Health Hazard Warning: Pride
Another universal and very dreadful disease is PRIDE. Proverbs 6:16 tells us that of the 7 things which the Lord hates, pride comes first and lies second. Pride brings contention (Proverbs 13:10), destruction (Proverbs 16:18), it brings a man low (Proverbs 29:23), and more besides.
Again we must ask where does pride come from? It comes from the Devil. In Ezekiel 28:12-14 we get a picture of him under the figure of the King of Tyre. He would seem to be the very greatest of God’s creatures, full of wisdom and perfect beauty; "thou are the anointed cherub that covereth, and I have set thee so." We read, "thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." In Isaiah 14:12-14, we learn what that iniquity was: "I will" is repeated five times. It makes one shudder to think of such audacity, and that in one so privileged!
Who can handle such an enemy? Only ONE. Even Michael the archangel (Jude 9) contending with the devil (regarding the body of Moses) durst bring no railing accusation against him, but says, "The Lord rebuke thee." Wise words indeed - consider them my soul!
The next question must be, "where do we find PRIDE today?" Why, we find it almost everywhere!
PRIDE:
IN LACE the clothes we wear
IN FACE women and men
IN RACE especially when abroad
IN PLACE whatever the sphere
IN GRACE alas and alas, even where there is a gift from the Lord
There is also danger in every age! In the Garden of Eden Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was "good for food." Especially when we are young we like to satisfy our appetites. In middle age (the acquisitive age), we make it our ambition to obtain items we do not possess. In old age there is an inveterate tendency to find something we have accomplished at some time in our lives and to be very proud of it. What a triumph and testimony when we can overcome, in the Lord’s strength, these human weaknesses. To God be the glory!
We have to be reminded that it is our blessed Lord, to whom all judgment has been committed (John 5:22), who will take account of pride wherever it is found. In Matthew 12:36 we learn that "we shall all give account in the day of judgment for every idle word that we speak." But what about the nations? Here is a list of the nations who will be judged in that day, all judged with pride particularly mentioned.
Israel - many references
Mt. Seir - 2 Chronicles 20:10
Judah - Jeremiah 13:9
Edom - Obadiah 3
Jerusalem - many references
Egypt - Ezekiel 29:9
Ammon - Zephaniah 2:9-10
Ethiopia - Zephaniah 2:12
Moab - Isaiah 16:6-7
In addition all the nations are judged in the Seals, Trumpets and Vials judgments in Revelation.
Manifestly PRIDE unchecked leads to utter destruction (Proverbs 13:10).
But what a joy to turn to ONE in whom is NO PRIDE! He who is "Meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29), and now turn to Philippians 2:6-8, and follow the seven downward steps He took to the death of the cross.
"See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flowed mingled down." Isaac Watts
"O keep us, love divine, near thee,
That we our nothingness may know;
And ever to Thy glory be,
Walking in faith while here below." (J.N.D.)
