Proverbs 16:18-19, Pawn of Satan or Pearl of Grace

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October 29, Proverbs 16:18-19

Luke 18:14; Rom. 11:20 “My inflated faculties versus Divine Grace.”

Pawn of Satan or Pearl of Grace

Nothing is more severely, and more frequently, treated in this Book, than Pride. “What more vivid exposition of these Proverbs is needed, than our own ruined condition” (Bridges). Was it because Solomon himself was so severely tempted to pride, as well he might be in view of all his accomplishments?

1. Haughtiness, Harbinger of Humiliation: Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall (18). Pride is the quick-sands of self-flattery. It makes one the easy pawn of Satan. It is the fancy flight of the paper kite, soon to come crashing down into the mud. Pride entered Heaven and “from heaven sinning angels fell” (Milton). It entered Eden, and tempted our first parents, and how great was the fall thereof (Gen. 3)! It has invaded every human heart, every tribe, every class and every condition of men. One has only to turn to history, sacred or secular, to find examples of the pride and the ruin that issued from its poison. The proud man sins against himself (8:36), is in contention with his neighbour (13:10), and is abhorrent to his God (16:5). Pride climbs up, not as Zacchaeus to see Jesus, but to be seen of men. “Pride goeth before, and shame cometh after” (Est. 3:5, 7:10; Jn.13:37-38). Goliath defied the armies of the living God, but one little stone felled him! Yet all this, however often repeated, will not destroy the monster of pride, so powerful are its tentacles around the heart of man.

2. Humility, Heralder of Happiness: Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud (19). Is it not the pledge of God Himself that He loves the humble? The simple blessings of the genuinely humble are not to be compared with all the spoils of the world. Pagan Rome disdained humility. Latin still defines humilitas as “smallness, lowness, insignificance, baseness.” To the Romans, pride was everything. The teaching of Holy Scripture is the direct opposite of this. In our sinful world, it is true that the proud man is openly deferred to, but is secretly disliked. On the other hand, the humble, though often ignored, is respected as the truly noble soul. Is not humility essentially a Christian virtue after all? Is it not the reflection of the Image of God in man? The humble person enjoys sweet fellowship with Christ. It is a sign of moral greatness. The proud may appear better in outward things, but Gospel humility makes man better where it counts – within! Humility is the Heralder calling to Happiness. It promotes to the favour of God; qualifies for His gracious bestowments, and above all, prepares for the Glory to come. “Prize the doctrine of grace, and the grace of the doctrine.” God intended that these two should always go together. Paul confesses, But by the grace of God I am what I am; and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain. Then he adds, but I laboured more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (1 Cor. 15:10). Only the grace of God can break pride’s power.

Thought: “Fear not the pride of others so much as pride in ourselves” (Henry).

Prayer: Let Thy example, Blessed Lord, keep me lower.