Opening Prayer
Enlighten us, Lord, and confirm our hearts in Your Word. Amen.
Text: Proverbs 30:5–9
Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar. Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food You prescribe for me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.
Devotion
Man was created with wisdom in his soul, and therefore “a man” should be wise. But – we have all become fools, no one knows God and His glorious works (Rom 3:11). “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God” (1Co 2:14). Who is He, and what is He like, this great and eternal God who created and sustains all things? “Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if you know?” No, by myself I do not know it, but God’s Word teaches it to me. “Every word of God is pure;” it is a pure and clear mirror in which I recognize Him, as far as He opens my eyes. There I learn that the great, almighty God loved me, and that His Son, Jesus Christ, became Man to save me. In this Word I have a sure defense against falsehood and death. But whoever does not believe understands none of it and has no weapon against the devil.
In the Word alone are wisdom and power for our soul; don’t look for it elsewhere, and don’t add anything to His Word. Do not mingle the doctrines of men with the heavenly truth of God’s Word; the Lord does not tolerate that, because then you destroy yourself and others. Pray like Agur: 1) “Remove falsehood and lies far from me;” 2) “Give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food You prescribe for me.” (1) Let God’s Word rule over your thoughts, your convictions of faith, your promises and plans, your words and dealings. Let the divine truth support all your undertakings; consider and do everything in humility and fear of God according to the Lord’s Word. (2) Guard yourself from poverty, gather fragments so that nothing is lost, live modestly and frugally, do not use more than God has given you. Work with eagerness and joy, be diligent like the ant and wise like the bee (Pro 6:6). But guard yourself from desiring riches, for how difficult it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God (Mar 10:25)! The temptations of poverty are hard, but those of wealth are harder. God shall free you from both. His Word is a shield for those who trust in Him; for it teaches us to know the Father, the Almighty, in the Son, our Lord Jesus, and it gives us adoption as children with Him in this world and the next.
Closing Prayer
God, teach us to know the refining purity of Your Word and its power against worries and mammon as well as against all lies and doctrines of men. We pray You from the heart: “Remove falsehood and lies far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food You prescribe for me.” Amen.
Hymn
Thy goodness and Thy mercy, Lord,
Shall follow me, attending
The days Thou dost to me afford
Until they reach their ending.
Thereafter shall I in Thy love
Dwell in Thy house in heav’n above
Forever and forever.
Knøpken: Hvad kan os komme til for Nød (Psalm 23) L 287:7-8 [We substitute: Arrebo: The Lord my faithful Shepherd is tr. C. Døving;
tune: Es ist gewisslich (ELH 368:6)]