The Prophecy Of A Brutish Man

Temple Baptist Church - 5-27-2018

Hebrews 11:13; Proverbs 30:1-6

Introduction:

A.  This morning, I want to thank God for those who gave their lives so that we, as Americans, might live free! 

1.  Our national freedom came at great cost!  Those who died came from every walk of life.  They cherished their freedom more than their lives.  Our nation was and is worth fighting for.

2.  Let us never forget those who died for what we have!

B.  In Sunday School, I have been teaching through the Book of Proverbs verse by verse.  This morning, I skipped the first 6 verses of Proverbs, chapter 30. 

1.  I feel the need to spend most of this year preaching on the local church and these first 6 verses contain a prophecy that has come to fruition in the times in which we now live.

2.  I will give both application and interpretation of these verses.

C.  When we think of the Book of Proverbs, we generally think of Solomon, the wisest man (outside of Christ) who ever lived.  In the 30th chapter, we find the inspired words of a previously unknown man.  There is much conjecture as to who Agur, Ithiel, and Ucal were.  None of the three have been previously mentioned in Scripture.  Therefore, they are the “unknown soldiers” of our faith.

1.  There is the possibility that Agur was a teacher and Ithiel and Ucal were his pupils.

2.  There is the possibility that Agur was a father and Ithiel and Ucal his were his sons.

3.  Though no one will ever know with certainty who these men were, we do know that these verses are inspired of the Holy Ghost and, therefore perfectly correct.

D.  Verse one speaks of a prophecy that was spoken of Agur concerning the words of God.  The prophecy of a brutish man! 

1.  “Brutish” is to be ignorant, unlearned, dumb, or even “stupid.”  Though wise, Agur was not a man of formal education. 

2.  He perceived himself as ignorant and unlearned.  Not a man “of letters” or formal training.  He was not a man of systematic theological training.

3.  He was perceived by the world as ignorant, unlearned, foolish, or even stupid.

E.  The wisdom of Agur’s prophecy was one that was and is foolish to the educated and worldly wise.

F.  I also want to thank God for those of our forefathers in the faith that gave their lives that we might know Christ and live free.  Our spiritual heritage also came at great cost.  They cherished the Word of God more than their lives.  As Job said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” 

G.  I want to mention two types of spiritual forefathers.

1.  There were those who Paid the Price of our Faith.  Died for the Faith. 

Hebrews 11:11-14  Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.   (12)  Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.  (13)  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  (14)  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

2.  There were those who Paved the Path of our Faith.  Died in the Faith. 

Hebrews 11:11-14  Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.  (12)  Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.  (13)  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  (14)  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

a)  Our spiritual forefathers died in faith!  “These all died in faith”  Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

b)  Our spiritual forefathers died in hope!  “not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them …”  Philippians 1:20  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

1.  The Antiquity of our Faith.  “The words of Agur the son of Jakeh”  Thousands of years ago, men of God stood and taught exactly what we stand for and teach today: inerrancy and infallibility of the Scriptures!  Men have always walked with God within the realm of the Word of God. 

Jeremiah 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

2.  The Predecessors of our Faith.  “the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal”   Today’s “theologians” learn their false doctrine under men whom they do not know.  We learn our doctrine under men that we do know and trust.  Biblical succession of the Faith once delivered.

2 Timothy 3:13-14  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  (14)  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

3.  The Author of our Faith.  “Every word of God”   The Bible is a “God Book!”  Divinely inspired and preserved.

2 Peter 1:19-21  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  (20)  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  (21)  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

4.  The Foundation of our Faith.  “is pure”  Is pure, not was pure.  If it is God’s Word, then it is pure; if it is not pure, it is not God’s Word!  The Bible declares itself to be so.

1 Peter 1:23-25  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  (24)  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  (25)  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

5.  The Safety of our Faith.  “he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him”  Our trust comes through His promises in the Bible.  Walking diligently within the Word brings safety.

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

6.  The Protection of our Faith.  Three Sentinels in the Bible:

Deuteronomy 4:1-2  Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.  (2)  Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.  (Not add … neither shall ye diminish ought)

Proverbs 30:5-6  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  (6)  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.  (Add not)

Revelation 22:18-19  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  (19)  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  (If any man shall add … if any man shall take away)

7.  The Enemies of our Faith.  “Add thou not unto his words”  Intellectualism and human wisdom makes man think that he issmarter than God.  These educated Bible correctors do not disagree with me.  They disagree with God and the Bible.

2 Corinthians 4:2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

8.  The Warning of our Faith.  “lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar”  Those who disagree with God and change His Word will one day regret doing so.