Pro 30:4 | KingComments | STEP | Agur makes it clear through six questions that he – and this is true of every human being – is indeed totally ignorant concerning God and Divine things. These questions emphasize the actions of God and show that it is absurd for a mortal to think that he can explain God’s work or compare himself to God. They prove the exaltedness of God and the complete inability of man (cf. ; ; ; ). It cannot be contradicted that “heaven” is there, above us, and that man’s interest has been toward heaven since time immemorial. The journey to the moon shows his desire for its knowledge. His examination of the sky, which he undertakes from the earth, gives him the consciousness that he is only scribbling at the hem of the universe. And going to heaven to have a look there is another thing altogether. Who has ever done that? Or who has descended from it to tell something about its mysteries? We know that Christ ascended to heaven. That happened after He had completed the work of redemption on the cross, had been in death and had risen. From there He sent the Holy Spirit. In the Spirit He comes down to tell what is in heaven ( ). When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He could say: “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man” ( ). He, Who was to ascend into heaven after His work on the cross, when He was on earth was at the same time in heaven. This was so because He is the only begotten Son of God. He is the answer to the questions of Agur. When we look under heaven, here on earth, we also see things there that cannot be grasped or controlled by man. The invisible “wind” is elusive and its power irresistible, but not to Him. In the spiritual application, the wind refers to difficulties that come into our lives. We have no control over them, but we may know that Christ also has the wind in His hand in our life. The same applies to tangible “waters”, over which man also has absolutely no control. Waters speak of trials that can come into our life where we feel like we are drowning in them. But He is with us in the waters of tribulation ( ). And what about “all the ends of the earth”, who “established” them, or gave stability to them? Here again, He is the answer. He gives stability to our life. The atmosphere (wind), the liquid (waters) and the solid (ends of the earth), all are beyond man’s control. Yet they are controlled. Agur asks about the Name of Who does that and what is His son’s Name. The words “His name” and “His son’s name” are rightly capitalized, for Agur is speaking of God. Only to him God is still so incomprehensible, so inimitable, so full of secrets. To ask about the name is to ask about His Being, about His characteristics and attributes. Who will be able to know them fully? He also asks about the Name of His Son. If then God is so exalted and so incomprehensible, is there perhaps Someone Who can represent Him? Is there perhaps Someone Who can speak on behalf of God, or could declare Him? His question does show that he lives very close to God and senses that perhaps there is a Son Who shares in the attributes of God because He is His Son. In this we must remember that the Son does not speak on behalf of God, but He speaks as God because He is God. God “has spoken to us in [His] Son in these last days” ( ). The prophets were human beings through whom God addressed His people. But the Lord Jesus, the Son, is not a means through whom God speaks. The speaking of the Lord Jesus is the speaking of God Himself! The prophets spoke on behalf of God. The Lord Jesus did not speak on behalf of God, but in His capacity as God. This He certainly did as Man on earth, but that Man is God the Son. God Himself speaks as a Divine Person. That Person is the Son. As noted above, the truth of the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is not fully revealed until the New Testament. Here, in the Old Testament, it is still hidden. We know that the Lord Jesus is the eternal Son to Whom God has not transferred certain attributes, but Who is perfectly one with Him and has perfectly revealed Him on earth: “The only begotten Son Who is in the bosom of the Father, Who has explained [Him]” ( ). At the same time, even for us it remains an unfathomable mystery Who the Son really is, for “no one knows the Son except the Father” ( ). For us, the questions of are answered in the New Testament. There we see that they are about God and His revelation in the Son. Wherever God reveals Himself, He does so in the Son. We also see that the Son is the Creator and Sustainer of all things ( ; ; ). Everything is under His control and He brings creation to the goal He has set for Himself. God will once subject all things to His feet ( ) because He has accomplished the work of redemption.

