Thursday, December 26, 2013

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 16:16-20


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Intervention of The Lord: Those Who Are Humble: Proverbs 16:16-20
16) How much better [is it] to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17) The highway of the upright [is] to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18) Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19) Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20) He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy [is] he.

EXPOSITION:
In verses 16-20, the Lord teaches us that His intervention is necessary if we are to possess a genuine spirit of humility…

16) How much better [is it] to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Throughout Proverbs we have seen the great value of wisdom and understanding in comparison to the riches that this world has to offer.  However, it is important to understand that one of the reasons why wisdom and understanding are of such value is because they both lead us to lives of humility and Godly living.

“Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  (Touch not; taste not; handle not;  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?  Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”   (Colossians 2:20-23)


17) The highway of the upright [is] to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
1.  The path upon which the righteous walk leads away from evil.  Walking upon this path is dependant upon our willingness to submit to the Lord’s desires for our lives and humbly put Him as first priority of our life.
2.  The person who watchfully guards his lifestyle, is one who continues to walk on the path of the righteous.  By doing this he builds a protective hedge of thorns around his physical and spiritual life.  Sinful living brings many physical ills and spiritual harm to those who forsake the path of righteousness.   Although those who are saved cannot lose their salvation, by living sinful lives, they can lose rewards, face the chastening hand of the Lord and live “shipwrecked” lives of spiritual defeat.  

“Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”   (Titus 2:10-14)

18) Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
1.  The lack of humility brings upon mankind many ills.  The lost person who stubbornly refuses to submit to the Lord’s command to repent and believe will face eternal destruction.  The word for destruction is the word that means “to break in pieces” or “to crush”.  Although prideful during their earthly existence in the last day, as he faces divine judgment, his pride will be broken and he will be cast into eternal torment.

“Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.  The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.  For the day of the LORD of hosts [shall be] upon every [one that is] proud and lofty, and upon every [one that is] lifted up; and he shall be brought low:”   (Isaiah 2:10-12)



19) Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
1.  It is more beneficial to be humble before the Lord, joining the poor and afflicted who are willing to do as He desires than…
2.  to share in great worldly gain with those who rebelliously oppose His will.

Once again we can see the great value in possessing a God-given spirit of humility even at the risk of suffering worldly loss.

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.   (Luke 18:10-14)


20) He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy [is] he.
1.  A person who deals with the matters of their life wisely, will acquire that which is truly beneficial for them.
2.  A person who trusts the counsel and leadership of the Lord to lead him will be happy due to the blessings that they receive.  

To handle the issues of life wisely we are dependent upon our ability to actively live according to the counsel found in God’s Word.  How can we do this?  It is only by trusting Him to know what is best for us and to always be working on our behalf.

“O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him.  O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for [there is] no want to them that fear him.  The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good [thing].”   (Psalms 34:8-10)


SUMMARY:

The “bottom line” to our study today is that living a life for Christ is ALWAYS more valuable than any material gain that can be found in this world.   But the key to living a life for Christ is  fold:
1.  We must trust Him with our lives knowing He will only lead us to what is beneficial for us.
2.  We must willfully choose to exercise wisdom and understanding when we are faced with the issues of life.
3.  We must carry with us a humble spirit recognizing that His Word, our wisdom, our understanding, our faith in Him, and even our spirit of humility only comes through His gracious intervention in our lives.

“And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:  that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”   (Ephesians 2:1-7)


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”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org


Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)