Ps 10:2
2 The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. NKJV
- ESV “In arrogance the wickedly hotly pursue the poor”
- People mistreat others out of arrogance or pride. It comes from being so self-centered that you don’t value other people. All that seems to matters is self, so they mistreat others. God, don’t let me mistreat others. Help me to see their value as you see them.
- Prov 16:18
2 Chron 34:27
Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord.
- Humility is so important. God heard, because he responded humbly. How have you responded? God, help me to respond humbly with a soft heart. Help me to be ready to change what needs to change. 1 Thess 5:17.
- Funny that this is the problem caused by those around him, yet he responds with humble repentance. Saul got called out on his own sin and blamed the people. He was proud and didn’t take responsibility for his actions. God, help me to be humble and repent for my mistakes and those I represent. Don’t let pride slip in and stop me from your will. Help me to be humble, seeking you all the days off my life. Help me to be humble enough to receive correction, regardless of how its administered. Help me to lay down my pride and my need to defend myself. I want to recognize my failures and change, not blame. God have your way in me. Ps 141:5.
Gen 16:5
5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” ESV
- Hurt people don’t use sound logic. This was her idea that she told him to do. He did exactly what she told him to do, yet she was mad about it. I think I need to remember that hurt people lose their logic. I need to shut up when I am hurt & be patient with others when they are hurt. I need to remember to speak with a gentle answer. Prov 15:1 a soft answer turns away wrath. Defending your case just builds for an argument. God, help me to lay down my pride so I can draw people to you. Help me to value others more than myself.
- Abraham was willing to give things up to have peace. Gen 13:8
- Gen 2:24 this is especially true in marriage. On both sides of the coin, it is about being loving when they aren’t using logic, and realizing that when you are upset, your own logic is broken.
Jer 50:29-32
29 “Summon archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Encamp around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her according to all that she has done. For she has proudly defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. 30 Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed on that day, declares the Lord.
31 “Behold, I am against you, O proud one, declares the Lord God of hosts, for your day has come, the time when I will punish you.
32 The proud one shall stumble and fall, with none to raise him up, and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all that is around him. ESV
- Prov 16:18; If pride stirs divine opposition, what does humbly trusting on God bring? Recognizing God as your source and humbly coming to him does bring help. See the life of Hezekiah 2 Chron 32 First he goes to God humbly and receives help, then he becomes proud and that wasn’t good.
- God help us to humbly turn toward you.
Ps 138:6
6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. NIV
- Prov 16:18; 15:29
- This verse paints the picture that though God is so great, though he sits on high he wants to be involved in our lives. If we will lean on him he will look closely on all we do and place his hand where we need it. But he is content to watch the proud from a distance. Pride says “I don’t need him” and so He is content to let them try life on their own. God, I can’t do things without you. Look down on me, direct my steps in your ways, correct me gently when you can and firmly when it is needed. I want to live for you regardless of the cost. Don’t let anything in my life ever take your place.
1 Sam 2:3
3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. ESV
- Your Tongue is under your control. It doesn’t speak with out your permission. You may not think before granting your mouth permission to speak but it doesn’t speak without permission. Lord help me to take responsibility for my words. Help me to only speak what will build people up. Let no arrogant, harsh, corrupt, or degrading words come out of my mouth, help me to guard my tongue. PS 141:3; Prov 18:21;
Hosea 13:6
When I fed them, they were satisfied, when they were satisfied, they became proud, then they forgot me. NIV
Hosea 13:9
You are destroyed, O Israel because you are against Me, against your helper. NIV
Forgot…such a seemingly simple thing…to forget…yet it can hold disaster depending on what we forget. Opps, I forgot my keys, cant go far without those. Opps, I forgot to call my friend back, hope I didn’t hurt her feelings. Opps, I forgot God, now that can bring some serious issues.
Hosea 13 talks about how God cared for and protected Israel, but in verse 6 it says Israel became proud and forgot God. The simple act of forgetting caused them to live for themselves in sin without caring what God had to say. They forgot all the wonderful things God had done for them and how God had rescued them from their enemies. Israel’s forgetting led to what verse 9 describes as them being against God and says they are destroyed.
God I never want to get to the point where I forget you and turn my back on you. I never want to be known as someone who is against you. Help me to remember how amazing you are and to always honor you.
Thoughts from AV
