We get another dose of the misery of living with a quarrelsome wife in this chapter. Hmmmm ... I wonder if Solomon had not had 300 wives, perhaps they would have been less quarrelsome. But - we have already established that we have no desire to be characterized by a belligerent, angry temperament.
I want to focus on verse 4 today: "Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!"
Haughty eyes ... the Hebrew word means "to be lifted up; being on a higher plane"
The word is used in both positive and negative ways. There are numerous references in scripture where God "lifts up" and it is this word used. However, in this proverb, the negative aspect is definitely on stage. It seems that the sin occurs when a man/woman lifts herself up ... sees herself as above others ... better than.
Serious self-examination is called for. I am convinced that "better than" thinking is what ultimately leads people to inhumane treatment of other human beings, to violence, to wars. You can hear the twang of haughtiness in the way people talk about others ... racially ... economically ... culturally ... educationally ... religiously. God hates haughty eyes.
I've been guilty. Have you? I struggle. Do you?
Come on girls ... let's confess this ugliness, accept the forgiveness and cleansing of our perfect Father ... and commit to living this day haughty-free! We will have to recommit tomorrow ... and the next day ... and the next. It's worth it.
I needed to hear that. Thank you, Gail! Your words are so powerful!!!
ReplyDeleteI was also touched by verse 21:
"He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity (righteousness) and honor."
I especially love the translation in The Message:
"Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind finds life itself — glorious life!"
Praise You, Father!
I like phrase you pulled from that, "haughty eyes." I've also been struck by the number of verses equating wisdom with honor in recent chapters. Not only are we not to view ourselves as "better than" (which is a huge struggle in itself), we are called to action! Protecting the fatherless, the poor, the defenseless is such a high priority of our Father. We are called to honorable behavior. I'm still thinking on, "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be anwered." As an inhabitant of the richest nation on earth, this speaks to me.
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