July 5, 2012 … Pride Goes Before a Fall

Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: 2nd Kings 14 [NIV] To study these chapters, go to this link -
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 Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: 2nd Chronicles 25 [NIV] To study these chapters, go to this link -
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Highlight Passage: 2nd Kings 14: 1-4; 7-10 :[NIV] … 1 In the second year of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. 4 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. … 7 He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day. 8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: "Come, let us face each other in battle." 9 But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: "A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, 'Give your daughter to my son in marriage.' Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot.10 You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant. Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?"
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Highlight Passage #2: 2nd Chronicles 25: 1-2; 14-15 :[NIV] … 1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem.2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly. … 14 When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them.15 The anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, "Why do you consult this people's gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?"
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Reference Passage #1: Proverbs 3: 34 and James 4: 6 and 1Peter 5: 5 [paraphrased] : … God resists the proud; but gives grace to the humble. 

My Journal for Today: Today in reading more about the kings in the northern Jewish kingdoms of Israel and the southern kingdom in Judah, I was led to study the living times of King Amaziah in Judah, who had conquered the seemingly impregnable peoples of Edom in the mountains of what is now Jordan.

I’ve been to that area of the world; and it’s impressive that anyone could defeat an organized army holding forth in that mountain kingdom of what is now the area of Petra in Jordan. But the Judean army, under Amaziah did just that. And following that conquest, Amaziah became prideful having this victory under his belt; and in the events which followed, as so often happens, documenting the truth I’ve delineated above in Proverbs 3: 34, we see that God will oppose the proud, ... only giving His grace to the humble.

Amaziah became filled with pride after his defeat of the Edomites; and mockingly, he even brought back idols to worship from the spoils of this so-called “victory.” And mocking God in that way was just, plain STUPID! And anytime we let our pride go before our humble worship of the Lord, we are stupid enough to think that we’re more important than God.  

WRONG! … DUMB!! … FOOLISH … !!!

But this may be the one pitfall which causes me to come up short in my life more than any other stronghold of sinfulness in my life, … i.e., letting my desire to look good in front of others and my pridefulness getting in the way of my ability to honor God (i.e., worship Him) with my life.

 I really don’t think I need to go on with this God-inflicted conviction bomb, coming out of this lesson today. The lesson is very straight-forward for all of us; … and that is to stay humble and worship God, in humility, avoiding letting my pride dampen God’s willingness to pour His grace in my life. And if you have benefited from this lesson today, to God be the glory!!

My Prayer Today: … Lord, I know that this is a risky prayer; but I pray for You to help me to live in humble worship of Your glory. Amen