Deuteronomy 4:2 which reads,

"You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, so that you may keep the commands of the LORD your God I am giving you."

And then to the end of the Bible and the words of the Apostle John in Revelation 22:18 and 19 which read,

"I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:  If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.  And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book."

I think this proverb about our handling of God's Word is well documented to not tamper, twist, or toy with.

v.7-9 - Two things I asked of You, do not refuse me before I die:  keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.

This has been described as the prayer of a wisdom seeker.  The wisdom seeker is asking of God to be known by God.  He asks for protection from the schemes of the devil, deceptions and lies.  He wants contentment in God rather than his financial state.  He wants his food to come from God and not be full of the world and not know God or deny Him.  He doesn't want to be disobedient of God and dishonor all of who God is and stands for.

There are so many other passages in this section.  "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil" comes to mind from what we call the Lord's Prayer.  The Apostle Paul's words about being content at all times.  Jesus telling Satan during the temptations that man shall not live on bread alone but on the very words of God.  Also the commandment of the ten commandment to not take the Lord's name in vain.  

The wisdom seeker asks to be kept from evil; to be given contentment; and to be fed from God.  He wants to be known by God and doesn't want to come to the end of his life questioning who God is or worse yet, living a life that is cursing His name.  The proverb writer has given us a good template for our prayer today.  Let us pray.

"Lord may we cherish Your words.  May we know them and obey them.  May we not take liberty with them to add or subtract.  May we see that each one is so precious to us even if we don't know what each one exactly means at this moment in its fullness.  Also, Lord, keep us and give us and feed us today.  Keep us from evil.  Give us holy contentment.  Feed us from Your word.  May the fruit of our lives be that which honors everything about You and what You say and be at rest in the salvation of being known by You and not profaning Your name but being called and answering the call of our name by You.  Amen."

Pastor Adam
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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