let us gather and collect

If you have ever felt like
you cannot understand the Bible...
maybe this Proverb is for you.

For even the writer admits
that he is not wise enough to know
all there is to understand of God.

Surely I am more stupid than any man,
And do not have the understanding of a man.
I neither learned wisdom
Nor have knowledge of the Holy One.
Proverbs 30:2-3 NKJV

So why should we read
what this author has to say?
​I mean, it kind of takes us by surprise...
this self-depreciating talk.

Especially for one about to write
a proverb that ends this book on wisdom.

But I was so surprised at this humility,
that I made me want to read on.
In fact the author of this particular chapter
is Agur, which means "gatherer or collector."

He is saying that he, himself, is not wise,
but more like a witness, a scribe as it were...
who compiles these wise things
and writes them together to ponder.

And yet, he is bold...
this writer who admits his lack.
Because of his desire to learn,
he does not hover in the background.

But rather, steps forward to seek wisdom.
The fact that these are not
his own thoughts. matters not.
He simply has a desire to learn...
to know more about God.

He does not let his lack of knowledge
keep him from gathering it.
He does not let what other people think
keep him from writing it down.

We too can be gatherers...
collectors of the wisdom of God.

These do not have to be
our inspired and holy thoughts.
But rather, if we simply have the desire
to learn and to grow.
Not hindered by the concern
of what other people think.

For when we do,
God will reveal Himself to us
as we too step forward
again, and again.

It doesn't have to be volumes.
Even reading the Bible
one or two verses a day.
As long as they are taken with us
to roll over in our mind...
to ponder, consider, reflect upon
throughout the day.

For Agur tells us that
Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those
who put their trust in Him.
Proverbs 30:5

And surely, each of us can use a shield
to protect us through this day.
Protecting our thoughts,
our actions,
our words.
Shielding us from harm,
from temptation,
from discouragement.

Just one pure morsel of wisdom
from the word of God
taken with us each day...
meditated upon throughout it,
can guide and protect us
with God's purity and truth.

And we can rest assured
that we don't have to be scholars...
just as Agur admitted.

But rather gatherers and collectors,
with a heart that desires to learn.

Word of God
train me, today...
to desire more of You each day,
to gather and collect Your truth,
​and trust You as my shield today.