Bridges on Proverbs 29:23
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 29:23
 
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23.  A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
 
This Proverb — Bishop Hall remarks in his own style — ‘is like unto Shushan: in the streets whereof honor is proclaimed to the humble Mordecai; in the palace whereof is erected an engine of death to a proud Haman.’† It exhibits the spirit of our Lord's oft-repeated declaration expounded by his daily Providences — “Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”† The real value of man in himself is so small, that the Psalmist is at a loss where to find it.† His undue value of himself is utter delusion; having lost all; stripped of all; yet proud, as if he were the possessor of all. He raises himself to heaven in his airy visions; but soon does he meet with his own punishment — A man's pride shall bring him low.† We see this in the world. The proud conceit of rank, talent, or any superiority, subjects to continual mortification;† while on the other hand, humility, at first considered a mean and servile spirit, ultimately comes to its just estimation.
The world counts nothing great without display. But mark the substantial “honor that cometh from God only.” “Heaven is my throne; and earth is my footstool; yet to this man will I look — to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit.” (Isaiah 66:1, 2.) Yea — “I dwell — saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity — with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit.” (Ib. 57:15.) Humility is indeed true greatness — ‘the crown’ — as Mr. Howels finely remarks — ‘of finite beings, made and jewelled by the hand of God himself. Supremacy is the glory of God; humility is the ornament of his child.’† “I am but dust and ashes. I am less than the least of all thy mercies. I abhor myself. Sinners — of whom I am chief”† — such are the self-abasing confessions of men great in Jehovah's eyes. They shine with the reflection of his glory; but they turn away with genuine humility from their own shining.
Men of this stamp “the king delighteth to honor.” Their dignity begins on earth, and is crowned in heaven. “Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3; 18:4.) Poor they may be in station. But they shine forth as mightier conquerors than Alexander. Their real glory eclipses the glare of the pomp and “pride of life.”
The elevation of the proud is often the step to their downfall. But God's honor, put upon his own people, upholds them, as Joseph and Daniel, in their high eminence, as witnesses for his name. Meetness for heaven is that adorning clothing of humility, which leads us to ascribe all our grace to God, and all our sin to ourselves. This is the prostrate adoration of heaven. (Revelation 5:9-12.) The Lord imbue us richly with this spirit.
Indeed all chastening discipline is for the great purpose, to “hide pride from man” (Job 33:17), and to bring us low in our own eyes, that his honor may “lift us in due time.”† It is with us as with our Lord — honor comes out of humiliation.† ‘Thou meanest to be not our Savior only, but our pattern too. If we can go down the steps of thine humiliation, we shall rise up the stairs of thy glory.’†
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Sermon on Text. Works. v. 270.
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 23:12. Luke 14:11; 18:14. The speech of Artabanus to Xerxes before his invasion of Greece, is a striking testimony from an Heathen. ‘God delights to depress whatever is too highly exalted. Thus a large army is often defeated by a small one. When God in his jealousy throws them into a panic, or thunders against them, they miserably perish. For God suffers no mortal to think magnificently.’ – Herodotus, Book 7. c. 10.
 
 
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.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 8:3, 4; 144:3; 39:5.
 
 
Psalm 8:3, 4
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
 
Psalm 144:3
3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
 
Psalm 39:5
5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. {at...: Heb. settled}
 
 
Footnote:
Job 40:12. Psalm 18:27. Compare Zephaniah 2:15. Revelation 18:7, 8, and references on Chapter 16:18, 19.
 
 
Job 40:12
12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
 
Psalm 18:27
27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
 
Compare
Zephaniah 2:15
15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
 
Revelation 18:7, 8
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
 
and references on
Proverbs 16:18, 19
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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 21:1-4. Esther 5:13.
 
 
1 Kings 21:1-4
1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. {seem...: Heb. be good in thine eyes} 3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. 4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
 
Esther 5:13
13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
 
 
Isaiah 66:1, 2
1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
 
 
Isaiah 57:15
15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
 
 
Footnote:
Sermons, i. pp. 335, 336.
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 18:27; 32:10. Job 42:6. 1 Timothy 1:15.
 
 
Genesis 18:27
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
 
Genesis 32:10
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. {I am not...: Heb. I am less than all}
 
Job 42:6
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
 
1 Timothy 1:15
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
 
 
Matthew 5:3
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
Matthew 18:4
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
 
 
Revelation 5:9-12
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
 
 
Job 33:17
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. {purpose: Heb. work}
 
 
Footnote:
1 Peter 5:6. Job 22:29.
 
 
1 Peter 5:6
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
 
Job 22:29
29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. {the humble...: Heb. him that hath low eyes}
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 15:33; 18:12.
 
 
Proverbs 15:33
33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
 
Proverbs 18:12
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
 
 
Footnote:
Bp. Hall ut supra.