12.t. “And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

Zephaniah 2:10  This is what they will get in return for their pride, for insulting and mocking the people of the Lord Almighty. The Lord will be awesome to them when he destroys all the gods of the earth. Distant nations will bow down to him, all of them in their own lands.

Isaiah 16:6     We have heard of the pride of Moab— how proud he is!— of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence; in his idle boasting he is not right.

Daniel 4:37    Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Daniel 5:20-23     But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.

Obadiah 1:3    The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?”

1 Peter 5:5    Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Isaiah 37:23    “‘Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes to the heights? Against the Holy One of Israel!

This shall they have for their pride,…. This calamity shall come upon their land, for their pride, which often goes before a fall; and has frequently been the cause of the ruin of kingdoms and states, and of particular persons; and indeed seems to have been the first sin of the apostate angels, and of fallen man. Because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts; they looked with disdain upon them, as greatly below them; and spoke contemptibly of them, of their nation, and religion; and “made” themselves “great”, and set up themselves “above” them, opened their mouths wide, and gave their tongues great liberties in blaspheming and reviling them: what was done to them is taken by the Lord as done to himself;  (Gill’s Exposition)

A little pride is enough to drag a person into the pit of arrogance and self-reliance and self-worth.  Humility is replaced by that which glorifies self rather than God.  Pride is  deep rooted in our sinful nature.  It will battle for control of our thoughts and actions.  It will make unrighteous statements that bring no glory or honor to Jesus Christ.  How do we recognize pride in ourselves?  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could see it cleary when we look into the mirror?  We would be able to address it the minute it appears.  But that is not the case.  We can’t see it in the mirror.  Others might see it in us in how we talk but for sure we will not.  The only way to clearly see pride in our lives is through the Word of God, desiring Him to show us, having a willing heart to receive His Word, and humbly seeking the Holy Spirit to be active in our lives.  There is no other way for pride to be exposed so we can repent and turn away from it.  Ask God to show any prideful ways in your heart and be willing to confess and turn away from them.

Author: Daryl Pint

Saved by Grace, living by faith