Day 775: Knowing God - Proverbs 30 vs 1-6

The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle. 1-3 The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out. Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. 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. Proverbs 30:1-6 English Standard Version

We come to a strange part of this collection of sayings called 'Proverbs', most of which were from King Solomon. We don't know who Agur was, and it's not clear who 'the man' in vs 1 refers to. Was it a humble testimony to his own lack of understanding, or a general reference to where anyone stands when it comes to the knowledge of God? Someone else in the Bible put it this way: “Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty? Such knowledge is higher than the heavens - and who are you? It is deeper than the underworld - what do you know? It is broader than the earth and wider than the sea!” (Job 11:7-9) Whoever 'the man' may be, what Agur says has been true of men and women through the ages. What is the condition he describes in vs 1-3.

He speaks of great weariness, and being worn out. The prophet Habakkuk said this can be true of nations too when he wrote: “What sorrow awaits you who build cities with money gained through murder and corruption! Has not the Lord of the heavenly hosts promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They weary themselves, but all in vain!” (Habakkuk 2:12-13) When God isn’t in the picture life becomes wearisome and people and nations are left worn out from their other pursuits.

But are people without ANY knowledge of God? After describing mankind's wearisome pursuits Habakkuk then said: “For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.” The apostle Paul spoke a similar truth to Christians in Rome when he wrote: “God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:18-20)

So Agur states some things about God that people ought to have known. (vs 4) And, writing in Old Testament days, he even goes as far as saying that people ought to have known the name of God's son! How do you think that could be?

My answer is based from what he says in 5-6. He points to the words God has revealed to mankind, and warns against tampering with them! So while we can learn quite a bit about God by looking at the universe He created, it's what He revealed through Moses, and the prophets and apostles, that we get more details. The things Agur mentions in vs 4 are found in books like Genesis and Job. The name of God's son in the Old Testament context was most like Adam, the first created man. In giving the family line of Jesus Christ, the gospel writer Luke traces it back to 'Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.' Luke 3:38) In the light of the New Testament we know that the name of God's unique Son is Jesus Christ.

Agur gives the remedy in vs 5 to ending up weary and worn out in the world, and from being confused by all the thoughts and ideas of people. He says: “Every word of God proves true - He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” Jesus prayed to the Father for those who believe on Him: “Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)