PROVERBS LESSON 48

     We will begin this lesson in Proverbs 30:17 "The eye [that]
mocketh at [his] father, and despiseth to obey [his] mother, the
ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat
it."

     We see here that the eye reveals what is in the heart of man.
This person shall come to an untimely death, and his body will be left
to the vultures. They peck the eyes of the dead out first before they
eat the body.

     Proverbs 30:18 "There be three [things which] are too wonderful
for me, yea, four which I know not:"

     He is just saying in this, that these four things are a wonderful
mystery which man cannot begin to understand.

     Proverbs 30:19 "The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a
serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and
the way of a man with a maid."

     Men look at the eagle flying through the sky and wish that they
might fly, as well. There is no trace from where they came, or where
they go, or even how they can stay up there in mid-air. The amazing
thing in this is how the snake slithers across a rock. A ship in a
large body of water leaves a mystery as to how it floats and how it
finds its way to port. The way of a man with a maid has been a mystery
for all time. How two people destined of God to become one,  can
single each other out in all the mass of humanity, and find the mate
so right for them that they will stay together until death do them
part is one of the greatest mysteries to me. If we were to look at
these four things from  a spiritual standpoint, we would see in the
eagle the symbol of God. In the serpent, we see the symbol of Satan.
We would see in the ship, the symbol of the church or the Christian on
the sea of life; and we would see in the man with the maid, Christ and
his bride (the church).

     Proverbs 30:20 "Such [is] the way of an adulterous woman; she
eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness."

     We see in this adulterous woman who covers her sin a deception
not only deceiving others, but herself, as well. Her heart is so
hardened that she feels no guilt and shame.

     Proverbs 30:21 "For three [things] the earth is disquieted, and
for four [which] it cannot bear:" Proverbs 30:22 "For a servant when
he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;"  Proverbs 30:23
"For an odious [woman] when she is married; and an handmaid that is
heir to her mistress."

     These four things make living very uncomfortable. They really are
things which should not be. These four cause much pain to all parties
involved. A servant is really not suited to be a ruler, and sudden
power many times turns the head of the person elevated. This fool who
suddenly has more than he needs, over-indulges and makes himself even
more of a fool. this "odious woman" is an undesirable woman, perhaps
because she is not attractive or has unattractive ways. If she does
get married, she is ill-tempered and possibly will drive her mate
away. This handmaid who obtains the wealth of her mistress, whether by
death of the mistress or some trickery, would certainly cause her
to be arrogant and difficult to get along with.

     Proverbs 30:24 "There be four [things which are] little upon the
earth, but they [are] exceeding wise:"  Proverbs 30:25 "The ants [are]
a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;"
Proverbs 30:26 "The conies [are but] a feeble folk, yet make they
their houses in the rocks;" Proverbs 30:27 "The locusts have no king,
yet go they forth all of them by bands;"  Proverbs 30:28 "The spider
taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces."

     These four are little in stature, but not in accomplishments. The
natural instincts of all four make them very wise. We could take a
lesson from each of them. Ants live in communities and work together
as a unit. They are the opposite of the sluggard or slothful man.
They are very industrious. Man could take a lesson from them in that
they store in summer for use in winter. These animals called conies
live in the rocks for security. the locusts act as one body and work
together. The spider works with its hands and winds up in palaces. The
way to succeed is to work our way up.

     Proverbs 30:29 "There be three [things] which go well, yea, four
are comely in going:" Proverbs 30:30 "A lion [which is] strongest
among beasts, and turneth not away for any;"  Proverbs 30:31 "A
greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom [there is] no
rising up."

     We see in these four that they go with great poise and have no
fear. The "lion" is the king of the beasts and fears nothing in the
jungle. He is king of the forest. A "greyhound" is very graceful in
running and has great speed so that no other animal can catch him.
The "he goat" proudly leads the other goats. the "king against whom
there is no rising up" is because he has the confidence of his people
and they follow him willingly.

     Proverbs 30:32 "If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up
thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, [lay] thine hand upon thy
mouth."

     We see here, that the proud, arrogant person will only make
matters worse, if he begins to talk and is warned to guard the words
of his mouth even to shutting his lips by putting his hand over them.
The thoughts of the heart, if they are evil, must never be allowed to
pass the lips, as well. The best advice in both cases is keep the
mouth shut until you reconsider. Words can destroy you, if they are
the wrong words.

     Proverbs 30:33 "Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth
butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the
forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife."

     In all three things above, pressure is being applied and bringing
inevitable results in each case. Wrath or anger forces strife between
the angered persons.
















































                         Proverbs 48 Questions

1.  What shall happen to the eyes of one who mocketh his father?
2.  What reveals what is in the heart of man?
3.  What pecks the eyes out.
4.  What 4 things are too wonderful to know?
5.  What can we see symbolically in the eagle?
6.  What do we see in the serpent?
7.  What is the symbol of the ship on the sea?
8.  What is the symbolic meaning of the man and maid?
9.  What does the adulterous woman say when she thinks her sin is
    hidden?
10. What 4 things are hard to bear?
11. What 4 things are little, but exceedingly wise?
12. What 4 things are stately in their going?
13. If you have lifted yourself up too highly, what should you do?
14. The churning of milk brings forth -------.
15. The wringing of the nose brings ---------.
16. The forcing of wrath brings what?