Pride 7/10/09

The most proud shall stumble and fall, And no one will raise him up; I will kindle a fire in his cities, And it will devour all around him."

Jer 50:32 (NKJV)

But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord.

Jer 9:24 (NKJV)

11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.'

12 Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.

13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?"

2 Kings 5:11-13 (NKJV)

30 The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?"

31 While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!

32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."

33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.

34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?"

36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.

37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

Dan 4:30-37 (NKJV)

Naaman had leprosy, so he went to Elsiha and asked him to do something about it. Elsiha, instead of receiving the military leader himself, sent his servant to greet Elisha. Naaman had an issue over this, wondering why Elisha himself did not come to meet him, since he was so great and important of a leader. And then after this, there was another instance, and most likely a more famous one, where Elisha told Naaman to dip in the Jordan River seven times to cure him of his leprosy. But Naaman didn't want to. He was thinking, "Why should I have to dip in that filthy river when there are any number of clean rivers to wash myself in at home?" This was more pride. Thankfully, he didn't continue in it, or he may have been killed by leprosy.

Then, there was Nebuchadnezzar who basically thought that he was a god. He thought he had it all together. He thought that he was the only one worthy of breathing this air. But God showed him how wrong and sinful he was being, and he repented of his sin.

Then there's us.

Are we being prideful with anything?

Do we think we have it all together, or could have it all together, without God?