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Proud,
Arrogant, Foolish or Humble, Which Am I? Mishlei
(Prov) 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a
fall “I’m
so proud of you’ is much different than saying, “I am so proud
or you are so proud.” It is also far different than the
concept of ‘taking pride in oneself’ with the meaning here being
not, doing things, thinking things, saying things that cause shame to
yourself, and therefore as one who calls on the name of YHWH, bringing
shame on His Name as well. Tehilim (Ps) 119:66 66
Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed Your
commandments. There
are quite a few words in Tanakh that are used, which we would translate
as pride, proud, haughty, to name a few. BDB
H #2086 zed- arrogant,
proud, insolent, presumptuous a)
the arrogant ones (as a plural noun, collectively) b)
presumptuous (as an adjective) BDB
H # 3093 yahiyr- proud,
arrogant, haughty BDB
H # 3887 luwts- to
scorn, to make mouths at, to talk arrogantly a)
(Qal) 1)
to boast 2)
to scorn b)
(Hiphil) 1)
to mock, to deride c)
(Hithpalpel) to be inflated, to scoff, to act as a scorner, to show
oneself a mocker BDB
H # 2087 zadown- pride,
insolence, presumptuousness, arrogance As
we go through life, we do make a name for ourselves, either positive or
negative or most likely,
a little of both. We also reflect on our families, friends and to
‘Whomever’, we pledge our allegiance. Although,
you may never think about it, what I do and what type person I am
reflects on you, If
the way I am living my life is the active seeking of doing the will of
YHWH, if I am moral, if I am honest in my ways, then perhaps your
association with me will be seen as a positive by those who link us
together in some way. I
can tarnish your ‘good name’ if people look at me and see a proud,
arrogant, presumptuous, scornful mocker. Name
does not simply mean that by which we are called. It also refers to our
reputation, our fame or perhaps our notoriety. We
see in Tanakh that those who were seen as leaders of their people and
righteous men were buried in ‘memorial’ tombs. Those who buried them
thusly, wished to assure that they were not forgotten, either by man or
Elohiym. BDB
H # 8034 shem- a
name a)
a name b)
a reputation, fame, glory c)
the Name (as a designation for God) d)
memorial, monument Families
used to go to great pains to protect the ‘family name’. If we are
followers of YHWH’s guidelines and have joined with others who also
follow, then it seems we might see our family name closely connected to
YHWH and His fame, His glory and His reputation. We
may see a great outpouring of YHWH’s wrath if we bring dishonor to His
great Name by our pride and arrogance. H5678
`ebrah- an
outpouring, an overflow, an excess, fury, wrath, arrogance a)
an overflow, an excess, an outburst b)
arrogance c)
an overflowing rage or fury We
see pride as an exact opposite of what He wishes for us to be. YHWH
honors humility and strength, humility to realize our strength comes
from Him and strength to stand for truth and justice in a corrupt world. Following
are a few BCV’s concerning those who see themselves as wise and refuse
counsel but walk in pride. Mishlei
(Prov) 12:15 15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that listens
carefully to counsel is wise. Mishlei
(Prov) 19:20 20
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that you may be wise in
your latter end. Mishlei
(Prov) 25:8-9 8
Do not go out hastily to argue {your case;} otherwise, what will
you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? 9
Argue your case with your neighbor and do not reveal the secret
of another, Keholeth
(Eccl) 7:8 8
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the
patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Tehilim
(Ps) 19:13-14 13
Keep Your servant also from presumptuous sins and let them not
have dominion over me: then I shall be upright, and I shall be innocent
from the great transgression. 14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be
acceptable in thy sight, O YHWH, my strength, and my redeemer. Tehilim
(Ps) 119:21-22 21
You have rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from
Your commandments. 22
Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept Your
testimonies. YHWH
knows every thought in our mind. He sees all our hidden behaviors. To
love Him with our lips and yet walk in proud rebellion is not only
dangerous but extremely foolish. Malachi
(Mal) 3:14-18 15
And now we call the proud happy; yes, they that work wickedness
are set up; yes, even they that tempt Elohiym are delivered. 16
Then they that feared YHWH spoke often one to another and YHWH
listened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him
for them that feared YHWH and that thought upon His Name. 17
And they shall be Mine, says YHWH Tsava’ot, in that day when I
make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son
that serves him. Malachi
(Mal) 4:1-2 Mishlei
(Prov) 21:24 We
will end with the word emunah, meaning firmness, faithfulness and
steadiness. A proud and haughty man is faithful to none, not to other
men, not to YHWH and not even to himself. We are told that one such as
this proud man professes himself wise and becomes a fool. H
530 'emuwnah or (shortened)
'emunah- firmness,
fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness Chabakuk
(Hab) 2:4-5 4
"Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within
him; but the righteous will live by his faithfulness (fidelity). Let
us learn to be humble, faithful and strong so we may stand in the latter
days and find we have been written in His book of remembrance, for we
read in: Mishlei
(Prov) 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a
fall It
is so easy to get ‘full of ourselves’ to the point that we feel we
have all the answers, are so very right in all we say or do. Sometimes
we might even brag about our own humility. We
have all met people like that. We may even have met them in our own
mirror. How unbearable it is to attempt to interact with a
‘know-it-all’. Poetically
speaking the book of Mishlei shows that the heavens cringe when a mortal
human being looks down his nose at a brother. Trust
in YHWH with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not
be wise in your own eyes; fear YHWH and depart from evil (3:5-7). The
fear of YHWH is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and
the perverse mouth I hate (8:13). When
pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom (11:2). By
pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom
(13:10). Everyone
proud in heart is an abomination to YHWH and even though they join
forces, none will go unpunished (16:5). Every
way of a man is right in his own eyes, but YHWH weighs the hearts
(21:2). A
man's pride will bring him low, but the humble man will retain honor
(29:23). There
is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its
filthiness. There is a generation--oh, how lofty are their eyes! And
their eyelids are lifted up (30:12-13). The
word pictures and wise sayings of the book of Mishlei show why YHWH
hates a proud look. Pride makes a fool of those who possess it. In contrast, the eyes of humility lead to honor. Humility prompts us to offset our own tendency toward self-deception by seeking the wisdom of Elohiym and the counsel of others. Humility is practical. It provides a basis for relationship with YHWH who is able to help us and who is able to keep us from falling into all kinds of dishonor. YHWH
is watching to see how we look at others. In
a list of the things Elohiym hates, the first one mentioned is pride. YHWH values humility because He knows what pride does to us and because He knows that humility puts us in touch with Him, others, and ourselves. Remember that we are part of the family of YHWH’s faithful. When we behave badly, get all puffed up with self importance, we make the family look bad and the most important ONE, YHWH is looked upon in disdain because of us. Let’s
protect the honor of our ‘family name’. Take pride in yourself but
do not be proud and boastful and remember, “I am so proud of you”.
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