In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall”, and in chapter sixteen and verse nineteen of Proverbs Solomon said, “better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly” where we read,
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
The verse begins, “Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, ...” Solomon began with the words, “better it is” or “it exists as more pleasant, agreeable, good, excellent and valuable” “to be of an humble spirit” which means “to have a lowly and depressed vigor, temper and disposition” “with the lowly” or “alongside the poor, meek and afflicted”. Solomon said having a lowly temper and disposition alongside people who are humble exceeds the following.
The verse goes on to say, “... than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Solomon continues with the words, “than to divide the spoil” or “compared to sharing, apportioning, distributing and assigning the booty, prey and gain” “with the proud” which means “alongside people who are arrogant, haughty and prideful”. Solomon said having a “humble spirit” alongside people who are meek and afflicted exceeds sharing in gain with people who are prideful and arrogant.
When we consider the words in this verse, we discover through Solomon how important it is to be “humble” rather than “proud”. Paul the apostle wrote, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (See Philippians 2:5-8) Jesus came into the world because God loves us, and when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we have access to a personal relationship with God as we believe and trust in Him. God will forgive us, grant us everlasting life and teach us through His Holy Spirit to be “humble” and never to be arrogant alongside those who are “proud”.
Next time Solomon says, “he that handles a matter wisely shall find good”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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