If you have been foolish in exalting yourself Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth. For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.   Proverbs 30:32-33

Pride, anger, and plotting evil are all very foolish endeavors.  They may go a while without any kind of retaliating incident, but they are the kind of actions that store up trouble in the end.  That is what this proverb proverb wawar us about today.

There is no mincing words at the beginning of this proverb.  We are told that things like exalting ourselves or plotting evil are "foolish" things to do.  In fact this proverb is trying to warn us about the consequences of these actions.  This is done in the classic "if/then" fashion that we are used to seeing in the book of Proverbs.  Therefore we are being warned that if we engage in pride or plotting evil - bad things are on the horizon for us. 

The actions we are warned against here are twofold.  First we have the sin of exalting ourselves.  God values humility - and opposes the proud and those who would exalt themselves in the eyes of others.  I knew of an educator who put himself up for awards in the educational system in which he worked.  He genuinely thought he was worthy of the honor that these awards offered.  The problem was that because he "exalted himself" in this way, he was seen as a joke among his fellow educators.  Elsewhere in Proverbs we read that we need to let another praise us - and not our own lips.  To speak in praise of self - is to speak foolish words of pride that, according to Scripture, goes before a fall.  The second action we are warned against is that of plotting evil against another.  We all know of the end of those who do this.  Either they are caught in the process and shamed - or - they succeed in their plotting and it only causes them to become further corrupt.  Whichever way this goes it is a foolish endeavor that often takes this lives of the ones who give themselves to such overt evil.

What God warns against though is that these things in and of themsleves cause a churning of anger that will end in further strife.  Two examples are given to reminds us ot this.  The first is the churning of butter.  When milk is put into a butter churn it is a liquid.  But after you spend time churning that butter over and over again - it eventually turns to butter.  The second example is that of pressing someones nose.  The idea here is that of not just pressing down on a nose - but twisting it violently.  This, we are told, will produce blood.  Both of these things are undeniable truths.  You do these things - and the results are destined to follow. 

The reason these two examples are given is because God wants us to know that the churning of anger will produce strife.  When I first read this I fully understood how the churning of anger in plotting evil would produce strife.  Consider someone who churns with their anger inside of them - and they submit themselves to their anger to the point to where they begin actively plotting evil against the one with whom they are angry.  The plot unfolds - and the evil is done.  The result WILL be strife.  The one against whom the plot was carried out will become very angry - and strife between these two will last a very long time.  The one I was a little confused about is the practice of someone exalted themselves.  How does that produce anger and strife?  Then it became clear to me that when someone exalts themselves - others around them resent it.  They resent it because it is the natural desire of fallen man to be exalted.  So the anger comes when they exalt themsleves - and I react because deep down - I think I should have been exalted.  When this happens - I will begin to go out of my way (even subconsciously) to show how the person who exalted themselves does not deserve to be exalted.  Another response is to have a resentment against this person because I despise the fact that they have exalted themselves. 

God promises that these kind of actions are going to produce strife.  They will reveal the one guilty of them is a fool - and eventually their lives are going to be surrounded by problems that come from anger being churned up in themselves and others.  Jesus promised blessing, not the proud and self-exalting ones, but rather to peacemakers - and to those who humble themselves in the sight of God.  The lives that seek peace and the blessing and exalting of others will have far more peace and joy than the fools who only think of themselves.

It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.  Proverbs 16:19

Humility is something to be embraced by God's people.  It is not usually considered a great thing because often to be humble means that you will not be on the top rung of things.  Here where Solomon tells us it would be better to be humble in spirit with the lowly that truth comes out.  The humble man is the one who is to embrace a low social position.  The humble man does not seek great things for himself.  The sense of this Hebrew word is that one is not only humble, but they are also meek (strength under control) and they are contrite (they know their sin and greive over it.  The humble also associate with a group most people would shun - the lowly.  The lowly are those who are poor, afflicted, and usually crying out for help to the Lord.  These people are often absued by the rich and by oppressive leaders.  When you associate with such people, it means that you most likely will not be among the movers and shakers of society.  Yet it is better to be here among the lowest of the low than to be with those who suffer from pride.  Something that will prove helpful in understanding the second part of this proverb is the reality that the humble are not seeking advancement for themselves.  They serve God and look to Him for their advancement and their victories. 

