Proverbs 30:29-31. 29Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride: 30the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any; 31the strutting rooster, the he-goat, and a king whose army is with him.
We have come to Agur’s final quatrain (list of four). Yesterday we read his list of four small animals that are not powerful but they are wise. In today’s verses, Agur lists four things that are powerful, and confident. He calls them stately. They are dignified and courageous. Once again, Agur doesn’t expressly state the lesson or moral for each in his list. He leaves it up to us to discern.
The lion: he is always confident in his gate, never running from a fight. He’s at the top of the food chain, and he knows it.
The rooster: he struts with his head up and crows confidently, performing his daily task of letting everyone know the sun has risen.
The mountain goat: his confident glare is famous. With a dignified prance he leads the flock, always sure footed, never stumbling.
The King: his army loves him and will fight for him. He is unchallenged by his rivals and (hopefully) rules with kindness and courage.
Not only are the Hebrew words and grammar extremely difficult to translate in these verses, but so is Agur’s point. Is he presenting a positive list of things that live with appropriate dignity? Or, is this list a warning against pride, calling us once again to an attitude of humility? At the very least Agur is putting these last two lists side by side so we can see how God works through the humble and the stately. Maybe that’s Agur’s main point, that God uses everything to bring glory to himself.
Jesus embodied both lists while on Earth, didn’t he? He became small, weak, and humble in his incarnation yet this was the very wisdom of God. Jesus also lived a very stately life, dignified, honorable, and courageous. He never acted foolishly or silly. He was always the perfect mix of humble and confident. A servant and a king. Small and big. Human and God.
As Christians we too are able to embrace this Christ-like combination of small yet stately, humble and confident, weak but strong. We can walk through life with the dignity and honor that Jesus has bestowed upon us. And we can treat each other this way too. We can outdo one another in showing honor (Rom. 12:10). Why? Because we know that we are all raised to a position of heavenly glory in Christ.
You: How can a person be dignified without being proud?
You in Christ: How does being in Christ make us both humble and confident at the same time?
Christ in you: Where do you need to embrace more humility? More dignity?
Pray: Jesus, in you I am honored and humbled. Keep me from living below who you say I am, while lowering myself to who you are, the servant-king. Amen.
To Live is Christ 