Proverbs 11:2 Commentary and Bible Study

Now look at a very interesting aspect of integrity in verse 2. One of the wonderful things about Solomon's dealing with this subject in the book of Proverbs is that he almost never takes the predictable route. He takes the route which will keep us on our toes and surprise us. And as the topic of integrity is unfolded, you begin with God's attitude and what he thinks about our integrity, or lack of it. And then you move directly to the effect of integrity upon us, ourselves, in some way. It is not the way you would expect to proceed but that is the way Solomon goes.The word used for pride here comes from a verb meaning ‘to boil, or ‘to seethe’, and refers to the fierceness of the feelings that control the mind: resentment, jealousy, a sense of being treated unjustly. Although it can mean insolence, the contrast with humility requires the word to be translated ‘pride’. The connection with the theme of integrity is that the proud lack integrity with regard to themselves. The trouble with pride is that it is not true; it is a lie about ourselves and possibly about others also. Pride comes – suddenly it is there – and it is ready to overwhelm us. The violence of our passions means that we are unable to look accurately at ourselves, and instead conclude that we are being denied something we deserve more than others. The result may be shame in this life, but often the proud man gets away with it. Ultimately it is God who will expose our shame on that day when nothing can remain hidden, and the secrets of all hearts will be revealed. ‘Then cometh [equally quickly] shame.’ The Hebrew is lightness. We are put down. Our smallness is seen. That is what shame is in essence. Our smallness is made bare – what we really are and our weakness and our inadequacy – and so we are embarrassed at it. It is not a big person being put down vindictively. That person knows how to bear it, knows how to wear it. Shame is when a person who is puffed up suddenly fails and their inadequacy is laid bare and the truth comes out. You see it for instance with King Saul. Samuel said to him, there was a time when he was little in his own sight, he was quite well suited to the task, he was amazed and overawed that he should ever have been put into a position of power into which he was put, and he was grateful and he was keen to do his best and to serve. But suddenly smouldering pride came, resentment, jealousies. He had to be the supreme one and he felt that he merited this and he absolutely deserved it and he began to be quite paranoid about the possibility that somebody might usurp him.By contrast, the humble do not overestimate themselves, but give credit to the Lord. If they catch themselves dwelling on something they have done, they immediately sense danger and ask the Lord to turn their thoughts away. They take refuge in humility where all self-congratulation is forgotten, and they give thanks for whatever they have received; instead of boasting, they recognise the responsibility they have to use what they have been given to glorify God. As one concluded, ‘Let integrity start with self.’