Speak The Word Only

Exodus 18:11 “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.” Introduction Exodus 18 records the testimony of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law , after he heard what the LORD had done for Israel. God had delivered His people from Pharaoh, brought them through the Red Sea, and demonstrated His power over Egypt. Jethro's declaration in Exodus 18:11 was therefore not merely a statement about God's greatness. It was a response to what God had demonstrated through His acts of deliverance . The gods of Egypt had been worshiped and feared, Pharaoh had exalted himself against the LORD, and Egypt appeared to possess overwhelming power. Yet God showed that no ruler, nation, spiritual power, or object of worship could stand above Him. Expository Insight “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods” Jethro had heard what God had done, but now he confessed what those mighty acts revealed: YHWH is supreme . This does not mea...

Proverbs 19:8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.  Proverbs 19:8 teaches that pursuing wisdom and understanding is an investment in one's own life . The KJV says that the person who obtains wisdom “loveth his own soul,” showing that seeking godly wisdom is an act of caring for the life God has given us. Biblical wisdom is more than possessing information. It involves developing discernment and applying what we know in a way that produces wise decisions and righteous living . The verse also emphasizes keeping understanding. Wisdom must not only be obtained; it must be guarded, remembered, and practiced . The person who values wisdom protects himself from many unnecessary mistakes and learns to recognize what is good. Proverbs 19:8 therefore encourages us to continually seek wisdom from God and allow that wisdom to shape our choices, relationships, words, and direction in life.  Key Thought To seek wisdom is to care for your...

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” — 1 John 2:16 First John 2:16 identifies three powerful influences of the world that can draw the heart away from God: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The lust of the flesh concerns desires that seek gratification outside the boundaries and will of God. The flesh says, I want what satisfies me , even when that desire conflicts with God's Word. The lust of the eyes concerns desires awakened by what we see and covet. The eyes can become an entrance through which possessions, appearances, wealth, status, or other attractions begin to control the heart. The pride of life concerns boasting, self-exaltation, and placing confidence in what we possess, accomplish, or appear to be before others. Older public-domain commentators such as Matthew Henry and John Gill likewise understood these three expressions ...

“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” — Zephaniah 3:17 Zephaniah 3:17 presents a beautiful picture of God’s love for His people after judgment and restoration . Earlier in the chapter, God confronts rebellion and sin, but the chapter does not end with judgment. It moves toward restoration, salvation, joy, and the presence of God among His people. The words “the LORD thy God in the midst of thee” show that God is not pictured as distant. He is present among His restored people. He is also described as mighty and able to save. His love is therefore not powerless affection—it is the love of the God who has the power to deliver. The expression “he will rest in his love” gives the picture of a settled, quiet, steadfast love. God's love is not portrayed as restless or uncertain. He rejoices over His people and even “joy[s] over thee with singing.” This verse rev...

“Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.” — Obadiah 1:4 Obadiah 1:4 is primarily a warning concerning pride and self-exaltation , but it also teaches an important lesson about love. Edom had become confident in its strength and secure position, but that confidence developed into arrogance and a lack of compassion toward others. True love does not exalt itself above people. Love and pride move in opposite directions. Pride says, “I will lift myself higher,” while godly love teaches us to walk humbly, show mercy, and care about the suffering of others. This becomes especially important later in Obadiah when Edom is condemned for standing against “thy brother Jacob.” Edom watched Judah's distress rather than responding with brotherly concern. Pride hardened the heart where compassion should have been present. The image of the eagle and its nest among the stars describes Edom's sense of s...

“The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?” — Obadiah 1:3 Obadiah 1:3 directly addresses pride , but it also provides an important lesson about love because pride can prevent genuine love from operating in the heart. Edom's elevated and protected location contributed to a false sense of security. Their problem, however, was deeper than their physical surroundings. God identified “the pride of thine heart” as the source of their deception. They began trusting in their own strength and believing themselves to be beyond correction. Pride deceives because it causes a person to see himself incorrectly. It can make us feel superior, self-sufficient, and less sensitive to the needs and suffering of others. Love produces the opposite disposition. Love is willing to humble itself, demonstrate compassion, serve others, forgive, and recognize our depende...

“Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” — Daniel 4:37 Daniel 4:37 concludes the remarkable account of King Nebuchadnezzar's pride, humbling, restoration, and acknowledgment of God . Nebuchadnezzar had looked upon Babylon and credited its greatness to his own power. His heart became lifted up in pride. God humbled him until he learned that earthly authority is ultimately subject to the King of heaven . Although this verse primarily concerns humility and God's sovereignty , it contains an important lesson about love. Pride focuses attention upon self— my accomplishments, my position, my ability, my greatness. Love moves the heart away from self-exaltation and toward honoring God and properly valuing others . God's correction of Nebuchadnezzar was not the end of his story. After being humbled, his understanding returned, his kingdom was restored, ...

“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” — Ezekiel 16:49 Ezekiel 16:49 gives an important biblical description of Sodom's sin . God identifies pride, abundance, idleness, and the failure to strengthen the poor and needy. The verse reveals that love is demonstrated by how we respond to people in need . Sodom possessed abundance, yet abundance did not produce generosity. They had enough for themselves while failing to strengthen those who were vulnerable. The problem was not simply having material provision. The danger was allowing prosperity to produce pride, self-satisfaction, indifference, and neglect of others . This gives us an important lesson about godly love: love notices people . It does not become so comfortable with its own blessings that it becomes insensitive to another person's suffering. The following verse conti...

“Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.” — Jeremiah 49:16 Jeremiah 49:16 is God's warning against Edom , whose strength and protected location had contributed to a dangerous sense of self-confidence. Their security became connected with pride of heart , and pride deceived them into believing they were beyond being brought down. Although the verse primarily addresses pride and judgment, it also teaches an important truth about love . Pride and godly love work in opposite directions. Pride elevates self, while love makes room for humility, compassion, mercy, and concern for others. Edom's problem was deeper than living in a secure place. God specifically identified “the pride of thine heart.” External strength had produced an internal condition. They trusted t...

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” — Proverbs 16:18 Proverbs 16:18 gives a direct warning about pride and a haughty spirit . Pride can cause a person to think too highly of himself, reject correction, disregard others, and become confident in his own wisdom rather than depending upon God. This verse also teaches an important lesson about love because pride can interfere with our ability to love others properly . Pride asks, “How can I elevate myself?” Love asks, “How can I serve, strengthen, and care for someone else?” A haughty spirit looks down upon others. Genuine love does not need to diminish another person in order to feel important. Love can honor others, listen, forgive, show patience, receive correction, and rejoice when someone else is blessed. Pride can also blind us to our own weaknesses. When we become convinced that we cannot be wrong, we become less teachable. That is why Solomon connects pride with destruction and falling . The dang...

“In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.” — Proverbs 14:3 Proverbs 14:3 connects pride with the way a person speaks . Pride is not always revealed through possessions, position, or outward behavior. Sometimes pride becomes most visible through our words . The expression “a rod of pride” presents proud speech as something capable of causing harm. A foolish person may speak arrogantly, boast about himself, belittle others, reject correction, or answer harshly because pride is governing the heart. The second half of the verse presents a contrast: “the lips of the wise shall preserve them.” Wisdom exercises restraint. A wise person understands that every thought does not need to be spoken and every disagreement does not require a harsh response. Pride can make the mouth destructive, while wisdom teaches the mouth when to speak, how to speak, and when to remain silent . The verse therefore reveals an important spiritual principle: our s...

“The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.” — Isaiah 23:9 Isaiah 23 contains a prophetic judgment concerning Tyre, a wealthy and influential commercial city. Tyre's prosperity, trade, influence, and reputation had produced a kind of glory that appeared impressive among the nations. Yet Isaiah 23:9 declares that human glory cannot exalt itself indefinitely before God. The expression “the pride of all glory” exposes the danger of allowing success to become self-exaltation. Wealth, influence, accomplishments, beauty, reputation, or position may bring recognition, but none of these makes a person independent of God. God's judgment against Tyre demonstrates that what humanity highly honors can still be brought low . The problem is not simply possessing wealth or influence; the danger comes when those things become the foundation of pride, self-sufficiency, and personal glory. Pride says, “Look at...