We are warned that it is better to be with the lowly and to be humble with them - than to divide the spoil with the proud.  The proud (Hebrew word "ge'eh") are not just proud and haughty - they are those whose pride is bringing the Lord Himself to a point of desiring to judge them.  Granted, they are getting the spoil - which meant money and things - but at what cost?  The idea of spoil means that they are fighting or warring against another.  The spoil was what was left over after they had wiped out their enemies.  The proud conquer their opposition, and then rise up and take their stuff afterwards.  Their advancement does not come by trusting the Lord - but by dominating and destroying their competition.  They leave in their wake a large number of people who are either ruined or are so dominated that they surrender what is theirs to their conquerors.  True, they may have a lot of money, a lot of stuff, and victories to their credit - but they also have God as their adversary.  God watches all this and burns with anger - responding to their pride and arrogance by promising a recompense that may not come today - but it is surely coming.  When you consider this, seeing that even though they have victories and spoils, they come at far too high a price, the judgment of God - you also see why it is better to be with the humble and even oppressed than with this crew who are one day going to face the wrath of God.

The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces. Proverbs 30:28

What is the exceeding wisdom that the lizard has for us?  We are told of four animals here - all who demonstrate wisdom by their existance and practics.  We come now to the fourth and final animal - the lizard.  What does he have to teach us?

First we read that the lizard is not the most intimidating of animals in the world.  He can be grasped with the hands.  His natural defenses are not very effective.  Thus he is able to be caught and grasped with a human hand.  The lizard is not given a great deal of weapons at his disposal.  The lizard spoken of here is usually the common ones that you seek on the walls in homes.  He has no sharp claws or teeth - and the ones mentioned here have no venomous bite or sting to deliver.  Yet we are told that he is in the palaces of the king.  

The lesson for us is an interesting one.  Though we may feel weak and defenseless, we can still be in high places.  The lizard teaches us though that if we are to be in such places, we will need to be humble and come in such a way as is fitting for our situation.  If the lizard were to come to the king's palace and seek to knock down the door - he would be a fool.  If he decided to battle his way into his presence with his great strength - he would be deluding himself.  If he decided he would come showing his comeliness and beauty - he would be blind to the fact that he is a lizard.  The lizard uses none of these tactics.  Instead he is humble and comes quietly.  He remains on the wall and chooses not to be boisterous and draw attention to himself.  Because this is how he comes - he can be in the presence of the king.

The lizard teaches us that great strength can be had in something as inauspicious as humility.  God says that He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  There is something about a humble man that can disarm even a king.  Therefore if we want to be received and come even to a king's palace - we need to learn humility.  With the humble comes great favor.  Jesus told us that when we come to a banquet we should not seek the place of honor - and take a seat next to our host.  That would be coming in pride and arrogance - stating that we are viewed highly in our own mind.  The warning was that when our host comes, he would see us in such a proud position and completely overlook us.  When he would see someone far more humble taking a seat beneath himself - the host would invite him to sit where we are.  At that point we would be humiliated and have to go to the very last seat in the sight of all those present.  Instead we should adopt the attitude of the lizard.  Jesus said that we should take the lowest place at the table.  Then when our host sees us taking such a humble place, he would request for us a better seat - and we would be honored before all at the banquet.  This is where our Lord told us that God opposes the proud, but honors the humble. 

Exceedingly wise is the lizard, who embraces humility.  Wise indeed he is to come quietly and without fanfare.  Thus he is in king's palaces.  Wise also is the man who in life chooses to humble himself, not just to be exalted, but who truly sees himself humbly.  We are counselled to humble ourselves in the presence of the Lord, and he will exalt you (James 4:10).  So be wise - be like a lizard - humble yourself - and be blessed by the Lord.

A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless. Proverbs 14:16

Why is it wise to be cautious in our choices and decisions in life?  It is because we live in a world that has fallen.  I know that those of you who read this regularly in these posts may think that I emphasize this too often, but I fear that we do not fully grasp at times what mankind's rebellion against God has wrought in this world. 

Today's proverb tells us that a wise man fears.  That is the literal translation of the word "cautious" here.  It refers to the fact that the wise man fears God.  He fears God becasue he reads of God's Word - God's glory, power, majesty, and holiness - and he fears displeasing and dishonoring Him.  Wisdom tells us to fear God's displeasure.  Wisdom also tells us that there is a way that is evil. 

Here is where we run into some very serious worldview problems with the world and its philosophies.  The majority of worldviews do not take into account the fall of man into sin and the subsequent ruin of this world.  They consider man's basic nature as good.  As a result you will hear people tell others to, "Just trust what is in your heart."  That is not wise or good advice.  What is in our hearts is rebellion toward God and a bent toward sin.  We will choose with an astounding regularity contrary to God's ways.  This is because there is within us a bent toward selfishness - and a bent away from God.  The wise man knows this - and as a result is cautious - and does fear making decisions and choices that run contrary to God's Word.  This is the place he turns for wisdom - to the Word - because it gives us an objective revelation of Who God is and what He has said.  Thus he takes time in making those decisions to check for God's will and favor in things.

