Audio Download

“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility” Part 1

(Aired on June 26, 2025)

Pro 15:1  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Pro 15:2  The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Pro 15:3  The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
Pro 15:4  A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Pro 15:5  A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Pro 15:6  In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
Pro 15:7  The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
Pro 15:8  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Pro 15:9  The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
Pro 15:10  Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
Pro 15:11  Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
Pro 15:12  A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
Pro 15:13  A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Pro 15:14  The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
Pro 15:15  All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

There is a main theme in this fifteenth chapter of proverbs that has to do with the humbling experiences of this life that makes me think of (Ecc 1:13) which reads:

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it. (CLV)

As we learn to apply our hearts by “inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens”, our own heavens are going to be humbled under His mighty hand (1Pe 5:6-8, Mat 23:12), as we come to see ourselves as a corrupt beast (Ecc 3:18) that needs to have God’s judgments come upon us through His word, which will heal us via the baptisms into Christ’s death that we are called unto, as we die daily (1Pe 4:17-18, Psa 107:20, Rom 6:3-4).

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

It takes the fiery trials of this life (1Pe 4:12) that God prepares our hearts to endure (1Co 10:13) for something new in Christ to be formed (2Co 5:17). It is that beaten gold that is everywhere in the temple that we are (1Co 3:16), which represents His workmanship that has been fashioned by God through Christ, symbolized also as a bride, new Jerusalem, that comes down from heaven (Eph 2:10, Rev 21:2).

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

This process of judgement that God’s elect must go through in order to become that fitly framed bride happens as a result of light coming out of darkness as we’ve seen explained over and over in these proverbs. The many members that make up the bride are being placed in the body of Christ exactly where our Father has determined that we fit (1Co 12:18). It is in a humbled state of life, which comes as result of God’s chastening and scourging of His sons and daughters, that the bride will be made ready (Heb 12:6-7, Rev 19:7).

1Co 12:18  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Let us be glad and rejoice as we build ourselves up in our most holy faith (Jud 1:20), the faith of Christ that God has mercifully given to us, along with His strength so we can endure all things, and be saved by His mighty hand (Rom 8:37-39, 1Jn 5:14, Heb 10:35-36, 1Jn 5:4-5).

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Pro 15:1  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Pro 15:2  The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Christ’s exemplary life gives us hope that, with the same spirit within us (Luk 2:51-52, Isa 50:6, 2Pe 3:18, 1Jn 4:17), we can, with all humility as Christ did, also turn away the wrath, the grievous word of those who come up against us, to try to provoke us unto anger (Rom 12:21, Luk 18:1).

Luk 2:51  And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
Luk 2:52  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Isa 50:6  I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

The key is the soft answer as Christ demonstrated against Satan in the wilderness, not being angry at his adversary but realizing this was all a work of God that was proving him as God’s only begotten son through whom we have become more than conquerors (Mat 4:3-4, Php 4:13, 1Jn 4:17).

Mat 4:3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which

Christ did not just have the knowledge, the wisdom and stature that he grew into (Luk 2:52), but also committed his judgement unto God so that he would always know how to deal with the mouth of fools that pour out foolishness (Joh 5:30, Joh 20:21, Pro 26:4-5). It was the word of God that gave him victory over the adversary and it is the word of God in our lives that will give us the same victory Lord willing (Jas 4:13-15).

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Pro 26:4  Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Pro 26:5  Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Pro 15:3  The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

God is omniscient, God is omnipresent (Rev 19:6), and He has called the elect to endure in seeing Him who is invisible and has eyes in every place (Heb 11:27), with whom nothing is hidden with whom we have to do (Heb 4:13).

Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

It is by the ripping of the vail of this carnal mind, which must die daily, that we see more clearly through a glass darkly (1Co 13:12) the one who we serve who created both the light and darkness, the evil and the peace (Isa 45:7), the severity and the goodness of life (Rom 11:22).

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (God is omniscient, God is omnipresent, and God is love 1Jn 4:7-8, 1Jn 4:16, Rom 5:5).

Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1Jn 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Rom 8:28).

Pro 15:4  A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Pro 15:5  A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

The “tree of life” is Christ in us our hope of glory (Col 1:27) who can give us the power to bridle this tongue that is impossible to rule over without His life within us opening up the seals that contain the plagues that must be poured out upon us in order to overcome the “perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit”.

