Your Pride
Note: Nations will be destroyed by pridefully forgetting God.
Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe
his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.
Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses
and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your
silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your
heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who
brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you
through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless
land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out
of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something
your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the
end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, “My power and
the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But
remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to
produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your
ancestors, as it is today. If you ever forget the LORD your God and
follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against
you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the LORD
destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD
your God. Deuteronomy 8:11-20
Note: Wicked people are prideful and atheists.
The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the
plots which they have devised. For the wicked boasts of his heart's
desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord. The wicked in his
proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.
Psalm 10:2-4
Note: Humble people seeking God will be saved.
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He
lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet
on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my
mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and
put their trust in him. Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who
does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
Psalm 40:1-4
Note: David wanted prideful people destroyed so that God would be glorified.
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, let them even
be taken in their pride, and for the cursing and lying which they
speak. Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be; And
let them know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah
Psalm 59:12-13
Note: The curse of God is upon perverse and wicked people.
For the LORD detests the perverse but takes the upright into his
confidence. The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he
blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but shows
favor to the humble and oppressed. Proverbs 3:32-34
Note: God hates pride, arrogance, evil, and perversity.
I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil
way and the perverse mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I
am understanding, I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree
justice. Proverbs 8:12-15
Note: Pride, perversity, and wickedness destroys.
When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. The
integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the
unfaithful will destroy them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the
blameless will direct his way aright, but the wicked will fall by his
own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but
the unfaithful will be caught by their lust. Proverbs 11:2-6
Note: Wicked, prideful, and dishonest people will be eliminated.
The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be
put out. By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised
is wisdom. Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who
gathers by labor will increase. Proverbs 13:9-11
Note: Fools will be perverse and prideful.
The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her
hands. He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is
perverse in his ways despises Him. In the mouth of a fool is a rod of
pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. Proverbs 14:1-3
Note: Proud, wicked, and greedy people are not righteous.
The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s
boundary stones in place. The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but gracious words are pure in his sight. The greedy bring ruin to
their households, but the one who hates bribes will live. The heart of
the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes
evil. The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the
righteous. Proverbs 15:25-29
Note: Pride goes before destruction. It is wise to trust in God.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way
preserves his soul. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit
before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to
divide the spoil with the proud. He who heeds the word wisely will find
good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. The wise in heart
will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning.
Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the
correction of fools is folly. Proverbs 16:17-22
Note: Angry, furious, prideful thieves hate life.
An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in
transgression. A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in
spirit will retain honor. Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his
own life; He swears to tell the truth but reveals nothing. The fear of
man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
Proverbs 29:22-25
Note: Pride produces abominations, violence, and destruction.
“Now upon you I will soon pour out My fury and spend My anger upon you;
I will judge you according to your ways, and I will repay you for all
your abominations. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will
repay you according to your ways, and your abominations will be in your
midst. Then you shall know that I am the Lord who strikes. Behold, the
day! Behold, it has come! Doom has gone out; The rod has blossomed,
pride has budded. Violence has risen up into a rod of wickedness; None
of them shall remain, none of their multitude, none of them; Nor shall
there be wailing for them.” Ezekiel 7:8-11
Note: Hezekiah repented of his pride and was spared.
In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the
Lord; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not
repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up;
therefore, wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.
Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come
upon them in the days of Hezekiah. 2 Chronicles 32:24-26
Note: Pride destroyed Babylon.
"Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who will not regard
silver; And as for gold, they will not delight in it. Also, their bows
will dash the young men to pieces, and they will have no pity on the
fruit of the womb; Their eye will not spare children. And Babylon, the
glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, will be as when
God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited, nor will
it be settled from generation to generation; Nor will the Arabian pitch
tents there, nor will the shepherds make their sheepfolds there. But
wild beasts of the desert will lie there, and their houses will be full
of owls; Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will caper there.
The hyenas will howl in their citadels, and jackals in their pleasant
palaces. Her time is near to come, and her days will not be prolonged."
Isaiah 13:17-22
O king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and
majesty, glory and honor. And because of the majesty that He gave him,
all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him.
Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive;
whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. But
when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he
was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.
Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the
beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with
grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he
knew that the most high God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints
over it whomever He chooses. But you his son, Belshazzar, have not
humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted
yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels
of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your
concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of
silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or
hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns
all your ways, you have not glorified. Daniel 5:18-23
Note: Pride destroyed Moab.
We have heard of the pride of Moab-- He is very proud-- of his
haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; But his lies shall not be so.
Therefore, Moab shall wail for Moab; Everyone shall wail. For the
foundations of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn; Surely they are stricken.
For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah; The lords
of the nations have broken down its choice plants, which have reached
Jazer and wandered through the wilderness. Her branches are stretched
out, they are gone over the sea. Isaiah 16:6-8
Note: Pride destroyed Tyre.
