RR Hindrances: Pride By David Harwood
Shabbat Shalom,
In our prior meditation we focused on gratitude and humility as keys to experiencing God’s favor. Let’s look at the other side of this reality: pride hinders knowing Father’s favor. It is written in Proverbs 3:34 that God mocks mockers but gives favor to those who are dependent upon Him.
Here is the Tree of Life Version’s rendering of Proverbs 3:34.
Though He scoffs at the scoffers, He gives grace (chen/favor) to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34)
He mocks mockers. He scorns the scornful. The Hebrew indicates that these people brag about themselves and put others down. God makes certain that they reap what they sow. Perhaps the outcome of their pride will give them pause and they will return to Him, embrace His ways, and be merciful to others.
Consider Psalm 83
Cover their faces with shame, so they may seek Your Name—Adonai. (Psalm 83:17)
The Greek translation, the Septuagint, renders Proverbs 3:34 in familiar language.
The Lord opposes the arrogant, but he gives the humble grace (charis). (Proverbs 3:34)
Here’s the principle found in James and 1 Peter. The Apostolic Writings follow the Septuagint word for word.
But He gives greater grace (charis/favor). Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace (charis/favor) to the humble.” (James 4:6)
Likewise, you younger ones, submit yourselves to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may lift you up at the appropriate time. (1 Peter 5:5–6)
The arrogant are scoffers. They mock the ones to whom the Lord is showing favor (charis/grace). The humble mentioned in Proverbs 3 are humble because they are without resources. They are the poor. They are despised and defenseless. They are the prey of wealthy, powerful oppressors. Without any human recourse, they pray. They look to God for help. He favors them.
He gives the humble favor (chen/charis). The word humble in James, Peter, and Proverbs (the Septuagint) is tapeinos. It translates a word that speaks of afflicted, needy people. They are not humble by choice. They are humbled by their circumstances. However, one can be humble in heart regardless of one’s position in life. Yeshua spoke of Himself in those terms.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble (tapeinos) in heart, and ‘you will find rest for your souls.’ (Matthew 11:29)
Yeshua is the primary example of voluntary humility. Think of how Yeshua overthrew the authorities of hell and this cosmos.
He humbled (tapeinos) Himself— becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8)
Humility won. Messiah was favored, resurrected, exalted.
Yeshua wants everyone to embrace humility. He taught that the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is the one who humbles himself as child.
Whoever then shall humble (tapeinos) himself like this child, this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4)
This is an age-lasting principle:
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (tapeinos), and the one who humbles (tapeinos) himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
Remember, God is in conflict with the conceited. He is opposed to them. He has set Himself and His armies against the arrogant. Ultimately, the Lord of Hosts has a day of reckoning for the proud Consider Isaiah 2:12-12.
The man of haughty eyes is humbled, the lofty ones brought low, for Adonai alone will be exalted in that day. For the day of Adonai-Tzva’ot will be against anyone proud and haughty, against anyone lifted up—he will be humbled, (Isaiah 2:11–12)
The arrogant mock the helpless, scoff at godliness, ignore God’s precepts. They are autonomous little gods. The Creator’s opposition is the opposite of favor. When He observes the arrogant, He does not like what He sees and makes certain that they reap what they’ve sown. In the case of the humble (tapeinos) in Proverbs, they are those who in their powerless state are looking to God to show them favor. This attitude of looking to God for help or vindication can be cultivated by any and all who call on the Name of the Lord.
Pride is a hindrance to favor. God gives charis (grace/favor) to those who depend on Him.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat6-Dec-202516th of Kislev, 5786 Parashat Vayishlach
Ge 36:20-43ObadMt 2:13-23
In our prior meditation we focused on gratitude and humility as keys to experiencing God’s favor. Let’s look at the other side of this reality: pride hinders knowing Father’s favor. It is written in Proverbs 3:34 that God mocks mockers but gives favor to those who are dependent upon Him.
Here is the Tree of Life Version’s rendering of Proverbs 3:34.
Though He scoffs at the scoffers, He gives grace (chen/favor) to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34)
He mocks mockers. He scorns the scornful. The Hebrew indicates that these people brag about themselves and put others down. God makes certain that they reap what they sow. Perhaps the outcome of their pride will give them pause and they will return to Him, embrace His ways, and be merciful to others.
Consider Psalm 83
Cover their faces with shame, so they may seek Your Name—Adonai. (Psalm 83:17)
The Greek translation, the Septuagint, renders Proverbs 3:34 in familiar language.
The Lord opposes the arrogant, but he gives the humble grace (charis). (Proverbs 3:34)
Here’s the principle found in James and 1 Peter. The Apostolic Writings follow the Septuagint word for word.
But He gives greater grace (charis/favor). Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace (charis/favor) to the humble.” (James 4:6)
Likewise, you younger ones, submit yourselves to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may lift you up at the appropriate time. (1 Peter 5:5–6)
The arrogant are scoffers. They mock the ones to whom the Lord is showing favor (charis/grace). The humble mentioned in Proverbs 3 are humble because they are without resources. They are the poor. They are despised and defenseless. They are the prey of wealthy, powerful oppressors. Without any human recourse, they pray. They look to God for help. He favors them.
He gives the humble favor (chen/charis). The word humble in James, Peter, and Proverbs (the Septuagint) is tapeinos. It translates a word that speaks of afflicted, needy people. They are not humble by choice. They are humbled by their circumstances. However, one can be humble in heart regardless of one’s position in life. Yeshua spoke of Himself in those terms.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble (tapeinos) in heart, and ‘you will find rest for your souls.’ (Matthew 11:29)
Yeshua is the primary example of voluntary humility. Think of how Yeshua overthrew the authorities of hell and this cosmos.
He humbled (tapeinos) Himself— becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8)
Humility won. Messiah was favored, resurrected, exalted.
Yeshua wants everyone to embrace humility. He taught that the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is the one who humbles himself as child.
Whoever then shall humble (tapeinos) himself like this child, this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4)
This is an age-lasting principle:
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (tapeinos), and the one who humbles (tapeinos) himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
Remember, God is in conflict with the conceited. He is opposed to them. He has set Himself and His armies against the arrogant. Ultimately, the Lord of Hosts has a day of reckoning for the proud Consider Isaiah 2:12-12.
The man of haughty eyes is humbled, the lofty ones brought low, for Adonai alone will be exalted in that day. For the day of Adonai-Tzva’ot will be against anyone proud and haughty, against anyone lifted up—he will be humbled, (Isaiah 2:11–12)
The arrogant mock the helpless, scoff at godliness, ignore God’s precepts. They are autonomous little gods. The Creator’s opposition is the opposite of favor. When He observes the arrogant, He does not like what He sees and makes certain that they reap what they’ve sown. In the case of the humble (tapeinos) in Proverbs, they are those who in their powerless state are looking to God to show them favor. This attitude of looking to God for help or vindication can be cultivated by any and all who call on the Name of the Lord.
Pride is a hindrance to favor. God gives charis (grace/favor) to those who depend on Him.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat6-Dec-202516th of Kislev, 5786 Parashat Vayishlach
Ge 36:20-43ObadMt 2:13-23
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