Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl Proverbs 30:4-6 Agur’s Prayers and Advice, Part 2
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Proverbs 30:4–6
[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. (ESV)
Agur’s Prayers and Advice, Part 2
v.4: This verse challenges Agur’s hearers to understand that no one can acquire Wisdom by their own reason or ability. God’s Wisdom has been given to them in Solomon’s proverbs, as well as in the books of Moses. Read Deuteronomy 30:11-14 and compare it with this verse: “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”
Paul will also draw on this text from Deuteronomy to make the point that Christ is the Word who descended from heaven to reveal God's salvation to us. The preached Gospel of Christ brings us the saving knowledge of God we could never attain on our own (Romans 10:6-17). Agur's questions are based on God's questions to Job (Job chapters 38-39). Who is the one that created the world and sustains it? The Son of God, Jesus Christ.
v.5: Agur continues to point to the Wisdom of God in the Gospel. God’s Word is always trustworthy and true, and God is a shield for those who trust in Him and His Word. This is completely different from those who attempt to find Wisdom by their own efforts, which is impossible, even for Agur, as he admits himself in Proverbs 30:1-3. God protects His people graciously and offers them salvation. By faith, we take refuge in Him, and He gives us his timeless Wisdom in His Word.
v.6: In this verse, Agur warns against adding to God's Word. This applies not only to adding to the Gospel but also to making up laws that God does not command. See Matthew 15:9: "in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Adding to the Gospel removes its comfort by making them feel it is necessary to meet criteria God does not require, and adding to the Law burdens consciences unnecessarily. God, who is our shield and protector, will preserve His Word. This divinely inspired warning applies to the entire canon of the Old and New Testaments. At the end of Revelation is a similar warning that God will deal with any person who either adds to or subtracts from the final revelation of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures (Revelation 22:18–19). No one should tamper with any of the books in the Bible nor with their message of Law and Gospel given by God himself.