In reading through the scriptures (using Prof.Horner’s Bible reading plan) I am starting to see something important about human beings and about God: human beings have a penchant for hubris and God is fiercely opposed to it. God is dead set against pride and arrogance.
We might be tempted to think that this means that from the Bible’s vantage point human beings are worthless worms and that the Bible has a very low view of humanity. In due time we will see that this is not at all the case. In fact, it is hard to imagine a “higher view” of humanity and its purpose and potential than the one we find in Psalm 8.
Psalm 8:3-6 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings1 and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,
In fact, because human beings are so precious, because they are royalty, children of God, created in his image, made for His glory, it is not fitting for them to disgrace themselves with pride and arrogance . When a new king or queen or head of state is given clear instructions about their behavior and etiquette in the presence of other royalty, it is not because they are not valued or considered important. The reason for the extensive guidelines for proper behavior is a result of their very high purpose and privilege. Because human beings are image bearers, co-creators with God, and the apex of the creation, their greatness is honored when humility crowns their life.
Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Throughout the readings of the last two weeks, (Day 1-18 of Prof. Horner’s reading program), here are some of the instances that come to mind.
In Psalm 2 we see the arrogant and self-confident attempt by secular nations to rid themselves of God’s oppressive yoke.
Psalm 2:2-3 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, 3 "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us."
Here we see that pride isn’t only an individual character defect but it can be attributed to a country, to a movement, a government, a mindset, an age, a cultural phenomenon or an institution.
God seems almost incredulous that the nations would carry on like this: Psalm 2:4 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
Hubris is virtually always met with the strongest possible opposition on God’s part. He is dead set against human arrogance. He hates it. He wages war against it. He punishes. God is adamantly opposed to this.
One of the most telling examples of this human phenomenon is found in chapters 2 of Isaiah. Human beings have advanced so far that the excellence and skill of their artistic, scientific accomplishments warrants the following analysis:
Isaiah 2:8 Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.
But this is not fitting. It is not right for humans to be this proud. So inevitably, incontrovertible, they must be brought down to their proper place:
Isaiah 2:11 The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
God is so opposed to hubris he has set aside a special day to fight it. I suppose we can call it “Hubris Awareness Day” kind of like we have Martin Luther King day and Memorial Day and Secretaries Day. While those days usually highlight some heroic person, a momentous historical event or an often ignored but important contribution, this Hubris Awareness Day is not celebrating anything. That is God’s program against pride. It is a day of fierce opposition to hubris:
Isaiah 2:12 For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up - and it shall be brought low;
Human beings take pride in their self sufficiency and self-reliance:
Isaiah 10:13 For he says: "By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I remove the boundaries of peoples, and plunder their treasures; like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones.
God is committed to bringing low those who have made themselves too high:
Isaiah 10:33 Behold, the Lord GOD of hosts will lop the boughs with terrifying power; the great in height will be hewn down, and the lofty will be brought low.
In the end, pride will receive the judgment of God:
Isaiah 13:11 I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.
We also see this in Proverbs 15:25 The LORD tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow's boundaries.
Hubris is a satanic impulse to presume upon a high place in heaven:
Isaiah 14:13 You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;1
Hubris comes out of a fundamental misunderstanding about who God is, who we are and what true greatness really is:
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.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Hubris is often seen in an inordinate desire for power and glory:
Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
Hubris is a refusal to give God glory:
Acts 12:23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
Paul says it is fitting for us to live like this: Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
God loves it when his children are humble. Abraham shows great humility in prayer: Genesis 18:27 27 Abraham answered and said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.
Peter is mortified when he notices people are starting to make much of him because of his powerful ministry: Acts 14:11 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"
Their fitting response is: Acts 14:15 15 "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
This is just from the last two weeks of reading. I’m very curious to find out what kinds of themes are starting to emerge from your readings.
Shalom,
Tim
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