To some readers, the Words of Agur seem to offer biblical warrant for skepticism. Such a position appeals partly to uncertain readings of the very difficult first verse. But the thought of skepticism in the Bible is somehow appealing in our culturally uncertain times. We are often uncomfortable with those who possess more certainty than seems humanly appropriate. In my understanding, [Proverbs 30] give no warrant for skepticism, but it does humble many of our proud certainties. As Ecclesiastes notes, God is in heaven and we are on earth. The writer (or editor, if fragments have been combined) refuses even to claim the knowledge of divine things that other religious specialists of his day claim to know. But with [a] rhetorical questions[], he exposes their claims to superhuman, perhaps apocalyptic, knowledge as bogus: No human has made the journey to heaven and back. The writer/editor’s response to the limits of human knowledge is threefold. First, he points to the reliable, now written or canonical word of God. This is not something up in heaven and out of reach, but near at hand. Humans can know it and do it. However vast human ignorance of God and cosmic mysteries may be, this they can and must know. The writer quotes a canonical formula that warns against adding to (or subtracting from) the written word of God. The scriptures provide the norm, the limit, the circle of truth within which human thought may operate, “lest you be found a liar.” The writer is profoundly aware of the human tendency to (self) deception and denial of reality. Denial and deception were not discovered by Freud. Second, our source of security is not found in the perfection of our knowledge, but by taking refuge in the God who is made known in Scripture. This does not diminish the importance of human wisdom and knowledge (the focus of Proverbs), but puts it in an ultimate perspective. Third, the writer prays for daily, ordinary bread—not too much and not too little—for he knows how deeply we humans are embedded in this created world and how easily our earthly circumstances sway our devotion to God and distort our perception of the truth. Thus the rich are tempted to rely on their wealth and to ignore God and deny God’s radical requirements. Conversely, the poor are tempted to mistrust God’s goodness and promises. So they may offend the integrity of God’s name because hunger drives them to break the requirements of God’s law. --RAYMOND C. VAN LEEUWEN, New Interpreters Bible, Vol. 5
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 06:17:52 +0000
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