Proverbs 15:33 - Exposition

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; that which leads to and gives wisdom (see Proverbs 1:3 , Proverbs 1:7 , etc.; Proverbs 9:10 ). 'Pirke Aboth,' 3.26, "No wisdom, no fear of God; no fear of God, no wisdom. No knowledge, no discernment; no discernment, no knowledge." Before honour is humility ( Proverbs 18:12 ). A man who fears God must be humble, and as the fear of God leads to wisdom, it may be said that humility leads to the honour and glory of being wise and reckoned among the wise ( Proverbs 15:31 ). A man with a lowly opinion of himself will hearken to the teaching of the wise, and scrupulously obey the Law of God, and will be blessed in his ways. For "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" ( James 4:6 ; comp. Luke 1:52 ). The maxim in the second clause has a general application. "He that shall humble himself shall be exalted" ( Matthew 23:12 ; comp. Luke 14:11 ; James 4:6 ). It is sanctioned by the example of Christ himself, the Spirit itself testifying beforehand his sufferings that were to precede his glory ( 1 Peter 1:11 ; see also Philippians 2:5 , etc.). Septuagint, "The fear of the Lord is discipline and wisdom, and the beginning of glory shall answer to it." Another reading adds, "Glory goeth before the humble," which is explained to mean that the humble set before their eyes the reward that awaits their humility, and patiently endure, like Christ, "who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" ( Hebrews 12:2 ).