Pro 30:31 | KingComments | STEP | To keep us from thinking that the small of the previous verses is always better than the big, Agur gives four illustrations of stately creatures. They are all leaders ( ). The contrast with the previous four is clear. They are not powerless beings with whom you can do whatever you want, but they impress. They possess leadership qualities. There is something majestic about the way they move around. They “are stately in [their] march” and “are stately when they walk”. First we are given three examples from the animal world. They are the prelude to the fourth, the king who has his army with him. The army enhances the impression of his majesty. The first animal with a royal appearance is “the lion”, the king among beasts ( ). He “does not retreat before any”. On the contrary, everyone avoids him and gives him wide latitude. His way of moving around commands awe. Power radiates from it. He will not quicken his pace to flee, for he knows no fear of anyone. By his strength and majesty he illustrates Christ, “the ruler of the kings of the earth”, “the Lion from the tribe of Judah” ( ). We also see in “a strutting rooster” ( ) a royal appearance as he parades among the chickens. We find something of this in the Dutch saying “his rooster crows king” (= he achieves victory). The rooster crows when the sun rises, at the beginning of a new day. It is a sign of a new beginning. We see this in Peter’s denial of the Lord Jesus. When the rooster crowed, Peter woke up, as it were, and repented of what he had done ( ). That was the beginning of the way back. We can therefore see the rooster as a symbol of the announcement of the coming of the King. Christ will appear in majesty as Judge to judge the world and establish His kingdom of peace. The walk of “the male goat” is also stately. With his head proudly raised, he walks before the flock ( ), he goes at the head of it. The male goat is pre-eminently the animal that was used as a sin offering. It recalls the Lord Jesus Who went with royal dignity to Jerusalem to die as the sin offering. He had purposed to go that way and do that work and no one could stop Him in that ( ). That work is the basis for His return to earth, for by that work He regained the right to creation. Christ comes back to earth as “a king” and his “army is with Him”. A king with an army with him makes a great impression. No one dares oppose him and no one can stand against him. That will happen when Christ returns as King with all His people with Him ( ). It is the people He has sanctified for Himself, for whom He has offered the sacrifice. That people may reign with Him.

‏ Proverbs 30:31

Four With a Stately March

To keep us from thinking that the small of the previous verses is always better than the big, Agur gives four illustrations of stately creatures. They are all leaders (Pro 30:29). The contrast with the previous four is clear. They are not powerless beings with whom you can do whatever you want, but they impress. They possess leadership qualities. There is something majestic about the way they move around. They “are stately in [their] march” and “are stately when they walk”. First we are given three examples from the animal world. They are the prelude to the fourth, the king who has his army with him. The army enhances the impression of his majesty.

The first animal with a royal appearance is “the lion”, the king among beasts (Pro 30:30). He “does not retreat before any”. On the contrary, everyone avoids him and gives him wide latitude. His way of moving around commands awe. Power radiates from it. He will not quicken his pace to flee, for he knows no fear of anyone. By his strength and majesty he illustrates Christ, “the ruler of the kings of the earth”, “the Lion from the tribe of Judah” (Rev 1:5 ; Rev 5:5).

We also see in “a strutting rooster” (Pro 30:31) a royal appearance as he parades among the chickens. We find something of this in the Dutch saying “his rooster crows king” (= he achieves victory). The rooster crows when the sun rises, at the beginning of a new day. It is a sign of a new beginning. We see this in Peter’s denial of the Lord Jesus. When the rooster crowed, Peter woke up, as it were, and repented of what he had done (Mt 26:75). That was the beginning of the way back.

We can therefore see the rooster as a symbol of the announcement of the coming of the King. Christ will appear in majesty as Judge to judge the world and establish His kingdom of peace.

The walk of “the male goat” is also stately. With his head proudly raised, he walks before the flock (Jer 50:8), he goes at the head of it. The male goat is pre-eminently the animal that was used as a sin offering. It recalls the Lord Jesus Who went with royal dignity to Jerusalem to die as the sin offering. He had purposed to go that way and do that work and no one could stop Him in that (Lk 9:51). That work is the basis for His return to earth, for by that work He regained the right to creation.

Christ comes back to earth as “a king” and his “army is with Him”. A king with an army with him makes a great impression. No one dares oppose him and no one can stand against him. That will happen when Christ returns as King with all His people with Him (Rev 19:11-21). It is the people He has sanctified for Himself, for whom He has offered the sacrifice. That people may reign with Him.