1.
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2.
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4.
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
THE GRACE OF HUMILITY
‘In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.’
Proverbs 3:6
A characteristic of the Old Testament Scriptures, which results from the genius of the Hebrew language, is specially observable in the Book of Proverbs. Instead of the copious, versatile, precise, and in so many respects unrivalled, instrument which the Greek wields when expressing his thought, the Hebrew writer has at command a language possessing by comparison only a few and simple words. But of these, many are words of the widest range and applicability.
I. Not long since the question was discussed, whether a virtue can ever die.—Certainly particular relative excellences do characterise particular races, epochs, stages of social progress. They appear; they shine forth; they wane and fall back into obscurity; they vanish outright. But if practical applications may vary, imperishable principles must live. The opinion which views intellectual submission as a dead virtue, could hardly ascribe any strong vitality to the grace of humility. If humility is dying out, this is because the idea of God has been impoverished or impaired in the thought of our day. Humility is but the sincere acknowledgment in thought, in language, in action, of the first and most commanding of all facts; it is the sincere acknowledgment of God.
II. Theoretically speaking, humility must of course be right.—But look, you say, to its practical effect. Does it interfere more or less with activity and success in life? Is it secretly hostile to the claims and efforts of vigorous and cultivated intellect? After all, what is humility? Humility is not a want of enterprise, a subtle resource of idleness. The force which is apparently forfeited by the destruction of self-reliance in the character is more than recovered when the soul rests in perfect trustfulness on the strong arm of God. The Christian’s humility is in reality the cause of his mental energy.
III. Humility is indispensable to the true life of the soul.
Canon Liddon.
Illustration
‘We should take God for the guide of our life. None of us can take care of ourselves. A young man said boastfully, “I am my own master.” “Do you know what a grave responsibility you have assumed?” asked a friend. No man is wise enough to undertake the direction of his own or any other person’s life. Young people need much advice—they should have an older friend, who knows life and can give them good counsel. Bad advice has wrecked many a destiny. Here we are told that we may have the Lord for our confidential friend, acknowledging Him in all our ways, and then receiving His direction at every point. We may trust His counsel, for He never advises any one wrongly.’
7.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9.
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10.
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11.
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12.
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18.
The is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19.
The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21.
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22.
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25.
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26.
For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28.
Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29.
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31.
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32.
For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33.
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34.
Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.