The Inside Comes Out
As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a beautiful woman who is without discretion [her lack of character mocks her beauty]. Proverbs 11:22 (Amplified Bible, AMP)
A gold ring is a thing of beauty- shiny, smooth, and valuable. Place it on a lovely hand and it becomes even more attractive. However, the beauty of a gold ring can easily be diminished by placing it on something that does not appreciate it or does not show off its beauty sufficiently. The example in this verse is the snout of a pig. A pig cannot do justice to an expensive and beautiful gold ring. This is especially true of the pig’s snout that burrows and digs in dirt and in other things that are even worse.
Swine are unclean animals to the Hebrews, very undesirable. To place something of great value on something unclean and lowly is unthinkable to them. Placing a gold ring on something as disgusting as a sow is detestable to the Old Covenant believer. It reduces the desirability and value of the gold ring. It is viewed as ugly and unclean itself because it is on an unclean and unwanted animal.
The same is true of a person. In this verse, it mentions a woman, but it is true of any person. A nice-looking person is seen as attractive until their unclean nature and lack of character comes out. It is like a beautiful woman who opens her mouth and spews forth gossip, lies, obscenities, and harsh words. Once her mouth is open and her real nature and lack of character come out, her external beauty is quickly forgotten.
The aim of any believer should be to become more and more like Jesus on the inside so it shows on the outside. This is the true demonstration of beauty. Physical beauty is nice, but internal beauty is the most important- and it shows more than you know.
Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord [reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30 (Amplified Bible, AMP)
