Proverbs 30:5-9 (TPT) A Pure Heart Is Filled with God’s Word
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Every promise from the faithful God
is pure and proves to be true.
He is a wraparound shield of protection for all his lovers
who run to hide in him.
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Never add to his words,
or he will have to rebuke you and prove that you’re a liar.
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God, there are two things I’m asking you for before I die, only two:
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Empty out of my heart everything that is false—
every lie, and every crooked thing.
And give me neither undue poverty nor undue wealth—
but rather, feed my soul with the measure of prosperity
that pleases you.
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May my satisfaction be found in you.
Don’t let me be so rich that I don’t need you
or so poor that I have to resort to dishonesty
just to make ends meet.
Then my life will never detract from bringing glory to your name.
According to the main writer of Proverbs—King Solomon—“The fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom which [if you live right according to the Word] will result in good judgment…multiply your days…and, add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer” (Prov 9:10-12). In our passage from Proverbs today, we witness the sayings of Agur who is known as being a wise teacher [he models wisdom]. So Agur, knowing the value of wisdom and applying it to his life, asks God for two things before he dies: 1) To rid him of everything false hiding in his heart, so he can live according to the Truth of God’s Word and promises; and 2) To meet his needs for survival, but feed his soul [mind/will/emotions] with prosperity, so the Lord remains first in his life.
If you were given an opportunity to make only two requests of God between today and when you die, what would you ask God to do? This is a hard question to answer, because there are so many people and situations in our world that need the miracle-working touch of God. However, Agur wisely chooses to ask God to help him get his heart right before he dies.
For the believer, this is exactly what Christ—our High Priest—serves to do in a person’s life. Christ has been made wisdom for us and we need to listen to the Word and ask Christ to rid our soul of lies and help us live in the Truth, so He can be the wisdom and prosperity that satisfies our souls (1 Cor. 1:30). There is nothing in this world that can satisfy or replace the abiding presence and shalom of God. Be wise like Agur by making sure today your heart is right before the Lord.
Last evening, began what is called the Sabbath of Sabbaths or Yom Kippur—a solemn day of atonement when we seek to shed our sin and be reconciled with Creator God—and tonight it will end. This is your appointed time to ask the Lord to forgive your sins of dishonest living against His holy commands of Truth, so you can get your heart right before Almighty God, because only He can satisfy your life and give rest for your soul.
Prayer: Lord, I pray for you to rid my heart of any lie hiding within—take away any hypocrisy so I am genuinely living in the Truth. And, Lord, make my soul prosper as only you can. Impart to me the sense of well-being that only you can give. Draw people worldwide to your heart today, help them ask for forgiveness, and impart the life of Christ to them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.