Destruction of Pride

King James Bible Study Daily Devotional

**** The daily Bible reading schedule has been changed as follows: Each day will include the Proverb and Psalm of the day, Scripture reading will remain in Chronological order from Genesis to Revelation (except Psalms & Proverbs) on Monday thru Saturday, Sunday's reading will only be the Proverb and Psalm of the day. ****

Message Title: Destruction of Pride
Date: Tuesday June 14, 2011
Chapters: Esther 5-8, Proverbs 14, Psalms 3
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-june-14
Details of Today's Chapters: Esther’s courage in proceeding to obtain the favor of king Ahasuerus, Haman devises a plan to execute Mordecai, Haman compelled to exalt Mordecai, Esther’s banquet, Haman is executed, and the Jews are granted immunity.

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“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished... Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” - Proverb 16:2-5,18,19.

The word pride is defined as an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority or a generous happiness of heart, a noble self-esteem springing from a consciousness of worth. There are two types of pride, one type is taking pleasure in accomplishments, meaning we strive at excelling, but are not constantly boasting about ourselves. The other is having such a high opinion of oneself that we think everything evolves around us, meaning we have an arrogance to us as if we are superior to everyone else. While it is good to take pride in our work, we need to be careful that we do not boast so much that we think of ourselves as a god.

Haman was king Ahasuerus's right hand man, Ahasuerus trusted him, but what Ahasuerus did not realize was that Haman was a wicked egotist abusing the kings name for his own glory. Haman devised a plan to have all the Jews killed, writing a decree and forging the kings seal on it. After learning of the decree Queen Esther came up with a plan to expose Haman to the king, even if that meant she would lose her life.

“Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.” - Esther 5:1-3.

Esther's modestly and humbleness brought on the favor of the king. When we humble ourselves before God, meaning when we stand before Him with submission and respect we obtain His favor. We are all sinners, not one of us is perfect, but we can receive God's grace and favor by humbling ourselves before Him. “Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.” - Psalm 138:6.

After Haman left the palace he gathered all his friends around, boasting about him being the only person at the banquet. He ran into Mordecai and devised a scheme to have him hung, he even had a gallows made especially for the job. Meanwhile king Ahasuerus was commencing Mordecai, the king sent for Haman and what he thought was going to be a proclamation to have Mordecai hung was one to have him honored.

“So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.” - Esther 6:6-10.

Here is this man, so conceited that he thought the king was talking about him, suggesting all the things he would want to bring honor and glory to himself and having to go before Mordecai and give him honor instead. No doubt he must have been angry, criticizing the king, and hating every moment as he watched Mordecai parading through the streets. Those who think of themselves higher than anyone else despise others being recognized for their good work. We must remember that while they have their moment of fame, it will not last. No honor will come to those who deceitfully gain their recognition. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple...And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” - Romans 16:17,18,20.

Haman's shame did not end there, not only did king Ahasuerus find out about his forging his name and ordering all Jews to be executed, he also found out about the gallows that he had made for Mordecai. Ahasuerus not only stopped the Jews from being executed he also had Haman hung by the very gallows he made for Mordecai.

“Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.” - Esther 8:4-7.

We must not forget that our success comes from God and God alone, it is actually more fulfilling to have others give us glory for what we have done than we ourselves. In fact, God rather have others praise us. “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” - Proverbs 27:1,2.

As Christians we should take pride in our work, regardless of what we do, we just have to be careful not to be so proud that we think of ourselves as infallible. No one is infallible except for God and His Word, we are who we are because God made us that way. It's time to examine ourselves, are we acknowledging Christ as our successor or ourselves. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” - II Corinthians 13:5-8.

“Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.” - Psalm 3:8. Praise God!

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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