Proverbs 30:29-33 – Confident Living

The charge of Moses to his protégé Joshua was to be bold and courageous and confidently lead the people into the promised land. The same charge, put in different words, was what the Apostle Paul’s call to Timothy as well. Both were told not to cower under a spirit of timidity. Like them, just as God was on their sides, God is also on our side. Let’s not give in to a spirit of timidity for He has given us a spirit of love, and discipline and sound mind.  This same exhortation is needful for us who are serving and living for the Lord in a fallen and intimidating world. Confidence can be seen as the quality of being certain of the ability we rely on. Without confidence, we will feel intimidated by others or by circumstances. So, in these last few verses of Proverbs from 29-33, we are encouraged to be confident. Illustrating with three animals before he went on to use the example of a king supported by a strong army, the author asserted that we should live and act boldly and confidently in life. All the time bearing in mind that our confidence is in the One whom we worship and serve. Hs is our strong tower and ever-present help in times of trouble.  

First on his list of illustrations was a lion, known as the king of the beasts. It is mighty and will not back down or turn away in the fear of challenges. So stately is a lion that it exudes confidence. Second on the list is the rooster, the king of the barnyard. A rooster struts around confidently and ruling his territory unperturbed. Third on the list is the he-goat, also viewed as the king of the pasture. A he-goat does not back down easily either. It will stare at strangers with dauntless intensity. Finally, Agur illustrates with a king, steadily leading his army of strong and stately soldiers.

To round up, verses 32-33 remind us of the need to exercise discipline and reasonableness as we stay confident in the Lord. Before jumping into doing anything foolish, we should think and consider its implications, especially in a needless conflict. It can be avoided when we think before we say or act. Bear in mind that our confidence rest on the relationship we have with the Lord. We need to be reasonable. False confidence is not being reasonable. Insisting on something without truth and supporting logic as a basis, can end up in needless strife. While we need to display confidence, but it must be the outflow of our deep trust in the Lord. So, stay confident, in the Lord of course!