THE DEVIL'S SIN

"Pride is the devil's sin." - Charles Spurgeon

"Pride of heart, by which we have lifted up ourselves, is a sin for which we ought in a special manner to humble ourselves."

"Men will be revenged, will not forgive, because they are proud."

"Men cannot punish pride, but either admire it or fear it, and therefore God will take the punishing of it into His own hands. Let Him alone to deal with proud men."

"Those that are rich in the world are apt to be high-minded."

"What men are proud of, be it ever so mean, is to them a crown..."

"Pride is a sin that hardens the heart in all other sin and renders the means of repentance and reformation ineffectual."
- all of the above quotes are from Matthew Henry

"Prosperity is apt to make men proud, and to lift them above themselves; and to forget what they have been, and what they may be; and to neglect observing the judgment of God on others, and to take warning by them." - John Gill's Exposition Of The Entire Bible

The Bible has much to say about "pride" - "the devil's sin."

Let's go through a list of Scriptures and examine some phrases which include the word "pride" and see what we can learn from our study. We guarantee that your eyes will be opened to its deadly nature.

Leviticus 26:19 says - "And I will break the pride of your power..."

What was "the pride of Israel's power"? It was the strength of which they were proud...that in which they placed their confidence... everything on which they prided themselves...and that in which they boasted of and trusted.

Various commentators said it included the sanctuary with its ark, their fruitful country, the multitude of their forces, along with the strength of their mighty men of war.

1 Samuel 17:28 says - "And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride..."

David's eldest brother accused him of being proud because he came down to the battle. Eliab insinuated that David was too proud to keep sheep and only came to advance himself in the army, make a figure there, and gratify vanity and ambition. Nothing could be further from the truth! Actually, who had the pride here - David or Eliab?

2 Chronicles 32:26 says - "Notwithstanding, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart..."

Verse 25 says - "But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up..." What were the "benefits" that caused his heart to be "lifted up" in pride? There were several of them - the defeat of the Assyrian army...the miraculous restoration from sickness...and the embassy sent from the king of Babylon to court him.

Job 33:17 says - "...and hide pride from man."

Pride is pictured as an open pit. God covers it up, lest man should fall into it. The way He does that is by showing him his weakness and bringing him to a humble and ready submission to His will.

Job 35:12 says - "...because of the pride of evil men."

Men - who are so accustomed to rely on their own resources - cry by reason of their affliction. They cry proudly against God rather than humbly to Him. What is His reaction? He doesn't work deliverance for them because the affliction that was meant to mortify and humble them had not accomplished its goal.

Psalm 10:2 says - "The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor..."

The wicked man pursues his own selfish and ambitious purposes. This causes him to have no regard for the rights and comforts of others.

Psalm 10:4 says - "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance..."

The condition of the heart is oftentimes written on the countenance. If pride is seated on the heart, it will manifest itself on the face as a proud look.

Psalm 31:20 says - "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man..."

God hides all those who fear Him in "the secret of His presence." From what are they sheltered? He covers them from the league, conspiracy, snares, plots, vainglorious boastings, threats, and insults of their enemies. He protects them from being trampled or treaded upon.

Psalm 36:11 says - "Let not the foot of pride come against me..."

Proud and haughty men are referred to as "the foot of pride." David prayed that they would not be able to overthrow, vanquish, or trample him under their feet.

Psalm 59:12 says - "...let them even be taken in their pride..."

The proud speak arrogantly - with hearts that are elated and sure of success. They will be trapped by their boastful lies.

Psalm 73:6 says - "...pride compasseth them about as a chain..."

The haughty adorn themselves with ornaments of pride. Their outward prosperity sets them off from others and makes them look great in the eyes of others.

Proverbs 8:13 says - "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy..."

Those who fear God will not think too highly of themselves... speak too well of themselves...nor despise others.

Proverbs 11:2 says - "When pride cometh, then cometh shame..."

The self-conceited, prideful man is unteachable. Because he is stuck on himself, he ends up falling flat on his face.

Proverbs 13:10 says - "Only by pride cometh contention..."

Pride causes nothing but quarreling, discord, and trouble. It makes men impatient with those who contradict their opinions or desires.

Proverbs 14:3 says - "In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride..."

The proud man's speech is like a "rod" in that it beats people down with condemning, demeaning, controlling, displeasing, and irritating words. These words stem from a root of bitterness.

