We now turn to Proverbs 11:2 and we are faced with one of the biggest blight on anyone that can be had: Pride. Throughout the Scripture, there is no place where pride is ever pictured as being positive. Instead, it is looked as being the place where destruction, death, and rejection come from.

When we look at pride in the Bible, it is used 51 times in 48 verses (NKJV), and it is eye opening. Leviticus 26:19; Job 35:12; Psalm 59:12; Proverbs 8:13; 11:2; 13:10; 14:3; 16:18; 29:23; Isaiah 23:9; 25:11; 28:1, 3; 13:9; Jeremiah 49:16; Daniel 4:37; 5:20; Amos 6:8; Zechariah 10:11; Mark 7:22; 1 Timothy 3:6; and even more telling 1 John 2:16. Pride is never a good thing and will only bring destruction upon those who have it in their heart.

Pride causes those who have it to be elevated in their own eyes. Pride causes the individual to not be dependent upon God, but upon the self. It is the self who will be looked to for all that is needed despite the truth of the Scripture that teaches we are all dependent on God. As seen by the passages above, pride is hated by God. What does our text say? Pride brings shame. Same is disgrace, dishonour, reproach, confusion, etc. We find this 17 times in the Scripture, and we see the concept of shame being what fools get (Proverbs 3:35 ). Shame belongs to those who refuse to receive instruction (Proverbs 13:18). We can find nothing good about this shame.

But the text moves to the other side and presents the humility. Again, in contrast to pride, their sits humility. Humility is used 43 times, but it is interesting the contrast. Humility brings salvation from God (2 Samuel 22:28). When prayer, seeking, and repentance from the wicked ways are done through humility, it will bring forgiveness (2 Chronicles 7:14). God does not forget the cry of the humble (Psalm 9:12). God guides the humble in justice (Psalm 25:9). The Lord uplifts the humble (Psalm 147:6). We could do a lot more, but the point should be seen. With humility, in Proverbs 11:2, we find wisdom. Wisdom instructs and guides us to realize our weakness and failings, then to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us of our sins, and then empower us to live in piety. This is where wisdom comes into play. We have looked at wisdom in Proverbs (Proverbs 1:2, 7; 2:2, 6, 10, etc.). To delve back into Wisdom, it is encouraged to delve into these other texts to learn more about this word. So, let us wrap this up delving into an application.

We have an example of this entire text in the New Testament at Luke 14:8-11. The parable warns of seeking and driving higher, desiring the higher places. This desire for the best places comes from pride, and as Jesus taught, those who do this will be humbled. How embarassing for the individual in the feast to be lowered because someone is higher who arrives. The shame is palatable in this parable. But through humility, God will lift up the individual in His time and in His way.