Agur: I Am Weary, But I Can Prevail

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Psalm 119:28

With so many negative things happening in our society today, many people are just plain becoming weary. They are growing tired and faint from dealing with the virus, the economy, the issues around social justice and even dealing with everyday problems like school, jobs and finding enough food to eat. All of this is making people tired and weary. This is nothing new. If you look at the Bible, people there also got tired and weary. We often don't think of people like , , , or other men in the Bible as being like us. However, they also got tired of dealing with all their challenges. For example, when Moses was leading the Israelites in battle against the Amalekites, he grew tired.

So fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Exodus 17:10-13

Moses grew tired and needed help holding up his hands. In this situation, Aaron and Hur were there and they helped hold his hands up. Another man who grew tired and faint at times was David. There are several verses in Psalms where David calls out to God because he is tired and faint.

Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony. Psalm 6:2

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. Psalm 61:2-3

For the director of music. For . Of Asaph. A psalm. I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. Psalm 77:1-4

When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. I cry to you, LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Psalm 142:3-6

The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly, LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Psalm 143:3-7

Recognizing that even men like Moses and David grew tired means we should not be surprised when we grow weary. How then should we deal being weary? Let's examine a man from the and how he dealt with this. His name is Agur. We don't know much about him other than what he wrote or compiled in . He begins the chapter this way.

The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance. This man's utterance to Ithiel: "I am weary, God, but I can prevail. Proverbs 30:1

He begins by honestly admitting that he is weary. There is nothing wrong with admitting you are weary. In fact, it's probably wise to recognize this rather than try to ignore it. However, right after saying this Agur says, "I can prevail." How can he say this? He was weary of all that was going on around him. He could say this because he was confident in the goodness of God.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14

Even when we are tired and weary, we need to remain confident in God. We need to trust in what God will do. Sometimes this means we have to wait which is not easy when you are tired. But we need to remember...

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

The next thing Agur said was that remembered who he was. He understood from where he was at that time, who he was.

Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One. Proverbs 30:2-3

This doesn't sound like a very positive attitude to us today. However, it was his honest appraisal of himself and shows that he was a humble man. Humility is still important today. The apostle Paul with all the trials he went through always remained humble.

I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. Acts 20:19

While being humble is still important, we also cannot forget that as Christians we are the children of God. We may not understand all that entails but we can be confident in the fact that God loves us as his children. This alone should reassure us when we grow tired and weary.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12-13

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:14-15

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:1-2

The next important thing that Agur kept in mind was who God was. God has done great things and we need to remember that. Agur could remain confident because he knew that God was sovereign over all. Another interesting observation here is that Agur knew God had a son even though he didn't know his name.

Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know! Proverbs 30:4

Agur was looking to the future and hoping for the son of God. We are looking back and seeing the risen Savior Christ who is our redeemer.

"This is what the LORD says— Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come— yes, let them foretell what will come. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one." 44:6-8

Following along with Agur's message, the next important thing Agur referred to is God's word.

"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6

Agur knew that God's word was perfect. He knew that God could be trusted and be his shield. Today, we have all of God's word in the Bible. God gave us his word so that we could use it in difficult and tiring situations. It is a weapon, a double edged sword that we can use against the enemy.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:16-17

As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. Psalm 18:30-32

Finally, Agur asked God for just two things. First, that he would keep falsehoods or lies far from him. Second, that he would not make him poor or rich but give him just what he needed.

"Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30:7-9

Agur knew the importance of knowing the truth and not being misled by false teachers. Even in his day there were many false who spread lies and falsehoods about God. The other thing that Agur clearly understood was the importance of being content with what he had. He didn't want to be rich and allow pride to interfere with his relationship with God. He also did not want to be poor so that he might be tempted to dishonor God. Amazingly, hundreds of years later, Paul gave Timothy much the same advice. First to avoid those who did not agree with the sound instruction of Jesus Christ. Second, to be content with what he had.

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:3-10

From examining these few verses in Proverbs 30 we can see how Agur could say "I can prevail." He was confident and trusted in the God he served. He had faith that God would help him even when he was tired and weary. This faith gave him hope.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

When you get to the end of your strength and are feeling faint, it is this hope that gives you the strength to carry on.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

Finally, an important perspective that you always need to keep in mind when you grow weary and lose heart.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." Hebrews 12:3-6

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3-4