The fool though is said to be arrogant and careless.  He is arrogant because he thinks he does not need anything to make wise decisions.  He doesn't need anyone to tell him what to do - especially a "God" Who knows all things.  He considers the Bible to be an ancient document that has no bearing on his life or his decisions.  His arrogance is manifest by how he views himself - as just fine and having NO need of refinement - let alone a fundamental change in who he is or how he makes decisons.  Therefore he is careless - he does not care about God, about God's Word, about God's will.  He will make his own way.  His favorite verse is an interesting rendition of Proverbs 3:4-5.  It goes something like this, "Trust in yourself, and lean heavily on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge yourself and what you want.  Forge your own path - make it what you want." 

These two paths definitely diverge from one another.  One heads toward God and sees God's Word as a road map and a guide for decisions - for life itself.  The other sees nothing but self and a pursuit of what the world says is valuable.  Even in instances where the world is not used as the standard - this one turns to his own desires and his own ways.  Correspondingly, one path leads to destruction and misery - the other to life and life abundantly.  

He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.  Proverbs 18:13

When I read this proverb, I immediately was reminded of a problem that I have when it comes to listening skills.  There are times in a conversation with others that I don't listen as closely as I should.  What I do is begin to frame in my mind what I am going to say next - before the other person has finished what they are saying.  Another problem I have is that at times I won't wait for someone to finish what they are saying - because I have convinced myself that I know what they are going to say or finish saying.  Thus I interrupt and rudely start with what I want to say.  Whether this is a common malady among people is not for me to say.  What I can say though is that my lack of listening skills has hurt me from time to time exactly like this proverb says.  I have either been seen as a fool for speaking before I heard the other person - or - I've made had to be ashamed later of something that I've said when listening more intently would have delivered me from the embarassment of that situaiton.

Why would we speak before we hear?  Well, since this is one of my own sins, I feel that I am somewhat an authority on the "whys" of it.  I speak before I listen because I am filled with pride.  I think what I have to say has to be far more important than what the other person is saying at the time.  I consider myself smarter and better informed - or I'm just rude and do not value what someone else has to say.  The one thing I am sure of is that whatever my reasons, they do not hold water - and certainly do not survive the Philippians 2 test (consider others better than yourself).  Lack of character on my part is the overwhelming answer here.

I remember one incident that woke me up to my lack of listening skills.  It was a time when I was witnessing to students at the University of Memphis.  One student invited us into his room to talk.  As we shared I was amazed at his ability to concentrate on whatever was being said at the time.  At first I equated this to the work of the Holy Spirit in drawing him to Christ.  But after three visits I was seeing the same thing again and again.  Finally, I couldn't resist asking him why he seemed so interested in what we were saying when we came to visit.  His answer blew me away.  He said that over the past couple of years he had consciously worked on listening intently to whatever conversation he was a part of so that he could better know what to say - and when to keep his mouth shut.

What astounded me about this interview was that he was not a believer - yet his character far better reflected love than mind did when it came to listening to others.  Those visits did far more to change me than I think they changed him.  I was confronted with my horrible lack of listening skills and how they had brought both shame and foolishness to me.  I remember making a commitment to develop the kind of skills this young man had.  But what motivated me most was remembering the way that talking to him made me feel.  His concentration on what I had to say made me feel important - and yes - loved.  It was and is a reminder to me to this very day that listening well to someone is vitally important.  It can mean the difference between them feeling loved - or - feeling like they are talking to someone rude and foolish.  As someone who longs to be wise, it is my hope to give an answer ONLY after I've heard - not just with my ears, but with understanding and love.

A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, He will not go to the wise. Proverbs 15:12

Why is it that even when there is wise and godly counsel available, people do not take advantage of it?  A southern saying that I heard a while back may help us on this situation.  The reason a scoffer does not go to a wise man is the same reason a criminal does not hang out with the police. 

The proverb here tells us that a scoffer does not love someone who corrects or reproves him.  The scoffer is the one who mocks the things of God.  He makes fun of God's commandments and laws - and derides God Himself.  He does this because he does not believe and because in his infinite arrogance he prefers his limited little pea-brain's ability to think - rather than the mind of the infinite God as it is revealed in the pages of Scripture.  But he is not content to just reject the things of God - he scoffs at them - and seeks to get others to reject them as well.  He is the "anti-evangelist" if you will - or at least an evangelist for his own foolish thinking. 

