Daily Proverbs
Daily Bible Study
The Bible tells us until the time of Christ’s return this world is under the influence of the “prince of the power of the air”, who is Satan. In addition, because of the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, we all live in a fallen world where death and sin have become commonplace. Together they form the darkness that is presently at work in the world. Controlling the hearts of men and women who do not know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. And one of the strongest messages sent to us by this world of darkness is we need to exalt ourselves. That somehow an overabundance of pride and ego are a good thing, that the world is really about us and seeking the fulfillment of our desires.
And that’s what Agur is speaking against in these passages. If any of us have been so foolish as to spend time exalting ourselves, then we need to stop now. We need to put our hands over our mouth in shame. If we have been devising evil for our own self gain, then we are to stop it and put our hands over our mouth in shame. This gesture of putting one’s hand over their mouth was a sign of self-imposed silence. It was a sign of repentance over what was just spoken or thought. And Agur is saying if we do not stop ourselves, if we don’t catch ourselves and we continue on this course of evil and exalting ourselves, then just as churning produces butter, or a punch in the nose produces blood. So to God’s judgment on us for our wicked behavior will produce destruction and harm in our lives.