Proverbs 30:1-9

1 The skeptic swore, "There is no God! No God! - I can do anything I want!

2 I'm more animal than human; so-called human intelligence escapes me.

3 "I flunked 'wisdom.' I see no evidence of a holy God.

4 Has anyone ever seen Anyone climb into Heaven and take charge? grab the winds and control them? gather the rains in his bucket? stake out the ends of the earth? Just tell me his name, tell me the names of his sons. Come on now - tell me!"

5 The believer replied, "Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help.

6 So don't second-guess him; he might take you to task and show up your lies."

7 And then he prayed, "God, I'm asking for two things before I die; don't refuse me -

8 Banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence. Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little.

9 If I'm too full, I might get independent, saying, 'God? Who needs him?' If I'm poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God."

Proverbs 30:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 17

This chapter begins with a prophecy of Elijah, that there should be want of rain for some years to come, and he is directed to go first to the brook Cherith, where he should be fed by ravens, 1Ki 17:1-7, and afterwards he is sent to a widow at Zarephath, where he, she, and her son, were supported for a considerable time with a handful of meal, and a little oil in a cruse miraculously increased, 1Ki 17:8-16, whose son falling sick and dying, he restored to life, 1Ki 17:17-24.