Proverbs 3:34 - Live for God and enjoy His graces.
Proverbs 3:34: Live for God and enjoy His graces.
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Proverbs 3:34 (KJV) Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he
giveth grace unto the lowly.
Proverbs 3:34 (NLT) The LORD mocks at mockers, but he shows
favor to the humble.
Proverbs 3:34 (TEV) He has no use for conceited people, but
shows favor to those who are humble.
Proverbs 3:34 (AMP) Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns
the scorners, yet He gives His undeserved favor to the low [in
rank], the humble, and the afflicted.
Proverbs 3:34 (CWR) The Lord is not pleased with scorners, but
delights in giving grace to the humble.
Proverbs 3:34 (TLB) The Lord mocks at mockers, but helps the
humble.
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
After summarizing the benefits of this book (1:1-7), these first
chapters take the form of a father exhorting his son not to reject (vv.
8-33) but to embrace wisdom (2:1-4:27). He warned against adultery
(5:1-23; 6:20-7:27) and folly (6:1-19), picturing wisdom and folly as two
very different women (8:1-9:18). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
Trusting in the LORD
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom (3:13-35)
Wisdom Brings Freedom from Anxiety. To gain wisdom produces
willingness to be generous to others who are in need, and enables one to
live trustingly rather than in hostility or plotting harm for others.
[Cambridge Annotated SB]
There is no benefit in feeling envy for the wicked, because God
detests wickedness. Only a fool would wish to be detestable to God! The
section ends with a contrast of God's blessing on the righteous and His
curse on the wicked. [Nelson SB]
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Isaiah 57:15 (KJV) For thus saith the high and lofty One that
inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy
place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive
the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite
ones.
James 4:6 (KJV) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith,
God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
1 Peter 5:5 (KJV) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto
the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed
with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the
humble.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: MOVING FROM THE HEAD TO THE HEART
WHAT IS GOD TEACHING HERE? WHAT DOES IT TEACH ABOUT JESUS?
While the Lord pays back the scorners in their own coin by
permitting them to reap the fruits of their own ways, He brings mercy and
saving power to the humble. [SDA Commentary]
Pride does not know its own need. It so admires itself that it
recognizes no need to be supplied. It cherishes its own independence. It
will be beholden to no man and not even to God. It does not
recognize its own sin. It is occupied with thinking of its own goodness
and never realizes that it has any sin from which it needs to be
saved. A pride like that cannot receive help, because it does not know
that it needs help, and, therefore, it cannot ask. [Barclay
Commentary re Jam.4:6b]
When we get caught up in a personal ego trip we let pride
separate us from God. Someone called ego - Easing God Out. Pride
pollutes everything it touches. It keeps us from growing spiritually.
It is the basic sin causing separation from God. It is Satan's
most powerful tool. If we let pride rule our lives we can be kept
from spiritual growth after we have begun a relationship with God.
How can we overcome pride? Christ's words state the case flatly,
"And whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles
himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). How do we "humble ourselves"?
The way we handle problems is a way to begin. Rather than
trying by our own cleverness to solve them we can admit our own
inadequacy so the Lord can get through to us again. To truly praise God is
to reverence Him in every place for there is no place where He is
not. The Lord delights to bless a person like that. [Yokefellows re
1Pe.5:5]
The simply stated, yet profoundly deep truth of this passage,
cries out to us to pay attention to what God says and to implement His
instruction in our lives. Do you want the abundant life that Jesus provides
for His children? Are you willing to invest some time to discover
how humility and reverence for God bring you into abundant life?
The world says we need to have good "self-esteem" in order to be
happy in this life; that we should acknowledge our own goodness and
the inherent goodness in others. God's Word says the opposite:
don't do anything out of selfish motives, and consider others to be
better than you are! What does this passage mean to you? Do you have
the abundant life you desire? Look up verses in your Bible that
speak of humility and see how you measure up. Ponder the reverence
(holy fear) you have for the Lord. If you feel the need to start over,
begin today by studying this verse until the Lord brings revival to
your heart! [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom re 1Pe.5:5]
Contrition and humility--the spirit of sincere repentance for
sin, coupled with a sense of one's inability, of oneself, to earn
salvation - are the two essential qualifications for acceptance with God.
Contrition prepares the way for justification, as humility does for
sanctification. God can do little for the man who does not feel a keen sense of
his own need and who does not reach out for power from above. [SDA
Commentary re Isa.57:15]
Contriteness or sadness over one's spiritual state is a mark of
one who seeks God's face. Such contriteness will be honored by God's
comforting presence. [Disciple SB re Isa.57:15]
God, although high and exalted, stoops to be with the lowly.
Lowly here is not a social attribute, such as poverty. It is an inner
attitude of humility, of simple trust in and responsiveness to God. If
this is our attitude, God will stoop to be with us, always. [Victor
Bible Reader's Companion re Isa.57:15]
The life in which the fear of the Lord is cherished will not be
a life of sadness and gloom. It is the absence of Christ that
makes the countenance sad, and the life a pilgrimage of sighs. Those
who are filled with self-esteem and self-love do not feel the need
of a living, personal union with Christ. The heart that has not
fallen on the Rock is proud of its wholeness. Men want a dignified
religion. They desire to walk in a path wide enough to take in their own
attributes. Their self-love, their love of popularity and love of praise,
exclude the Saviour from their hearts, and without Him there is gloom
and sadness. But Christ dwelling in the soul is a wellspring of joy.
COL162
Pride and self-esteem cannot flourish in the hearts that keep
fresh in memory the scenes of Calvary. 2T212
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