“And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.” (Psalms 30:6)
In this particular verse David recalls his sin of arrogancy. Pride rose up and in rebellion counted the fighting men. (1 Chronicles 21:1-7) There is so much danger in able people to fall into the sin of pride. Although they know that they know they have nothing to brag about themselves because all ability, grace and power comes from God, human nature forgets and begins to take credit for what God has done. It doesn’t help that others admire the accomplishments and praise the person instead of the giver of the gift. I’ve been taught to simply respond with a “Thank you.” But when I’ve done this, I feel like I’ve taken credit for something I had nothing to do with it except to be a vessel that God used at a particular time for a specific thing. So instead of “Thank you,” I say, “Praise God.” And when I do say that, I feel that people are put off and think I’m being religious. But in my soul, it gives me peace because all praise of anything I do or say that is worthy of praise belongs to the Lord.
God hates pride. “ The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13) This Scripture tells us that we’re to hate evil. Then it proceeds to name evil. Pride and arrogancy is number one here. It’s the sin that destroyed satan. (Isaiah 14:12-15) It’s the sin that condemned Pharoh. (Exodus 5:2) It’s the sin that brought the wrath of God on Hezekiah. (2 Kings 20:13) It’s what caused God’s judgement on Moab. (Isaiah 16:6; Jeremiah 48:29,46) And there are other examples.
Pride brings destruction. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) It brings shame. “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2) Paul warns us not to be high-minded in regard to the fact that the Jews are like broken branches so that we, like wild olive branches, would be grafted into the vine (Jesus). “ Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee.” (Romans 11:20-21) Being high-minded also means being right-minded. This also is pride.
After David sinned God gave him an option of punishment. In this age of grace, many still think that God punishes sin. But the sin issue has been resolved by Jesus. God doesn’t punish sin. What we think is punishment is a consequence of wrong actions, words or choices. It’s what happens when we allow the devil to move in our lives. What God will punish is a rejection of Jesus at the end of time. We are living in the dispensation of grace. God’s mercy and longsuffering or patience for us to come to Him through Jesus.
In David’s time, sin had to be punished. There was no forgiveness for sin before Jesus.
David repents of his sin. And God relents His punishment. (1 Chronicles 21:26,27) About this time, you, the reader should ask, if God doesn’t punish sin, why does pride bring shame and destruction? Isn’t that a punishment? Peter gives us clarity in teaching about how pride can hinder submission. “ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1Peter 5:5) God opposes the proud. When God opposes one, you are left to the wolves or devils. The devil can come and wreak havoc in your life without the Lord’s protection. No one wants to be in this position. But pride can bring us to this point. Avoid pride at all costs. The opposite of pride is humility and lowliness. The world hates that, but God gives grace to the humble. Grace, the gift of favor, liberality and divine influence in our lives to prosper and have good success in all things.
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