Lord willing we will not despise his chastening that burns out that breach, and be granted to show the same love toward one another (Joh 14:21, Rom 5:5-8). Christ in us can mature us to become prudent sons and daughters who regard his reproof and don’t despise it (Pro 15:32)

Joh 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Pro 15:32  He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.(1Pe 4:18)

Pro 15:6  In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
Pro 15:7  The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

The good treasure that is in our house is the righteousness of Christ with a relationship that we have with our Lord where we can worship our Father in spirit and in truth (Joh 4:23). Nothing could be more valuable than this privilege that God has given His children, to be seated in the heavens with Jesus Christ, even today (Eph 2:6). This is where we lay up treasure in heaven, “In the house of the righteous is much treasure”(Psa 84:4, Mat 6:20), a shadow of the promise of the resurrection to life, the blessed and holy first resurrection (Joh 5:29, Rev 20:6).

Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Psa 84:4  Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Conversely if we are not growing in the mind of Christ and dispersing the words of Life that we are sent out to do in order to bring spiritual healing, then our heart will be that of a fool that is not built upon the rock, Jesus Christ, God’s word (Mat 16:18). Or we may be as the wicked whose knowledge that is laid up is likened unto revenues that will only bring trouble, a foolish and corrupt heart has not been judged and therefore no good fruit can come from that ground that has not been broken (Isa 66:2).

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Isa 66:2  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.

Pro 15:8  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Pro 15:9  The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

The fervent prayer of the righteous avails much and gives us victory over our deceitful and desperately wicked hearts which are an abomination unto God, and only by mortifying the deeds of the flesh through Christ can we offer up sacrifices that are acceptable unto God, “the prayer of the upright is his delight” (Eph 1:6-7). It is Christ’s life in us that offers up the prayers of the saints, who are led of God’s spirit into the path of righteousness for His name sake and to the glory of God (Rom 8:14-16).

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Pro 15:10  Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
Pro 15:11  Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
Pro 15:12  A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

It’s the scorner, the despiser of God and of those who do good, who does not love God’s reproving of himself, and neither will such a hardened heart go unto his brother to confess his fault or to tell his brother between you and him alone what they have done against Christ (Mat 18:22-28, Mat 18:3, Mat 18:35, Mat 5:24).

When God’s ways are grievous [H7451 = Ra (evil)]  unto us, we must beg God for a spirit of repentance (Jer 36:3, Rom 2:4) so that we don’t forsake the way of God and find ourselves having hated reproof right into the lake of fire (Psa 51:2-3).

Jer 36:3  It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil [H7451 = Ra] which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil [H7451 = Ra] way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

These verses are telling us that nothing is hid from Him, not the unknown to us, “Hell [the grave/death] and destruction [ruin/decay]”, and certainly not what is in our deceitful and wicked hearts (Jer 17:9).  He knows when we are despising His goodness that is leading us unto repentance, and so the solution is to pray for a new heart that is cleansed of the Lord (Psa 51:2-3), kissing the Son of righteousness, and healing yet another breach in the body of Christ (Psa 2:12, Rev 3:3, Rev 3:11)

Psa 2:12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Rev 3:3  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Pro 15:13  A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Pro 15:14  The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
Pro 15:15  All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

The spirit of man can be broken easily Christ told Peter, ‘sifted as wheat’ is how He put it, and so it is important to understand that vulnerability within each of us and to continue to pray for each other that we don’t lose heart (Luk 18:1). By doing that we can rejoice and again I say rejoice as we draw near to God and resist the devil, making way for “a merry heart” that puts forth a “cheerful countenance”. We may not make the immediate connection but Stephen’s face shining like an angel in the midst of martyrdom is how great God’s power is toward us as he brings us to rejoice and be glad even in the midst of fiery trials (Jas 1:2-3).

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

With an understanding heart we desire to seek knowledge with all our hearts that will be cheered by the revelations that God will bestow upon those who seek him early in this life. If our life is void of His word and we are not coming together often to break bread, we will naturally drift toward having mouths that feed on foolishness, the unprofitable things of this world that are passing and likened unto dung by the apostle Paul (Php 3:8).

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility, and to be partakers of those who have merry hearts that have a continual feast before them we must first be granted to be given victory over the evil experience or evil day of our own lives that God has prepared for our benefit and growth in the Lord (Pro 16:1-2, Pro 16:4, Pro 15:33, Pro 18:12, Pro 22:4).

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
Pro 16:2  All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Pro 15:33  The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Pro 18:12  Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Pro 22:4  By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.