What is fascinating about the scoffer is that we read that he doesn't love anyone who reproves him.  He is filled with pride and arrogance and therefore always thinks that he is right.  In his own mind he is irreproveable - beyond correction.  In this way it is only fitting that the one who thinks there is no God would consider his own wisdom and counsel very god-like.  He is a god unto himself - and resents it when someone would deign to question his omniscience. 

There is a consequence to this arrogant man's rejection of reproof.  As a result of it, he will not go to the wise.  He rejects them - and their much needed counsel.  This is a sad state of affairs because they could greatly use wise counsel.  Thus this arrogant scoffer will remain a law unto himself - an island of self-sought, self-taught, self-exalting wisdom - that is nothing more than foolishness and arrogance disguising itself as sage counsel. 

This is why the wise man needs to embrace and welcome correction and reproof.  Please do not misunderstand me - these things are seldom pleasant when they come.  In fact they can be very difficult to hear as they are spoken to us.  That is why I am grateful that Scripture tells me that discipline is not pleasant, but painful when it arrives.  But I am also counselled in James and in Hebrews that when received it will bear fruit - creating a harvest of righteousness, truth, wisdom, and understanding when I welcome it and learn from it.  Remember that the next time God in His love allows correction and rebuke to come into your life.  Don't be like the scoffing fool who does not love the ones who reprove him.  Be like the godly man who turns his ear to wise and godly rebuke.  It will help open our ear to wisdom itself, and will bless us by turning us from unwise, arrogant, and unprofitable ways.

The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him. Proverbs 28:11

An interesting thing about men is that the wealthier that they are - the more that we tend to give them the benefit of the doubt when it comes to intelligence and wisdom.  We assume that because they have accumulated wealth that a certain amount of wisdom and knowledge were used in doing so.  This may be the case, but when a rich man begins to be "wise in his own eyes," his wealth is only a facade to cover his foolishness.

The rich are often wise in their own eyes.  This is because wealth can buy you a lot of things - including a group of well paid sycophants who will tell you that you are a genius.  This is the age old "yes-man" who follows about his benefactor telling him how brilliant he is publically, even though privately he man consider the rich man a moron.  But while on the dole, this person gives the rich man a sense that he is wise.  Unless his wisdom is gained from Scripture - this is only wisdom in his own eyes.  The problem with being wise in our own eyes is that one, we can easily impress ourselves - and two, once we have impressed ourselves our pride can shut out any other evaluation others may try to give. 

But this proverb tells us that the poor man who has understanding can see right through the foolish rich man.  The word for understanding here means the ability to discern.  The poor man examines the rich man wise in his own eyes.  He discerns the difference between wisdom gained of experience and God, and that paid for with money.  He discerns that those who praise the rich man are all paid patrons of his supposed wisdom.  He also knows that if the money flow stops, the truth concerning this man's foolishness will not be tolerated - and he will be abandoned by his fair weather pals. 

Wisdom knows others who are wise.  Since that wisdom comes from God, there is no need to brag about it.  Since it comes from God, there is also no price that can be paid for it.  Such wisdom is given by grace - and gained by the teaching of the Holy Spirit as we daily search the Scriptures and learn to listen to God.

The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them.  Proverbs 20:12

This last day we will spend on this verse has to do not just with the physical creation of our ears and eyes, but rather with some philosophic and religious implications of this fact.  What should we learn from the fact that God has made our ears and eyes? 

Psalm 94:9 will help us here with these things.  Psalm 94 is written to help us see that God is Who He is - GOD!  Psalm 94 is a psalm about God's judgment that is coming upon a disobedient people.  It is about people who ignore God's warnings about pride and rebellion.  As these people do their wicked acts, they do so with the attitude that "The Lord coes not see, nor does the God of Jacob pay heed."  Their attitude is that God doesn't have the ability to see their actions and their deeds. 

The answer that God gives them is given in verse 8-10 which read as follows, "Pay heed, you senseless among the people; And when will you understand, stupid ones?  He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?  He who chastens the nations, will He not rebuke, Even He who teaches man knowledge?" 

God's philosophical question to these people is this.  The God Who made us in His image - and who made us with ears that hear and eyes that see - do you not think that He can hear and see?  To think that this is not the case is really stupid and senseless.  God hears and sees.  But what is terrifying is to grasp that as an infinite being God's hearing and sight are not limited to time and space like our own.  He hears and sees ALL THINGS!  There is nothing that is beyond His perview - and as such - all will give an account to Him.  Verse 10 tells us that the God who chastens nations - will he not also chasten the individual? 