Proverbs 16:18 says - "Pride goeth before destruction..."

Self-confidence produces carelessness which leads to destruction.

Isaiah 9:9 says - "...that say in the pride and stoutness of heart."

These people are unhumbled under the humbling providences of God. They defy His justice. They are exalted in themselves and have no fear of Him in their hearts. Hence, they speak so arrogantly.

Isaiah 16:6 says - "We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride..."

It was a well-known fact that Moab was haughty, at ease, confident in their own security, and without fear of anything or anyone - including God.

Isaiah 23:9 says - "The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory..."

God knows how to abase all men. He pollutes and profanes all of the glorious things in which they have placed their confidence.

Isaiah 25:11 says - "...and He shall bring down their pride..."

God lays low the pompous pride of men by totally humiliating them.

Isaiah 28:1 says - "Woe to the crown of pride..."

"The crown of pride" was an Hebrew expression denoting the proud or haughty crown of Samaria - the capital of Ephraim. It was built on a pleasant and fertile hill - surrounded with a rich valley and circle of hills. It was cultivated to the top with many olive and fig trees. The Prophet compared it to a "crown" or garland of flowers because of its strength, fertility, and beauty combined.

Jeremiah 13:9 says - "...After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem."

God would strip them of all that which was a matter of pride to them - that in which they gloried.

Jeremiah 13:17 says - "...my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride..."

Pride in the hearts of God's people caused them to shut their ears to the Word of the Lord through the Prophet Jeremiah. Resultantly, he mourned and bewailed their wretched fate.

Jeremiah 48:29 says - "We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart."

Moab "magnified himself against the Lord" (Jeremiah 48:26). God brought chastisement, but he was not bettered by it - only grew more arrogant and haughty.

Jeremiah 49:16 says - "Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart..."

Edom became "a desolation" (Jeremiah 49:17) as a result of its pride.

Ezekiel 7:10 says - "...pride hath budded."

Pride was at its height in Israel. Hence, God's judgment was on its way.

Ezekiel 16:49 says - "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness..."

Pride, luxury, idleness, and uncharitableness all go hand-in-hand.

Ezekiel 16:56 says - "For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride."

"The day of thy pride" was a time of prosperity. Prosperity made the people proud, caused them to lift themselves up above others, and to totally negate God's warnings of judgment coming on their lives.

Ezekiel 30:6 says - "...and the pride of her power shall come down..."

The glory of all of Egypt's strength, power, dominion, and grandeur - the greatness of their king...the largeness of their empire...and all their wealth and riches - would come down.

Daniel 4:37 says - "...and those that walk in pride He is able to abase."

God has various ways to humble all those who are proud and haughty.

Daniel 5:20 says - "...heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride..."

Nebuchadnezzar's heart was exalted with the enlargement of His dominion, grandeur, and glory. Resultantly, he behaved haughtily toward God and man.

Hosea 5:5 and 7:10 say - "And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face...And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face..."

The leading sin of Ephraim was pride. Hence, they were headed for a fall. Their so-called good and safe condition prevented them from humbling themselves under the mighty hand of God.

Obadiah 1:3 says - "The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee..."

The Edomites were proud above measure. Because of their strategic location "in the clefts of the rock," they thought themselves secure from all hurt and harm. Hence, they magnified their strength above what it really was.

Zephaniah 2:10 says - "This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts."

Contempt and shame would be the residue of the Moabites and Ammonites. They would be trampled upon by those upon whom they once trampled.

Zephaniah 3:11 says - "...for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride..."

God promises to get rid of all proud boasters and arrogant leaders.

Zechariah 9:6 says - "...and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines."
Zechariah 10:11 says - "...and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down..."
Zechariah 11:3 says - "...for the pride of Jordan is spoiled."

Look what God said would happen to "the pride" of each of these nations. The ground of their confidence would be "cut off"..."brought down"...and "spoiled."

There is no doubt about it - Pride is the devil's sin!

God can do nothing with it but judge people for it!

We leave you with one final remark from Matthew Henry - "Pride is a sin that God hates as much as any, and particularly in His own people. Those that exalt themselves must expect to be abased, and put under humbling providences."

May God Bless His Word,
Connie

© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved

Subscribe to Daily Bible Message at - connie@walkingintruth.org.

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