Topic: Pride goes before a fall
Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 1-3; Luke 18:1-17.
Memory Verse: “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:14 (KJV)
In Luke 18; the Bible tells us of two men who came to church to pray. While one was proud of his works telling God of how he fasted and paid his tithes, the othe man kept asking for mercy because he was a sinner and needed the forgiveness of God. The Lord Jesus says in Luke 18:14 (KJV), “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
This is also the case with Abner, the head of the Army in Israel who made the son of Saul, Ish-bosheth the king of the land. The power went into his head and thus he decided to do what he knew was wrong which was to marry the concubine of the late King, Saul. In those days, that meant asserting himself as having authority to the throne. This was treachery. (In a similar situation in 1 Kings 2:19-25 when Adonijah merely proposed to marry the concubine of late king David, Solomon, the new king ordered the death of Adonijah as penalty for such a planned treachery). Nonetheless, Abner went ahead and when the king accused him of it in 2 Samuel 3:7; he was furious and decided to transfer the kingdom to David knowing the king was weak and had a weak base! He responded in 2 Samuel 3:8 (KJV), “Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish–bosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?” Due to his advantaged position of supporting a weak king, he became overbearing and his pride got him a reward of sudden death as Joab killed him.
Using your advantaged position to oppress others or boasting of your position have consequences because God will always abase the proud and exalt the humble. What position are you holding and how are you using such positions? Is it to help others or to lord it over other weaker people; or do you boast of your achievement to oppress others forgetting that nobody owns anything except its given to him by God. It’s time to retrace your steps, ask for mercy and begin to live a life of humility in order to end well.
Prayer point: Father, please purge me of any pride that will cause me to be abased by you.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero