Three strong animals are told of by Agur, who had watched their habits, as he had those of the small creatures. He said, “There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
“A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; “A greyhound; an he-goat also and a king against whom there is no rising up.”
The word “comely” means graceful or with dignity; all these walk or move in graceful, dignified planner.
A lion is not the largest of animals, but it has such strong muscles in every part of its body, it overpowers even larger animals; yet it can move softly, in a stately way.
For the next animal, the margin of our Bibles gives the words, “a horse, girt about”, instead of “greyhound”, and it is thought that a war horse, strapped about, ready for its rider into battle, was meant as the second of these animals. Horses are graceful and usually gentle, but those trained for war, as many have been and some still are, are very strong and fearless. They are eager to go into danger and carry their riders over fences, through streams or over rough lands. Read about the war-horse in Job 39:19-2519Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? 20Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. 21He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. 22He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. 23The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. 24He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. 25He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. (Job 39:19‑25).
The third animal, the he-goat, is also very strong and leads and keeps watch over the Rock and is quick to strike against an enemy, which it butts with its head, and horns. There were many wild goats on the hills in the time of Agur. This animal seems also to move with dignity.
A king must have courage and go with dignity and, with his army, has power, but he has wisdom which the animals do not have. The three animals and the king all seem to teach of courage and strength for fighting, but also with dignity. And this seems to be the lesson for us, since there is evil in our paths in which we need courage and strength to “fight”.
When any one speaks lightly of the Lord, or against the Bible, we need courage to answer truly, but with grace. So these words seem to tell its we should walk through this world with courage, and in a way pleasing to the Lord.
Words of Scripture often teach more than one lesson; and these words about the three animals and the king, seem also to be a prophecy about the Lord Jesus. He is called “The Lion of Judah”, Who will have power to judge and to conquer all who, oppose God. It was a goat that was used in the Atonement Day (Lev. 16:99And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. (Leviticus 16:9)), and Christ was given, a sacrifice, but refused by many, and because of that He will at last overpower those who reject Him. He will be the great and only King, “against Whom there is, ‘no rising up.’” these judgments will all be in righteousness, or with “dignity”, honoring God against all evil. You may not understand this fully, but it shows us how much the Scriptures teach of Christ and how much there is for us to learn.
ML 05/18/1941