“the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified” (Dan. 5:23, NKJV)
We are currently offering a number of examples of how pride had a definitive influence on certain Biblical figures. In the previous teaching we focused on three of these – the king of Tyre, King Nebuchadnezzar, and Herod.
The fourth history of a proud individual is the man named Belshazzar, the son of King Nebuchadnezzar. After the horrible experience his father underwent, literally adopting an animalistic nature, an icon of wrought humanity, the son ends up trapped by the same snare. In Dan. 5:18-25 the story is recounted: “O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses. But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”
The fifth and last example is Hezekiah. His story is presented in 2 Chr. 32:23-29: “And many brought gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter. In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the Lord; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.”
The hearts of most believers lie to them (Jer. 17:9) about themselves, about their motives and conditions, and their souls hide their pride (Jer. 13:17), to such an extent that one always needs to delve deeper before you can discover it. In the next teaching we will look at the twelve specific fruits that help you to identify the root of pride.
- Selah: Take note of the emphasis on pride as a condition of the heart that runs through this teaching.
- Read: 10-11; 2 Cor. 11; Ps. 56.
- Memorise: 2 Cor. 11:2.
- For a more in-depth understanding: Read Stuart Scott’s From Pride to Humility: A Biblical Perspective.
