Proverbs 30:2
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Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
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Here are inspired words of Agur (30:1), revealing his poor spirit and humble character at teaching Ithiel and Ucal. Note his use of "surely" to strengthen his admission.
Brutish. Of or pertaining to the brutes, or lower animals, as opposed to man. In want of intelligence or in failure to use reason: dull, irrational, uncultured, stupid.
He opens instruction to his students by claiming to be more ignorant than any man, like a brute beast; and there is no false humility here, for he speaks by prophetic inspiration.
Solomon showed the same humility; when offered anything by the LORD, he admitted he was but a child and asked for wisdom (I Kings 3:5-9). And this humble spirit before God brought him very great blessings of understanding and much more (I Kgs 3:10-13).
And Agur and Solomon are not alone, for we see this very same spirit also in Moses (Num 12:3), Elihu (Job 32:6-7), David (I Sam 18:23; Ps 131:1), Asaph (Ps 73:21-22), Jeremiah (Jer 1:6), Daniel (Dan 2:30), Amos (Amos 7:14-15), and Paul (Eph 3:8).
Dear reader, do you see a pattern? Great men of God do not claim to be wise, for their secret to success lies in their complete humility before their Creator and Lord. And this is God's order for things (Rom 12:16), as this brings Him the greater glory (I Cor 1:27). The God of heaven looks unto the man poor in spirit and with a contrite heart (Is 66:1-2).
God will bless the poor in spirit with riches of wisdom and other spiritual blessings (Matt 5:3; Luke 6:24). The man who says, "I do not know what to do," may stand still and see God work for him (II Chron 20:12,17). Go to Him this way today and become wise!
None of us know as we ought to know (I Cor 8:2); but we respond with confidence when confronting enemies of truth (Job 33:1-3; 36:1-4; Luke 1:3; I Cor 14:20; II Tim 3:17).
Has there ever been any meeker than our Lord Jesus? Never! He was lowly in heart, forbid promotional efforts, and never raised his voice in the street (Matt 11:29; 12:15-20).
The fastest way to wisdom is to be a fool, for God resists the proud and gives grace to the lowly (I Cor 3:18-20; James 4:6,10). The fastest way to folly is to think yourself wise, for God will destroy the proud (26:12; Isaiah 5:21; Rom 1:20-25; I Cor 1:19-21; Gal 6:3).
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