Agur's Challenge (Proverbs 30:4): Appendix B

PRO 30:4⁴Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? (Proverbs 30:4)THE incarnation was no mere emanation of divinity, neither was it a Person once divine Who ceased to be so by becoming man... but One Who, to glorify the Father, and in accomplishment of the purposes of grace to the glory of God, took humanity into union with Godhead in His Person. Therefore it is that He could say, and of Him alone could it be said, " the Son of man Who is in heaven " (John 3:13¹³And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:13)), even as He is the Only-begotten Son Who is (not merely Who was) in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18¹⁸No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18)).

He it is Who met, and more than met, the challenge of Agur (Prov. 30:4⁴Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? (Proverbs 30:4)), speaking prophetically to Ithiel and Ucal, “Who hath ascended up into the heavens, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in His fists? Who hath bound the waters in a mantle? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name?-if thou knowest."

It is God, not man, Who can take up this challenge; but it is God become man-yea, the Son of man. For “no one has gone up into heaven save He Who came down out of heaven, the Son of man Who is in heaven." See also Eph. 4:8-10⁸Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. ⁹(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:8‑10).

Exposition of the Gospel of John,