Bridges on Proverbs 18:12
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 18:12
 
 1-2 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6-7 
 8 
 9 
 10-11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
 16 
 17 
 18 
 19 
 20-21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 
12.  Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
 
We have had both these Proverbs separately. (Chapter 16:18; 15:33.) Surely this repetition, like our Lord's often-repeated parallel,† was intended to deepen our sense of their importance. It is hard to persuade a man that he is proud. Every one protests against this sin. Yet who does not cherish the viper in his own bosom? Man so little understands that dependence upon his God constitutes the creature's happiness, and that the principle of independence is madness, and its end — destruction. (Genesis 3:5, 6.) The haughty walk on the brink of a fearful precipice; only a miracle preserves them from instant ruin. The security of the child of God is when he lies prostrate in the dust. If he soar high, the danger is imminent, though he be on the verge of heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:1-7.)
The danger of a young Christian lies in an over-forward profession. The glow of the first love, the awakened sensibility to the condition of his perishing fellow-sinners; ignorance of the subtle working of inbred vanity, the mistaken zeal of injudicious friends — all tends to foster self-pleasing. Oh! let him know that before honour is humility. In the low valley of Humiliation special manifestations are realized.† Enlarged gifts, and apparently extending usefulness, without growing more deeply into the humility of Christ, will be the decline, not the advancing of grace. That undoubtedly is the most humbled spirit that has most of the spirit of Christ. The rule of entry into his school — the first step of admission to his kingdom is — “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” (Matthew 11:29.)
The spring of this humility is true self-knowledge. Whatever may be seen of a man externally to his advantage, let him keep his eye looking within; and the real sight of himself must lay him low. When he compares his secret follies with his external decency — what appears to his fellow-creatures with what he knows of himself — he can but cry out — “Behold I am vile! I abhor myself!” (Job 40:4.) The seat of this precious grace is not in words, meltings, or tears, but in the heart. No longer will he delude himself with a false conceit of what he has not, or with a vain conceit of what he has. The recollection — “Who maketh thee to differ?” (1 Corinthians 4:7) is ever present, to press him down under the weight of infinite obligations. Its fruit is lowliness of mind, meekness of temper, thankfulness in receiving reproof, forgetfulness of injury, readiness to be lightly regarded. No true greatness can there be without this deep-toned humility. This is he “whom the King delighteth to honour.” “Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, that he may set him with princes, even with the princess of his people.” (Matthew 5:3. Psalm 113:7, 8.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 16:18
18 ¶ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
 
Proverbs 15:33
33 ¶ The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 23:12. Luke 14:11; 18:14. See Hor. Od. i. 34.
 
 
Matthew 23:12
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
 
Luke 14:11
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
 
Luke 18:14
14 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.
 
 
Genesis 3:5, 6
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 ¶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. {pleasant: Heb. a desire}
 
 
2 Corinthians 12:1-7
1 ¶ It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. {I will come: Gr. For I will come} 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. {lawful: or, possible} 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
 
 
Footnote:
Job 42:5, 6. Isaiah 6:5-7. Daniel 9:20-23.
 
 
Job 42:5, 6
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
 
Isaiah 6:5-7
5 ¶ Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. {undone: Heb. cut off} 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: {having...: Heb. and in his hand a live coal} 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. {laid...: Heb. caused it to touch}
 
Daniel 9:20-23
20 ¶ And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; 21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. {swiftly: Heb. with weariness, or, flight} 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. {to...: Heb. to make thee skilful of} 23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. {commandment: Heb. word} {greatly...: Heb. a man of desires}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Matthew 11:29
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
 
 
Job 40:4
4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
 
 
1 Corinthians 4:7
7 ¶ For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? {maketh...: Gr. distinguisheth thee}
 
 
Matthew 5:3
3 ¶ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
Psalm 113:7, 8
7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; 8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.