The Great Fall

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18, ESV). 

A couple days ago, I wrote about David and Goliath.  As Goliath repeatedly taunted them, defying the ranks of the Israel, it hit home for David.  For David it was personal, it was more than a Philistine Giant defying the armies of the living God.  For David, Goliath’s rebellious pride and arrogance was a personal attack, not only against the people, but against God Himself.  Goliath thought he was the giant in charge until the day God brought his haughty spirit to a fall. 

The next day I felt God ask, What if the giant is pride? And then I was reminded of this story.  As a kid my mother didn’t always have the best advice.  I remember in elementary school, there was on older girl giving me a hard time on the playground.  She was making comments that she wanted to fight me. To this day, I have no idea why.  As I’m writing this, I’m freshly baffled by whole thing honestly.  Nonetheless, when I came home and told my mom, her advice resembled, aim low towards the feet, so she loses balance and take her down, remember the bigger they are the harder they fall.  Yep that was mom!  Like I said, freshly baffled by the entire situation on all accounts.  Thankfully that day never came, but it was the second part of her advice that echoed in my brain.  The bigger they are, the harder they fall!  

It was the same for Satan.  Isaiah 14, gives us the description of his arrogant pride and desire to be like the Most High, leading him to the ultimate fall. 

¹² “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!  How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 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; ¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’¹⁵ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

I guess we could say the bigger the pride, the harder the fall. 

I looked up the definition of haughty : blatantly and disdainfully proud :  having or showing an attitude of superiority and contempt for people or things perceived to be inferior (Merriam Webster Dictionary).  I think it’s safe to say for many us, we aren’t blatantly or disdainfully proud.  However, all of us have been guilty of thinking we are better than someone else or too good for something.  As I write this, I’m picturing a blinking yellow traffic light and the word CAUTION!  When we have those thoughts, that we are better than someone else, judge certain people better than others, or think we are too good for something, it should be a yellow blinking light in our heart.  Caution we are approaching dangerous thinking that leads to pride! 

Second to the cross, I think one of Jesus’ greatest acts of humility was displayed in washing the disciple’s feet.  Washing someone’s feet was one of the most belittling acts a person could do back then.  Let’s face it, Jesus was better than all of them, He was God, and yet He washed the feet of the disciples, including Judas!  Jesus knew Judas would betray Him and still washed his feet!  Humbling isn’t it!   

Prayer:

Lord keep us from the pride that leads to destruction.  I ask now you would remove any haughty spirit within us and replace it with a humble heart.  I pray we walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have called us, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  In Jesus Name, Amen.