Thought for the Day

Chapter 30 was not written by Solomon, but by Agur. Solomon, respecting Agur's observations, may have included them in his book, or Hezekiah's scribes might have done so two centuries later. However the words of Agur came to be added to Solomon's proverbs, and we know that they were written and included by the Holy Spirit's inspiration.

Verses 1-3 - Little is known of Agur. This chapter records his words to Ithiel and Ucal, who had evidently come to him to learn wisdom. In response, Agur humbled himself. Rather than boast of being a great man of learning, he confessed his ignorance; knowing that all he had learned of God was nothing compared to what there was to know. His confession brings to mind Elihu's words in the Book of Job. Like Agur, Elihu, was able to correctly assess his own knowledge. These men humbly regarded their own understanding and secular education as nothing, and acknowledged the incomparable greatness of God's wisdom. Elihu knew that neither having great authority nor old age guarantees that a man has good judgment or wisdom, because truth and understanding come from God (Job 32:8-9).

Verse 4 - Agur asks five rhetorical questions that reveal his faith. He describes God as having gathered the wind in His fists, having bound the waters in His garments and having established the ends of the earth. This reveals the wisdom and power of God, the Ruler of all! In Agur's day, the answer to his first and fifth questions was still hidden. The answer to them both, "...What is His Son's name, if you know?" and "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?" is Jesus Christ (1 John 3:13-15). "...When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things)...And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven" (Ephesians 4:8-10,13).

When Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, He then was in the grave and hell (or Sheol; the place of the dead), for three days and three nights, before he ascended to heaven. He took all those who were held captive in paradise with Him to heaven above. (Those Old Testament saints who walked in faith were kept in paradise until Jesus paid the price for their sins on the cross. Paradise was a compartment in the lower regions of hell. "He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear" (Acts 2:31-33). Jesus "led captivity captive," which was to lead them out of that place into heaven with Him, after He rose from the dead.) Jesus' death, burial and resurrection made a way for all since then who repent and believe in Christ to follow Him to heaven also.

Agur's questions, written hundreds of years before Christ, foreshadowed this fuller revelation of God. They were indeed prophetic questions!