30 Days in ProverbsNäide

Proverbs 30 introduces us to a man named Agur, son of Jakeh. He’s only mentioned this one time in Scripture, yet his words carry a depth of wisdom that’s still relevant today. Interestingly, Agur doesn’t claim to be wise. In fact, he does the opposite—he humbly acknowledges his lowly position. And maybe that’s part of the secret to wisdom: humility.

As I read this chapter, I find the central theme in verses 5-6 (ESV). Let’s pause and unpack these words together—they’re powerful.

“Every word of God proves true.”

Every single word of Scripture is pure, helpful, and without fault. Think of it like this: when metal is purified in fire, all the impurities are removed. What remains is strong, valuable, and true. Adam Clarke, a biblical commentator, said it well: “Every thing that God has pronounced… is pure, without mixture of error, without dross. Whatever trials it may be exposed to, it is always like gold: it bears the fire, and comes out with the same lustre, the same purity, and the same weight.”

Verse 5 continues: “He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

Imagine a warrior carrying a shield into battle. They trust it to protect them. That’s exactly what this verse is saying about God. He’s a refuge, a protector. But it’s not just about knowing His Word is true—it’s about trusting Him fully, stepping into faith, and resting in His protection.

Then, verse 6 hits hard: “Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.”
God’s Word is perfect as it stands. We don’t get to edit it or tweak it to suit our needs or preferences. Yet, so often, people—sometimes entire churches—have tried to do just that. Agur is clear: tampering with God’s Word is dangerous. It’s a matter of faith. If we can’t embrace His Word as true and sufficient, our trust in God is incomplete.

This is a call to recognize the perfection of Scripture. Wrestling with difficult passages is natural, and I get it—we all do it. But we must never treat the Bible like something we can mold to fit our comfort or preferences. That path leads to shallow faith, confusion, and, ultimately, danger.

Remember 2 Timothy 3:16-17: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Trusting God means acknowledging Him as the Author of the Bible. It means believing His Word contains everything we need for righteous living. When we build our lives on that foundation, we walk in wisdom and security—fully equipped for the work He’s called us to do.