What Does The Book Of Proverbs Say For Today Part 8

 

What Does Proverbs Say For Today Part 8

 

Humility and Pride

 

¹ Humble = adj. modest, unassuming. Syn. Lowly. A man is humble from a sense of his imperfections; he is modest inasmuch as he sets little value on his qualifications and acquirements.

Humility = n. modesty, mildness, freedom from pride; unpretentiousness.

² Humility (OT) = humility, gentleness, affliction.

³ Humble = Abase, to make or bring low; to humble; Contemn, to despise with mockery; Entreaties, pleadings; humble requests; Ravish, to rape; lie with; humble; Spite, vexation; anger; grief.

¹ Pride = n. inordinate self-regard; a proper feeling of esteem for one’s own qualities or achievements; that which one prizes, as my record is my pride.

⁵Pride = Verbs. “to be proud, be exalted.” This verb appears 7 times in biblical Hebrew. The word appears in Exod. 15:1 in the sense of “to be exalted”: “I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted [KJV, “he hath triumphed”]; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea (NASB).

 

“Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble. When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom. Better is the one who is slighted (lightly esteemed) but has a servant, than he who honors himself but lacks bread. By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom. In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident. The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, but He will establish the boundary of the widow. The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weights the spirits. Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; though they join forces (Lit. hand to hand), none will go unpunished. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (stumbling). Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil (plunder) with the proud. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. He who loves transgression loves strife, and he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment (sound wisdom). Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility. He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him. Most men will proclaim each his own goodness (Lit. mercy), but who can find a faithful man? Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weights the hearts. A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing (Or lamp) of the wicked are sin. A proud and haughty man – ‘Scoffer’ is his name; he acts with arrogant pride. By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life. It is not good to eat much honey; so to seek one’s own glory is not glory. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered. He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor. There is a generation that is pure in its’ own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness. There is a generation – oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up (in arrogance). If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.” (Proverbs 3:34; 11:2; 12:9; 13:10; 14:3, 15-16, 18; 15:25, 33; 16:2, 5, 19; 17:19; 18:1, 12-13; 20:6; 21:2-4, 24; 22:4; 25:27; 26:12; 27:1-2; 28:25; 29:1, 23; 30:12-13, 32)

 

“When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2 Wisdom is not easy for the proud, remember wisdom is not intelligence but the ability to learn and apply knowledge and understanding to every aspect of life.

 

“Better is the one who is slighted (lightly esteemed) but has a servant, than he who honors himself but lacks bread. A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident. A proud and haughty man – “Scoffer” is his name; he acts with arrogant pride.” Proverbs 12:9; 14:16; 21:24 Sounds like being a “wiseacre” or “wise guy” is bad. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” and James says is James 4:13-17, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we (M let us) will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life” It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the LORD wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boost in your arrogance. All such boosting is evil. Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

 

Proverbs 26:1-11 teaches about fools and folly then Solomon ends this passage with this statement, “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 26:12 this is a strong judgment against pride!

 

“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (stumbling). Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility. A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor. When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled (put down), and he who humbles himself will be exalted (lifted up).” Proverbs 15:33; 16:18; 18:12; 29:23; Job 22:29; Matthew 23:12 “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled (put down), and he who humbles himself will be exalted (lifter up).” It is clear that self humility is better than humiliation. Study Luke 14:7-14.

“Most men will proclaim each his own goodness (Lit. mercy), but who can find a faithful man?” Proverbs 20:6 JESUS told us not to boast of our good deeds, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in Heaven…That your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly (NU omits openly).” Matthew 6:1-4

 

Humility is the nature of JESUS, pride is the nature of the devil and the root of all sin⁵, and we are called to repent of pride and live in humility. “Let this mind be in you which was also in CHRIST JESUS, who, being in the form of GOD, did not consider it robbery to be equal (Or something to be held onto to be equal) with GOD, but made Himself of no reputation (emptied Himself of His privileges), taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore GOD also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of JESUS every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the glory of GOD the Father.” “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of GOD, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober (self-controlled), be vigilant (watchful); because (NU, M omit because) your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  “Therefore submit to GOD. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to GOD and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and He will lift you up.” (Philippians 2:5-11; John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:6-8; James 4:7-10) In 1968 the Rock group American Breed released a love song “Bend Me, Shape Me”, the chorus is, “Bend me, shape me, Anyway you want me, Long as you love me, it's all right.” This should be the theme of our life as a Christian.

 

Pride is natural to our sin nature, but JESUS has delivered us from the sin nature that we were born with and given us His nature of humility. Humility from the world’s perspective can be, but is not necessarily, a positive quality. From GOD’s perspective it is the only human quality that will not be judged, Matthew 5:2-12; 7:1-5. “Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Or land).

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see GOD.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of GOD.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’”

“Judge (condemn) not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment (condemnation) you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

 

 Proverbs 21:4 says, “A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing (Or lamp) of the wicked are sin.” In the KJV, “and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.” is also rendered, “or, the light of the wicked.”

⁶ To Plow = The word is used to express the plotting of evil against a friend in Prov. 3:29: “Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee”, literally, “do not plow evil”

 

JESUS said, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good (clear or healthy), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad (evil or unhealthy), your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew 6:22-23.

 

Pride causes our heart to be darkened to the point we become reprobate, pride leads to every other vice⁷. Romans 1:18-25, “For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress (hold down) the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of GOD is manifest (evident) in them (among), for GOD has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and GODhead (divine nature, deity), so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew GOD, they did not glorify Him as GOD, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible GOD into an image made like corruptible (perishable) man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore GOD also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of GOD for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Study this passage with the intent to see your own pride.

 

Proverbs 21:24, “A proud and haughty man – ‘Scoffer’ is his name; he acts with arrogant pride.”

¹ Scoff = n. a jeer, an expression of contempt, mockery or derision. v.i. and v.t. to mock, jeer, treat with scorn, deride.

⁸ Scoffers = Persons who try to turn all religion into ridicule, with a design to depreciate truth and represent it as contemptible.

 

 2 Peter 3:3-7, “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For this they willfully forget: that by the Word of GOD the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same Word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition (destruction) of unGODly men.” Study Psalm 19.

 

More scriptures from Proverbs; 6:1-5; 8:13; 12:23, 14:12, 15, 18; 20:9; 26:3-11.

 

I recommend Andrew Murray’s book ‘Humility’