Posted by Jeff Short on December 4, 2020 · Leave a Comment
Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
– Proverbs 30:2
The word for
brutish means stupid and can refer to animals as opposed to humans. Agur begins confessing he is more like a dumb beast than a human being in terms of wisdom. Beasts are without spiritual insight or concern, and are rather driven by animal needs such as safety and food (Psalm 73:21-22). The wisdom of Proverbs generally tends to humility (Proverbs 3:5-7; 26:12; 28:26). It could be said that wisdom is unattainable without it.
Posted by Jeff Short on October 8, 2020 · Leave a Comment
A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.
– Proverbs 29:23
Following a saying on anger is this saying on pride. The saying is similar to Proverbs 11:2 and 16:18. Pride leads to destruction and honor requires humility beforehand (Proverbs 18:12). The word for
humble means low, or lowly. God rewards the lowly (Proverbs 3:34; 16:18-19) and hates pride (Proverbs 6:17).
Posted by Jeff Short on December 17, 2018 · Leave a Comment
The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
– Proverbs 27:7
This saying is not about food exactly but about the proportional relationship between need and appreciation. The word for
loatheth means to walk on and expresses great contempt. Over-indulgence produces fatigue and pride ruins enjoyment. What could be good enough to the proud heart? The
hungry soul is a needy soul, not as pretentious or picky as the sated one. The bitter is sweet, appreciated, and enjoyed by the truly hungered. Spiritual application could be made as the words of Jesus to Simon the Pharisee indicate, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little” (Luke 7:47).
Posted by Jeff Short on July 24, 2018 · Leave a Comment
For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
– Proverbs 25:7
Humility and patience are better than promoting oneself and later being humiliated. The king or
prince determines the places of their people. If you grasp for a higher place, you will likely be shamed when someone higher in standing arrives and you must give place to him. Jesus alluded to these wisdom principles in Luke 14:8-10. At first glance, the proverb may seem mere helpful advice to avoid social embarrassment. With further reflection, wisdom teaches there are more important matters than one’s social standing, whether real or perceived.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on July 23, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
– Proverbs 25:6
Verses 6-7 continue the theme of kings and courtiers. The
presence of the king in this verse obviously continues the link with the previous. These two verses form a better-than saying concerning humility. To be
put … forth or
stand … in the place of great men is to be promoted. The warning here is against self-promotion, as wisdom elsewhere teaches is distasteful (Proverbs 25:27; 27:2). Since the “heart of kings is unsearchable” and therefore their favor never secure, caution and discipline are advised (Proverbs 23:1-8).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on March 4, 2018 · Leave a Comment
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.
– Proverbs 22:4
The beginning
by expresses a consequence. The condition is
humility and
fear of the Lord. The result, or reward, is
riches,
honor, and
life. The word for
humility means condescension, modesty, or meekness. The word is set opposite haughtiness in Proverbs 18:12. Pride brings destruction, but true honor is preceded by humility (Proverbs 11:2; 16:5, 18-19; 29:23). Fear and humility are the necessary conditions for acquiring wisdom (Proverbs 2:5; 8:13; 9:10). The rewards of wisdom are elsewhere expressed in these terms (Proverbs 3:16; 21:21).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on October 16, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
– Proverbs 18:12
To be
haughty is to be lofty, or exalted, at least in one’s own eyes. Self-conceit primes one to be brought low (Proverbs 16:18; 26:12; 29:23). The second phrase appears in another proverb where
humility is coupled with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 15:33). Wisdom brings honor, but that path leads through humility (Proverbs 3:16).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on August 13, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
– Proverbs 16:19
This proverb continues with the thought of the previous one. Pride precedes destruction and, therefore, it is better to be humble. The word for
humble means low and the word for
lowly means poor. To
divide the spoil with the proud is to share in the product of their wicked schemes and oppressions (Proverbs 1:8-19). Being oppressed by the proud is better than oppressing with them. Even if being poor, being humble more prepares one for God’s blessing (Proverbs 15:33; James 4:6).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on July 24, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.
– Proverbs 15:33
Proverbs begins with the root issue of acquiring wisdom. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). There is no wisdom without the
fear of the Lord. Fools do not want the
fear of the Lord and therefore do not acquire wisdom, though they try to get it other ways (Proverbs 17:16). The word for
instruction means discipline, or training. So the
fear of the Lord is not only the beginning of the way of wisdom, but it is the whole course. Acquiring wisdom requires
humility, and that is the only way to the honor wisdom brings (Proverbs 3:16). The contrast is pride that refuses reproofs and goes on to destruction (Proverbs 18:12; 29:23).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Next Page »
Proverbs 30:2
Posted by Jeff Short on December 4, 2020 · Leave a Comment
Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
The word for brutish means stupid and can refer to animals as opposed to humans. Agur begins confessing he is more like a dumb beast than a human being in terms of wisdom. Beasts are without spiritual insight or concern, and are rather driven by animal needs such as safety and food (Psalm 73:21-22). The wisdom of Proverbs generally tends to humility (Proverbs 3:5-7; 26:12; 28:26). It could be said that wisdom is unattainable without it.– Proverbs 30:2
Share this:
Filed under 30, Proverbs, Short Comments · Tagged with Commentary, Humility, Proverbs, Wisdom