Pride Goes Before Destruction

By

Shelby G. Floyd

June 23, 2006

 

 

Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the great Chaldean kingdom, had a dream which none of his wise men, sooth­sayers, Chaldeans or astrologers could interpret. So he called Daniel, whom he recognized as being inspired, and having a power to interpret dreams which none of his other subjects had. In his dream Nebuchadnezzar saw a tree in the midst of the earth that was very great: its height reached up to heaven; the sight of it was to the end of the earth; the leaves on the tree were fair; and the tree had fruit, so much so that the beasts of the field were able to live from the food on the tree. The beasts of the field and the fowls of the air found shelter from the mighty boughs of the tree. But Nebuchadnezzar saw a watcher and a holy one come down from heaven and give a decree to hew down the tree, cut off the branches, shake the leaves and scatter the fruit. He saw the beasts of the field and the fowl of the air scatter from under the tree, Nevertheless, the watcher and holy one decreed. that the stump of the roots of the tree should be left in the midst of the tender grass of the earth, and that it should be wet with dew of heaven, and that his heart should be changed from a man’s to that of a beast until seven times pass over him.

 

Nebuchadnezzar Was Lifted Up in Pride

 

When Daniel interpreted the dream, he stated that the tree symbolized Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom; for like the tree his kingdom had become great, and the dominion of it even unto the end of the earth. Like the tree that was to be hewn down, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that he would be driven from among men; they would make him to eat grass as an ox, and he would be wet with dew from heaven until he realized that the most High rules in the kingdom of men and sets over them whomsoever he will. But he assured him that his king­dom would remain sure unto him since he saw the stump of the roots of the tree remain in the earth.

 

In the days of Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon was “the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency,” and one of the wonders of the world. It was noted for its hanging gardens, its mighty walls, its many streets and the beautiful Euphrates River that ran through the midst of the city. A year after Daniel had interpreted the dream of the great tree, Nebuchadnezzar walked in the palace of his kingdom and said, “...Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the king­dom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30.) Even while the word was still in the mouth of the king a voice from heaven spoke to Nebuchadnezzar and told him his kingdom was departed from him that he would be driven from among men to eat grass as oxen, and. to live with the beasts of the field.

 

After Nebuchadnezzars’ understanding returned, he realized that it was because of his pride that all of this had come upon him. Therefore, he humbled himself and said, “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and. honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” (Daniel 4:37.) To walk in pride is reprehensible in the sight of God. By way of definition, “pride is inordinate and unreasonable self-esteem, attended with insolence and rude treatment of others.”

 

Pride Goes Before Destruction

 

Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way that “pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16: 13.) Pride then is destructive in its very nature. Solomon said, “The Lord will destroy the house of the proud...” (Proverbs 15: 25.) And he said, “A man’s pride shall bring him low...” (Proverbs 29: 23.) Jesus said, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased…” (Matthew 23: 12.)

 

The Bible Warns Against Pride

 

Both the Old and New Testament warns against pride. Someone has said that “pride may be considered as the parent of discontent, ingratitude, covetousness, poverty, presumption, passion, extravagance, bigotry, war and persecution. In fact, there is hardly an evil perpetuated but pride is connected with it in a proximate or remote sense.” Pride keeps bad company, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blas­phemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7: 21-23.)

 

Pride has a tendency to cause the person that is filled with it to boast of his accomplishments, and to commend himself to his fellow man. Paul said, “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” (2 Corinthians 10: 18.) And Solomon said, “Let another man praise thee, and. not thine own mouth…” (Proverbs 27: 2.) The person that is filled with pride usually seeks to justify himself.

 

The Pride of the Pharisee

 

Jesus spoke the parable of the publican and the Pharisee to those persons who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others. The Pharisee stood and prayed with himself and thanked God for his goodness. He put all mankind into one class and himself into another class. He justified himself and condemned the publican, but Jesus said the publican went down to his house justified rather than the Pharisee. Solomon said, “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.” (Proverbs 16:2.) He also said, “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20: 6.)

 

God Hates Pride

 

God hates six things, and the seventh is an abomina­tion unto him. The first one mentioned in that list of seven is “a proud look.” (Proverbs 6: 16-17.) “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” (Proverbs. 16:5.) In the New Testament James says, “...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble,” (James 4:6.) Again Solomon said, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and. the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate.” (Proverbs 8: 13.)

 

Walk Humbly With Your God

 

The prophet Micah described the kind of life that is approved of God when he said, “He hath shewed thee, 0 man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6: 8.)  Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved