Proverbs 24:10–12, 17-18, 30:1-14
September 29, 2024
preached by Pastor Ryan Bouton
Download

Time of Reflection Quotations

“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”

~ Carl Sagan (1934-1996), American astronomer and planetary scientist, on Cosmos

“A scientist approaches God. He says ‘God, we’ve decided we don’t need you anymore. These days we can do things that used to be considered miraculous – we can even make a man from dust, just like you did.’

God replies, ‘That would be worth seeing. Why don’t you give it a try?’ The scientist stoops and grabs some dirt.

‘Not so fast!’ says God. ‘Get your own dirt.’”

~ a common joke

“No one knows your name, no one hears your cry.
Fall in with the fringe
Because they know what you’re going through.
They do.”

And if it feels good do it.
And if it tastes fine drink.
Well, there’s a range of possibilities to find.
Teenager, Teenager.”

~ “Teenager” by Better Than Ezra

“A writer, or any man, must believe that whatever happens to him is an instrument; everything has been given for an end. This is even stronger in the case of the artist. Everything that happens, including humiliations, embarrassments, misfortunes, all has been given like clay, like material for one’s art. One must accept it. For this reason I speak in a poem of the ancient food of heroes: humiliation, unhappiness, discord. Those things are given to us to transform, so that we may make from the miserable circumstances of our lives things that are eternal, or aspire to be so.”

~ Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986), Selected Non-Fictions

Sermon Passage

Proverbs 24:10–12, 17-18, 30:1-14 (ESV)

Proverbs 24

¹⁰ If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
¹¹ Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
¹² If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch
over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man according to his work?

¹⁷ Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
¹⁸ lest the LORD see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.

Proverbs 30

¹ The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.
The man declares, I am weary, O God;
I am weary, O God, and worn out.
² Surely I am too stupid to be a man.
I have not the understanding of a man.
³ I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
⁴ Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up 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?
Surely you know!
⁵ Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
⁶ Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
⁷ Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
⁸ Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
⁹ 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.
¹⁰ Do not slander a servant to his master,
lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
¹¹ There are those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers.
¹² There are those who are clean in their own eyes
but are not washed of their filth.
¹³ There are those—how lofty are their eyes,
how high their eyelids lift!
¹⁴ There are those whose teeth are swords,
whose fangs are knives,
to devour the poor from off the earth,
the needy from among mankind.