‏ Proverbs 30:4

God Reveals Himself in His Son

Agur makes it clear through six questions that he – and this is true of every human being – is indeed totally ignorant concerning God and Divine things. These questions emphasize the actions of God and show that it is absurd for a mortal to think that he can explain God’s work or compare himself to God. They prove the exaltedness of God and the complete inability of man (cf. Isa 40:12; Deu 30:11-14; Rom 10:6-7; Eph 4:9).

It cannot be contradicted that “heaven” is there, above us, and that man’s interest has been toward heaven since time immemorial. The journey to the moon shows his desire for its knowledge. His examination of the sky, which he undertakes from the earth, gives him the consciousness that he is only scribbling at the hem of the universe. And going to heaven to have a look there is another thing altogether. Who has ever done that? Or who has descended from it to tell something about its mysteries?

We know that Christ ascended to heaven. That happened after He had completed the work of redemption on the cross, had been in death and had risen. From there He sent the Holy Spirit. In the Spirit He comes down to tell what is in heaven (Jn 14:18 ; Jn 16:13-15). When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He could say: “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man” (Jn 3:13). He, Who was to ascend into heaven after His work on the cross, when He was on earth was at the same time in heaven. This was so because He is the only begotten Son of God. He is the answer to the questions of Agur.

When we look under heaven, here on earth, we also see things there that cannot be grasped or controlled by man. The invisible “wind” is elusive and its power irresistible, but not to Him. In the spiritual application, the wind refers to difficulties that come into our lives. We have no control over them, but we may know that Christ also has the wind in His hand in our life.

The same applies to tangible “waters”, over which man also has absolutely no control. Waters speak of trials that can come into our life where we feel like we are drowning in them. But He is with us in the waters of tribulation (Isa 43:2). And what about “all the ends of the earth”, who “established” them, or gave stability to them? Here again, He is the answer. He gives stability to our life.

The atmosphere (wind), the liquid (waters) and the solid (ends of the earth), all are beyond man’s control. Yet they are controlled. Agur asks about the Name of Who does that and what is His son’s Name. The words “His name” and “His son’s name” are rightly capitalized, for Agur is speaking of God. Only to him God is still so incomprehensible, so inimitable, so full of secrets. To ask about the name is to ask about His Being, about His characteristics and attributes. Who will be able to know them fully?

He also asks about the Name of His Son. If then God is so exalted and so incomprehensible, is there perhaps Someone Who can represent Him? Is there perhaps Someone Who can speak on behalf of God, or could declare Him? His question does show that he lives very close to God and senses that perhaps there is a Son Who shares in the attributes of God because He is His Son. In this we must remember that the Son does not speak on behalf of God, but He speaks as God because He is God.

God “has spoken to us in [His] Son in these last days” (Heb 1:1). The prophets were human beings through whom God addressed His people. But the Lord Jesus, the Son, is not a means through whom God speaks. The speaking of the Lord Jesus is the speaking of God Himself! The prophets spoke on behalf of God. The Lord Jesus did not speak on behalf of God, but in His capacity as God. This He certainly did as Man on earth, but that Man is God the Son. God Himself speaks as a Divine Person. That Person is the Son.

As noted above, the truth of the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is not fully revealed until the New Testament. Here, in the Old Testament, it is still hidden. We know that the Lord Jesus is the eternal Son to Whom God has not transferred certain attributes, but Who is perfectly one with Him and has perfectly revealed Him on earth: “The only begotten Son Who is in the bosom of the Father, Who has explained [Him]” (Jn 1:18). At the same time, even for us it remains an unfathomable mystery Who the Son really is, for “no one knows the Son except the Father” (Mt 11:27).

For us, the questions of Pro 30:4 are answered in the New Testament. There we see that they are about God and His revelation in the Son. Wherever God reveals Himself, He does so in the Son. We also see that the Son is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2). Everything is under His control and He brings creation to the goal He has set for Himself. God will once subject all things to His feet (Heb 2:8) because He has accomplished the work of redemption.