He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
The Wisdom of The Lord: The Results Of Pride
(1): Proverbs 17:19-22
19) He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20) He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a
perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21) He that begetteth a fool [doeth
it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22) A merry heart doeth good [like]
a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
In
this text, we begin to take a look at the wise recognition of the results of
pride in one’s life. This section
extends from verses 19-26, and will extend into the next devotional as well.
EXPOSITION:
19) He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
1.
The prideful person that refuses to submit to a higher authority loves to rebel. He shows that rebellion by stepping over
boundaries that are set for him by the Lord.
That person also loves the disputes and wars that his rebellion creates.
2.
The prideful person, who attempts to further his own causes, over the causes of
the Lord, is asking for the Lord’s hand of judgment upon him.
Pride
leads men to do as they please, regardless of the Lord’s desires for our
lives. This results in the Lord’s hand
of judgment to fall upon them and their eventual destruction.
“Who [is] a wise man and
endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his
works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter
envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not
from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil
work.” (James 3:13-16)
20) He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a
perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
1. The prideful person who possesses strong desires
to twist the will of God will not come upon anything that gives them permanent
benefits or pleasure.
2. The prideful person who possesses a tongue
that perverts God’s Word throws himself headlong into wickedness.
Pride
leads men to twist the Will and Word of the Lord. This results in no lasting gain but only a
wicked lifestyle that is headed that leads to sorrow and divine displeasure.
“Surely the serpent will
bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. The words of a wise man's
mouth [are] gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words
of his mouth [is] foolishness: and the end of his talk [is] mischievous
madness. A fool also is full of
words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can
tell him?” (Ecclesiastes 10:11-14)
21) He that begetteth a fool [doeth
it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
1. A prideful father (the parent most responsible
for the spiritual upbringing of the children) does not see the need to hand
down the wisdom of the Lord. This
results in depression and great grief as he sees the foolishness of the child
and recognizes himself as partially responsible for the child’s condition.
2. When a prideful father neglects his responsibility
to teach the Word to his children, it robs him of all of his joy and peace.
Pride
in the life of father’s causes them to be slack in teaching God’s wisdom to his
children. This results in foolish
children and brings upon the father great sorrow, guilt and depression.
“A foolish son [is] the
calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife [are] a continual
dropping.” (Proverbs 19:13)
22) A merry heart doeth good [like]
a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
1. A joyful mind brings physical and mental
health like medicine and, through God’s grace, heals a sickness.
2. The sorrow and guilt brought by a foolish child
upon the prideful parent can result in the breaking of a parent’s spirit. A broken, sorrowful, guilty spirit will bring
about failing physical health.
Not
only does the prideful parent suffer spirituality and mentality but also their
depression and regret can lead to physical ailments as well.
“For my days are consumed
like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. My heart is smitten, and
withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. By reason of the voice of
my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.” (Psalms 102:3-5)
SUMMARY:
The
prideful person, in many aspects of his life, is filled with regret, guilt, and
sorrow as he looks back at his life seeing all the results his foolishness has
brought upon him.
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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