Bridges on Proverbs 30:1-3
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 30:1-3
 
 1-3 
 4 
 5-6 
 7-9 
 10 
 11-14 
 15-16 
 17 
 18-20 
 21-23 
 24-28 
 29-31 
 32-33 
 

1.  The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, 2.  Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. 3.  I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. {have: Heb. know}
 
THE two concluding chapters of this Book are an appendix to the Proverbs of Solomon. Nothing certain is known of the writers; and it is vain to speculate where God is silent. Far better is it to give the full interest of our mind and heart to the matter of instruction, than to indulge unprofitable curiosity respecting the writers. Our ignorance of the writers of many of the Psalms in no degree hinders their profit to us. We know their author, when the penmen are hid. It is enough for us to be assured, that they were “holy men of God,” who wrote “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21.)
Agur was doubtless one of the wise men found in many ages of the Old Testament Church. His words were a prophecy; — that is — divine instruction given unto Ithiel and Ucal (Ithiel especially) probably two of his scholars, whose names are equally unknown to us. Perhaps they came to him for instruction, and he was led to express himself in the most humbling sense of his own ignorance. ‘You come to me for instruction. But surely I am more brutish than any man; not having the advantages of learning wisdom (Amos 7:14, 15), or the knowledge of the holy God (Daniel 4:18), and of the holy revelation of his name.’
His language is indeed strong. Stronger could scarcely have been used. He confesses himself to be, not only brutish, as man is by nature; but, though enlightened by heavenly teaching, more brutish than any man. Were these the words of truth? Or were they the affectation of modesty? Or was it false humility, dishonorably denying the work of God? He was now speaking from the mouth of God. And how could he dissemble in his name? He spake the truth as it really is, as consciousness could not but speak; as self-knowledge under divine teaching dictated. For let a man take “the candle of the LORD;” given him to “search all the inward parts of the belly” (Chapter 20:27; and what a mass of vanity will he find there! Such folly mixed with his wisdom! such ignorance with his knowledge! that, instead of pluming himself upon his elevation above his fellow-men, he can but cry out in shame — Surely I am more brutish than any man! Whoever knows his own heart, knows that of himself, that he can hardly conceive of any one else being so degraded as himself.
Add to which — it is the child of God comparing himself with his perfect standard. And in the perception of his own short-comings, the most discerning clear-sighted penitent feels, that he can never abase himself as he ought before his God — He would lie low, lower still, infinitely lower, in the dust. Holy Paul, comparing himself with the spirituality of the perfect law, exclaims — “I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Romans 7:14.) Isaiah, in the presence of a holy God — cries out — “Woe is me, for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6:5.) Job in the manifestation of the power of God sinks into absolute nothingness and unworthiness. (Job 40:4; 42:6.) David in the full view of the wisdom of God is made to see the perverseness of his own folly, and take up the very confession of Agur — “So foolish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before thee”! The nearer our contemplation of God, the closer our communion with him, the deeper will be our self-abasement before him; like the winged seraphs “before the throne, who with twain cover their faces, and with twain cover their feet.” (Isaiah 6:2.) Well, therefore, may the wisest and holiest of men, though “renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:10), take up the humiliating confession — Surely I am more brutish than any man — Genuine humility is the only path of wisdom. Unless a man stoops, he can never enter the door. He must become “a fool, that he may be wise.” And when he is humbled in his shame, then let him see the house of his God in its breadth and length (Ezekiel 44:5); enjoying clearer, and panting still for clearer manifestations of the incomprehensible God.
But how reverently should we approach this divine presence! With what holy hands should we open his revelation! dreading a careless, light, and presumptuous spirit; yet withal cherishing those nobly ambitious desires for deeper and higher knowledge; yea — reiterating them before our God with that repetition, which to a carnal mind would be nauseating tautology; but which he who knows our hearts loves to hear, and will beyond our desires abundantly fulfill.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Peter 1:21
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. {in old time: or, at any time}
 
 
Footnote:
This was a frequent Scripture name for ordinary instruction. Chapter 31. 1 Corinthians 14:1, 3, 4. 1 Thessalonians 5:20.
 

 
 
1 Corinthians 14:1, 3, 4
1 ¶ Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. {understandeth: Gr. heareth} 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
 
1 Thessalonians 5:20
20 Despise not prophesyings.
 
 
Amos 7:14, 15
14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: {sycomore...: or, wild figs} 15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. {as...: Heb. from behind}
 
 
Daniel 4:18
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
 
 
Footnote:
Job 11:12. Psalm 49:20. Jeremiah 10:14.
 

 
Job 11:12
12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. {vain: Heb. empty}
 
Psalm 49:20
20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
 
Jeremiah 10:14
14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. {brutish in his knowledge: or, more brutish than to know}
 
 
Proverbs 20:27
27 ¶ The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. {candle: or, lamp}
 
 
Footnote:
Compare chapter 14:10. The following remarks of a profound divine will illustrate this subject – ‘He that has much grace, apprehends, much more than others, that great height to which his love ought to ascend: and he sees better than others, how little a way he has risen towards that height. And therefore estimating his love by the whole height of his duty, hence it appears astonishingly low and little in his eyes – True grace is of that nature, that the more a person has of it, with remaining corruption, the less does his goodness and holiness appear, in proportion, not only to his past, but his present deformity, in the sin that now appears in his heart, and in the abominable defects of his highest and best affections.’ – Edwards on Relig. Affections, Part 3. Sect 6.
 

 
Proverbs 14:10
10 ¶ The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. {his own...: Heb. the bitterness of his soul}
 
 
Romans 7:14
14 ¶ For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
 
 
Isaiah 6:5
5 ¶ Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. {undone: Heb. cut off}
 
 
Job 40:4
4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
 
Job 42:6
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 73:1-22, ‘a beast.’ The original is the plural of excellence conveying an intensitiveness, not easy to transfer acceptably into our idiom. Bp. Horsley gives it – ‘I was as a brute before thee.’
 

 
Psalm 73:1-22
1 ¶ {A Psalm of Asaph.} Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. {of: or, for} {Truly: or, Yet} {of...: Heb. clean of heart} 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. {firm: Heb. fat} 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. {in...: Heb. in the trouble of other men} {like: Heb. with} 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. {have...: Heb. pass the thoughts of the heart} 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. {chastened: Heb. my chastisement was} 15 ¶ If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; {too...: Heb. labour in mine eyes} 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21 ¶ Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. {ignorant: Heb. I knew not} {before Heb. with}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isaiah 6:2
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
 
 
Colossians 3:10
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
 
 
Footnote:
1 Corinthians 3:18. There is a fine ray of wisdom in that consciousness of ignorance, that led Socrates to confess – ‘I only know one thing – that I know nothing.’ Compare 1 Corinthians 8:2.
 

 
1 Corinthians 3:18
18 ¶ Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
 
Compare
1 Corinthians 8:2
2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know
 
 
Ezekiel 44:5
5 And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary. {mark well: Heb. set thine heart} {mark well: Heb. set thine heart}