When the report reaches Egypt, they also will be in agony at the report
of Tyre. Cross over to Tarshish; Wail, you inhabitants of the
coastland! Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is from ancient
days, whose feet carried her far off to dwell? Who has taken this
counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes,
whose traders are the honorable of the earth? The Lord of hosts has
purposed it, to bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, to bring into
contempt all the honorable of the earth. Isaiah 23:5-9
Note: King of Tyre is compared to prideful Satan.
“Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to
him: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “You were the seal of
perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the
garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite
and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl.
Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were
created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for
so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among
the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were
created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade
you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So, I drove you in
disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub,
from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your
beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So, I
threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. By your
many sins and dishonest trade, you have desecrated your sanctuaries.
So, I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced
you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. All
the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a
horrible end and will be no more.’” Ezekiel 28:12-19
Note: Pride destroyed Ephraim.
Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious
beauty is a fading flower which is at the head of the verdant valleys,
to those who are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord has a mighty and
strong one, like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, like a flood
of mighty waters overflowing, who will bring them down to the earth
with His hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, will be
trampled underfoot; And the glorious beauty is a fading flower which is
at the head of the verdant valley, like the first fruit before the
summer, which an observer sees; He eats it up while it is still in his
hand. Isaiah 28:1-4
Note: Pride destroyed Judah.
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Thus says the Lord: 'In
this manner I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of
Jerusalem. This evil people, who refuse to hear My words, who follow
the dictates of their hearts, and walk after other gods to serve them
and worship them, shall be just like this sash which is profitable for
nothing. For as the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused
the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me,'
says the Lord, 'that they may become My people, for renown, for praise,
and for glory; but they would not hear.' "Therefore, you shall speak to
them this word: 'Thus says the Lord God of Israel: "Every bottle shall
be filled with wine."' And they will say to you, 'Do we not certainly
know that every bottle will be filled with wine?' Then you shall say to
them, 'Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of
this land--even the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the
prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem--with drunkenness! And I
will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons
together," says the Lord. "I will not pity nor spare nor have mercy but
will destroy them."'" Jeremiah 13:8-14
Note: Pride destroyed Egypt.
The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, "Son of man, prophesy
and say, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Wail, 'Woe to the day!' For the day
is near, even the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds,
the time of the Gentiles. The sword shall come upon Egypt, and great
anguish shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain fall in Egypt, and they
take away her wealth, and her foundations are broken down. "Ethiopia,
Libya, Lydia, all the mingled people, Chub, and the men of the lands
who are allied, shall fall with them by the sword." 'Thus says the
Lord: "Those who uphold Egypt shall fall, and the pride of her power
shall come down. From Migdol to Syene those within her shall fall by
the sword," says the Lord God. "They shall be desolate in the midst of
the desolate countries, and her cities shall be in the midst of the
cities that are laid waste. Then they will know that I am the Lord,
When I have set a fire in Egypt and all her helpers are destroyed. On
that day messengers shall go forth from Me in ships to make the
careless Ethiopians afraid, and great anguish shall come upon them, as
on the day of Egypt; For indeed it is coming!" 'Thus says the Lord God:
"I will also make a multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He and his people with him, the most
terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land; They
shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the
slain. Ezekiel 30:1-11
Note: A person’s words reveal their heart.
And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from
within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,
fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit,
lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil
things come from within and defile a man." Mark 7:20-23
Note: Proud people have a debased mind.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God
gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not
fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife,
deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of
God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to
parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,
unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who
practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but
also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32
Note: Loving people will not be proud.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be
devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the
Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with
those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one
another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low
position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be
careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible,
as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take
revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is
written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans
12:9-19
Note: Church leaders must not be proud.
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop,
he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of
one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able
to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but
gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house
well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a
man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of
the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he
fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover, he must have a
good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach
and the snare of the devil. 1 Timothy 3:1-7
Note: False teachers will be proud.
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words,
even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which
accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed
with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife,
reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds
and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of
gain. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is
great gain. 1 Timothy 6:3-6
Note: Proud people will love the world not God.
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the
world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the
world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture
says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? But He
gives more grace. Therefore, He says: "God resists the proud, but gives
grace to the humble." James 4:4-6
Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes,
all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility,
for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore,
humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you
in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1
Peter 5:5-7
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the
world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the
world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of
life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing
away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides
forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Note: In the last days most people will be proud and evil.
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men
will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving,
unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of
good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And
from such people turn away! 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Note: One day the wrath of God will eliminate human pride.
The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low;
the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. The LORD Almighty has a day
in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they
will be humbled), for all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty, and
all the oaks of Bashan, for all the towering mountains and all the high
hills, for every lofty tower and every fortified wall, for every
trading ship and every stately vessel. The arrogance of man will be
brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in
that day, and the idols will totally disappear. People will flee to
caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence
of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the
earth. In that day people will throw away to the moles and bats their
idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship. They
will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the
fearful presence of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he
rises to shake the earth. Isaiah 2:11-21
And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the
commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid
themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to
the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him
who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great
day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" Revelation 6:15-17