Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know! – Proverbs 30:4

Today’s Scripture Reading (October 19, 2019): Proverbs 30

Ancient kings often claimed that they were the descendants of the gods. The idea legitimized their reigns and why they, above all others, deserved to rule. The concept is pervasive. Even the Popes of the Catholic Church, while denying that they are the sons of their Christian God, believed that they had a unique relationship with God that was shared by no one else, very similar to a son, and because of that unique relationship they spoke and acted without error. Whatever they spoke, no matter how ridiculous, was the truth of God; a truth of which they would take full advantage.

The Jewish kings were the exception to this rule. They ruled at the discretion of God, but they were not perfect in any way; including in what they knew. It was an image that began with the nation’s greatest King – David. While he is seen historically as a great king, not even David believed that he was perfect and without error. What made David a king after God’s own heart was that he was willing to admit when he was wrong and sought to restore the relationship that he had damaged with his God. So it follows that if David was not perfect, why would we expect Solomon to be? (Just as an aside, in reverse this is the same argument that the Roman Catholic Church uses to exalt Mother Mary. If Jesus was perfect, then Mary must have been as well. What no one has been able to explain to me is how far this needs to go back. After all, following that argument, if Mary was perfect, then shouldn’t her mother be perfect as well?) Solomon possessed a wisdom that Israel believed was a gift from God. But even Solomon didn’t know everything.

Enter Agur, the son of Jakeh. We know nothing about him except what is contained in this inspired utterance. These words were likely added to Proverbs somewhere around the time of King Hezekiah. And Agur asks the question that he believes only God could answer. Who is it that knows both heaven and earth? Who is it that has wrapped the waters in a cloak? The understanding of his day was that water encircled the earth. The sky is blue because it is an ocean that for some reason does not fall on us; except occasionally in the form of rain.

In the same way the oceans maintained their shores. They came so far, but no further. There was no doubt that the oceans could flood all of the earth, as they did in ancient times, and yet something held them back. Who would know that? Who established the ends of the earth? What is the name of this all-powerful God who Israel knew only as “I Am?” And then Agur adds this question; “What is the name of his son? Surely you know!”

To Agur, the question is rhetorical. No one knows the name of God or the name of his son, any more than they understood how the waters that encircled the earth were kept at bay. Solomon was wise and left us with great advice, but some things were beyond even his knowledge. Solomon was not the Son of God.

But as Christians, we see a prophecy in these inspired words of Agur. He did not know the name of the son of God. To Agur, and Solomon, the name of God and God’s son was unknowable. But we know. Like a little child, we know the name of God; it is “Father” or “Dad” (ask any young child, and that is the name by which they know their male parent). And his son? His name is Jesus! Only he has come down from heaven to earth and returned once again to his heavenly home.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Proverbs 31