This says something to us that we absolutely need to hear.  God is God - He made the hearing ear and the seeing eye.  Since we are made in His image - that means that He too can both hear and see.  That is why a simple assertion in Proverbs chapter 20 should make us step back and consider such a thing.  It should also help us to embrace wisdom.  Wisdom is living in such a way that we realize that we are walking in God's sight - walking before Him.  What He says we should heed - what He commands we should do - and what we think we can hide - we should wake up and know that even our most hidden actions, thoughts, and words are as clear as day in His sight.  Knowing this helps a wise man to live "pleasing" in His sight.   Rejecting it is the ultimate insult to God.  We equate to Him and blindness and deafness that dishonors Him greatly.  But the fact is that men and women who do not acknowledge His omniscience are the ones blind and deaf.

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor. Proverbs 18:12

Humility is the thing - therefore embrace humility!  When you are not humble, you are headed for trouble - for afflication, for a fracture or a breach in some way.  God says that He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble in the book of James.  Here that truth is reiterated - just in a little more terrifying way.

When a man's heart is haughty - bad things are going to happen.  The word "haughty" here is the Hebew word "gabah" which means to be high, exalted, or arrogant.  This word is used of thing like a high tree or vine - but it is also used of Almighty God.  Here it does not have the meaning of arrogant - but simply someone high and exalted - and rightly so.  But when a man takes on this attitude and this demeanor, he is headed for trouble. 

God says that right before destruction comes upon a man his heart is this way - haughty and lifted up - full of himself.  Such a heart condition does not mean that he is right on the verge of destruction.  That would be a misinterpretation of this proverb.  What it is saying is that right before God brings destruction upon a man - he will be haughty.  Consider the king, Belshazzar from Babylonian times.  He was very arrogant - so arrogant that during a big party he had the cups and bowls brought in from God's Temple - and he and his party guests drank their wine out of them.  As they did, they praised the God's of silver and gold.  This was about as arrogant as someone could get.  But Belshazzar did not know that this would be the last banquet he would ever hold.  It would be the last party he would ever host.  That night a hand from God came and wrote on the wall of the room where he was having his wicked shindig.  The message on that wall told him that in the midst of his arrogance God had rendered final judgment upon him.  He had been put in the balances of God's justice and righteousness - and had been found wanting.  Because of his arrogance and pride he was going to have his kingdom handed over the Medes and the Persians.  Suddenly Belshazzar's arrogance was confronted - but not with opportunity for repentance.  He was confronted with destruction.  That night his defenses were breached, his captiol city captured, and he himself was slain in the onslaught that ensued.  He had nothing with which to defend himself.  All he had was his last moments of arrogance and pride - oh, and terror as the breech came. 

Reject haughtiness and thinking highly of yourself.  It is a trap of monumental proportion.  It was the sin for which the devil himself was judged when he was the annointed angerl that led the praises of heaven itself.  This sin is deadly above all others - therefore utterly abandon it and embrace god-honoring humility instead.  This proverb does tell us that before honor - there is humility.  Since I am writing this a week before Christmas, I will use the ultimate example of humility to illustrate this truth.  Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.  He has ever been with the Father and the Spirit and is God of very God.  As such He actually deserves the praise of all creation for all eternity.  Yet He chose to obey His Father and be born as a baby in Bethlehem.  He left the glories of heaven and took on the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.  He became the God-man.  As such He humbled Himself infinitely.  He did not demand honor and glory and praise - which we all due Him.  He chose instead a path of obedience, humility, and eventually humiliation as He bore the sin of the world on the cross of Calvary.  Being found in form as a man he humbled Himself and became obedient unto death - even that awful death on the cross.  Here is someone who deserves honor and respect - praise and adoration - yet He chooses humility.  As a result we read in latter verses in Philippians 2 the following words - also a fulfillment of this very proverb.

"For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11, NASB)

There it is in what God did through and for His Son.  Jesus chose to humble Himself - and before the honor God gave Him - was that marvellous attitude and practice of humility.  God raised Jesus from the lowest place to the highest!  God will honor those who embrace obedient humility to Him.  Therefore wisdom is this . . . it is embracing humility and obedience to God in all that we do.  That is the very best way of knowing that God will honor you in due time - as you continue to embrace a self-effacing, god-glorifying, Christlike humility and obedience to Him.