October 30

Oct 30 - Today from Proverbs 30 we look at verse 33
"For as churning the milk produces the butter, and twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife."

Little is known about Agur, the author of chapter 30 of the book of Proverbs. If you have read the entire chapter today, you will see that his style is quite different. This chapter is a prime example of Metaphorical Theology, the dominant philosophical process of ancient Eastern thought - and still quite prevalent in the East today. The Western mind struggles with this process because we have been trained in Process Theology, or Systematic Theology, which began to dominate Western thinking when the great Greek philosophers prevailed and their influence spread throughout the great empire of Alexander the Great. Out of the Greek influence came Platonism, Aristotelism, scholasticism, rationalism, Hegelianism, existentialism, and finally process theology. Because of the radical differences in these two approaches (Metaphorical Theology and Systematic Theology), it sometimes becomes difficult for us in the West to understand or interpret the Old Testament scriptures, which were written primarily in Metaphorical Theology. This would include the Gospels, written by men who were naturally acclimated to this thought process. The apostle Paul was the apostle to the gentiles, who were much more under Greek influence. Thus, Paul used a much more systematic approach in his writings - the book of Romans being one of the finest pieces of Systematic Theology available.
Very briefly, the primary difference in the two thought systems is the approach. In the West, we begin with a concept, and then illustrate the concept with examples and analogies. The Eastern approach begins with a parable or illustration and then moves to conceptual interpretation of the illustration. This is the way Jesus taught theology because His audience was Eastern. It was the way they processed thought.
I am a Western mind, and sometimes (often), I still struggle through some of the theology of the Old Testament. It requires a new way of thinking. Agur was considered a very wise man in his day. He was not 'over the head' of his audience. He did not introduce concepts. He simply introduced illustrations which the Eastern mind would be challenged to apply conceptual interpretation. This is a key for us in most of the book of Proverbs, particularly in chapter 30. Today we are looking at verse 33. I am only going to go in perhaps one or two levels of conceptual interpretation of this verse. The Holy Spirit may take you deeper, because illustrations cover so much more area than a single concept.
The overriding concept I see in this illustration is by-products. When one churns milk, one should not be surprised that the chief by-product would be butter. When one twists another's nose, one should not be surprised that the by-product would be a flow of blood. The simplest of minds understands the concept of natural by-products. Yet, humanity still does not seem to understand that strife is a natural by-product of stirring up anger. We do something that we know will make another angry, yet we are surprised at how it produces long term strife. Am I right? We think that people should just get over their anger. We got our way. . . or our shot in . . . or our frustration vented . . . now just drop it. Human nature doesn't just drop it. We are surprised to discover that it wasn't the end of the game, it was only the first volley in a long game of strife. The game only ends when LOVE makes its entrance. "Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs." (1 Cor. 13:5). No return volley. Game over. Wisdom always acts and reacts in love. This kind of love only comes by the grace of God. It calls for us to surrender to Him that we might appropriate that which He offers through the power of His Spirit. It is the incredible paradox of the exchanged life - we surrender in order to get the victory.