Originally posted: 1/19/2021
Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool, (26:1).
This chapter of Proverbs is packed with similes in comparing the fool within the context of the commonplace of the times: a flitting sparrow; useless legs; a stone attached to a slingshot; a thorn caught in the hand of a drunkard; an out-of-control archer; a dog who returns to its vomit; the grabbing of a dog by its ears; a madman playing with fire; stoking the flames of contention; and dressing up an old clay pot with mucky silver.
Proverbs discloses what is the root issue for every fool… the heart of pride.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him. (26:12).
A fool rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who regards reproof is sensible, (Proverbs 15:5).
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered, (Proverbs 28:26).
Psalm 14 clearly reveals what gives birth to the fool’s heart of pride… it is rejecting God.
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good, (Psalm 14:1).
And Psalm 14 goes on to bring down the hammer on any hope we might have that honor can be fitting for any of us.
The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek after God.
3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one, (Psalm 14:2-3).
There is only One Who has ever lived Who is Befitting of Honor; only One Who was righteous and was born of a virgin; only One Who was called the Son of the Most High God; Only One… Jesus Christ.
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel,” (Isaiah 7:14).
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this, (Isaiah 9:6-7).
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God,” (Luke 1:30-35).
Consider Him, the One Who Is Befitting of Honor
While we should learn well the principles regarding the fool in this chapter, today, rather than focusing on the fool who is unworthy of any honor, let’s turn our attention to Jesus Christ, that we may learn more of Him, the only One Who is Befitting of Honor.
- He Is Befitting of Honor in the same manner as the Father.
- “so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him,” (John 5:23).
- He Is Befitting of Honor as He accomplished the work His Father sent Him to do.
- Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was,” (John 17:1-5).
- He Is Befitting of Honor as He humbled Himself in obedience to the Father.
- Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, (Philippians 2:8-11).
- He Is Befitting of Honor as the image of the invisible God Who is before all things and holds all things together.
- He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything, (Colossians 1:15-18).
- He Is Befitting of Honor as He Is the King eternal Who came into the world to save sinners.
- It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen, (1 Timothy 1:15-17).
- He Is Befitting of Honor as He is the Creator Who lives forever and ever.
- And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created,” (Revelation 4:9-11).
- He Is Befitting of Honor for He Is the Lion from the tribe of Judah Who has overcome the enemy of sin and death.
- And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. 4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; 5 and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals,” (Revelation 5:2-5).
- He Is Befitting of Honor for He will sit on His throne to rule and reign all of life forever and ever.
- And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever,” (Revelation 5:13).
How do we respond to Him, the One Who Is Befitting of Honor?
As we ponder and consider His immeasurable worth, there is really only one reasonable response: we are to Honor Him, the One Who Is Befitting of Honor, as our spiritual act of worship with all that we are.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship, (Romans 12:1).
We have so very much to be thankful for; and a thankful heart brings Him Honor. Every day let us give thanks to Him, the One Who Is Befitting of Honor, that we would Honor and glorify Him with all our heart.
I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And will glorify Your name forever, (Psalm 86:12).
As we consider how worthy He is, the price He paid to redeem us, and that His Holy Spirit now dwells in us, how can we not desire to become His worthy vessel? Let us Honor Him, the One Who Is Befitting of Honor, in our body so that we would glorify God with every word, thought, and deed.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Oh, that our mindset would always be about glorifying Him; that in everything we do in leisure or work, we would do all for His glory as we serve and Honor Him, the One Who Is Befitting of Honor.
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God, (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve, (Colossians 3:23-24).
Oh, that our every desire would be to so Honor Him that we would always be prepared and ready to share the hope we have in Him, the One Who Is Befitting of Honor.
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15 ESV).